Kyla had been restless, unable to sleep much at all.

Her mind kept replaying the one sided conversation with the Empress. She had spoken of a migration of peoples as she termed it, in preparation for colonization.

Bureaucratic speak, to Kyla, none of it sounded good.

When the grandfather clock in their outer sitting room struck 4AM, Kyla could stay in bed no longer.

Sliding away from a snoring Sienna, she stood and stretched her nearly ten foot frame. With a sigh she looked down at herself. Short sleeved tee of red with the imperial crest, red and gold plaid shorts which rose very high on her long legs.

Sienna wore a long sleeve top and long pants to bed and after berating Kyla for her choice in skimpy sleep wear, had immediately snuggled up to her for warmth. Kyla had long known she was a good generator of heat, no need to swaddle herself in heavy pajamas.

Moving though the darkened room, she picked up a pair of socks and put them on. No slippers for her, they made her feet sweat. She was about to dress in her usual running gear when she happened to look out the window.

Snow was falling.

“No run today.” She uttered soft, no matter how much she loved to exercise, snow was not something she liked to run through.

Grabbing a housecoat laying across the chair, she mumbled in vexation when she quickly realized it was Sienna’s. Comically too short and wouldn’t tie round her. Finding the correct garment, Kyla tied it round her waist, and left Sienna to sleep.

As the Empress would be visiting this coming Friday, Kyla decided perhaps an inspection tour of the main floors was in order. But first to the kitchen.

As with every appearance she made, all work stopped. The halflings looking way up at her with awe mixed with a healthy dose of fear. They were just starting the day, having a moment of companionship by sitting round a little table with coffee cups in hand.

Without a word, Kyla glided over to one of the cabinets to fetch a coffee mug. Sienna loved the Solstice so much so she even had commissioned a set of festive daily china for the household to use. It was a tricky business, ordering china for people of such disparate sizes. Huge cups and plates for her and Sienna, reduced ones for the Halflings, and tiny ones for the Miniatures. Mini coffee cups were smaller than her fingernail.

In the silence, she poured herself a cup, draining the dregs from the small pot. Rather perturbed it didn’t fill her cup. Then she realized that in her sleepy state she had used the Halflings coffee pot.
Stupid.

“Apologies, I took all your coffee.”

“We’ll put another pot on Mistress, nothin’ to it.” One of the Halflings said cheerily as Kyla shifted to the coffee maker built to their scale.

“Here…” Gracefully she took the larger pot and refilled on the Halfling cups. “Tide you over while you wait for another pot to brew.”

The Halflings sat in stunned shock as the Viceroy filled their cups.

“Many…thanks Mistress!” Blurted one as she left the kitchens.

Seeing that the lights were on, Kyla walked down the gallery into the grand state dining room. She looked about the space. This was a fanciful recreation of a great hall in some ancient castle.

Course, she and Sienna had visited some Ancient Castles, at the time, her wife wanting ideas for how to decorate their new home. After a bit of frustration, Kyla decided it best to wait outside as Sienna took the tour, she was just too big to fit in the little rooms.

A huge wooden ceiling soared a full 100 feet from which hung massive chandeliers. On the walls enormous tapestries depicting the formation of the Empire, others showcasing the diversity of the lands she ruled as Viceroy. In the center the long double wide table for dining, its wood gleaming in the by the light of the Chandeliers.

The centerpiece of the grand room was the marble fireplace which was triple fronted by three separate fire boxes. Above the mantle were figures sculpted in bas-relief depicting the coronation of the first Empress. The marble covered flue, rising all the way to the ceiling.

The room was so chilly, Kyla could see her breath. Intolerable, as the Halflings and Minis would be working in this space all day. Walking over to a pad on the wall she turned on the heating units, then after setting her coffee cup upon a side table, moved with expediency to place wood in all three fireplaces, in about 20 minutes, all were beginning to put out some heat. The amount of wood these hearths consumed was prodigious, but she did have 1200 square miles of woodland surrounding the manor.

