[Steerpike]

The scene; A boy pesters his Grandfather.
"What happened at the battle? Please tell me."
Sighs."Well boy it wasnt pretty, I wont go into the details because its not for young ears, suffice to say the militia lost all their 'Pincer men' in the first attack and the rest broke like rabbits running from dogs. Hulfgar was one of the first to turn and run but despite being in the rear his ... ahhh ... belly betrayed him and he was felled before going twenty strides."
"What happened to you Grandfather?"
"I cant run so fast boy so I just sat where I was."
"Why didnt they kill you?"
"Well it turns out these giants were looking for one such as I. They have scouts you see but they are very expensive to pay so they have decided to recruit scouts and messengers from their vassal provinces. And for whatever reason they chose me."
"Your going to be a scout??"
"Dont be so surprised boy, scouts dont just have to be sneaky they can be inconspicuous too. Who would suspect an old man of being a scout. An Im good with pigeons too."
"But that means your going to leave us." A tear wells up in the boys eye.
"Aye boy, but thats not so bad, its an adventure for the old man, it will be great. And frankly its already getting too cold for these old bones. No it will be my Last great epic journey."
"I hate the giants!" The boy turns and runs away.
"Not as much as their enemies will boy, not as much as their enemies."