{"id":168,"date":"2019-09-14T11:59:00","date_gmt":"2019-09-14T11:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/141.148.246.190\/index.php\/single-post\/the-giants-gamble-pt-27\/"},"modified":"2022-05-22T13:41:34","modified_gmt":"2022-05-22T12:41:34","slug":"the-giants-gamble-pt-27","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/index.php\/2019\/09\/14\/the-giants-gamble-pt-27\/","title":{"rendered":"The Giant’s Gamble Pt. 27"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chapter 27: Tale of the Krakens<\/span><\/h3>\n
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They watched Castier Drylum lead Thia away. The man nodded to his guards, and they let him through the watched doorway toward the bow of the ship. They watched her go anxiously, but the elf held her head high as she walked off. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cRight, well,\u201d Flint grumbled, passing Roon, \u201csomeone ought to keep an eye on the elf.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cErm,\u201d Roon said awkwardly, \u201cI don\u2019t think you want to keep an eye on\u2026\u201d he trailed off as Flint bowled out of earshot. \u201cRight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Thia followed the man, who was shorter than herself by several inches. He led her to a blank section of wood panelled wall, gave her a knowing smile, then pushed. The wall moved forward, showing seams to a hidden door. \u201cTell me, what is a beautiful woman such as yourself doing on my boat?\u201d He asked smoothly, ushering her inside. His two guards remained at the door, purposefully looking away. <\/span><\/p>\n

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She admired a lavishly decorated office with a stained dark wood desk and matching bookshelves. Castier began lighting a few of the lanterns in the study. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOh, you know,\u201d Thia said, feigning interest in the books on the shelf, \u201cI travel around quite a bit, mostly adventuring. I find myself in all sorts of places.\u201d She glanced back at the human, whose eyes were full of lust. She\u2019d seen the look in many men, and even some women, often enough to not be surprised. Opal, still in her beetle form, skittered out of Thia\u2019s hair and down her bare shoulder, out of view. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIncredible,\u201d Castier breathed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI know,\u201d Thia flipped her hair. \u201cDo you have more to show me?\u201d She asked, eyeing the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cCertainly,\u201d the man said graciously, giving an unspoken order to his guards to remain posted at the door, and led her to the next. This door opened into a bedchamber with a velvet red, four poster bed draped in furs and soft quilts. In the corner of the room were two armchairs, behind which sat a large fish tank. \u201cPlease, sit. Relax.\u201d He closed the door, then removed the octopus from his shoulder and dropped it gently into the aquarium\u2019s water. Its long tentacles pushed it through the clear water and wrapped around a large rock, its beady eyes watching them. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Thia slowly sat, and Castier began rubbing her shoulders. \u201cIt must be stressful, all that adventuring you do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOh, it is,\u201d Thia agreed, hoping Opal had stayed back in the study. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYou need to relax. Let your hair down,\u201d Castier whispered, his thumbs kneading into her shoulders. \u201cI must say, I\u2019m surprised someone as lovely as you has that sort of job.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Thia tensed for a moment, then changed the subject. \u201cActually, I\u2019ve come across some interesting news in my travels.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOh?\u201d Castier said vaguely, continuing to massage her. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYes. About the giant ordening falling apart. You haven\u2019t heard anything about that, have you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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He was silent for a few moments and his hands stopped. \u201cHm, no. I can\u2019t say I have.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s too bad. It\u2019s only that I\u2019ve heard of a lot of strain in the giant\u2019s royal family. It\u2019s rather worrisome. You wouldn\u2019t happen to know anyone who might have heard about it?\u201d she asked casually. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Castier drew his hands from her skin and traced one along the edge of the chair, walking around to face her. He bent his face nearer to hers until Thia could count every bristly hair on his unkempt beard, and said, \u201cI might be able to get you in contact with someone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cReally?\u201d Thia whispered.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOnly, I expect payment for that sort of information.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI have gold,\u201d Thia said, and saw a twitch at the corner of his lips. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Castier drew in closer. \u201cWhat about payment in something worth more than gold?\u201d Then, he pressed his lips to hers. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Thia stiffened for a moment but allowed the kiss to continue. I hope you\u2019re not in here, Opal, <\/em>she thought, then returned the kiss with convincing passion. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon found Flint hiding outside Castier\u2019s study. \u201cEnjoying yourself?\u201d He hissed to the dwarf.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI just wanted to make sure there wasn\u2019t any funny business,\u201d he whispered back. They were both invisible. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cUh, I\u2019m pretty sure there is some, as you say, funny business<\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNot what I meant!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cShe has a sending stone,\u201d Roon said after a pause. \u201cIf she\u2019s in any danger, she\u2019ll contact Kilian and let him know. She\u2019s just trying a more\u2026 friendly approach.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAnd what if this guy doesn\u2019t know anything about Hekaton?\u201d Flint asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon didn\u2019t have an answer for that. If Drylum didn\u2019t know anything, perhaps the witch with the black feathered hat did. If not her, they would have to try something else. \u201cHe\u2019s our only lead,\u201d Roon finally said. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cSo, about those giants,\u201d Thia said, placing a hand on Castier\u2019s bare chest. She propped up her chin and looked down at him. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhere did you say you were from, again?\u201d Castier asked, sliding out of the bed and sitting on the edge. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Thia sat up, pulling the furs over herself and smoothing back her hair. \u201cNowhere, really. I\u2019ve travelled all over.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHm,\u201d he stood and pulled on his trousers. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Thia went and retrieved her dress, pulling it over her head. She began buckling on her shoes, watching the man. \u201cYou said you had contacts\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHm? Yes, well, certainly,\u201d Castier said distractedly, \u201cexcuse me, for a moment.\u201d He got his shirt over his head and quickly wrapped his coat back around him. <\/span><\/p>\n

