Chapter Three
The Leaving
Kalesh strode back toward the village, the ring of the giants gleaming upon his arm, the great wide-headed sword slapping on one hip, the pouch of the wondrous little ancient fruits jouncing softly upon the other. His stride was long and sure, his head erect. His every wondering sense seemed to tingle, fresh and crisp like the sight of a man who comes up from swimming, shakes the water from his eyes, and looks around anew. Ah, the things he could see, the things he could smell, and the things he could even taste upon the breeze! Game was all around—it would not be difficult to find meat when he wished. Once he whiffed a mother mammoth with young, perhaps the most dangerous thing to encounter, but he soon realized that they were very far away, so he did not need
