Christopher Stasheff - Rogue Wizard 06 by A Wizard In Midgard

Author:A Wizard In Midgard
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Gar shook his hand. “So giants sometimes have Midgardsized children or grandchildren?”

“Yes, and sometimes smaller-I’ve four of my own children, and Orla is the only one who’s a giant.”

Orla nodded. “My sister and my younger brother are a little shorter than you, and my older brother is almost short enough to be a dwarf.”

“There are even a fair number of dwarf children born to each generation,” Garlon explained, “but when they’re grown, they generally band together and travel to Nibelheim, looking for mates.”

“Isn’t the North Country dangerous, though?” Gar asked, frowning.

Garlon grinned. “Our children are a match for any dogs or pigs, stranger, I assure you of that-if there are enough of them.”

“Fascinating,” Gar said. “But the most vicious predators walk on two legs, not four.”

“You mean the bandits cast out of Midgard, and the hunters who track them?” Orla grinned. “Giant brothers and’. sisters escort the dwarves, so they always survive the trip. Then the giants born of Nibels come back with them, to seek mates here-though truth to tell, they often find them on the trip, among one another.”

“It must be hard to say goodbye to a child forever,” Gar said to Garlon, face somber.

“Oh, they manage to send messages home with the rare travelers who happen by,” Garlon assured him. “The North Country isn’t an absolute waste, and there are caravans of merchants now and then. Even bandits think twice about attacking a hundred well-armed dwarves, or a dozen giants.”

“Or sixty of both together,” Orla amended.

“Amazing,” Alea breathed.` “They never told us any of this at home!”

“No, because they wanted you to believe we’re monsters, or at least completely different from you,” Garlon told her. “Of course,” Gar said slowly. “If Midgarders knew that you have children their own size, they’d have to think of you as people, like themselves!”

“Indeed they would.” For a moment, Garlon’s disgust showed, but he hid it quickly. “Then, of course, they’d have no excuse to go on enslaving one another, or driving out the ones who grow too big.” He looked up at Orla. “How was the hunting, daughter?”

“Good enough, Father,” Orla swung a game bag off her shoulder and down to him. “There’s a dozen geese and eight partridges in there, and the other hunters did as well or better.”

Garlon staggered. under the weight of the bag, but bore up bravely and turned away. “Come, let us show this bounty to your mothers! Strangers, will you dine with us tonight?”

Alea stared, surprised by the invitation, but Gar said, “We’d be delighted. How kind of you to ask.”

“I think the whole village may feast on the common, Father,” Orla said as she fell in beside him. “Together, we managed to fell an ox, but I’m sure you’ve seen that.”

“I have indeed, and that’s reason enough for feasting tonight,” Garlon puffed. “I’m glad you had a good day.” He beamed up at Orla with pride. “I wondered when you chose Dumi as your goddess when you were so small, but you’ve proved true to her in every way.

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