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Jiant

Cresting the hill, Jiant grinned as he found the village on the plain beyond, surrounded by a great valley of yellow flowers. The small huts were bare shadows in the pale predawn light, in two circles around the central fire. He could see dark shapes of the villagers milling around the central fire, clumped in groups. There seemed to be no guards, no watch of any kind.

Idiots.

A child screamed and broke from the crowd, running between the huts, chased by several others, but a sharp yell and they all slunk back to the main group.
His stomach growled impatiently.

One of the villagers turned and glanced up at the hill, right at him, and he ducked quickly. As he slid back down through the grass and rocks, his shoulder arched at the abuse, still tender from the great fire at the anthill. But he ignored the pain, a necessary cost to maintain surprise.

After a while, the sky lightening behind him, Jiant crept back up to the top, peering over the edge again to find the village much as before. Tamu crept up next to him and stared at their prey. “What are they doing?”

Jiant shrugged. It was impossible to tell, but they continued to cluster near the fire. “If they stay together like that, our work will be even easier.” He said, grinning slightly. Shifting his gaze, he studied the landscape. The valley was long, but fairly narrow, the river running to the south, and a few hills beyond, none as tall as the one he stood upon. To the north, two hills sat side by side, and then row after row of gently rolling ridges beyond. He backed down and looked at Tamu. “Hills to the south, and the north. They will flee east, or west, depending on how we approach.”

Tamu nodded. “Do you think we should split up, come from both sides?”

Jiant thought about the approach for a moment. “No.. the hills are too small. We’ll be seen, and we’ll lose the opportunity for surprise.”

He glanced at the east. “It will be dawn soon. If we wait until the sun crests the mountains, it will be at our backs. If they flee, we will run them down. If they fight, they will fight with the sun in their eyes.” The sky above and to the west was clear, it promised to be a bright, sunny summers’ day. Soon. His stomach churned in anticipation.

Tamu started to slide down the hill, and Jiant called down to him. “Before I forget. Tell the others – if they see anyone dressed in red, take extra care not to kill them. I want them alive.” Tamu looked up and nodded, his face grim.

He took a last look at the village, before sliding back down the hill, and returning to their makeshift camp, hidden in the center of a small stand of trees. The others rested there, exhausted after a full day and night of running.

They may be tired, but tonight we will feast. Nothing will stop me this time.

Jiant grinned wickedly, and sat down against the base of a large oak tree. It shuddered as he leaned against it, leaves and acorns falling all around him. Closing his eyes, he thought about their imminent attack. It would be just like all the others. Most would run in terror, women and children, and the cowards. The rest would stand and fight, and stare at him as he leapt past them, chasing after the small ones while his friends shattered the defenders with rocks. He would snatch up two of the children, and bellow in rage, and the hunters would falter, dropping their weapons, offering themselves in exchange for their precious younglings. The Red Cave children would be there, they might even tell the fools not to surrender, but no one listened when their children were threatened. They always gave up.

And then he would have them all. He would save the Red Cave brats for last, let them watch as his followers devoured their new friends. And then, he would let them choose who of them would be eaten first.

Makari roared, and snatched a stone from the ground, launching it into the woods. Jiant stared in surprise as his minion scrambled to his feet, thundering into the woods. He returned a few moments later, carrying a limp body, dressed in drab skins.

“Two men. One got away.” He tosses the body on to the ground, the web of scars across his face pulsing red in anger.

“Why didn’t you see them earlier?” Jiant demanded.

Makari stared back. “I rest and keeping quiet, as you ordered.” His strange accent slurred his words. Makari was smaller than most, a more recent addition to his group.

Jiant felt his hands twitching, and forced them still as Nash backed away in alarm. I can always punish him after we have the village.

“Tamu. Go with Nash. Find the other one, quickly. Keep quiet.”

Tamu nodded and the two of them rushed off into the woods.

Jiant climbed back to his feet, ignoring the protests from his knees and paced around the valley.

Do I send more out?

They might be seen.

So what?

If we attack, we all need to be together. If your followers are all out searching, we will have to wait until everyone returns.

That would give them too much time to escape.

Jiant smashed a fist into the study trunk of another oak, and the whole top shuddered, shedding branches all around him. Bellowing, he hit it again and again, until the wood split with a loud boom. Moaning, the top began to cant awkwardly, shuddering to a stop, still whole. Snarling, he landed another blow, and with a chorus of cracks, the top collapsed on top of him, a shattered limb driving itself into his shoulder. He stifled a roar, wrenching himself clear of the debris, back into the center of the clearing, gripping his shoulder with his right hand. The others are staring at him, standing in the shadows beneath the tree at the far edge of the little glen.

And then he saw movement in the forest beyond, flashes of tan and brown. He glanced around, searching for a rock.

Tamu stepped out from behind the trees, with Nash following behind, walking slowly into the pale blue light. Jiant looks at their empty hands, and then stared into their eyes.

Tamu licked his lips. “We couldn’t find them.”

Jiant’s fingers start twitching.

Makari spoke up. “Jiant, if we attack now, we may still surprise them.”

Jiant closed his eyes, and clasped his hands together.

Idiots.

He opened his eyes again, to find everyone retreating further into the shelter of the trees.

“Stop backing away.” He growled. “I will only kill you if you deserve it.”

They all stared at him, unmoving and silent.

“By the time we get there, they will be alerted.” He growled, glancing at Makari. “Makari is right. Get up, all of you. We attack now.”

His minions stepped forwards out of the trees and slowly gathered around him.

Much better.

Jiant turned to the west, motioning with his hands as he spoke. “There is a hill directly to the east of the village. We will circle around from the north.” He locked eyes with each of them, Suet in particular. “Try and keep up.”

He turned, and started to jog, the first slivers of sunlight appear above the dark mountains to the east, brightening the ground in front of him, as if it was lighting his path. The sun is with me today. Up ahead, clouds were spreading across the sky, turning darker with each heartbeat.

Odd. It was sunny just a moment ago.

He pushed the thought from his mind. Rain will not stop him. There are much more important things to worry about now.

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Wednesday, July 5th, 2006 at 10:30 am.
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