ntrance. It was only a moment before a shadow passed before the cave's mouth, and was follo

y exposed, revealing strange greyish colored skin stretched tightly over huge knotted muscles. He looked as though he could crush a man's head between h

looking, like a man's, just much, much bigger, enough to support tree trunk legs. He seemed to look them over, and snorted derisively, causing a number of them to let out another round of terrified cries, that broke down into more uncontrollable weepi

d, not following, only staring up at the behemoth. Demitri didn't seem to notice; perhaps he was too busy trying to rev

She swallowed hard and stepped forward. Their lives might depend on what she did next she thoug

les in his neck twitch indicating he'd heard her. He turn

gh the cavern, shaking her to the bone. She took a breath. "I, I

ly at his face now she noticed how his elongated canines showed when

to respond to the question. She

e for you to be

that all?"

pose s

" He turned

lo

did not tu

ded what will

turn to p

d closed her eyes. "Is it very l

turn and look bac

a softer tone, "y

th relief when she raised her eyes back up to meet his

r crouching down in alarming proximity to her so that she was but a step or two away from reaching out and touching his bent knee. She

ll screaming and cryin

"they're all very upset, and you're, well, surprising, to see

uth to argue, and realized it was futile and rid

y aren't you screaming

out of my mind with fear right now." She tried to smile gamily, but she tho

on to Them, you may tell them they aren't in an

ed. "It

he was about

thing my

d. "What

anything tha

D

Or make you less di

nt to s

ives. It seems like the least I can do." He

on. After that I think I will have a bath.

for giant? She didn't know where to start. It just didn't seem possible. It must be a test she thought. The only person who might know was Demitri, but if it was a test, he might not help her. He might not help her just because, he did seem li

get out?" he was striding towards her and reaching

was pulling her out of the room and into the hall.

used. "You sp

eleased her

draw him a bath...i

ble." He looked at he

uch a bath for one

the bathing cistern is there, go and take a look

I h

es, grapes, and fruit and a large jug of dark wine, "and de

does

er make

a low table. The table seemed the logical place for the platter, so she set it carefully before taking a better look around. It was a little bit sparse, but it could reasonably be considered a normal room in most houses, excepting the grey stone walls. There was a single large decorative vase on a little table against the wall with images of warriors battling a three headed monster, and

fit four or more normal people comfortably, but ce

much more she could do but prepare the bath and plead ignorance later. At lea

ld save her having to haul several dozen buckets of water at least. She filled the bath until it covered the built in bench, and headed back to the kitchen. The water was cool, but more tepid than frigid, which meant less b

those are

ad to get it started." He looked angry but she was sure she heard