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As he turned away, Thia whispered into the sending stone. \u201cHe\u2019s not telling me anything. Time for anther strategy. We\u2019re in his bedchambers, behind a hidden panel in the wall.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cRight,\u201d Kilian\u2019s response came as a whisper in her ear. \u201cBe right there.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cGoing so soon?\u201d Thia asked him, closing the distance between them and drawing him into another embrace. <\/span><\/p>\n

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A small black beetle crawled under the panelled door, undetected by the guards inside the study, and heard whispers exchanged in the dark. She looked around and, seeing no one else in the small hallway, transformed back into her two-legged self. <\/span><\/p>\n

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There was a yelp and Flint shushed Roon. \u201cOpal?\u201d Roon appeared out of the shadows.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThia and that man\u2026 um, well,\u201d her blush was visible through her copper skin, \u201cshe couldn\u2019t get the information she needs from him. Well\u2026 I think we should go in there and try something else.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cShould we call Kilian and Evelyn?\u201d Roon asked. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Flint appeared. \u201cHow many guards are in there?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cJust two,\u201d Opal said. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe can take them,\u201d the dwarf said. \u201cCome on!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWait! I have an idea,\u201d Roon said. \u201cOpal, can I have the bag back?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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She quickly handed him the bag of holding, and he withdrew a small flask containing liquor and dropped in a few sprinkles of the powdered unicorn horn. \u201cThis should do the trick,\u201d he said. \u201cBe right back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon stumbled into the room with a stupid grin on his face, then turned around in pretend surprise at the two guards in the study, who immediately drew their weapons until they saw the small, three-foot gnome before them. \u201cWell,\u201d Roon said drunkenly, \u201chello gentlemen! Not fa-fer-very fair\u2014hic\u2014that you don\u2019t get to sh-join in\u2014hic\u2014the festivities!\u201d He held up the flask to them. \u201cC\u2019mon, friends! Won\u2019t you partake?\u201d He gave them his best grin. The two looked at each other, then shrugged and reached for the flask, each taking a healthy sip. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cCheers!\u201d Roon shouted as their expressions turned from enjoyment, to confusion, to blinking furiously. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cMy vision\u2019s gone all weird,\u201d one said, looking around. \u201cEverything\u2019s fuzzy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cMe too,\u201d the other slurred, then collapsed. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat-d-did-you\u2026?\u201d The other slumped to the floor. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHa!\u201d Roon peeked out of the door. \u201cFlint, Opal, c\u2019mon!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

