Just as quickly as it had begun, the battle was over.
 
The hot blood of the giants created an eerie mist as it was exposed to the cold air, mixing with the seared flesh. It was as if their souls were leaving their bodies. He took no pleasure in taking their lives, though he knew it was necessary. He walked over the one of them and knelt down next to its giant head, its eyes still wide open.
 
“It did not have to be this way,” he said pushing the eyelids closed his voice barely a whisper. “You should not have come here. I am sorry.”
 
Pain shot through his leg as he stood up. He must have twisted it at some point during the battle but the adrenaline had made him unaware of it. The others were tending to the wounded and slowly making their way back into what was left of the tavern. Lander didn’t want to go in, didn’t want to deal with the world of death and destruction. So much death… He looked at the giants and then back to the tavern.
 
[i]Something brought these creatures down here,[/i] he thought, [i]or was it someone? Did this have anything to do with we he was summoned here? Perhaps this Aldred person brought the giants here on purpose to test us, to weed us out. Perhaps to find out who is weak and who is strong enough.[/i]
 
His heart ached for the dead, both inside the tavern and outside.
 
[i]I am weak, Aldred,[/i] he thought to himself, slowly walking back to the tavern. [i]I am weak... [/i]