Lharis shook his head.

“No, don’t do that. Just say there’s a danger. Say it’sbandits. Get the women and children to the root cellars where they won’t beheard. Pick some of the older boys to douse all those torches and ready as many others as we have, once they’ve put out the cook fires. Put them down next tothe oven and keep it lit. The flames won’t show, and the torches will be rightthere to light, when it’s time.” The aged warrior eyed the headman, who wastrying to say something. “Cheer up, Yerik. Giants aren’t immortals. They can dieas readily as men.”

Lightning flashed, and thunder boomed almost on its heels, shaking the ground. “No one should be out in this anyway. Get our people undercover because the storm’s setting up strong. I saw only the two, Yerik. Our mencan deal with two giants.”

“Deal… with…” Yerik echoed blankly.

“Do what he says, my son. Go!” Gran gave him a shove. Shewaited to be sure he was moving in the right direction then turned back to the two hunters. “Your spears, Lhors, have you more of them?”

The boy stared at her, his eyes wild, then jumped convulsively as a small child screamed. The village flared with blue light, thunder cracking on top of it. Gran felt the hair stand up on her head and arms. She turned to see terrified people suddenly running in all directions, her son standing in the middle of the square staring up into the trees. And up. Darkness was followed in a blink by a brilliant blue-white flash that cast strange shadows.

“That isn’t one of our oaks,” Gran said to herself. Suddendread seized her as lightning illuminated trees, roofs, and a huge snarling face looming above the roofs.

The heavily bearded giant was more than twice her size, and most of his head was covered in a metal cap. His body was clad in heavy-looking hides that bared massive arms, and several long spears dangled from one meaty hand.