“We live in an age of wonders. The keepers have used their magic; allowing us to have land, peace, and food to eat.” Cypian smiled looking out at clear water flowing by. The flowing waters, shinned in the light of the oncoming day. A river, the high priest had named it. Its waters flowed from far away in the hills down to the great lakes.

“I’m still not sure about eating this slimy thing.” Klitus held up his spear, the small beastie impaled upon it still flailing about.

“Fish,” corrected Cypian using the name the high priest had given. “They are good when cooked, you will see.”

**
“You gotta get up”

“No.” grumbled Kyla, grabbing a pillow; she buried her head under it while burrowing deeper into the covers.

“I’ll just go and ensure breakfast is ready.”

“Saturday…” Kyla's muffled voice came from under the pillow. “Wana sleep.”

“You were the one who said she wanted to run on Saturday mornings; I’m just reminding you of your pledge.” Sienna replied while donning a cute little green tee and some long white P.J. Bottoms. “Although I have no idea why, as much as you work out, seems to me a day off wouldn't be a bad thing.”

Inwardly, Kyla groaned, she had said she wanted to run, but saying it and doing it were two different things. The rationalizing began. She had gone to the gym all week, as Sienna had said, surely a day off was in order.

As the bedroom door closed Kyla resolved it best to give her body the rest it so richly deserved. With a sigh, she settled in for a late sleep.
The chamber door opened annoying her.

Deftly Kyla flung the pillow, thinking to bop Sienna for coming to bother her again.

The surprised yelp and subsequent crash, caused Kyla to bolt upright in bed. Looking over, she saw a Halfling attempting to extricate herself from the clothes hamper.

“Minya are you alright?” Kyla stood genuinely worried about her head of house-keeping. Padding over, she lifted a pillow the size of the woman away, and pulled her out of the basket, setting her down upon the floor.

“Yes Mistress, apologies for bothering you.” Minya dared not look up at the woman towering over her. Kyla got the hint, moving away she threw on a worn tee and a pair of sweats to cover her nudity.

Turning, she studied the little Halfling. Minya was fidgeting just a bit, clearly nervous. Expected really, Kyla knew she was extremely tall even by the standards of the Colossi, add into that long black hair, an imposing physique, and piecing blue eyes… well, you’ve got good reason to be spooked if of a much shorter stature. The vast majority of the Halflings preferred not to speak with her if at all possible. Not that she was mean, or prone to displays of temper, it was just her enormous size, and her general stoic nature that was off-putting.

“Lady Sienna sent me to tell you Governor Baroun has arrived.”

“On a Saturday...” grumbled Kyla. “Doesn't the man ever rest?”

“Shall I tell him you are indisposed?”

“No, I'll see him. Have him carried into the breakfast room, I'll be there in--”

Kyla abruptly stopped speaking to look down. Gingerly she moved her bare foot, sure enough, a dozen of the speck sized people had been crushed. Little things always traveled in packs.

Her mood soured.

Before entering into a relationship with Sienna, Kyla never cared about accidentally crushing the speck people. It just happened, she was so big, compared to them that it was difficult to look out for the things. Unlike some however, she was not a sadist, deriving pleasure from killing the specks, but again, she hadn't necessarily worried much when she did inadvertently step on one... or ten.

Most considered, the speck people akin to pests having their homes sprayed to kill them. Sienna preferred catch and release. Traps had been set throughout the manor house. This had its own drawbacks. Once her lover had no more than just released a load of the specks into the wild before birds set upon them.
Sienna cried herself to sleep that night.

After that, whenever possible Sienna allowed the most helpless of those caught in the traps to be placed within the safety of the terrarium. There were just so many of the little things, that decisions had to be made, they couldn't all be kept.

Kyla hobbled over to the bathroom, with a look of disgust, she grabbed a bit of tissue, using it to wipe the bottom of her foot clean. Some action was needed.

“Mynia.

“Yes, Mistress?”

“Have the estate sprayed, I'm tired of stepping on these things.”

The Halfling's agitation showed as she wiped the floor with a bit of cloth, Sienna would undoubtedly be upset.

“Have it done during the time she is at work.” Kyla suggested.

“Yes, Mistress.”

“Leave me.”

