Ruin (The Faithful and the Fallen, #3)

by John Gwynne

Nathair sucked in a deep breath. ‘History is a peculiar thing, is it not? Take the giants, for example. Our histories tell us that they are the enemy. That they were wicked–evil, even–and that our ancestors’ war against them was righteous. That right was on our side. Is that not what our histories say?’ ‘Aye,’ Veradis said, wondering where this was leading, ‘that is what our histories tell us.’ ‘What if it was a lie?’ ‘It isn’t,’ Veradis said without thinking. ‘How do you know that?’ Nathair asked him. ‘We were not there. No one whose word we value was there. We only have the ancient record, and that was written by our ancestors, the victors. The people that fought the giant clans and took their land.’ ‘What of it?’ Veradis asked. He had an unpleasant feeling in his gut, part sickness, part fear. ‘I do not think that all giants are evil. Alcyon, for example. You would consider him a friend, even.’ ‘I do,’ Veradis said. ‘So, perhaps those that wrote our histories were biased. Twisted the truth to suit their perspective, even.’