As they walked the wide alleys leading the way through the enormous city, the group gazed around at the surrounding buildings, varying in size, but each and every single one of them larger than the greatest halls they had seen in the north. Every now and then Andvaka would make a short remark, explaining what they were looking at and give but a little bit of information on the history of this truly magnificent place. Nessi did her best to draw some sketches of the most flamboyant structures while walking. To her it felt like she and her companions were miniatures, little figurines on the playground of beings much more significant. She looked at Philian who was walking next to his sister and seemed overwhelmed with the situation. She caught up and gently pulled his shoulder from behind. Philian startled a little bit and let himself fall back to walk with Nessi, who, in a comforting fashion, took his hand into her own. Kyra didn’t even notice as she was obviously preoccupied with different things. »It’s going to be alright… I know all this is a bit much for you… well for every one of us and I know you’re worried about your sister and about the rest of us too but we’re in this together and I won’t have you or Kyra bear the responsibility for whatever our fate might be alone«, she said and gently stroked the back of his hand with her fingers. Philian looked at her and couldn’t deny the comfort provided by her warm smile, her cute laughter lines along her cheeks and most importantly her blue eyes, with that slight touch of yellow, which always reminded him of the sun reflecting in the fjords in the southern outskirts of their realm. He tightened his grip around her hand a little bit and returned the smile. »Thank you…«, he whispered. Lysann and Mathias, who were walking behind them, chuckled as they watched the two walking after Andvaka and Kyra hand in hand.

It was obvious that Andvaka had to really pay attention to keep a pace, the significantly smaller humans could easily keep up with and she was trying her best and but in the end she had created quite some distance between herself and the group. Eventually she halted in front of an enormous yet lovely building. It seemed to have two stories, each of them easily more than fifteen feet in height. Its wooden walls resembled Birchwood and its entrance was large enough, even for Andvaka to pass through. »This is where you will stay and rest until the lady has come to a conclusion. It used to be an Inn back in the old days, now we rarely make use of it anymore but I’m sure it will suffice«, Andvaka said as she opened the massive doors and lead the way inside. The interior of the ground-floor indeed resembled the taverns back home, furniture was provided at different sizes yet most of it was still way too big for normal-sized human beings. Andvaka now pointed at the stairs leading up into the first floor. »Upstairs you will find different rooms. You can choose your rooms and move freely in this house but I expect you to stay inside until you receive news from the lady. If you feel the need for fresh air, you can access the garden through the door behind the counter. I will come back when the night has passed to see after your needs and to bring nourishment«.

»Should we be worried?«, Taras yelled after her blatantly and yet sounding a bit insecure. Andvaka looked over her shoulder and smiled. »Not yet…« she replied and walked away without further explanation.

Silias walked up to the stairs, their first step already reaching up to his knees. »This will be quite the climb«, he stated and looked at Taras. »You’ll probably need some help«. Together they climbed up the seemingly endless stairs and helped Taras who indeed wasn’t in any condition for this sort of physical strain. The upper floor consisted of a corridor with eight rooms, four on each side, and each of them featured furniture of a different size. One after another they checked the rooms and found but two that seemed to be fit for someone of Andvaka’s size or slightly smaller. Large carpets made from mammoth-wool covered wide areas of the room, pelts from sabre-toothed lions could be used as blankets and even though there was no fireplace lit anywhere in this house, it was pleasantly warm. It was when the group of seven had settled in, that they realised how tired and exhausted they really were after the strains of the past days. One after another they fell asleep except Kyra and Philian who didn’t allow themselves to rest just yet. The two of them sat together in a corner of the room, watching the others sleep. »I wonder if Andras or Helen did find their way here…« Kyra said, her eyes wandering up to the windows through which they could see some of the taller buildings around the Inn.

»I’m still not really sure if all this is real or just a dream. But in any case, our first priority should be the safety of our mates. Just like Andras and Helen, they too are a part of our family.« Philian said and put a hand on his sister’s shoulder, for the first time on this mission she seemed vulnerable. »I know… « She whispered and rested her head against her brother’s chest who embraced her in a hug. Philian new she was conflicted and that it tore her apart on the inside but rare were the moments where she’d let it affect her composure and show it to the ones around her. »You’re a great leader Kyra, you have nothing to prove to me and you know that, but in the end you’re only human like the rest of us. We will take on together whatever challenges are to come. Not only you and me but the others too, we’re a team don’t forget that!« he said with Nessi’s words in mind, trying to comfort her. With that being said, Philian noticed that his sister had fallen asleep. His eyes wandered around the room and he startled when they met Nessi’s. She was looking at him and Kyra and smiled. For a moment he felt tempted to carry his sister to the carpets and then snuggle up to Nessi, but he wouldn’t want to wake Kyra up. Instead he just returned the smile and tried to find some sleep in his sister’s embrace.

