They are witnesses to carnage.

“I would turn back milady, but if I was to do so, we would soon find ourselves overtaken by the horsemen ahead” The driver side over his shoulder to his mistress and her companion.

“If need be, I will defend you both to the best of my ability“ he added, as three riders, cloaked in the darkness awaited their approach. Vilea checked a lethal dagger stuck in her boot, and pulled another from a pack on the seat beside her and handed it to Jilleen.

“I suggest that if they mean to **** us that you fight with all you have, as they will most likely kill us on the road once they have had their way with us” Jilleen’s mistress then leaned in closed, and pressed her lips close to her redheaded handmaiden’s ear.

“And if you are indeed a enchantress of some measure, I hope you will use whatever talent you may have to save us” before moving back to her seat, Vilea gently kissed Jilleen behind her ear. The two women locked each other in a gaze, Jilleen open mouthed with shock, and Vilea with an expression of self satisfaction. The incident was quickly forgotten when the carriage pulled to an abrupt stop.

“Hold there!” one of the horsemen called

“Why do you hold us here? We have business in the city” the driver replied. Seconds later his question was answered by the loud thump of a thick crossbow bolt to the chest. He slumped with a groan, and fell from the carriage, and onto the dirt road. A rider spurred his mount forward, and he quickly grabbed the reigns of the carriage.

“Good evening, ladies” he said with mock politeness.

“Leave us be, we’ve done you no harm” Jilleen cried.

Suddenly there was a crash from the side of the road, and a loud snap as a oak fell heavily to the road. The horses of their oppressors whinnied and danced on the road nervously. Jilleen became aware of a rank odor in the air, like that of a great unwashed beast, and she moved to the side of the carriage nearest the fallen tree, as did her mistress. The two other horsemen drew their swords, and moved their horses to the side of the tree.

“Its an omen, Kranik. I told you we shouldn’t do this” A tall thin figure said to his companion.

“Oh fuck off, you old woman! An old tree has fallen and nothing more” answered the broad shouldered leader of the trio. He gave his horse a gentle kick of his heel, and the animal snorted in protest, but went forward just off the shoulder of the road. Turning in his saddle, he chuckled, throwing a cloak over his back.

“Nothing to worry about” he said with a grin, his crocked teeth shining in the moonlight. He had no time to react to the massive club that smashed down on his head a fraction of a second later, sending pieces of his skull, brain and jaw splashing into the night air. The club crushed the rider’s body, and with a loud scream broke the back of his mount. The foliage parted, and the assailant stepped out on to the road.

He was tall, enormous. Vilea guessed him to be at least ten feet. With a second swipe of his club he knocked the other horsemen to the road, sending his horse running past the carriage in utter terror. The man began to stand, but the behemoth slammed a giant foot down upon his chest. He feebly thrust his sword at the giant, but as the beast moved forward he knocked the sword to the side, and crushed the life out of the man by the sheer weight of his body.

Spinning around the huge figure faced the women, and Jilleen screamed, while the last of the outlaws released the reigns of the carriage, and pulled his horse around galloping off as fast as the animal would take him. The giant was nearly naked, covered only by the hide of some animal he had no doubt slain. He was covered with copious amounts of hair, and had a full beard and head of full hair that fell to his shoulders He screamed in fury and exasperation at that escape of the last of the horsemen, and then slowly walked towards them. It was then that his most distinctive feature cam into view, where before his face had been in shadow, for he was not merely a giant, he was a cyclops!

He sent his club smashing down onto the horses a the head of the carriage, and then stepped next to the vehicle. He looked down on the two women, his massive eye glistening in the light of the moon. He expression lightened and he leered at them.

“Women!” he said in a low voice.