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Flint had ropes in his hands. He tossed one to Opal and the other to Roon and wrested the two swords from the guards\u2019 loose grips. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat\u2019s going on!\u201d Kilian\u2019s voice whispered urgently as he stepped through the door after them and looked at the two muttering guards on the ground. Opal and Roon hurriedly tied their arms behind their backs. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOh, Roon drugged them,\u201d Opal said happily. \u201cWhere\u2019s Evelyn?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI didn\u2019t think there\u2019d be time to grab her,\u201d Kilian said. \u201cWhere\u2019s Thia?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cBehind that door,\u201d Flint pointed across the study. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cBrace yourselves,\u201d Roon said with a grimace, trotting to the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Flint strode past him, throwing it open. \u201cTaking advantage of my elf!\u201d The dwarf shouted, drawing out his axe and glaring at Castier, who was currently pressed against the near wall with Thia\u2019s body. Thia looked at Flint and rolled her eyes, stepping away from the human. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOh, thank Cloakshadow, you\u2019re wearing clothes!\u201d Roon exclaimed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Castier sputtered. \u201cWhat on\u2014who are you?\u201d He demanded, straightening his coat. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAbout time!\u201d Thia said to them. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cShe consented,\u201d Castier said in confusion, looking from Thia to the rest of them in the doorway. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cTell us about the giants!\u201d Flint growled, brandishing his axe threateningly. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Castier raised his hands and inched away from the wall. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAlright, alright,\u201d he whined, \u201cno need for anyone to get hurt!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhere\u2019s Evelyn?\u201d Thia asked with a frown. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon sighed and muttered a spell, sending a message directly to the girl\u2019s mind. \u201cEvelyn, we\u2019re in this octopus lord\u2019s bedchamber. First door on the left. Two semi-conscious guards. You can\u2019t miss it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOkay!\u201d Evelyn responded. \u201cCan\u2019t wait.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cSpeak!\u201d Thia barked back at Castier. \u201cTell us what happened to King Hekaton. One of your golden goose tokens was found with Queen Neri\u2019s body. We know you had something to do with it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNot me, per se,\u201d Castier said, looking defeated. \u201cIt was the Krakens,\u201d he sighed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cLike, the giant sea monster?\u201d Roon asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNo, like the secret society. They kidnapped the king of the giants.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhy?\u201d Kilian asked. \u201cAnd where did they take him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAnd what did you have to do with it?\u201d Flint added.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThey offered me power in exchange for my influence,\u201d Castier said. \u201cThey didn\u2019t tell me much. All I know is that they took King Hekaton to the Trackless Sea by the northern islands. They killed the Queen under the guise of the Lord\u2019s Alliance, they\u2014\u201d he stopped talking, then. His eyes bulged and blood dripped out of his nostrils. The man gasped, looking at the ceiling. The veins in his neck darkened and his body shuttered. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Then, he collapsed. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWha\u2014?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

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Roon rushed over to the man and pressed a hand to his forehead, feeling for the telltale essence of soul. \u201cHe\u2019s dead,\u201d the gnome said in surprise, looking at his companions.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Just then, Evelyn jumped into the room, both swords drawn. She looked down at the fallen body in disappointment. \u201cI missed it?\u201d She asked. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHe just\u2014dropped dead,\u201d Opal said quietly. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Flint turned on a heel and went to the end of the bed where a large chest sat. He nudged it with a toe, and it didn\u2019t budge. \u201cBet there\u2019s a lot of gold in there\u2026\u201d the dwarf muttered.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The large octopus clung to the edge of the tank, staring at them. Roon saw murder in its eyes. \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d he said uncomfortably, \u201cbefore that thing attacks us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cGood idea,\u201d Thia breathed, watching Flint and Evelyn use a crowbar to break open the chest. Inside, as the dwarf had guessed, was a pile of gold, gemstones and a fine sword. Flint grabbed the bag of holding from Roon and began shovelling the gold into it. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHey!\u201d A voice shouted outside the door. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on in here? MEN!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cUh oh,\u201d Kilian said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNow what?\u201d Roon asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe conch!\u201d Opal gasped, pulling it out of her pack. \u201cEveryone, HOLD ON!\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

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Flint and Evelyn got to their feet and they all gathered in the room. Roon turned and saw three guards rushing toward them, but the low note of the conch sounded, and the bubble grew around them. It popped, and next thing they knew, they were standing back in the foyer of the underwater storm giant\u2019s palace.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Giant Saviours get aboard a gambling ship and meet Castier Drylum, a man they suspect was involved in the kidnapping of King Hekaton. They make some interesting decisions in their quest to uncover the secret of the breaking of the giant’s ordning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":780,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[18,19,17,14,15,16,23,20],"series":[],"class_list":["post-168","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-giants-gamble-dungeons-and-dragons-series","tag-campaign","tag-cult-of-the-dragon","tag-dnd","tag-dungeons-and-dragons","tag-fantasy","tag-series","tag-the-giants-gamble","tag-wizards-of-the-coast"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Giants-Gamble-Blog-Photos10-copy-18.png","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"amazon":{"key":"amazon","url":"https:\/\/music.amazon.ca\/podcasts\/09c34bbc-b359-49af-a286-31830ed5634c\/short-stories","label":"Amazon","class":"amazon","icon":"amazon.png"},"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/short-stories\/id1621456328","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_play":{"key":"google_play","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.google.com\/feed\/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbGV4aXN2ZWVuZW5kYWFsLmNvbS9mZWVkL3BvZGNhc3Qvc2hvcnQtc3Rvcmllcw","label":"Google Play","class":"google_play","icon":"google-play.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.google.com\/feed\/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbGV4aXN2ZWVuZW5kYWFsLmNvbS9mZWVkL3BvZGNhc3Qvc2hvcnQtc3Rvcmllcw","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0lcQCRs52MfYlKs35lVX4K","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"itunes":{"key":"itunes","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/short-stories\/id1621456328","label":"iTunes","class":"itunes","icon":"itunes.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/feed\/podcast\/default-podcast","embedCode":"

The Giant’s Gamble Pt. 27<\/a><\/blockquote>