A Tale of Time: The Malice of Men

Chapter 34: Homewards

Homewards I leave, to hearth and comfort.

 Homewards I go,to love, to live.

 Homewards I go,to wrath and war.

 Homewards I go,because there I belong.

The Giants set up camp in the evening as usual. Armanda'smen were still in shock and disbelief. How could a person turn into dust rightbefore their eyes so? The old woman, they were told, was killed. They were toldthat was their enemy, but they did not see how nor understand why. Later thatevening, the giants told Armanda Sparrow. They summoned her to their tent. Likebefore, Iravaan stood in the middle, surrounded by so many other giants. Howlong could they keep this up? They were camping next to the village. Also, they did not take the trouble to ensurethat nobody from the village would run and warn the others. It was true thatstealth was never the Giants' forte, but still...

"Shape shifters." Iravaan began. "They can take the form ofany living thing that moves. They are fast, powerful and cunning. No steel cankill them, nor fire nor water nor ice. Silver slays." Armanda held her bladeharder. "They can take the shape of any living creature?" The scale of thesituation began to dawn on her. "They could be me? Or you? How do we know it isone of us and not a shape shifter?"

"We cannot tell. They can know little about the life of theperson they are masquerading or they can know all. Like us, they are immortalunless killed. Sometimes, they follow a person's life from their birth tilltheir maturity before they kill them." That scared Armanda.

"Is that your enemy? Is the war against them?" It was arather stupid question. Giants never kill without excellent reason. Iravaandidn't even answer.

"Who are they? How did they come?"

"That does not concern you."

"How does it not concern me? They were in the form ofhumans, of one of us! Who knows how many more hide so? They could mislead us.Guide us to war! They could convince innocent men, women and children to die!"

"That is not our problem."

Armanda was dumbstruck. She knew that the Giants wantednothing to do with humans, but if humans were involved in the problem... "Youwill not help us help you?"

"No."

"Then what is my purpose here?"

"To witness. No legacy must end, no matter how bad it maybe. If your race departs, you must survive. You must set things in order, passon the knowledge your kind has gathered so that another one may use it. "

There was a long silence. The colour drained from her face.Her next two words were almost a whisper. "Why me?"

"Because you have been every conceivable type of personsince your birth."

Overhead, the moon was blocked by clouds. It was going torain this night. "If that is why you want me to stay, I am afraid I shallleave."

"You are not permitted to do so." Iravaan said in the sametone. "You know our intention now and you know who we are. You know how many ofus there are and you know where to find us. You cannot leave."

"And the islands? What of my people?"

"They shall find someone else." There was another longpause. Iravaan broke the silence. "Armanda Sparrow, this discussion is at anend. Leave." That angered her.

"No. this is not at an end. Whatever you may feel againsthumans, risking our extinction is not right." That got the attention of theother giants in the hall as well. Armanda wasn't sure if that was good or bad."You cannot ignore us for what we have done to you. You cannot use us as ashield while you build your army. We are free. We have life. You do not ruleus." Even she was shocked by what she just said.

It was Iravaan's turn to vent. "You are a vain race. Youthink you are all-powerful simply because no one has challenge your authorityyet. You are hypocritical, often breaking your own rules to suit your means.You are greedy; always hungry for knowledge, not knowing what it means or whatcalamity it might bring. You have done nothing but take since your creation.You are worthless. The only reason we preserve your kind is because we arebound by law no never allow you to die out." That part did not make sense toArmanda. "Leave!" Iravaan said. It was not negotiable.

Armanda stormed off in black fury. The blame for everymistake committed by every human in man's history was laid against herdoorstep. 'How unfair! Humans? Worthless?I'll show them what we can do!'

It began to rain. Nobody set a fire. Armanda's people werewaiting at their tent. It provided little shelter.

"What are they, my Lady?" One of the soldiers asked. Billwas his name.

"Yeah." Another joined in. "Who was the old lady we killed?Why did she turn to dust?" Armanda looked around at all of them. They allseemed spooked. She was careful with her words.

"Shape shifters." She spoke. "Magical beings that can changetheir form at will." There was a pause which they all took to process thatinformation.

"You mean to say, my Lady, that they could be any of us aswell?"

"They might." There was low murmuring after that. Armandadidn't pay attention. She didn't want to. Her life had no other meaning but tocontinue the legacy of her kind. She was to stand by and watch as all of thepeople, her people, die. Nobody here would understand the sentiment. She didn'twant to break the news to her own soldiers. A few more days of happiness costsnothing. Chaos comes easily.

She got up and left the tent. It was still pouring outside.Before long, she was wet and cold. She could see the tents of the Giants in thedistance. Those dark silhouettes were calm and undisturbed.

"Because you have beenevery conceivable type of person since your birth."

Iravaan's words rang through her mind. He was right. She hadbeen a poor girl, a philanthropist, a leader, a worker, a general, a ruler, aphilosopher and a scholar. Now, she was letting the words of beings who didn'tcare about her stop her. A tired smile crept up to her face. Iravaan and theGiants were powerful, but they held no power over humans.

She calmly walked towards the horses. She wouldn't tellanyone. Nobody could know, not even her own men. This journey she had to makealone. "Leave!" Iravaan had said.

She saddled the horse and rode away.

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Long time! Sorry, College life. The story just keeps growing! What do you think of Armanda's latest surprise decision? Let me know in he comments below. As usual, don't forget to vote and let me know what you think! Thanks!