Walking back to get her coffee was when she noticed them. The Minis had camped out in the room all night. Kyla frowned, it was much too cold to be sleeping in here, but here they were, 300 of them lined up on the fireplace mantle. Little buckets and mops standing near, obviously they’d been cleaning late, evidently mopping down the mantle when work halted. The little things were all huddled together, using each other for warmth.

“Unacceptable” she said soft. The little ones were obviously very tired, they hadn’t woke even with Kyla moving logs into the fireplaces.

Looking about, she spied cloth napkins piled on a ready table. Grabbing a couple she laid them ever so gently over the sleeping Minis, feeling gratified when they reflexively curled up in them.

Grabbing her cup of coffee, she, drew her robe tighter about her, then sat in one of the ornate high back chairs by the fireplace. The logs were fully engulfed now, and the heat felt nice.

Kyla took a sip of coffee… it was cold.

She frowned, while setting it aside.

Moments later, a Halfling refilled it, then vanished out of the room.

“Good service.” She muttered soft, so as to not wake the sleeping Minis, though if moving logs hadn’t woke them, certainly her voice shouldn’t.

They were incredibly cute these tiny people, Kyla reflected and quite hardy to sleep in so cold a room.

Crossing her legs, Kyla took a sip of coffee, thinking about what needed to be done, and how she could stall for time with the Empress. She had no desire to be sent to another planet, but there were upsides… This new world was far from the rest of the Empire. It would give her far more latitude to do as she pleased.

A tap on her foot, startled Kyla out of thought. She looked down.

“Amarice!” she rasped. “Girl you must be careful, a wrong move of my foot and you could have been hurt!”

“I trust you Viceroy, you would never do such.” The mini replied while climbing into her open palm.

“Not if I don’t see you!” Retorted Kyla crossly.

Amarice remained silent in the face of those piercing blue eyes. The Viceroy had raised her up to a spot directly in front of her face.

“Um… are we going to run?” the Mini asked quietly.

“No girl, not today, it is snowing out.”

The little thing hopped in her hand. “I love snow!” she said in excitement. “Last year all in our town worked together to build a large snowman, then we had hot cider.” Amarice halted speaking for a moment, looking as if she was considering something. It caused Kyla to quirk one eyebrow up. Suddenly the mini began to laugh, a gentle lilting laugh which caused Kyla to hike her eyebrow higher.

“What is so amusing girl?”

Amarice, immediately stopped her laugher hearing the tone in in her Viceroy’s question.

“Many apologies great Viceroy. I just pictured the snowman we built and how big it was, then I pictured you.” Amarice giggled. “Big to us, is not big to you.”

Kyla snorted, while moving to place the mini on her chest, covering her with a hand.
Her little… friend… was cold. Kyla could feel the chill on Amarice. “I do not like you Minis sleeping in a cold room.” She pronounced.

Amarice snugged into the warmth of the Viceroy, knowing she should tread carefully. “Many apologies Viceroy, we stayed in the manor much later than normal due to the amount of work needing to be finished. It is a very long walk back to town, so the question was raised to go back or stay and we voted to stay.

“How democratic of you.” Kyla said acerbic. “I was not informed of this…vote. Certainly, I have a say in the matter?”

“Your will is supreme. Many apologies great Viceroy for not asking you, we did not mean to offend. It was felt if we slept here we might get started all the earlier today.”

“What work must be done?”

“Oh much! The table must be set, the great solstice tree must be brought in and decorated, and garland must adorn the fireplace. The choir loft must be cleaned, the great organ readied so you may have music during dinner.”

“Amarice, I know your people are most capable, but to bring in a tree—“

“Oh, no.” Amarice giggled, the Halflings do that we place the decorations as we are far more precise than they can be.”

Kyla was shocked at the amount of work. Inwardly, she berated herself having become accustomed to all being as it should, paying no mind to the amount of effort it took.

“Then the great ballroom must be readied, four trees will need be decorated there…”

“Just hearing it is making me tired.” Kyla responded causing Amarice to giggle.

