"Here, make yourself useful and fetch more water." He thrust a couple of pails at her and turned back to his work. She figured she was on her own as far as finding water. She did remember a creek not far from the cave that they crossed to get here.
At the entrance to the cave she paused, wondering if she was breaking a rule by leaving. It shouldn't be an issue so long as I come back she mused and shrugged heading out across the now darkness-blackened grass. She found the water easily by sound, despite the distracting crash of the waves below, and stooped to collect her load. For a moment she thought she felt someone approach from behind, but turning, she saw and heard no one.
"Just the tricks of an unfamiliar place." she muttered to console herself. She filled the buckets quickly and moved as swiftly as she might without losing any of her cargo. In the kitchen dinner looked like it was prepared and the smell of roasted lamb was a compelling reminder of how little she'd eaten that day, a few figs in the morning, and a piece of bread at mid-day. No one had had much of an appetite. But with the fear of immediate danger abated somewhat, the little activity had made her appetite return. Demitri carried the big platter on one shoulder into the hall and she followed with her first set of kettles leaving him at the tapestry room and continuing next door.
Carrying her second set of kettles she mused that none of the rooms she'd seen, nor the halls for that matter were large enough to support the giant, and she wondered then who they might be for. Perhaps he is not the master she considered as she refilled the kettles, perhaps the giant was merely a guard of sorts. Then again he had asked specifically for a bath for himself. It didn't make any real sense to her. She sighed and sat down on a little stool next to the oven and picked at a plate of olives left out by Demitri. A while later, Demitri appeared at the door with an empty wine jug and thrust it towards her. She hesitated and he shook it impatiently.
"Fill it and take it to him, I have better things to do."
She carefully accepted the jug which he all but tossed at her and swept off in some other direction. She filled the tall jug full up and carried it back to the supper room, where she assumed she was meant to go. The door was ajar and she pushed it open with her hip. It was a good thing she did too, for without two hands clutching it she would have dropped the heavy carafe right there on the floor. In front of her, to her amazement, was a miniaturized replica of the giant lounging on one of the wide benches popping grapes in his mouth. Of course he was miniature by no one's standards, looking as though he must still stand nearly eight feet tall, and proportionately as wide. He sat up and held up his glass, taking in her gaping expression with what looked like mild amusement on his not quite human face. This sobered her up a bit and she moved forward, carefully tipping the wine into his cup. She stood back again, still clutching the jug and stared. He watched her over his glass as he drank back the wine, proffering the cup a second time. Silently, she filled it.
"So," he began after settling back onto his bench, "how goes the bath?"
"Well my lord." Her voice sounded a little raspy to her and she swallowed to clear it.
"Good."
They stared at each other for a while until he waved a hand. "Please, sit. I don't imagine you've eaten anything yet." She walked around the table to sit at the other side. Close enough to fill his glass, but still separated by the table corner. "You can probably put that down." She looked down and noticed she still clutched the jug. With a flush she slid it onto the table.
"Here," he held out his glass to her, and she reached for the jug again.
"No, no, take it, you look like you've seen Hades. Drink." She took the glass tentatively but found once it was to her lips that she was as thirsty as she was hungry. The glass was nearly empty when she finally remembered herself, and she put it down with another flush. He said nothing but finished the glass for her with a toss and refilled it, pushing it back towards her. She remembered to sip instead of gulp this time. And placed it demurely between them, not sure if she was meant to keep it or give it back.
"Go ahead, don't stand on ceremony, I've already eaten." He took another sip out of the shared cup and replaced it in front of her before reclining with an air of satisfaction against the cushioned wall. After she'd satisfied her own hunger, and had had enough wine to give her courage she looked over at him quizzically.
"Can you change your shape at will then?"
"My size yes."
"How is that possible?"
"Many things are possible." She looked down at her now empty plate.
"How large can you become?"
"Not much larger than you've seen me."
"And small?" He opened his arms to present himself. "That's not very small."
"No." He smiled, exposing his fangs again. Wine or no they continued to make her nervous. So she looked around the room.
"At first I thought the bath thing was some sort of evil test." She smiled nervously. "Then I saw the bath, and realized it was just a bad joke... but now..."She gestured to him, "it makes much more sense."
He chuckled and nodded in agreement, "a terrible joke indeed."
"Did you create this place?" she asked, looking around.
"Partially. The caverns themselves are natural."
"How long have you lived here?"
"A long time."
"And these things?" She motioned to the vase and tapestries.
"Collected, or parts of tributes... like yourself."
Her stomach seized a little and her eyes shot over towards him. He'd said no death, but he never said what was going to happen.
Her voice came out in a breathy whisper, "What was your intention for us, for this tribute?"
"Intentions and outcomes often differ." His eyes darkened again like they had when he'd first seen the girls.