Giant Slayer

Chapter 2

After making my way to my room, I glance out the window at the imposing mountain range rising from the relatively flat area. The village is nestled at the foot of the mountains, and my people have hollowed most of the mountains out, creating a vast, heavily fortified border between the human lands, and the lands of the elderfolk. I sigh, remembering the ancient tales, and how my mother told them to me.
"Eons ago, there lived only the dwarfs, the deep dwellers, the elves, th. Forest guardians, the giants, the warriors, and the orcs, the savage nomads. Then, a thousand years ago, a fleet of ships arrived on the shores of our continent. They bore the humans. A shortlived, but joyful people. We called them the young ones. While our kind welcomed them with open arms, the other races were repulsed. There had existed a fragile balance for centuries, and they feared. This new race would destroy it. So the waited, and plotted. And while the humans had short lives, they grew quickly, loved deeply, and fought valiantly. They were, in every way, a race of,younger brothers to us. We guarded them protectively, until they ventured beyond the borders of our fortresses, and were slaughtered. The other three races had joined together to eliminate the threat, but upon reaching our gates, they were crushed. They could not break them, and they could not escape the punishment of our archers. As their armies retreated, their kings vowed that one day, the humans would die."
I shook my head, and laughed idly as I lifted my massive greatsword from my back, setting it next to the bed. I took a moment to admire its cold, dark edge. It was a rare blade, crafted entirely from darksteel, our most prized possession. The dwarves have their mythril, the elves their wyrmwood, and the orcs their cursed bone, but none had the strength, or the ability to hold an edge like darksteel. I shook my head and made my way back out into the tavern, noticing a sizable crowd gathered. "Anderson, would it be too much to ask to trouble you with some dinner?" I chuckle as I watch him jump slightly at my booming voice, while trying to deal with the unruly crowd.
"Not at all, but I believe there are a great many people who would wish to speak with you!" He laughs aloud as the crowd turns and stare for a moment, transfixed.
"How do you all do? My name is Trian steelforge. Now, who would like a drink?" A grin splits my face as I turn to Anderson.