“You want to try to squeeze up there?”

Jason reached a narrow ledge where there was a slight elbow in the chimney. He paused, panting, seated as if on a bench.

“Come on down, Matt,” suggested the husky voice of a woman—probably Retta—trying to sound sweet. “We mean you no harm.”

“You’ll have to do better than that,” Jason called.

“Blast!” the woman shouted. “Why were you so rough with him?”

“I thought we had the pest cornered.”

“Why didn’t somebody guard the fireplace?”

“Who knew he’d head up there?”

“He might get away.”

“No, he won’t.”

Jason heard the big front door open and shut. Not long after, he heard the roof creaking. He was trapped.

“Ho, Matt! This is Peluthe. You hear me?” The voice came from above.

“I hear you.”

Peluthe spoke calmly. “Why not end this silly game and climb down? You cannot possibly escape. We promise to kill you quickly. No prolonged suffering.”

“Think about it,” Jason said. “If you were in my position, would you come down?” He shifted on the ledge, legs dangling.

“If I were being reasonable, I just might. Even if you last in there until dawn, there are plenty of us to easily slay you. We have weapons.”

“You’re only big at night?” Jason verified.

“Now you know our real secret,” Peluthe answered. “You can understand why we can’t allow you to leave here alive.”

“Plus, we haven’t had fresh human in ages,” the codger called from below, his voice now deeper.

“I promise to keep your secret,” Jason tried. “Why not just let me go?”

“Deal,” Jep replied. “Come on down.”

“No, I mean for real.”

“Fresh human is a rare delicacy,” Jep explained. “It’s nothing personal—you seem like a good enough lad. If you would rather not be eaten, a wise policy is to stay away from these woods, and especially from our village.”

Jason stared down the chimney in silence. He really was trapped. His demise was only a matter of time. At least he had sent Tark off with a message for Galloran, so his return to Lyrian wouldn’t be a total waste.

“Be reasonable,” Peluthe pleaded.

“Sorry for the inconvenience,” Jason said, trying to keep the fear out of his voice, “but I’m going to make this as difficult as I can. You should be ashamed for inviting a guest into your home and then trying to eat him.”

“Suggestions?” Peluthe asked, no longer addressing Jason.

“Find a pole,” someone proposed.

“Smoke him out,” growled the codger.

“Saul!” Peluthe called. “Trade places with me. I’m coming down.”

A commotion of voices ensued, with some giving directions and others complaining. Jason heard the giants clomping about. A big pair of hands began piling wood into the fireplace.

“Find greenery,” Jep instructed. “It makes more smoke.”

Jason heard the front door open and close.

He examined the little ledge he was on. If he put his nose against the rear corner of the ledge facing the wall and breathed through his shirt, he might last for some time. But no matter what precautions he took, eventually he would asphyxiate. If they piled the wood high enough and it burned hot enough, he might even cook! Jason had known returning to Lyrian might get him killed, but deep down he had not believed it would happen. At least not so soon!

Down below, green boughs were heaped atop the growing pile of wood.

Jason patted his pockets, considering his options. He had money and jewels from Tark, but the giants would not likely accept a bribe when they could just kill him and rob his corpse. He had Ferrin’s hand, but there was no chance the displacer was near enough to offer direct assistance. Were these giants loyal to Maldor? If so, could he pretend to be a displacer by dropping the hand, maybe bluff that he was on an errand from Maldor? He doubted whether the giants would care.

Peluthe called to him again, this time from below. “Are you sure you refuse to come down? This won’t be pleasant.”

“Not to mention that the smoke will sully your flavor,” Jep added.

“We could provide a quick, clean death,” Peluthe offered. “Dignified and painless.”

Jason wondered if he should keep answering. His responses might only encourage them.

“Don’t bother playing possum,” Retta said. “We’re going to get you down one way or another, even if we have to climb up there in the morning.”

“I hope I taste like ashes,” Jason snapped.

“He’s a rather poor sport about all of this,” the codger grumbled.

“I’m going to light it up,” Peluthe announced. “I don’t mind my humans lightly toasted.”

Jason watched Peluthe bend forward over the logs. He was clacking some stones together to make sparks. Whatever Jason was going to try, it had to be quick.

“Use the coals from the other fire,” the codger said.

“They were swept aside,” Peluthe replied. “They’re not hot enough.” He kept clacking the stones.

“Let me do it,” Retta insisted.

“I have it.” Peluthe clacked for a few moments to no avail.

“I do this every day,” Retta sighed.

“I have it!” Peluthe snapped.

“I’m a servant of Maldor,” Jason called down. “I’m here on official business.”

“Little late to claim friendship with Maldor,” Peluthe replied disinterestedly. “You didn’t have any idea what we were when you met us.” He huffed with exasperation. “Fine, Retta, you light it.”

Jason decided he should send a final message to Ferrin. He took off his backpack and started rummaging around in it.

“Uh, Peluthe, Saul, we have a visitor,” warned a wary female. Perhaps Deloa.

Jason heard multiple gasps.

“Great demons from Beyond!” Peluthe exclaimed, moving away from the fireplace and out of view.

“Get out!” Jep cried urgently. “Don’t look at it!”

Jason heard the giants clomp across the floor and out the door. Silence followed. Was it a ruse to fool him into climbing down? A ploy to avoid having him taste too smoky?

“Come down from there, Saul!” Peluthe called from outside.

“Why?” The response came from near the top of the chimney.