by Rinelle Grey
Bekinda had no qualms accepting a place at their table. And even though she was as much a fierce warrior as Kriss, she seemed happy to chat and giggle, including him in the conversation as a matter of course.
As people finished their meals, Bekinda stood and held up her mug. “I propose a toast.”
Everyone else quickly followed, standing and holding up their mugs. Even Uma and Yass, each holding a baby.
“To our co-champions. May they rule in peace and love each other for many long years.”
The toast surprised Jasyn. He would have expected Bekinda to toast to their power in battle instead. Perhaps he was having more of an effect on the trolls than he had expected.
*****
The loud cheers echoed in her ears as Kriss secured the tent flap behind them. She didn’t want any of the trolls trying to take a peek at the newlyweds. This was going to be awkward enough as it was. Even though she had resolved to get the bonding out of the way, her knees shook as she turned towards her husband.
Jasyn. Her husband.
He sat on the edge of the bed, pulling off his boots. Just like any other night.
Ignoring the flutter in her stomach, she crossed to the water bucket and scooped some into a mug, placing the bouquet of flowers into it. She stared at them for a few moments. They were beautiful. Even if Jasyn meant nothing deeper by it, it was sweet that he had taken the time to pick them for her.
Many trolls had stopped to admire the flowers, looking sideways at Jasyn with a twinge of jealousy.
“They reminded me of the colour of your eyes.”
Kriss froze at Jasyn’s soft words. Neither of them had talked of this night since they first decided to rule together. Maybe he was trying to make the night easier, but it wasn’t helping. She needed to get this over with. This wasn’t about love for them, it was an obligation.
She turned around slowly. Jasyn’s smile was friendly and guarded. Not lover-like at all.
She’d seen lust written in Mugos’s eyes on more than one occasion, but it had never been hard to hold him off. All it had taken was a reminder that the bond would weaken him.
Jasyn’s eyes were gentle. And he made no move to get up or come across to her.
She had no idea what to do.
Jasyn picked up his boots and moved them to the spot near the tent flap, where he always left them.
Kriss poured herself a mug of water and drank it, watching Jasyn out of the corner of her eye. Instead of returning to the bed, he sat down at the table, picking at the wood with his fingernails, not looking at her.
Kriss wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or concerned that he seemed as uncomfortable as she was. This was going to get awkward.
She sat down opposite him and said quietly, “We can’t keep avoiding this.”
Jasyn’s eyes met hers. “There’s nothing to avoid,” he said firmly. “The magic circle will keep our secret. This is no different to any other night.”
“It can’t be, Jasyn. If we don’t form the bond tonight, it will eventually come out.”
“Tonight we have the perfect excuse,” Jasyn said. “Don’t you see? We love each other too much to risk both of us dying. We wouldn’t be the first couple to do that. And it’s partially true. We both know there’s a good chance I’m not going to make it through tomorrow. You need to stay alive, to lead the trolls.”
His words sent a chill up her spine. He wouldn’t die. He couldn’t. “You’ll be fine,” she said roughly.
“Don’t pretend, Kriss,” he said calmly. “You’ve done your best to make me into a warrior, but I’m never going to be your equal in battle. Here it doesn’t matter, because I have magic to make up for it. But I can’t use magic in the human camp, where it matters all too much.”
“Then stay here and let me do the raid,” Kriss said quickly, “that’s what I’ve said all along. There’s no need for you to go.”
Jasyn shook his head firmly. “No. I won’t let you go alone. I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to you. This raid was my idea, and I intend to be there to see it through.”
Damn stubborn troll.
Why did she admire his stubbornness when it could lead to his death?
Why did she care, when his death would solve half her problems?
Damnit. She didn’t care about him. She wouldn’t. He was a weakling mage. She wouldn’t be swayed by his sweet words and his habit of always doing what was right. It wouldn’t help her in the battle tomorrow.
She needed to be focused, or she could make a fatal mistake. They both did.
“Fine. But this topic isn’t over. Tomorrow, after we’re back from the raid, we have to figure out what we’re going to do. Because even if we have an excuse not to have sex tonight, we won’t then.”
8
Magic Gem
Jasyn gripped his sword and listened as Kriss gave last minute instructions to the warriors assembling near the ridge. His nerves tingled with anticipation and fear. This was it. The battle he’d been training for.
Would he conduct himself with honour or would his pitiful attempts at fighting embarrass his new wife?
“Remember, we’re not stopping to raid. We don’t need the humans’ food.”
Kriss’s words filled Jasyn with pride. As soon as she’d seen the garden, she’d modified their raid plans to focus exclusively on the graveyard.