The next morning, Kyra woke up, his brother’s arms still holding her, due to sunlight shining through the windows of their room. It took her a while to realise why that seemed to confuse her. How could there be sunlight in a lair this deep underground? Carefully she got up, trying not to wake her brother up and climbed up a table to get a better view out of the window. She could see the cave ceiling far above even the greatest building in the lair and through minor crevices in the earth, rays of sunshine bathed the impressive city in warm light.

»Beautiful isn’t it? It lasts no longer than an hour each day before the sun reaches its zenith.« Kyra heard Andvaka say. The giantess stood in the doorway and smiled at the remarkable view from the windows. In her hands she carried a large wooden tray filled with food and beverages. Kyra turned around and couldn’t help but stare at the mountain of food in Andvaka’s hands. Quickly the scents of well-prepared meat, freshly baked bread and of other delicacies unknown to her filled the room. Andvaka walked in and set the tray down onto the carpet before gently poking the sleeping Taras with her foot. »I hope you have rested well« she said as Taras and the others slowly began waking up. »Yes thank you for your hospitality, it certainly was a most welcome diversion from the makeshift camps out in the tundra« Kyra answered truthfully and watched in amusement when Taras opened his eyes to see a pair of enormous feet right in front of him. His gaze wandered upwards, halted for a second somewhere in the general chest area of the giantess, before going all the way up to meet Andvaka’s eyes. »Good …morning« he stuttered and turned to her feet again, seemingly a bit worried about offending her. Andvaka smiled and poked his head with her big toe, which was roughly the size of his hands. »Seems I’ve made quite an impression on you yesterday. No need to worry so much about me, it’s my Lady you will need to make a good impression on.« she said and walked up to Kyra. »I suppose you have news regarding what Lady Halja spoke of yesterday?« Kyra asked in anticipation.

»Indeed…all seven of you are invited to an audience in the great hall later this day. You should know that not all of my mothers and sisters share my rather tolerant view on the male specimen of your race. I suggest you prepare your subjects well for this audience, misbehaviour of any kind could counteract your goals and jeopardise your current state of safety here« Andvaka explained. Silias wanted to object to being called a subject of Kyra but sensed that his opinion on this matter was of little value here. Kyra just nodded, the experiences from the past days had shown, that men did not seem particularly welcome here and if they wanted to make the best of this situation it would seem advisable to just comply with their hosts. »Enjoy the meal, I really hope it will be to your satisfaction. I will return later to escort you to the hall«. With that Andvaka left again but not without giving Taras a playful wink. The others just looked at him as the giantess was walking out of the room but Silias had to speak out loud what everyone else was thinking. »Seems like you made quite an impression on her too«, he said and laughed.

Enough had been said for this morning and the group of adventurers couldn’t wait to engulf in the countless delicacies Andvaka had brought. They would feast for nearly an hour, rejoice and forget about their worries, before finally and with filled stomachs, calm down and put their minds to the task at hand.

»So how do we go about the situation?« Mathias asked in a blunt fashion, putting his jug back onto the tray. »I thought about it and came to the conclusion that maybe it would be best if only Lysann, Nessi and I would attend the audience. Given the hostility towards men prevalent here.« Kyra replied.

Lysann and Nessi nodded in agreement but the others didn’t seem so content.
»Yeah no… sorry Kyra but I for my part will certainly come with you and I’d prefer if we’d all go. And if it means that us men will need to be quiet while you talk then so be it…« Philian said and looked at Silias, Taras and Mathias who seemed to share his view on the matter.

»After all it’s important to show them that even we respect their culture and that we’re willing to play after their rules« Silias added. Kyra sighed but he certainly had a point. »We should rather discuss what it is you want to ask of them« Taras now said and looked at Kyra. He too knew how important information on their family’s fate was to Kyra and her brother. »Our first priority should be Information on how to reach the northern cave system while avoiding the ice-devils hunting grounds. Maybe they have some kind of map I could copy.« Nessi stated. While she nodded, Kyra did not seem completely in agreement with this proposal. »This would imply that we try to simply leave this place and go on with our mission… I’m not sure if that would be the most adequate approach in this situation.« she replied.

»I agree, we should minimise the risk of not returning back home. Our findings are of too much importance and we need to let the Elders know… I say we gather as much information about this place as we can, maybe ask for some supplies for our villages and safe passage through the cave-system and make our way south-wards.« Silias proposed.

»I doubt that this would be to our hosts liking… if they find out that we intend to share their secret with the public…, I wouldn’t want to find out what they’ll do to us to be honest…« Lysann answered.

»They are not as foolish as to expect that we will keep their secret for all eternity… and if they were as worried about it as you imply they surely would have gotten rid of us already« Silias replied being mildly irritated.

Philian sighed and made a gesture as to tell everyone to calm down. »Now that is where we’re jumping to half-cooked presumptions and conclusions… We don’t even know yet what their intentions regarding us are yet, but it certainly will be a matter of discourse and negotiation and we need to be prepared to meet their conditions if it means that we’ll stay on their good side…« he said in a conciliating manner.

»Precisely… and they have the upper hand, so I think it would be wise to get to know more about their expectations before making “demands”. And then, if circumstances allow it, I would ask for safe-passage southwards and maybe some supplies.« Kyra said.

Silias looked at her with worry that had now replaced his irritation. »What about your aunt and uncle?« he asked.

»While you all know that I’d want to find out as much about what happened to them as possible, it is not our first priority…«she replied and looked at Philian who had comforted her so heart-warmingly yesterday. Everyone knew that this was a tough call for her, so no one was willing to keep an argument going. »So it’s settled… we boys keep in the background and let Kyra do the talking and then we shall see how things will develop from there on out« Silias concluded and everyone agreed.

Many hours passed until Andvaka would eventually return and they mostly just sat around waiting in anticipation or engaging in nervous small talk. When the time had come, they silently got up and followed the equally silent giantess who, once again, would lead them through the city. While yesterday the alleys had been empty, today the astounded humans could lay eyes on an impressive number of giantesses of varying sizes walking the streets of the lair, many of them apparently on their way to the great hall. While most of the companions found the sight more worrisome than appealing, Taras couldn’t help but gaze at the beauty of many of these beings. Mathias probably would have enjoyed the sight as well if he hadn’t been aware of Lysann watching him closely. The group remained mostly silent as they made their way to the great hall, but Nessi, who had noticed Philian being visibly tense, once again grabbed his hand and walked side by side with him.

After a while they had reached the familiar spot close to the bridge guarded by Modgudr. Said giantess would now approach them, causing Philian to back away instinctively.

»I greet you Andvaka, sister of mine. I have come to escort the intruders into the hall« Modgudr spoke with her booming voice. It was quite a bit deeper than Andvaka’s but it did not seem to directly correlate with her size as Halja, who had been by far the largest giantess they had seen here, indeed had a higher pitched voice than even Andvaka who now paid her respect to her older sister with a slight bow.

 »I take it our mother is awaiting our… guests?« she asked emphasizing the last part as she didn’t take too kindly towards Modgudr’s hostility. The ebony giantess just nodded and signalled the group to follow her as she turned towards their destination. While for Modgudr and Andvaka, the ascent to the hall, located on a rocky plateau in the middle of the lair, seemed to require no effort, the comparatively tiny humans and especially Taras quickly became visibly exhausted. Philian might have burst out in laughter when he saw the expression on his friend’s face as they approached a seemingly endless array of stairs leading up to the entrance portal, if he hadn’t been uncertain of his ability to make it up there either. Andvaka chuckled at the despair in Taras’ face and without further ado lifted him up and began carrying him on her shoulder.

 »See you at the top« Taras yelled and saluted as he enjoyed the mildly uncomfortable ride that would spare him weeks of muscle-ache. Modgudr grunted in contempt for the playful way in which her sister treated the intruders but decided not to say anything and followed up.

It took the rest of the group quite a while to climb the stairs and catch up with the two giantesses and Taras and when they finally had reached the ridiculously huge entrance portal, they were too exhausted to really acknowledge the impressive sight. Two giantesses, slightly smaller than Modgudr but still towering at, at least, sixteen feet, guarded the gate and opened it when they saw the group approaching. A respectful nod was all they exchanged with Andvaka and Modgudr, as they lead them into the great hall, which by all means deserved its name.

No degree of exhaustion could’ve prevented the group of humans from gasping in awe as they first laid eyes on the simply massive interior of the building which had already been quite a feast for their eyes from the outside. Its ceiling more than a couple hundred feet above, countless beams of ebony towering up to support both ceiling and many a terrace, the floor made from the same Birchwood but mostly covered in carpets made of a variety of different pelts, some of them belonging to creatures unknown to the group of adventurers and many yards away, at the other end of the hall, Halja sat on an enormous throne seemingly made from ebony and ivory and ornamented with an impressive variety of different teeth and claws. Next to the throne, building up a semi-circle with the throne in its centre, were massive chairs occupied by giantesses nearly but not quite as tall as Halja who towered at what Philian believed had to be about fifty feet. She was dressed in silk black as the darkness in the deepest cave and embellished with golden ornaments, reflecting the light of the nearby fireplaces and torches. Her robe was far less revealing this time and seemed to serve a more ceremonial purpose. Her skin seemed even paler than Philian remembered; it was almost as white as mammoth ivory, but maybe it just appeared that way in contrast to her clothing. From her neck downwards, only her lower legs, feet, arms and hands were uncovered and even they were crested with jewellery. Philian glimpsed at the massive toes, which had pinned him down with ease yesterday. Somehow their nails seemed to be dyed in gold and black as well. On her head rested a spiked crown seemingly made from bones, her white hair graciously fell over shoulders.

»Welcome to my hall, travellers« Her booming voice echoed throughout the hall as the group approached the throne. Kyra’s gaze wandered around the semi-circle of goddess-like figures, noticing that most of them did not seem all too pleased.