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At once； Lord Hyrim extinguished his fire。 〃Rockbrother；〃 he cried softly。 〃Rockbrother。 Forgive me。〃
The Giant stared at his hand。 Time passed as he became slowly aware of his situation。 At last he recognized the Lord and the Bloodguard。 Suddenly he flinched； jerked both hands to the sides of his head； gasped； 〃Alive？〃 Before Lord Hyrim could answer； he went on； 〃What of the others？ My people？〃
Lord Hyrim clutched his staff for support。 〃All dead。〃
〃Ah！〃 the Giant groaned。 His hands dropped to his knees； and he leaned his head back against the wall。 〃Oh； my people！〃 The tears streamed down his cheeks like blood。
The Lord and the Bloodguard watched him in silence； waited for him。 At last his grief eased； and his tears ceased。 When he brought his head forward from the wall； he murmured as if in defeat； 〃He has left me to the last。〃
With a visible effort； Lord Hyrim forced himself to ask； 〃Who is he？〃
The Giant answered in misery； 〃He came soon…he came soon after we had learned the fate of the three brothers…the brothers of one birth…Damelon Rockbrother's omen of the end。 This spring…ah； was it so recent？ It needs more time。 There should be years given to it。 There…ah； my people！ This spring…this…we knew at last that the old slumbering ill of the Sarangrave was awake。 We thought to send word to brave Lord's Keep…〃 For a moment； he choked on the grief in his throat。 〃Then we lost the brothers。 Lost them。 We arose to one sunrise； and they were gone。
〃We did not send to the Lords。 How could we bear to tell them that our hope was lost？ No。 Rather； we searched。 From the Northron Climbs to the Spoiled Plains and beyond； we searched。 We searched through all the summer。 Nothing。 In despair； the searchers returned to The Grieve； Coercri； last home of the Unhomed。
〃Then the last searcher returned…Wavenhair Haleall； whose womb bore the three。 Because she was their mother； she searched when all others had given up the search； and she was the last to return。 She had journeyed to the Shattered Hills themselves。 She called all the people together； and told us the fate of the three before she died。 The wounds of the search…〃
He groaned again。 〃Now I am the last。 Ah； my people！〃 As he cried out； he moved； shoved himself to his feet； stood erect against the wall。 Towering over his hearers； he put back his head and began to sing the old song of the Unhomed。
Now we are Unhomed； bereft of root and kith and kin。
From other mysteries of delight； we set our sails to resail our track； but the winds of life blew not the way we chose； and the land beyond the Sea was lost。
It was long； like all Giantish songs。 But he sang only a fragment of it。 Soon he fell silent； and his chin dropped to his breast。
Again Lord Hyrim asked； 〃Who is he？〃
The Giant answered by resuming his tale。 〃Then he came。 Omen of the end and Home turned to misery and gall。 Then we knew the truth。 We had seen it before…in lighter times； when the knowledge might have been of some use…but we had denied it。 We had seen our evil； and had denied it； thinking that we might find our way Home and escape it。 Fools！ When we saw him； we knew the truth。 Through folly and withering seed and passion and impatience for Home； we had bee the thing we hate。 We saw the truth in him。 Our hearts were turned to ashes； and we went to our dwellings…these small rooms which we called homes in vain。〃
〃Why did you not flee？〃
〃Some did…some four or five who did not know the long name of despair…or did not hear it。 Or they were too much like him to judge。 The ill of the Sarangrave took them…they…are no more。〃
pelled by the ancient passion of the Bloodguard； Korik asked； 〃Why did you not fight？〃
〃We had bee the thing we hate。 We are better dead。〃
〃Nevertheless！〃 Korik said。 〃Is this the fealty of the Giants？ Does all promised faithfulness e to this？ By the Vow； Giant！ You destroy yourselves； and let the evil live！ Even Kevin Landwaster was not so weak。〃
In his emotion； he forgot caution； and all the Bloodguard were taken unaware。 The sudden voice behind them was cold with contempt； it cut through
them like a gale of winter。 Turning； they found that another Giant stood in the doorway。 He was much younger than the Giant within； but he resembled the older Giant。 The chief difference lay in the contempt that filled his face； raged in his eyes； twisted his mouth as if he were about to spit。
In his right hand； he clenched a hot green stone。 It blazed with an emerald strength that shone through his fingers。 As he gripped it； it steamed thickly。
He stank of fresh blood； he was spattered with it from head to foot。 And within him； clinging to his bones； was a powerful presence that did not fit his form。 It slavered from behind his eyes with a great force of malice and wrong。
〃Hmm；〃 he said in a despising tone； 〃a Lord and three Bloodguard。 I am pleased。 I had thought that my friend in the Sarangrave would take all like you but I see I shall have that pleasure myself。 Ah； but you are not entirely scatheless； are you？ Black bees you。 Did you lose friends to my friend？〃 He laughed with a grating sound； like the noise of boulders being crushed together。
Lord Hyrim stepped forward； planted his staff； said bravely； 〃e no closer； turiya Raver。 I am Hyrim； Lord of the Council of Revelstone。 Melenkurion abatha！ Duroc minas mill khabaal！ I will not let you pass。〃
The Giant winced as Lord Hyrim uttered the Words of power。 But then he laughed again。 〃Hah！ Little Lord！ Is that the limit of your lore？ Can you e no closer than that to the Seven Words？ You pronounce them badly。 But I must admit…you have recognized me。 I am turiya Herem。 But we have …new names now； my brothers and I。 There is Fleshharrower； and Satansfist。 And I am named Kinslaughterer。〃
At this； the older Giant groaned heavily。 The Raver glanced into the back of the cell； and said in a tone of satisfaction； 〃Ah； there he is。 Little Lord； I see that you have been speaking with Sparlimb Keelsetter。 Did he tell you that he is my father？ Father； why do you not wele your son？〃
The Bloodguard did not look at the older Giant。 But they heard Keelsetter's pain； and understood it。 Something within the Giant was breaking。 Suddenly； he gave a savage roar。 Leaping past the four； he attacked Kinslaughterer。
His fingers caught the Raver's throat。 He drove him back out of the doorway onto the headrock of the piers。
Kinslaughterer made no attempt to break his father's hold。 He resisted the impetus until his feet were braced。 Then he raised the green stone； moved it toward Keelsetter's forehead。
Both fist and stone passed through the older Giant's skull into his brain。
Keelsetter screamed。 His hands dropped； his body went limp。 He hung from the point of power which impaled his head。
Grinning ravenously； the Raver held his father there for a long moment。 Then he tightened his fist。 Deep emerald flashed； the stone blasted the front of Keelsetter's skull。 He fell dead； pouring blood over the headrock。
Kinslaughterer stamped his feet in the spreading pool。
He appeared oblivious to the four； but he was not。 As Korik and Tull started forward to attack him； he swung his arm； hurled a bolt of power at