“She was a Giant of enormous might, legendary belligerence, and indeed extreme ugliness. By her own choice, she lived apart from all others, for all who knew her feared her, and she felt only disdain for their alarm, which she deemed cowardice. Bahgoon she was given to be her servant, against his vehement protests and frantic opposition, because our ancestors could no longer endure his presence, because no other Giant could restrain his conduct—and because our ancestors considered his new place in Thelma’s service a fit reward for his multitude of offenses.”

Coldspray sighed. “That she found means to tame him, and that they discovered together an embattled and extravagant happiness, inspires our delight in their tale. However, the Elohim misheard the humor of the Giants—or elected to interpret it in another fashion. The aspect of the tale which intrigued them, and which swayed them to proffer their gift of tongues, was the coercion of Bahgoon, not its unforeseen outcome. They discerned clearly our eagerness—indeed our hunger—for friendship and knowledge throughout the Earth. And they assured themselves that we did not scruple to send our own to apparent woe when we saw no other course. They shared a similar trait, as the doom of each Appointed demonstrates. But they did not speak of such matters. Rather they expressed only their own delight. And they offered this bargain, the gift of tongues in exchange for the tale of Bahgoon and Thelma—and for all that the tale implied.”

The Ironhand did not meet Covenant’s gaze, or Linden’s. Instead she studied the grass at the feet of the Haruchai like a woman who expected to be judged. Her manner said clearly that she and her comrades had already judged themselves.

“Because our ancestors had been dazzled by the splendor of the Elohim,” she continued, “and because they were avid for the offered gift, they did not inquire into the perceived implications of the tale. Glad, and gladly blind, they accepted the bargain. Only now, when the harm cannot be recalled, have we heard the truth of the exchange. The eagerness of our ancestors to accept the terms, the Elohim interpreted as consent to the unwilling servitude of an unnamed Giant in a distant and uncertain future. Involuntarily misled,” she stated harshly, “or perhaps voluntarily, our ancestors condoned the sacrifice of Lostson Longwrath’s life to any use which the Elohim craved.”