Chương 108: Chapter 107 - Rune and Goliath

The stone structure that housed the vestibule for the transport system was beautiful; there was no denying that. Ray was in awe at the craftsmanship that went into the construction. It appeared to be carved directly out of a solid piece of rock. The walls were highly polished with decorative carvings taken straight from nature; birds flying, deer by a pond, mountains standing proudly. The ceilings vaulted to about twenty-five feet he guessed, with stone pillars and intricately carved moldings.

It wasn't until they reached the door that led to the outside that he became keenly aware of his size. Ray would never be mistaken for small and if he ever came across someone who referred to him as such, he would be running for his life. He was well over six feet tall, somewhere closer to nine if he was to venture a guess. The problem wasn't necessarily height; it was also girth. He was not wispy. He looked like a man carved from a solid slab of granite.

He was broad shouldered with a chest that resembled a stone wall. He looked at the doorway skeptically wondering how he would make it through while holding on to his dignity. He watched as Grim and Max exited first, meeting their compatriots on the other side. Celestia gently ducked and passed through the passage with no issue. Sheera and Rowan were next; they were close to his height but were wiry and lean. They passed through gracefully, almost fluidly.

Rowan had even managed to pass Thai through to Sheera without waking her. Now it was his turn. There was just no way his exit was going to go unnoticed. He was built as solid as any of the stone structures in the building, so there would be no give. It was going to take some maneuvering to get through, he just hoped he didn't get stuck along the way.

"Here goes nothing," he mumbled as he first put his head through the opening, before pivoting to his side. He could feel the hard stone pressing against his back as he forced himself through the opening. The group watched, covering their mouths to stifle giggles, while watching this enormous man squeeze through the much smaller hole. Ray stood up red-faced noticing all eyes were now on him.

"What?" he asked.

"Haven't any of you seen a man try on a building before?" The dwarven guards watched the scene, eyes bulging and mouths gaping. The fear on their faces was unmistakable.

"Fellas meet Ray," Grim said watching them all crane their necks as Ray stood up to his full height.

"Ray, meet the Fellas." Ray looked down at the small group of guards.

"Hi, Fellas," he said cheerily.

"I'd say let's go grab a beer or something, but evidently I need to lay off the carbs," he said, patting his stomach.

"Okay guys, put your eyes back in yous heads and close your mouths. He be just like the rest of us, only bigger," Grim said, shaking his head.

"Yeah, I guess you could say I'm super-sized." Ray snickered.

"So, I guess that would make you guys… fun-sized. I was gonna say snack-sized, but I didn't want you to get the wrong idea." Grim chuckled. The guards, however, had mixed reactions. One smiled, one looked appalled, another looked as if he was going to wet himself, while another looked like a deer ready to flee, then there was Max. You would have thought that was the funniest thing he had ever heard, he began laughing so hard he could not catch his breath.

"Max pulls yourself together, will yous?" Grim chastised.

"Snack-sized?" Max said, trying to catch his breath, tears streaming down his face.

"Just so's yous know… us dwarves are loaded with fat." He was now laughing so hard he was holding his stomach. So's if yous is trying to slim down, I's wouldn't recommend it." He added, slapping his knees. Grim threw daggers at the young soldier with his eyes.

"Sorry, Sir," Max said, wiping a tear from his cheek.

"Okays men," Grim said, "Here be the plan," he added, standing suddenly rigid.

"The most vulnerables wills be in the middle, that wills be our Elven guests. On one sides we will have Celestia, the others, Ray. We wills circle them as wes proceed to the cargo loading station." He sighed.

"Based on your own…" he shot his glare back to Max, "ridiculous initial reactions to our guests, yous can only imagine how the locals wills reacts when the sees this group. It is your job tos protect them… and I means our guests, not the townsfolk. Our guests pose no threats to any of the locals. Ray has been granted special permissions to intervene if its becomes necessary, but it be your job to bes sure that need does not arise. Is that clear?" You could be reading stolen content.

Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"Yes, sir," the guards said in unison.

"Any questions?" he asked, looking at each one.

"Good, takes your positions." The group fell in behind Grim, each one assuming their designated spot in the formation.

