literature

Valour and Blood || 1.1

Deviation Actions

Published: Dec 31, 2016

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Literature Text

They saw it coming long before it had neared the border.

Shoulders as wide as a ship pushed through the treetops of a majestic forest that looked more and more miniature as the titan approached. Even the proudest of fir trees couldn't hope to tickle his chin with their top branches. Assuming he had a face at all under that strange helmet of his. It did not gleam like metal from a distance, but there was no doubt in anyone's mind that it was just as sturdy. It was hard to gaze upon such a thing and not feel a sense of absolute, unavoidable doom.

"Get away from the window, you fools."

Rionny, the king's advisor, was quick to disperse the crowds and slam the shutters shut. Members of various noble families and court guests, they were all dressed in their finest clothing. A Handoff was such a rare occurrence, no one dared to miss the event. At least, not from their protective seats in the border's reinforced tower.

Rionny whirled, grand ivory cape flowing as he rounded on the band of heavily armoured guards that stood, awaiting command. "Move the prisoner downstairs. The Collector will be upon us in minutes."

As the guards shuffled, a small woman became visible between them. Her hands were bound.

"Did you see the size of him?" one guard murmured, seizing her right arm.

A gasp left the woman and she clenched her fists, damp eyes adamantly refusing to look out as they descended the spiral staircase. Arrow slits carved out of the thick stone walls allowed her a view over the castle walls and the moors beyond but she ignored them. She did not want to face that terrifying apparition until it was already too late.

“I've never seen one so big in my life,” the guard on the other side of her affirmed. His grip tightened on her arm, and she gritted her teeth.

“You know what will happen to me if you do this, James.”

The woman’s voice was a whisper. Her boots scraped along the steps and she almost tripped.

“You what, Sage?”

She stared up at him. He didn't look back at her. He looked uncomfortable.

“Ignore her,” the other guard interjected stiffly.

“I said, you know what they're going to do to me.” Her steps slowed but the guards dragged her along relentlessly. The noise of the crowds encircling the courtyard roared in her ears.

“You know the law, Sage,” snapped the guard on her right. “You brought this on yourself. Purposefully setting out to kill a giant on your own steam…”

“Are we not still friends?” she pleaded. “You know I'd never kill in cold blood. You know.”

“It's no hard feelings, love,” James replied. “It is what it is.”

She opened her mouth to argue again, but then the staircase stopped and she was yanked to the palace doors. Rionny swept past them and threw open the vast wooden entryway. The crowds outside went respectfully quiet as the Royal Advisor strode out onto the wide marble steps, accompanied by fanfare.

“Royal subjects!” His voice echoed through the courtyard as he raised his arms. “Esteemed visitors… ladies and gentlemen of the nobility! We are gathered today to witness the execution of justice upon a traitor. A person caught fleeing giant territory after carrying out the brutal murder of one of its citizens.

“She has been found guilty of breaching the First Treaty, which states that the unlawful killing of a giant is a crime for which the murderer has the offended kingdom to answer to.” His dark eyes flitted through the crowds as he took pause. After a long moment, he turned to the castle.

“Bring Lady Erica Sage out.”

The silence of the crowd turned to muttering, then grew into a crescendo of indignant shouts as the guards pulled Erica into the light of day. She squinted in the sun, tripping over her own feet as she was yanked down the marble steps to join Rionny at the head of the courtyard.

Her attire was what caused the greatest degree of alarm. She was dressed in the black and silver uniform of the Royal Guard, sans weapons - though it appeared crumpled, as if she had been wearing it for several days straight. There was blood on the shoulder, possibly her own. Her bruised face was stony, and she met no one’s gaze. A deep crimson sash fell neatly across her torso, like a gaping wound.

“Her sentence has been predetermined - in accordance with the sacred Treaty,” Rionny roared, silencing the crowd once more. “Exile from our Kingdom. This is no place for a person with so little disregard for the safety of our people. The giants, however, are content to be merciful. They will accept Lady Sage alone as compensation for this mutiny, without taking revenge on the Kingdom. We pass her on to the Collector - to the judgment of their court, and whatever punishment they see fit to bestow.”

The quartz-speckled cobblestone shook. The outraged crowd became an ocean of hushed voices as heads turned to face the palace walls. The ominous rhythm could be felt now, each impact devastating. Necks craned back. The giant was nearly at the gates now, that rhythm growing more powerful by the second. It was impossible for Erica to avoid facing her fate when he now took up so much of the sky. Her eyes went to the gloved hands that swung at his sides. She swallowed hard.

Not a soul breathed as the monumental man passed through the towers' reach unscathed. The turrets of each barely reached his thigh; it was hardly a wonder he barely paid the stone arsenals a passing glance. The courtyard went dark as his shadow streaked down the middle- a glaring emphasis on just how much height he had on anyone present. As if they needed a reminder, with him standing just outside the palace. From where he now stood, the giant could have just leaned over the wall to conduct his business. But there were still formalities to uphold.