“Oh but we get to see you today great Viceroy, all are so excited!”

“See me?” asked Kyla.

“Yes, on the View screen!” We are allowed to halt work to watch! All of us shall be so proud seeing one as great as you are deeming our people worthy of a visit.”

What she had been dreading, these little people had been eagerly anticipating. She owed it to them to put on a grand show, to reinforce the idea that their people were… equals. It was sometimes difficult for her to think that way, difficult for most colossi. The minis were so tiny, it was easy to believe they were helpless, which was not true. Sure they needed a bit of protection, but they were creative and independent, proof of that was just them being here in this massive room cleaning.

“Might I be of some service Viceroy?”

Kyla looked up to see the Mini head of house-keeping looking down at her from the mantle.
“No.” She rose from her chair. It was time to wake Sienna and begin preparations for the day. Ever so carefully she deposited little Amarice on the mantle.

“I…” Kyla faltered. “…worry about your people having to sleep in such a cold room. Next time I want the heating units on, understand?”

“Yes, Viceroy.” Old Giedia bowed low.

“Make sure all your people get a good breakfast.” Kyla raised a hand finger pointing ominously at the little house keep. “They will be working very hard today I hear.”

“Yes, Viceroy.”

“Good dinner and supper as well.”
“Of course Viceroy.”

“After you finish, you…ah… may celebrate with a few pints of cider from the wine cellar, not too much mind you, I do not wish to come home tonight to find drunken Minis everywhere.”

“Never, Viceroy!”

“Good, I leave you to it then.”

“I never will understand that woman.” Said Giedia as the giant Viceroy walked away, “Every time I figure I have her pegged, a new side of her personally shows.”

Amarice clasped her hands in front, listening intently.

Giedia, cast her gaze upon Amarice causing her to steel herself, one never knew with the old woman.

“You’ve done much to break the ice in her heart.”

“Me?” Amarice was confused.

“Yes, you. She sees us as more than Minis, more than servants, she sees us as people.”

“She always saw us as people.” Amarice felt compelled to defend the Viceroy.

“Perhaps you’re right, but you’ve breached her wall of indifference.”

“Now to work!” with a clap of her hands Giedia moved to rouse the sleeping minis. Leaving a stunned Amarice behind.

**
“What did you think their city looked like?” asked an amused Sienna.

“Well, I… I didn’t think these people would have…”

“Skyscrapers?” Sienna suggested helpfully.

“Hardly, what I would call skyscrapers.”

“To you they aren’t Viceroy because you are giant. You will note many of their buildings are taller than me.”

“Because you are short.”

Sienna laughed, “Short is a very relative term Viceroy.”

“They have shuttles, and wide boulevards filled with shops, parks…”

“Of course they do, what did you think their city would look like?”

Kyla pondered that a moment. “I…I don’t know really. Maybe like the one in our gardens?”

“Oh sweetheart, I designed that to look like a medieval village so it would fit in with the rest of our home. Here…” Sienna gestured “is a proper Mini city, and within your people wait to greet you.”

“I still feel out of place.” Kyla looked down at herself for a moment. The Empress, like many before her, had a deep fascination with Ancient Rome. Kyla had been required to go to the former state of Italy often so see the ruins of the little coliseum and the Forum. It was said the Empress had a model of ancient Rome in her vast private gardens on the islands once known as New Zealand.

Her armor served no practical purpose other than show. A Roman bronze helmet with a stylized metal horsehair plume. Quilted doublet, overlaid with a currais of bronze armor. A flaud leather skirt dyed imperial red, embossed in the Roman style. Long black boots with metal knee protectors.

No cape, which would be a disaster should it catch on something.

“I feel out of place as well Viceroy.” Kyla looked back at Sienna, beautifully dressed in a long gown of white, when she walked, golden leg armor as high as her knees peeked out from under that shimmering dress. “It’s a good feeling Viceroy, in our hubris, we colossi think all should be built to our scale, not so here, we are the outsiders in their world now.”

