THE VALLEY OF THE FOUR GIANTS

There are four of them, tall against the sky. Over the trees they tower, like statues, silhouettes in the late evening sunshine.

I look up. Four enormous, weather-worn faces look back at me, hair bouncing in the wind, eyes steely and determined, cracked lips unopened. Leather snaps as one tightens his grip on his staff. Another bears down on me from her lofty height, her face like rock, a stern outcrop of crags and furrows a mile above me. Her eyes are set back like glistening shards of jet, menacing and black against her shadowed face.

They have come to fight me, to silence and crush me. Four Giants, each an ancient foe, sent to press me to the ground until I can no longer hear myself.

Hopelessness carries his sword, Uselessness his awful staff. Loneliness shoulders that bow and a quiver of bristling arrows, while Lustfulness clutches her deadly potion.

I stand ready. I have no idea whether I will make it. I've fought some of these Four Giants before, on my own with little success, but never all at once. Never together. 

I am strong, but this team of unflinching warriors is new, combined, and waiting. Together they conspire to bring me down. When the order comes, when that ghastly trumpet echoes through the valley, they will rush me. Trees will crack like twiglets, the sky will grow dark and birds will spiral from their nests. The battle will begin with the cry of the Four and all the valley will awaken.

I will be ready. On that day I will be ready.