Even if he didn’t succeed in this fight, he’d given the trolls something of use. Something that changed their lives. He could be proud of that.
Of course, he still intended to do his best to survive this fight. He had a lot more work to do.
He watched Kriss, who was so confident and sure. Did she ever feel nervous like he was feeling? No, surely she was afraid of nothing.
She didn’t even seem afraid of the idea of being intimate with him, if she had to.
He didn’t want it to be like that. He wanted her to be with him because she wanted to, not because she felt she had to.
“As soon as we have the gem, we’re retreating. We want as few casualties, troll or human, as possible, so no unnecessary risks. You got that?”
He’d figure something out later. Right now, he needed to focus.
“Right. Let’s go.” Kriss turned, and raised her sword towards the ridge, giving a battle cry that sent chills up his spine.
The band of warriors, larger than any other raiding party he’d seen, ran towards the ridge.
Jasyn was swept up in their midst.
He wasn’t close enough to the front to see the warriors take out humans in the pass, and this time he didn’t even look down as he ran to keep up. He needed to do Kriss proud in this battle.
And to make it out alive.
As soon as they emerged from the pass, the trolls began to spread out, giving Jasyn a clear view of the human village.
The sight wasn’t inspiring. Humans poured out of the buildings, swords raised. The humans might be smaller than the trolls, but their blades could kill just as well. Jasyn adjusted his own sword and continued to run.
His eyes searched the village, looking for the best path through the wooden buildings. The graveyard was on the opposite side of the village from the pass. They had to get past all the houses and all the people to reach it.
Kriss ran in the lead, striking down humans with barely a pause. But she was so focused on eliminating any danger, she was going the wrong way. The path she’d chosen turned away from the graveyard up ahead, and would give the humans a chance to flank them.
Putting on a burst of speed, Jasyn raced after her. Except there was a human in his way. Barely coming up to Jasyn’s chest, he shouldn’t have been a threat. But his face was bared in a snarl and his sword was as sharp as any troll's.
Jasyn didn’t want to kill him. He’d come to terms with hunting wild animals for food. But this was different. This time, he was facing a sentient, thinking being.
And one of those who had cursed his people. If he didn't get to the graveyard and find that
gem, this constant fighting would continue indefinitely.
Jasyn took a deep breath and swung his sword. It hit the human’s blade with a clang, knocking him back. The man stumbled a little, almost losing his balance. Trying not to second guess himself, Jasyn swung again. His blade connected with the human and sliced through his armour. The man fell to the ground.
Adrenalin surged through Jasyn. He'd done it. The human had come at him, intent on killing him, but Jasyn had not only survived, he’d won the fight. He could do this.
He didn't have time to dwell on his success though. Kriss was still headed the wrong way and Jasyn could see several humans coming down a side path, about to come up behind her. He followed her, swinging his sword at a human who dared to block his path without even thinking. The human fell. Jasyn didn't pause to see if he was dead or not.
“This way!” he called out to Kriss, pointing with his sword.
She altered her course, calling out for the others to follow her.
The trolls surged ahead, cutting down any humans who stood in their path. Jasyn joined them. The part of his brain that insisted this was wrong seemed to have been switched off, and Jasyn fought beside the others without hesitation.
Then they were clear of the village, only a small field between them and the fenced off area filled with gravestones. Jasyn and Kriss raced towards the graveyard and vaulted the fence. Then Jasyn stopped and stared. So many graves, how would he know which was the one he sought?
In the centre of the graveyard, one grave stood out above the others. It was fashioned like a small building, with panels all around the outside, the stone cracking and old. Jasyn took a chance and ran towards it. Kriss followed, motioning for the three trolls who accompanied them to stand watch.
Jasyn’s fingers scraped at the huge stone covering the entrance, but it wouldn't move. He needed to get inside. Now. The humans hadn't followed the trolls to the graveyard yet, but they would.
“Stand back,” Kriss commanded.
Jasyn jumped to one side. Just in time.
Kriss swung a large, solid tree branch at the stone, and it split into two, falling to the ground. Dust rushed out of the opening, making Jasyn cough.
Inside was dark and he could barely make out two biers that began near the entrance on either side, and stretched out of sight into the darkness. But that was enough confirmation for him.
He stepped over the remaining stone slab in the entrance and began to feel his way around. Crumbling fabric and bones met his fingers and he squinted, trying to hasten his eyes’ natural adjustment to the darkness.
Something glinted and his hand reached out for it.
As soon as his fingers closed around the object, he could feel the magic, singing through his veins, along with elation. He'd done it.