Far below, the Mini’s cheered as Kyla stepped though the shield barrier followed by Sienna. On the tops of their diminutive skyscrapers whole groups of the little people waved.

“They love you Viceroy.”

Kyla looked down to see pure joy in the eyes of her wife. Sienna clasping her hand as the two proceeded to walk down the wide street toward the center of their city.

**
“I’m very glad we practiced.” Kyla set Governor Baroun down upon her desk. Then took off her stupid Roman helmet and tossed it into a nearby chair.

“Here we go.” Sienna had returned, dressed far more casual, wearing sweats and a long sleeved tee. In her hands a tray holding everything they needed for a light lunch.

“My love, the Halflings could have—“

“It’s no trouble,” Sienna set the tray down, mindful of the little governor.

“Oh!” Kyla grinned, “I love these!”

Baroun watched in awe as the giant Viceroy, daintily picked up an entire brisket between thumb and forefinger and devoured it whole. It was unnerving to see so huge a creature casually consume something which would easily feed a dozen of his people. It was also frightening to think that giant maw could also eat him whole if she chose to.

“Kyla! Mind your manners!” chastised Sienna. “Guests first.”

“Oh it’s quite--” Baroun stopped speaking watching as the Viceroy, licked her lips while looking down as him almost predatorily.

“My apologies Governor.” The little man backed up a bit as a table his size was set before him. “I have a fondness for brisket.” Said Kyla while sneaking another, popping it into her mouth to devour in the same manner as before.

“He can see that Viceroy. Maybe he’d like a bit, before you eat it all?”

“Of course, ah…” Kyla paused, there was no way to be delicate about it, and so she simply picked up a brisket and deposited it on a teeny silver platter in front of the Governor. “I did wash my hands, Baroun.” Taking a mini sized bowl in hand she dipped it carefully into the massive tureen, then set it down in front of him as Sienna supplied him with a seat.

“May I dine with you, or do you have some business to discuss.”

Baruon looked up from his bowl of tomato soup. “We do Lady Sienna, but I should like you to stay if possible, you have always been a true friend to us Minis.”

“Alright.” Sienna happily plopped down on the other side of Kyla’s desk moving to serve Kyla and herself some soup. “Viceroy, if you should think about it, perhaps it would be good of you to thank the minis in the kitchen for taking the time to smoke these briskets, you know how busy they are getting all ready for the Empress’ arrival.”

“Very well.”

The response from the Viceroy caused Baroun some interest. She was not known to care much about her servants.

“Now, Governor….” Kyla flared out her folded napkin, then dropped it gracefully into her lap.

“What news?” she asked curt.

“Let him eat a moment!” Sienna commanded.

“Tell me after you’ve tried the brisket, then.”

Baruon, taking knife and fork to hand sliced into the meat, then took a bite.

“Well?” asked Kyla while arching an eyebrow.

“It is delicious Viceroy.”

“Don’t just tell her that to suck up to her Baruon.” Sienna nearly laughed as Kyla feigned a pout.

“It is wonderful.” He defended, causing Kyla to smile smugly at her wife.

“Viceroy,” Baroun became most serious. “Word has reached me that the Empress has commanded every mini across the globe to resettle in you lands.”

Kyla set down her spoon. “Strange that I have not heard of this, are you sure Governor?”

“Yes.”

“I see…” Blue eyes flicked up to Sienna for a moment, seeing the worry in her eyes.

Kyla reflected on the words used by the Empress in their conversation.

“Tell me Baroun, are you loyal?”

The little man was clearly insulted by the remark, or at least he pretended to be. “I am most loyal to the Empire!”

“No…” Sienna said low, she wants to know if you are loyal to her.”

The little man’s shoulders slumped as he realized what was truly being asked. “You both have long proved to be friends to my people. Our loyalty is yours, Viceroy.

“I am glad to hear it.” Kyla leaned forward, till her face filled the entirety of his view. “Because I believe I know what the Empress has planned.”