"Open the gates!" Rionny bellowed.

There was a slow creak, then a whine of metal gears grinding. The thick iron grate that sealed up the courtyard split down the middle and began to recess into each side of the thick stone wall. The giant paused there, watching the agonizingly slow process.

There was a chilling moment when a few realized they could hear him breathing - slow, impatient breaths pooling inside his leathery helmet. The material of his gloves squelched as he flexed his hands into fists and relaxed them again, surveying the crowd beyond. Though she couldn't see his eyes, Erica felt something judgemental in the way he turned his head to take in the sprawling palace. It must have looked so small to him.

When the gates had fully receded, the giant lowered his gaze towards his boots and stepped inside. It was barely wide enough to accommodate his entry, but he managed. As massive as he had looked outside, the giant looked even bigger when juxtaposed against the human gathering. The crowd spread to all corners of the courtyard, eager to give him room as he slowly lowered himself on one knee.

No one dared to speak in his presence, save for Rionny.

"Welcome," the advisor declared, his voice ringing in the grand courtyard. The giant turned his expressionless helmet down to him, making Rionny hesitate before going on. "Thank you for agreeing to diplomacy in this dark matter. As the king wrote, peace is more important to us than harbouring criminals."

In place of an answer, the Collector reached for his helmet. He unclipped two fasteners on either side and pulled it off. Awed murmurs trickled through the crowd. Erica had to throw up her hands over her eyes as sunlight struck against fair skin and hair like strands of the purest gold. Far from a disfigured brute, the titan had a face that could have belonged to an angel.

But those unfeeling blue eyes told another story.

The giant glanced to the side, sending another disapproving look at the humans closest to him. Any bold murmurs telling how they'd like to get their hands on hair that valuable ceased. The people edged even further back, but the giant kept his helmet close to him all the same. Erica could not even hope for long-winded formalities between the representatives, for the massive being was all business when he addressed the court in a booming voice:

"I'm here to collect the traitor."

Snapping out of his daze, Rionny spun towards the guards and jerked his head towards the giant. James and the other gave a small jolt before stepping forward, Erica dragged between them. Her boot caught on a jagged cobblestone, sending her to her knees mere yards from the giant's kneeling form. James did not answer to her beseeching glances, keeping his eyes downturned as he retreated alongside his partner.

Erica's attention snapped forward as the giant lurched into motion. One of those massive hands pressed upon the ground, far too close for comfort. While a part of her had to be relieved he hadn't snatched her up on sight, when she raised her head, she fought the urge to tremble. The giant was leaned over her, squinting most unhappily. And then, without warning, a smile broke out on his face.

"You brought me a little boy?"

The giant was laughing to himself. Erica loosed a strangled yelp as that huge hand flew to her side. Between a finger and thumb, he plucked her off the ground by the back of the red sash that marked her as the offering. With a flex of his wrist, she was ten feet off the ground. He twisted her around this way and that, entirely at his leisure. When he was satisfied, he lowered his hand and let her drop the last few feet back to the ground in an undignified heap. But he was no longer concerned with her.

"You have a strange sense of humour." His smile faded. In seconds, the giant had ceased to find the situation amusing. His eyes narrowed at Rionny in suspicion. "Or very poor skill at deception. Where is the real man?"

The advisor was getting paler by the second, clearly not having anticipated there being any confusion. “Forgive us… sir… But, this is them,” he insisted. “This is, ah, her.”

The Collector didn't speak, his gaze still boring holes into the advisor. Searching wildly for some sliver of authority, Rionny turned to the guards. “Get her back on her feet,” he snapped.

Erica groaned as she was hoisted back upright, staggering against the guard on her right for support. He shoved her back, lip curled.

“They caught her red-handed, sir,” Rionny continued. “Coming back over the border, armed to the teeth and covered in blood. Didn't even deny it when we accused her of-”

“I told you, I'm not a murderer! I was protecting civilians. Human civilians,” Erica interrupted hoarsely, her voice carrying in the hollow courtyard. “Some common thieves sneaking into Aarlith. I told you but you never liste-”

“Be quiet!” The advisor rounded on her with a snarl. “You have no right to speak now. You have no rights here at all.”

Erica looked for all the world like she might fire a retort, but was stopped by a renewed earthquake; the giant was getting to his feet. Onlookers gasped as he rotated slowly, sweeping his icy gaze over the crowd. The little prisoner went weak at the knees all over again as he blotted out the sun. “You expected me to believe this quivering speck killed one of my kind?” he demanded, his voice like thunder. “To believe she's a member of your little Royal Guard? I don't know what you were thinking. Dressing some peasant girl in uniform and parading her as a warrior.”

No one dared speak against him. He rolled his shoulders and turned, lifting his helmet back towards his head.

“I'll be reporting this outrage to King Phillip, be quite certain of that.”

Schhhwip.