"Remember, stay tight, stay aware," Ray said to the group as Grim led the way. As predicted, heads turned, gasps were heard, children were shielded and onlookers stared.

"It's okays folks, no needs to panic, these are our guests," Grim shouted. The group found it difficult to not pass Grim or their guards. Their natural stride was far larger than that of the dwarves, causing them all to shuffle instead of walk. The further they went, the more the crowds seemed to relax. The townspeople began lining the streets to see the spectacle while the group of large strangers passed by. Ray, Rowan and Sheera took in the sights of the city.

It was a sight to behold, towering structures, carved into the cliff faces, and small waterfalls filling tide pools. There were seemingly impossible oases strategically placed throughout the city, each one with lush grasses, brilliant flowers and fruit trees. Each feature added splashes of vibrancy and color, contrasting the muted colors of the stone surrounding it.

"Gos away! Yous giant freaks!" Someone yelled from the crowd. Suddenly a rock came hurtling toward them from seemingly nowhere. Ray reached out and caught it, mere inches from Thai's head.

"Hey!" Ray yelled, causing the crowd of onlookers to gasp collectively.

"Who's the coward? You got something to say? Be a man about it! Throwing rocks at innocent children is a cowardly move if I ever saw one." Grim stopped the group and turned toward the crowd.

"Okays, who thrown it?" A group of teenagers stepped casually away from a young man, wanting no part of it.

"Was it yous, Bumbledork? I means, Drumindor."

"You know that kid?" Ray asked Grim.

"Yeah, he's an alls around rotten apple, if yous catch my drift," Grim replied before motioning to Max.

"Gos and gets him. I thinks our friend may wants to have a words with him," he said, winking to Ray, who smiled in return.

"Yes, as a matter-of-fact, I would like to speak to the lad," Ray said, shooting the young man a stern look. Max went over and grabbed him by the arm and yanked him toward the group.

"Let's go," Max said as the young man tried to pull away.

"No sense a fighting Rune, we knows where yous live," Grim called out.

"Fine!" the boy replied, stomping along. Max brought him up next to Ray, who then looked menacingly down at the young man.

"You realize, I eat punks like you for breakfast, right?" He grinned.

"By the size of yous I don't much doubts it," Rune replied sarcastically.

"So you think you're a big man, throwing rocks at a little girl?" Ray asked.

"Wasn't aimin' for her. I's was aimin' for yous," Rune replied.

"And what were you planning on doing when I picked you up by your head?" Ray asked.

"You'd haves to catch me first," Rune said.

"I don't think that would be a problem. I don't even think I'd break a sweat. Have you seen your little itty bitty legs compared to mine? One of my steps is about ten of yours," Ray said.

"Wouldn't matter. I'd stick yous with me dagger," Rune replied.

"Oh really?" Ray laughed.

"Let's see your dagger." Rune pulled it out and showed him.

"That… that's your dagger?" Ray scoffed.

"I've seen sewing needles bigger than that boy. You want to see a real dagger?" he asked, unsheathing the blade on his hip.

"This lad… is a dagger." Rune stepped back. Ray's dagger was as long as his arm and as thick as his leg. His eyes opened wide at the sight.

"Maybe you should understand who you're threatening before you have your mouth making threats your equipment can't keep," he said, putting the dagger back in its sheath.

"Anything else you want to say?" Rune looked at him blankly, his face turning red as his friends began snickering in the distance. Rune turned and glanced at them, then turned back to Ray, opening his mouth to say something. Ray cut him off before he had a chance to say something stupid.

"I'd think long and hard about the next thing that comes out of your mouth. Do you want to save face with your friends, or save your face? The choice is yours son." Rune looked at him then looked at his feet.

"Good choice." Ray snickered.

"Hey Grim, he's cute, can we keep him?" he asked. Grim looked at him confused.

"Why would yous possibly wants to do that?"

"I think we still have some things to discuss along the way," Ray said.

"You got a problem with that son?" He glanced back over at his friends who were now laughing hysterically at him.

"No sir," he said, before asking him wide-eyed, "You don't plans on really keepin' me do's ya's? My ma wills get really upset if I isn't home for supper."

"No, you fool! I'm not going to actually keep you," he said, nudging him into the group.