As Mynia departed the chamber, Kyla looked at herself in the mirror, trying to decide if it was necessary to clean up and dress. No, she was just meeting with a miniature, she didn't need to put on appearances. Besides, it was Saturday morning and she liked casual best.

The two of them, she and Sienna, had always lived simply. Now in this grand home that was a challenge. The estate had 178,000 plus square feet. Granted, Kyla's size warranted more space, but this estate was ludicrous in scale and that was just the house. The grounds surrounding it were the size of the ancient U.S. State named Rhode Island, some 1200 square miles.

“The price of success.” muttered Kyla while fiddling a bit with her hair. “What I get for being appointed Imperial Viceroy.”

She'd have much rather, remained head of the largest bank in the Empire, but her short stint in the military, plus, her deft handing of the bank's resources had caught the eye of the Empress who appointed her to manage Eurasia, the largest of Earth's Provinces. Quite a shock to the rest of the Empire's leadership as Kyla was all of 22 Imperial years of age.

It was quite a job being Viceroy. Managing money was far easier, given certain parameters, you received a certain result. Management of people, never worked the same way. Still, Kyla had learned quickly that the deck was stacked in her favor. She had the full resources of the Imperial military, control of the courts, and of the police to maintain the iron handed order the Empress demanded.

Of course, even with absolute control, Kyla had learned to politic. Going to the gym for instance, the manor-house had a gym, but mingling with the public gave her a certain everyman quality that people liked. Her position, ensured she wasn't anything like everyone else, but most people judge solely by appearances so the act worked well to maintain her popularity.
**
“This had better be important.”

Sienna, gave her love a look, but said nothing as Kyla entered the breakfast room. Instantly, the Halflings went to work. As she sat, breakfast was placed before her with practiced precision. As befitting her station, the presentation was beautiful. Fine china plates with silver inlay, immaculately polished flatware. The room was grand, gorgeous hardwood paneling with,a massive marble fireplace and floor to ceiling windows to let the light in. The beautiful manicured garden's outside, were filled with hundreds of Halflings toiling away to create the perfect formal garden. As the Empress advised, reinforce you status with the trappings of power. This huge estate did that in spades. Course, the Colossi had always been enamored with size...

“Most important Viceroy.” the finger-sized man on the table bowed low.

“Have you broken your fast Governor?”

“I have not Viceroy.

Placing napkin in lap, Kyla picked up her fork using it to gesture that the little fella should be served. Out of the corner of her eye, she noted how he ducked in fear as the gigantic tines of her fork swept near him.

A miniature chair was placed behind him, actually it was placed so close, it took out his knees, causing him to plop down hard into the seat. The Halfling which had done the deed, apologized profusely, but all in the room, knew it was a slight, the two groups hated the other. The miniatures had sided with the Colossi in the wars, and the Halflings were known to hold a grudge.

As a small table was placed before him, Kyla's eyes flicked up to Sienna who nodded minutely, the offending Halfling would be transferred to the gardens, a demotion from being a house servant.

“Is this information you are about to tell me confidential, or may Vicereine Sienna stay with us?”

“It is not confidential, even if it was I know she would never speak a...” his voice trailed off as a tiny plate was set before him, the single piece of fluffy egg upon it as big as his head, the snippet of bacon as long as his arm, the crumb of toast alone was the size of his torso.

On the pad of one upturned finger, a Halfling held out minuscule flatware for him to use.

“My apologies for appearing before you on a Saturday Viceroy, but--” he gasped, watching as she devoured a bit of egg as large as he was. One never quite got used to how big the Halflings were, the Colossi, well, they were on such a scale that it caused a most fearful awe.

“On man, on.” urged Kyla while holding up her cup, a servant moving with alacrity to pour her more coffee from the silver coffee server. As it was set down near him, a small tremor shook the table, in its shinned surface, he could see just how small he truly was. There was a bright side, least he wasn't a speck, those people were hopelessly minuscule.

“The killing of our people is reaching epidemic levels, many do not feel safe outside the boundaries of our cities.”

“Your people are small, accidents do occur.” Kyla said a bit too flippantly for Sienna's taste.

Reaching over, Sienna took hold of the coffee server, moving it so that the little man could be seen again.

“Your pardon, Viceroy but many feel that these killing are no accidents, all know the Halflings hate us, many suspect--”

“I can't take action based on what you suspect, I need proof, Governor.” Kyla, pointed again with her fork, this time keeping the tines further away while indicating that the little fellow should eat.

