In the City of Giants - Chapter I

 

Blood of the Bard

Act I

In the City of Giants

 

 

Bard walked about his house on the first morning of the first visit of his children where none of their mothers were present. He just wanted to see them and wish them a good morning, because he loved them.

            First was Amare, who was the only real adult in the house, including Bard. Xey were in the kitchen, making breakfast.

            “What are we having?” Bard asked, seeing that Amare had just put out a match xey used to start the stove’s flame.

            “Bacon, and some eggs,” said Amare. “We are going to have to go to market later and get more of both those things,” xey said in a dismissive manner.

            “I didn’t know you were going to be making this,” Bard replied trying to sound apologetic.

            “I always do when we come here. Besides not all of us can live off of jam and bread.”

            “I’m sorry,” Bard sighed. “Do you need any help?”

            “No thank you,” said Amare. Bard just nodded and walked out of the kitchen.

            Bard’s next stop was the living room where he found his second eldest son and dragon, curled up on the couch reading a massive tome written in an ancient language. Like most dragons, he was stuck in a humanoid form although he was still unmistakably a Fire Dragon. His scales were red like ruby, his wings had a massive ten-foot span, his tail could wrap around himself several times over, and he had dagger sharp talons and teeth. But despite this bestial appearance, no one ever feared or were intimidated by him, that was just how calm his deminer was.

            “Good morning father,” said Tilian, looking up from and closing his book. “Do we have anything planned for the day?”

            “Not toady no. Figured since we’re heading out on the trip tomorrow that you would all want to take today to rest.”

            “That’s true. Just wanted to ask,” said Tilian before he once again cracked open his book and began to read.

Bard had come to know that this was not being dismissive or anything of the sort, it was just the way Tilian was, reminding Bard a bit of how he acted when he was young. In fact, Tilian was probably the one out of all Bard’s children that liked him the best, always eager to hear Bard’s songs and tales, be them of adventures past, or his own.

Bard had trouble finding Smallblade for a while, but then he heard some smashing sounds coming from out front, and he knew his half-orc son was punching something.

Leaving his large antique house, he came into a field of pure green only broken up by a dirt path leading from the front door into the forest that surrounded the estate. Right at the edge of the pathway, Bard could see the tall pale-green figure slamming his arms up against a tall oak. Approaching his son, Bard had nothing to say but-

“Why?”

“I was walking, bumped my head on its branch, now it must pay!” growled Smallblade as he continued to chip away at the tree, the fourteen-year-old having already punched away what would have taken a lumberjack a good few axe swings to cut. Bard knew at times like this it was best to just leave him alone.

As Bard walked back into the house, he heard a familiar purr from up above. Stepping back and looking up, Bard saw his youngest child and second daughter perched on the front porch roof.

“Get down from there you could hurt yourself!” called Bard. Shabaka rolled her eyes.

“No, I won’t. I could climb before I could walk. Besides you’re not the boss of me,” said Shabaka twitching the pointy ears on top of her dark-haired head.

“If you don’t come down, I will get the hose,” Bard said in the serious ‘dad voice’ he had been working on. Shabaka looked down at him with a concerned look before jumping, doing a front flip, and landing on her feet in front of him.

“Sorry Papa, I didn’t realize it would worry you that much.”

“It’s alright,” sighed Bard. “I should probably trust your abilities more. Now could you do me a favor and bring Smallblade in for breakfast? He is in a bit of a bad mood and he tends to overestimate my durability.”

“Will do. Just please try to understand he does actually like you; he just has a hard time showing it,” said Shabaka before walking past her father to go and calm down her brother. With that, there was only one child left to see, and this was the difficult one and thus why Bard saved him for last.

Bard reentered his home and walked down the hallway, back into the kitchen, and up the stairs into a large half-circle-shaped room of doors that each led into one of eight bedrooms. He walked up to the fourth door from the left and knocked. He heard a deep disgruntled groaning. With one last breath, Bard cracked the door ajar.

“Hey Vito,” Bard said with a tremble in his voice. “How did you sleep?”

“I’m awake if that is what you are asking,” grumbled Vitoroy the half-dwarf.

“Oh sorry, did I wake you?”

“No, I have been awake for the past hour or so. I just didn’t want to get up.”

“Well, get up then. Breakfast should be done soon,” Bard said with a purposeful pip. Vitoroy let out one last loud groan before rolling out of his short-legged bed, slinking out one stubby limb at a time. “See you there then.”

Breakfast was quick. Vitoroy, and Tilian asked if they could take their plates to eat in private, Smallblade, and Shabaka inhaled the food given to them. And Amare being an elf only needed to eat once a week, this was not that time. So, Amare just sat there at the head of the kitchen table with xyr eyes closed, meditating. The first day of these large family visits were always awkward for Bard and everyone. Some summers would turn into genuinely pleasant times of family bonding, but most of them had never lost that awkward feeling. Bard just wanted to be with his family, but the sentiment didn’t seem to be completely shared. He knew their mothers would not have let them come here on their own if not for the presence of Amare, let alone accompany Bard on his journey to the Nopas Desert.

Bard was sitting alone, drinking coffee, at his kitchen table one late spring morning. He missed his friends and family, but also enjoyed these rare parts of the year where he could be alone. However, this morning would not have that luxury as his solitude was interrupted by a knock at the door. He only took a moment’s hesitation before putting down his mug and walking up to answer his front door.

Standing there on his porch was a man in the all too familiar purple and yellow robes of an Imperial Messenger.

“For goodness’s sake!” exclaimed Bard. “What does Pal need now?”

“The Emperor Consort needs nothing from you right now. It is her majesty Empres Juno the First that requests you aid an archeological expedition in the Nopass desert,” the messenger said in a way that was somehow both monotone and smug at the same time.

“What do they need me for?” trying to figure out why his friend’s wife, the princess they had saved, would be willing to seek his aid after they parted on such bitter terms.

“Two days ago, an artifact was discovered that has led some to believe there may be a lost city once belonging to the giants, somewhere in the desert. As you are the only human who can read their language, the financers, including the Imperial Court, need you to accompany those on the dig.”

“Slow down their buddy!” Bard barked. “Two days? How did everyone learn about this so quickly? And sorry but I am taking care of my kids this summer, so I will be busy.”

“News is traveling faster than ever, much like the progress of technology,” said the messenger. “And as for your family, do not threat. They have been taken into account and will be allowed to accompany you, all expenses paid, in addition to the rather generous pay you would be getting for this.” A million thoughts went racing through Bard’s mind, including those of money, pride, and wanting to know just what secrets this city of a long dead race could hold. “I will take your silence as meaning you are at least considering this expedition. You know who to write.”

At first Bard had been hesitant with the idea of taking his children with him on the expedition. But they had personally written him back saying they wanted to come, that they wanted to see more of the world. Perhaps, they were filled with the same wander lust that Bard had forgotten.