A Colossal Request - Chapter 8

“Just a little more Emson…a little…more.”

He was much father now from his original spot under the small tree and it seemed like an unnecessary distance he was making between them.  He thought from where he was standing before was safe enough, but the counselor continued to follow along as the King instructed, slipping deeper and deeper into the forest.

“Keep moving Em.  Keep on moving.”

“I think that’s quite far another King,” Kygron said looking down to him.  He knew he was big, and the King wanted his friend to be safe, but this was ridiculous.  Even he was starting to have trouble seeing the small human down below from such a great distance.  Ignoring him, King Joerrim kept gesturing from above.

“More…more…good…yes…ye-STOP!  Alright Emson, that’s perfect!”

Kygron sighed. “Are we ready now your majesty?”

“I believe so,” the King said looking up to him with a smile.  The smile quickly faded as Kygron, already in a squatting position, laid down a hand for the King to climb on.  The King didn’t move a muscle.  He only stared at the large hand, remembering the awful feeling that came earlier when he last was upon it.

“Uhmm…this is where you’re supposed to get on.”  The deep confused voice broke the King out of his daze.

“Oh, ha ha…yes of course.”  

“Then come on.  We’re wasting time, remember.”  The King only nodded, but he didn’t move.

“Is everything alright up there?”  Emson shouted from below.

“YES!”  Kygron and the King nervously shouted back in unison.  If this was true, the King knew he had to prove it.

“Your friend down there is getting worried.  So come on. I won’t hurt you.  It’ll be just like last time.”  

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” the King said under his breath.  Swallowing his fear down, King Joerrim began to slowly come toward the hand that twitched in anticipation for him.

“Understand Kygron,” the King began, once stepping up on to the hand, “I want you to be careful this time.”

Kygron raised an eyebrow.  “This time?  What do you mean ‘this time’ ?  Was I not careful before?”  

“Welllll, no.  I didn't complain."

"Surprisingly, for once."

"But I am now. I need you to lift up a little slower and not as fast.  It’s a bit…well unnerving for my stomach.”  Not having had a decent meal all day, the King couldn’t trust his stomach to stay settled if jostled around once more.

Kygron had thought the King was fine the last time he held him.  This reminded him how much more gentle he needed to be with humans.  The whole human-holding thing wasn’t new to him, though, it had been a while since he had done so.

“I-uhh-I didn’t know.  Sorry.  I promise be more careful this time.”

“It’s quite alright.  Just remember, not so fast with the old man,” the King laughed, “especially with that old man.”  Kygron saw he was pointing to Emson.

“Right, not so fast.  Understood.”

“Good, now let’s go down there and get our man.”  Kygron didn’t like the sound of that, but he lifted up the King, slowly, as requested.  The King still felt a slight familiar feeling in his gut, but nothing quite as intense like before.  He assumed this was to be expected no matter how gentle the giant.  It seemed that the young Colossalen was trying his best.  He hoped it wouldn’t be too much for Emson.  They would have to work on this, especially if he was going to be courting his daughter soon.  The very thought sickened his stomach more than the giant’s ungraceful movements.

Colossalens did court didn’t they?  Even if they did, my little girl wouldn’t let any man, human or giant, lay a hand on her.

“Better?” Kygron interrupted his thoughts once more.

“Y-yes…much better.”

Emson watched on as the giant figure slowly placed the King back in the small pocket-like pouch across his chest.  Once the King was safely in, the Colossalen began his descent down the cliff.  Rocks and boulders started to tumble down as he did so.  Others were crushed beneath his form.  Even standing from afar, Emson could feel the tremors with each and every step the giant took.  He swallowed hard as he listened to what sounded like a mountain shattering.  He now was glad the King made him move to this position earlier.

When the Colossalen’s foot finally made contact with the earth below, the ground shook fiercely.  Emson again closed his eyes and quickly clung on to the tree before him for dear life.  He felt every vibration through his body, and it continued for a minute, before ceasing.  When it finally stopped, Emson didn’t dare move a muscle, still bracing himself for any sudden impact.

“Emson!”

The small counselor opened his eyes at hearing the familiar voice, yet he quickly regretted doing so, because right in front of him, stood a giant pair of dark, brown, dusty boots.   As his gaze followed higher above him, he saw that the owner of the boots was even more breathtaking and fearful up close.  Emson had to admit, he wasn’t what he was expecting, but he still could tell he was a force to be reckoned with.  He had studied about their kind for many years, but never did he think he would ever come face to face with one in real life, and one so young at that.  He wonder how old the Colossalen was?

As large dark green eyes stared into little brown ones, Kygron could smell fear flowing off the man.  He tried to crack a smile at him, in hopes of making himself look less intimidating.  He knew all attempts failed when brown eyes widen further in fear at seeming his pearly white fangs.  Quick Kygron! Say something, before the human has a heart attack!

“Uhmm, Emson, yes?”  The counselor only nodded in response, but kept his eyes fixed upon the giant.

“Yes, so…I’m Kygron and—”

“And I’m still stuck in here.”

Kygron rolled his eyes.  So much for making nice with the human.  

“Kygron!  Remove me at once from this confine so I may greet him below!  Emson, can you hear me?  I’m coming down!”

Why couldn’t the King just let him pluck the little human up after a simple introduction, and they be on their merry way.  He didn’t see the point in this when both men were going to wind up back inside the leather pouch.  They would have plenty of time to kiss and make up in there.  Yet, with this being true, he went along with the King’s wishes.  Kygron thought that maybe by his doing so, it would help in gaining the trust of the other human.  He placed a hand inside the pocket and felt around for the King.  When something soft brushed against his hand, he slowly pinched at the cloth and brought the King out the pouch by his red cloak.  Carefully he placed him on his hand, and brought him down to join his friend.

Before Kygron could get the King fully down to the ground, the King leapt out of his hand and ran toward his counselor.

“You can stop cowering in fear down here my old friend!”  

“Ha ha! I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you Sire.”  The two men hugged each other with relief.

“Likewise Emson, likewise.”

“For a second there, I thought you might have been…well, you might not return.”

Well as you can see, he’s back safe and sound, in one piece.  I didn’t eat or kill.  As tempting as that might have been.

“Told you I’d be back.  You worried for nothing.”

“Ha, ha! That I did.”  

“EHEM!” The two men turned to the Colossalen.

“I hate to interrupt such a joyful reunion, but don’t we have a war we need to be getting to.”

Emson and the King quickly looked at each other with faces of pure determination.

“He’s right!” the King said.  They had retrieved their miracle and now they need to get it back to their men as soon as possible.

Kygron knelt down beside the two men and extended both hands out toward them.  The King made his way to them and to Kygron’s surprise, the counselor followed behind, carrying with what looked like a large satchel and giant brown book.  He had already prepared himself for the next challenge of coercing this second human to climb into his hand so to see him moving so willing toward him was unexpected.

“Maybe this one is different,” Kygron thought, smiling to himself, “or it could be the King that is the source of his bravery.”  It didn’t matter much to him, he just wanted to get to moving.  Still, a part of him was a bit excited that he had been able to win the trust of another human, even if it wasn’t fully genuine, it was a start.  He need all the practice he could get before meeting the princess.