For some moments, the three of them dined in silence. Baroun watching as the Viceroy and her wife ate. It was incredible the amount of food they consumed, enough to keep one of his towns fed for at least a month... and this was just breakfast.

“Would that you could see the situation from our perspective, you might feel differently.”

“I have you, to tell me of your people's perspective governor.” replied Kyla coolly. “After all, they did... elect... you to do so.” she held back on none of the disdain she felt for the miniatures experiments with democracy.

“And we have a true friend in you Viceroy,” he responded diplomatically. “One we know will keep us safe.”

“Most certainly Governor, our Viceroy has always dedicated herself to the protection of all the Empire's subjects, miniatures included.”

Briefly, Kyla gave her wife a look, one which clearly said that she was not helping.

Sienna only smiled back serenely, unconcerned with Kyla's ill temper.

“Most certainly.” Governor Baroun responded, his smile fading as Kyla's frosty blue eyes shifted to pin him.“I-I, I must also report that we endue many abductions, our people are simply disappearing.”

“Toys...” spat Kyla. “Even after all these centuries, and several laws, your people are still being sold on the black market as living toys.”

“Yes, Viceroy.”

“You have stated your position well Governor.” Having finished her breakfast, Kyla moved to sip on her second cup of coffee. “What is it your people wish of me then?”

“We expect the Empire to fulfill its promise to see to our safety.”

Her free hand balled into a fist and lightly impacted the table top.

The little fellow was jostled mightily.

She leaned closer, her beautiful, terrifying face filling the entirety of his view. “I do not want to hear platitudes, Governor, I want you to give me concrete steps I can take to aid your people!”

“New officers given the authority to prosecute cases involving my people.” he blurted out. “Officers who see it as their duty to help all citizens of the Empire, not just the Colossi.”

“You insinuate the police play favorites.”

“They do.” he replied firmly.

She watched him stand, inwardly impressed with his bravery when confronting a being as large as she was.

“I will assign officers of the special security division to...watch...the goings on at the various precincts, they will give me the names of any and all who fail in their duty to protect your people. I assure you they will be...dealt... with.”

“I thank you for that, Viceroy.”

“So, the matter is settled...” Kyla gestured, to the halfling nearest, intending to have the Governor carried back to his little craft so he could return to his little people.

“Pardon, Viceroy, but a show of support from you would do much to allay the fears of my people. Perhaps A visit?”

“A state visit.” Sienna added. “How, the miniatures would love to see their Viceroy before them in all her Imperial Regalia.”

“A most wonderful idea. Vicereine Sienna!” Baroun lauded before turning to face an unimpressed Kyla, “Your arrival would be a sight to behold! No sitting Viceroy has ever deemed our people worthy of a formal visit. You will give them much reassurance that you truly care for our well being.

Now Kyla found herself on the defensive. “I am afraid I'm may be a bit big to visit your people, I would hate to cause damage.”

“Haven't you done much to accommodate us Colossi, Governor?” Sienna asked sweetly

“Most certainly.” the little man preened. “Our streets have been widened, the concrete thick enough to support you Viceroy.”

“Splendid! Please create an itinerary and we shall both be pleased to visit.” Sienna replied sweetly.

Kyla decided it best to just remain silent, she had been out maneuvered, best not to open her mouth and admit it.

“I will do so, and send it to you post-haste.” Kyla watched him bow low to her, and after straightening up, he dipped his head to Sienna who returned the gesture graciously.

A curt beckoning by Kyla and a trusted Halfling whisked the tiny Governor away.

Kyla immediately buried her face in her hands. “I should have gone for a run.” she moaned.

Immediately, Sienna was at her side upon bended knee.

“It will be good, baby. You'll see. This one gesture from you will do far more to foster goodwill than any measures you take with the secret police.”

“I'll feel so damned oafish being in their little city. I...”

“You will look graceful, and noble.” Senna responded. “Our Empress will be proud to have you represent her.”

“Thank you,” Kyla said simply.

“For volunteering you for duties you hate?” Sienna teased.

“For making me do things that are necessary, though I do not wish to.”

Sienna stood taking her wife by the hands. “Come see something which will cheer you.”

“I could use it.”

Sienna rolled her eyes at her wife's droll response.