Marianne looked over...and up...at the giants.  "Gruderashi?"  Pondering it, it unfortunately made sense.  Since the Empire had withdrawn from the Cold Rock area eight years ago, all sorts of unsavory types had been moving in.  Orcs, mostly.<br/><br/>"Good giant," the older sister said, "we meant no harm.  We only came here for the altaberries.  We pick them every year.  The brewers like them.  We pick them, then we leave."  She hoped that would placate them.  Maybe they could work out some kind of deal.  Quite a few of the altaberries grew out of the girls' reach, but if the giants helped them...<br/><br/>"Maybe we can both profit.  See these berries?  They're worth about half a gold guilder per basket.  There's probably a good twenty baskets' worth up there, where you fellas can reach.  Let's pick them together, then we sell them to the brewers, then we bring back your share."<br/><br/>Marianne looked fearfully at the giants.