The giant froze. Out of nowhere, a dagger had embedded itself into the heel of his left boot as he retreated. His eyes flashed, and he spun back to stare down at the small gathering before him. The tiny woman stood with her weight planted forward, one hand still outstretched. Rionny’s eyes ballooned as he processed what had just happened. The crowd was silent. A second passed.

Snapping out of his shock, Rionny stepped up to Erica and smacked her across the jaw so hard that she was sent staggering. He rounded on the guards next, his face bright red. “I thought you stripped her of her weapons!” he yelled, shaking James by his lapels.

“W-we did, my Lord!” the young knight yelped.

“Goddammit, she took my knife.”

The other guard pawed at his belt, yanking at the empty scabbard for the advisor to see. His eyes dropped incredulously to where the rope that had bound Erica’s hands lay severed on the cobblestones.

A soft grunt rang out as the giant twisted around to pry the knife from his boot. A great rush of air preceded another mighty quake as the titan dropped down on both knees. The crowd shrieked as his helmet fell from his hands, rolling away from his side as he lunged for the humans nearest him. Erica was knocked onto her back, pinned under a gloved hand longer than a bed. Rionny was seized by his ivory cloak and swept dozens of feet into the air. The advisor flailed his arms, absolutely petrified as he came face to face with those stone-cold eyes.

"Do you make a game of my people's grief?" the Collector growled.

Rionny yelped as his cloak began to strain at its base. He didn't dare look down past his dangling legs. "N-no. Never! I understand this is far from ordinary, but I assure you our kingdom stays true to its word."

The behemoth gave him a little jerk, an impatient sneer on his lips. "Someone has to pay for our fallen brother."

Rionny's cloak continued to strain, and he gasped to regain some dignity in the face of this humiliation. "Take the girl," he urged him. "You've seen for yourself her sly ways. You'll see in time… This is no deception."

The Collector dipped his chin down. His unforgiving glare returned to Erica - what little of her was visible under his hand. Letting out a hiss, he set Rionny back on his feet. Slowly, his fingers began to coil around the prisoner.

"You have excellent aim for a woman," he mused, an eyebrow raised skeptically as he raised her higher.

Her lips parted in shock but his comment still stung enough to raise her hackles. “Should I be flattered?” she snapped in return, heart beating furiously as the ground swept away from her. There was a gasp and renewed mutterings from the nobility who watched from the towers.

“Show some respect,” Rionny gritted out, trembling hands adjusting his collar. He coughed. “Have some dignity in your final moments among humanity. Admit what you did.”

Erica squirmed in the giant’s grip for a moment longer, and went still. Though it made adrenalin flood her system, she forced herself to meet his eyes. They were twin pools of ice framed with golden lashes as long as her hands. She went limp.

“I take responsibility for the victim’s death,” she announced. “But I did it to preserve the lives of innocent humans.” Her jaw set, and she rubbed tentatively at her cheek. Her hand came away with blood.

The giant cocked his head to the side. "If you killed him, I don't much care for your reason."

Erica steeled her jaw, her short hair swishing around in the light breeze. After a moment more of consideration, the giant shifted again, pulling loose a burlap sack that hung around his neck. "She'll settle the score for now," he said, moving to tuck her in through the narrow opening. "But be warned against wasting my time in the future."

Her cries of protest echoed in the courtyard, but not a soul moved in her defence. The giant pushed one finger down behind her, ensuring she wouldn't get any limbs caught as he pulled the drawstring tight. With Erica neatly stowed out of sight, he let the bag drop against his chest. He picked up his helmet and rose to his feet, grazing one last scathing look over the pool of people at his feet.

"Justice is restored. See to it that you keep your guards in line."

The knights nodded and Rionny dipped into an awkward half-bow, too late for Erica to see and enjoy the way the tiresome man had been successfully cowed. James gulped, sending a troubled glance his comrade’s way. The other guard stared ahead resolutely, knuckles white at his sides. “God help her,” he murmured so quietly, it might just have been his imagination.

Darkness fell for Erica, and she let her impassive expression slip into a helpless frown, jerking with an oof as her battered body thumped against the hard surface of the Collector’s chest piece. “Oh God… oh no,” she murmured, struggling to stand up as she heard the dull noise of the crowd rise again. Her prison shook, sending her on her bottom, when her captor turned and made for the open gate. Now that she was invisible, she shut her eyes and crumpled to the bottom of the sack, covering her face with her hands.

That was it for her. Her last look at the world she knew. Being given up to the race of monsters like a sacrifice... not the respectful farewell she would have anticipated after five years of faithful service to the King. Though it was muffled somewhat by the thick fabric of her prison, Erica still heard the deep chime of the palace bell tower, signalling to the whole kingdom that her sentence had begun.

While you might recognize the characters from Caught, this story takes place with a brand new setting and set of brutal politics. In a more primitive time, Erica finds herself at the mercy of a fragile treaty aimed to maintain peace between the quarreling kingdom she of humans and Giants.

The story has multiple parts, with a number of chapters per part. (EXample: 1.1 = part one, chapter one)

co-written by the amazingly talented: