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voraciousvore · 2 months

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Giganterra (Chapter 2)

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------ Chapter 2: A Tiny New World ------

King Richard decided that his protectorate, the human kingdom of Minimaterra, was well overdue for another round of tribute to their giant overlords. He wanted some new toys to play with, and as an esteemed and illustrious father of high station, he wished to provide for his spoiled daughter as well. He sent his trusted advisor, Leon Griffin, as well as one of his most competent knights, Sir Martin Maneater, along with his squire, Joey, to convey his royal proclamation.

He normally requested five maidens at a time, which was plenty to sate his appetites until he grew bored of them, so he simply tacked on two extra men for Princess Bianca. He didn’t consider this request an excessive burden for the humans. The men tasked with delivering the message saddled up their horses and headed out, bringing with them parcels of supplies for their outpost in human territory. Martin kept his armor to a minimum, since the risk of violence was low.

The trip started out uneventful as the three men crossed through giant territory on horseback. Leon and Sir Maneater, as longtime royal servants, knew each other reasonably well and had traveled to the human kingdom in the past, so this excursion was routine for them. Joey, on the other hand, was still a young recruit and had never seen a real live human before. Unless on royal business, giants were generally forbidden by order of the king from entering Minimaterra, for the purpose of protecting the human populace—and ensuring quality stock.

Joey, always the inquisitive type, was bursting with excitement and had a lot of questions. “So, if giants normally aren’t allowed into the human kingdom, are humans still allowed to freely pass into our lands?”

“Not quite,” Sir Maneater explained. “They usually require a permit, and for practicality purposes, a giant escort.”

“But... we surround them on all sides, don’t we? Doesn’t that mean they are essentially prisoners in their own land?” Joey pressed, his brow furrowing.

“It’s for their own safety,” Leon sighed. Joey was correct, but he didn’t want to dwell on the unpleasant thought. “A lone human is easy prey for a wild animal or a giant with ignoble intentions. They are better off with their own kind.”

“Wait, are you saying the flora and fauna on their side are miniaturized as well?” Before Leon or Sir Maneater could answer, they reached the border crossing. Leon presented the guards with the proclamation and the royal seal, and the party was granted egress without incident. They left their horses behind in the care of the guards, since the beasts of burden weren’t necessary to cross the protectorate and would be more of a hazard to the environment than an advantage.

Joey’s eyes just about boggled out of his head when he beheld for the first time the tiny landscape. He removed his glasses and polished them before replacing them on his face, to make sure what he was seeing was real. The giant men were surrounded by a forest of trees, the tallest of which barely reached the height of Joey’s calves. “Why—the trees are so small!” he exclaimed. He flinched as a flock of birds swooped past his knee. “Look at those birds!”

“I suppose that answers your question,” Leon chuckled, stepping forward with care so as not to knock over any trees. The other two giants followed. Joey gaped in awe.

“Well, now I have even more questions,” Joey remarked. “How is this possible? Why are the trees and animals small? Why isn’t there any overlap? I would think the plants would seed on both sides of the border, or large animals would find their way into the interior.”

“Nobody really knows for sure,” Sir Maneater explained, “but the legends say that humans were once giants like us. A powerful sorcerer, seeking revenge for an unknown cause, cursed the land at least a millennium ago. All the creatures and physical matter in the area shrank, including inanimate objects and people. The other unaffected animals instinctively stay away from the curse, so they do not enter. It doesn’t detract us giants though.” He shrugged. “Perhaps that was what the sorcerer intended.”

“Wow, that’s quite dark,” Joey said, in a more somber tone. He got distracted as a herd of deer ran past his boot. “Amazing.” He couldn’t get enough of the incredible sights. He had always known that humans existed, but to see an entire diminutive world alive at his feet was positively magical, like a scene from a fairy tale.

They didn’t have to walk very far until signs of human habitation started to appear. The forest gave way to farmland, complete with tiny red barns and farmhouses, grain silos, windmills, fences, and a wide array of domesticated animals. Joey’s mouth hung open as he observed teeny horses and cattle grazing, and little clucking specks wandering around that he presumed must be chickens. He even saw humans, shockingly small yet perfect replicas of their larger brethren.

“Oh my goodness, they’re adorable!” he gushed.

“Joey, that’s rude,” Sir Maneater reprimanded. “They’re people just like us. Also, keep your voice down. Their hearing is sensitive with their size.”

“Sorry.” Joey’s innocent smile faded when he noticed how frightened the humans seemed to be upon his arrival, disappearing into the nearest buildings or hiding places. “Oh, they’re running away...”

“You’ll have to get used to that,” Leon said, a twinge of melancholy in his tone. “They have good reason to be afraid. We’re so much larger than them, after all.”

“But we wouldn’t hurt them...” Joey protested. He was disappointed. He hated to think that the little people feared him, when he was a gentle giant. He had secretly hoped to hold a human and talk to one, but that seemed out of the question now.

“Of course not. But they don’t know that,” Leon countered.

“But we’re not here to cause harm! Don’t they know that us giants are allies, and are just trying to protect them?” Joey replied. Leon and Sir Maneater exchanged uneasy glances. Joey, with his naïveté, was oblivious to their true purpose here. In the past, when the human king failed to gather enough attractive females to satisfy King Richard’s requirement, or the king was displeased with the quality of the tribute, the giant king had sent soldiers in to snatch up extra women and wreak havoc as they pleased. Such terrible atrocities were not forgotten easily in collective memory.

“Joey, don’t step there!” the knight scolded his squire. Joey pulled back his boot just in time. “That’s a field of grain. Be careful not to crush their food underfoot.”

“M-my bad,” Joey stammered, a bit flustered. The grain looked like light brown grass from his height. He was suddenly very self-conscious about just how big and clumsy he was, and how much more space he took up in this tiny world. He felt sick to his stomach as he realized how easy it would be to accidentally step on someone, without even knowing they were there. He was more cautious with every step now.

The pathways became wider and the quaint little cottages gave way to larger structures as the giants approached the more bustling areas around the capital. Joey noticed that, while most humans reacted with horror at the sight of giants, others stared up at his towering figure with amazement, fascination, or resentment. He didn’t say anything, remembering how his mentor had criticized him for talking too loudly. He felt embarrassed with so many eyes on him, even if they were tiny.

The giants had to shuffle along slowly, with roads that still felt too narrow for their huge feet. Joey was exceedingly cautious not to knock over any buildings or step on any people, carts, or wagons. Fortunately, most humans had the common sense to get out of his way. He marveled at all the sights and details on such a miniscule scale. There was a market square, tiny stalls selling crops and other wares, little houses and shops and alleyways. Joey could almost imagine such things were fake, like toys, if not for how vibrant and alive and intricate the whole scene was.

The central palace, nestled in the heart of the city, was truly a sight to behold, even if the tallest tower barely reached his waist. The giants stepped over the palace walls with ease to find a sprawling courtyard large enough to hold all three of them. The courtyard was richly decorated with ornate statues, fruit trees, colorful gardens, and a central multi-layered fountain. The representatives of the king had no need to announce their presence as they waited patiently for an audience. The tiny guards warily aimed spears and arrows up at the giants.

A human emerged onto the balcony at the highest point of the castle tower, with his head held high. He was lavishly dressed, and despite his small stature commanded a confident and regal aura that made him instantly recognizable as the king of the humans. He had dark skin, long braids of hair tied back with gold thread, and eyes that blazed with intensity. Leon and Sir Maneater bowed with reverence, and Joey scrambled to follow suit. When they kneeled, they were close to eye level with the king, so they stayed on their knees out of respect.

“His Majesty, King Charles of Minimaterra!” a herald announced. The king showed no fear on his noble features, indicating to the guards to stand down with a mild gesture of his hands. A hush settled over the assembled parties as they waited for the king to speak.

“Gentlemen,” he proclaimed, his rich voice ringing far in spite of his size. “Why are you here?” He spoke with dignity and authority, yet there was a harsh tone underlying his words.

“We bring a message from our king,” Leon answered, lowering his head in deference.

“Proceed,” King Charles ordered, regally folding his arms over his chest.

Leon unfurled the proclamation and began to recite the message within. “His Majesty, King Richard of the Hardon Dynasty, esteemed Ruler of the Kingdom of Giganterra, hereby Proclaims that the human Kingdom of Minimaterra shall uphold their Agreement, in exchange for Protection by the Grace of Giganterra to keep their territory Safe and Secure, to provide the Giant King with his Rightful Tribute. This Tribute shall consist of five human Maidens and two human Men and shall be Collected one week from today. By Order of the King.” Leon rolled up the scroll, schooling his face into a neutral expression despite his insides squirming with disgust at having to read out loud such a despicable edict.

Joey kept his head down, but his heart was thrown into turmoil as he heard those harrowing words. The giant king was demanding tribute in the form of… living people? They were here to engage in some sick slave trade? And why did he specify five women and two men? What was he planning to do with those people? His stomach churned with the disturbing possibilities. His revulsion magnified as he realized his fellow giants, whom he respected and trusted, were complicit in this deplorable event. He wanted to stop them, to protest and storm off, perhaps even vomit, but he remained kneeling, not wanting to embarrass the others and cause a scene. He would talk to them later.

The human king’s expression morphed into righteous anger as the proclamation was read to him. His noble composure receded as he balled his microscopic hands into fists, shaking with fury. “This again?” he snapped. “We just provided tribute a few months ago! And he’s asking for men now as well as women? AND he’s increased the quantity? What madness is this?!”

“My apologies, Your Majesty,” Leon said, sinking down with shame. “I’ll be happy to convey your concerns to our most illustrious King Richard, if you wish...”

The king’s face drained of color. “That... won’t be necessary,” he clarified. “We will comply.” Even from afar, Joey could detect the tension in his little jaw as he gritted his teeth. King Charles was painfully aware that he was in no position to refuse, as unreasonable as he considered the demands. The giants could invade and enslave all his people on a whim.

“Very well,” Leon confirmed. “Thank you for your time, and gracing us with your presence, Your Majesty.”

The king dismissed the party. As Leon turned away, he winced with humiliation. He hated being the king’s dog, aiding him with his terrible abuses, yet he couldn’t break free of the powerful man’s grasp. He’d served the current king’s father before his untimely death, when times were better and the humans were treated with respect. He’d watched the rapid descent into evil when his devilish son had ascended the throne, but was powerless to stop it. King Richard kept him close, as a trusted advisor, but Leon was fully aware he could dispose of him at any time. He knew too much about the royal family to merely be fired if he didn’t live up to the king’s standards and submit to his will; he would end up beheaded if he stood up to the king. Thus, he trudged away in shame through the tiny human city, watching the humans scamper away in terror or glare up at him, hating himself almost as much as they hated him, their oppressor.

Chapter 3

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