None of the humans in the village could touch him now.
He stepped back out of the crypt and held it aloft. The blue heart shaped gem glinted in the moonlight. “I have it.” His voice rang through the graveyard.
Kriss’s smile matched his own. But a troll scream from the village reminded them of the reality. “Back to the ridge. We have what we came for.”
Jasyn turned for one last glance at the graveyard, and something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. Before, when he had looked at the crypt, all he saw was cracked stone. Now, brilliant colour leapt off the surface. There were pictures on every panel.
Two identical human women, they had to be the twins from the Founding of Eryvale book, dressed in white, with flowers in their hair. They held hands with a man who stood between them. But while one looked happy and excited, tears ran down the other woman's face.
“Come on, Jasyn, we have to go,” Kriss said urgently.
Jasyn couldn't tear his eyes away. These pictures were important, he was sure of it. “Go without me, I'll catch up.”
Kriss looked at him as if he were crazy. “You can't make your way back through a village full of angry humans by yourself. You need to come with us now.”
Jasyn held up the gem. “Yes I can. And they won't even know I'm there.”
The expression on Kriss’s face wavered. Then she shook her head. “There's no need to risk staying. Trolls are dying. We need to go. Now.”
“Go. Take the trolls back to safety. I'll meet you on the other side of the ridge. I need to see this.”
Kriss opened her mouth to argue, but another scream from the village silenced her. She took one last look at him. “You’d better be there.”
Then she was gone, leaping the fence and running back to the village followed by the three warriors who had accompanied them. Jasyn watched her go, then turned back to the pictures on the crypt.
The same people seemed to be in each picture. The second image he studied had words of love and commitment written on it. This had to be the marriage the book had spoken about. But why were both twins holding the man’s hands? And why was one woman so upset?
Jasyn stared at the next image. One of the twins, the sad one, ran away from the others, her hands over her face. Jasyn followed the direction in which she ran and saw another man hiding in the trees.
Why was she running away from the wedding and towards the other man? The expressions on their faces seemed to indicate a forbidden love, and the human book had mentioned a lover, but why was it forbidden? The man didn’t look any different to any of the other humans. There was no clue why he wasn’t at the celebration with them. If the second twin loved him, why couldn’t she be with him?
Why had she been holding hands with the bride and groom? Come to think of it, she was dressed for a wedding too, exactly like her twin. But there was only one groom.
The next image didn't clarify anything. The two couples faced off against each other, other humans gathered around them.
The humans seemed to be trying to pull the second couple apart in the next image. So there was a problem with their relationship. But why?
Jasyn hurried on.
He bit back a gasp as the next panel revealed the sad twin throwing lightning at the first. And that was nothing compared to the scene on the panel around the corner, where all the humans joined in, choosing sides in an epic magical battle.
Jasyn searched the image for the two women he was certain were at the centre of this story. One stood next to the groom, a shield of magic protecting them, while the other couple tried to escape.
The conflict intensified in each panel. The two twins fought against each other, throwing magic wildly.
The same conflict continued in the next panel, but at the centre of it, the two women lay on the grass, red staining their white dresses.
Jasyn opened up his hand and stared at the gem. The gem’s location in this tomb meant that the pictures had to be connected to the story he had read in the Founding of Eryvale. Their subject matter was similar too. But though the images contained more details than the book, they made little more sense.
Had the twins really been marrying the same man for some reason? That was the only way he could interpret the first panel. But something had gone wrong. It seemed that one of the twins hadn’t been happy about the marriage. And when she had run away, the villagers had been angry enough to let the two women kill each other. To help them even.
Why hadn't they stopped the two women fighting? Why hadn't they encouraged them to discuss the issue and come to a solution? Shaking his head, Jasyn looked at the final panels. Perhaps the answer would be there.
In these, the two men faced off against each other, the other humans choosing sides behind them, and in the next they fought over the bodies of the two women.
Seriously? He thought the humans had more sense than this. Even trolls would realise that they'd gone too far when people were dead. As his eyes studied the humans standing behind the twin’s lover, he noticed they were different. Progressively, the further they were from the man, the larger they grew. And towards the back of the crowd, the humans had distinctly green skin. In fact, they were no longer human.
This was the moment in which the trolls had been born.
Jasyn stared at the image, burning it into his memory. If only Kriss were here, so he could show her. This proved everything.
The only panel that was left was the front one that had broken. Jasyn turned over the pieces so he could see it.
A dozen humans stood in a circle, holding the two gems.
Engraved below the image were the words-
Magic brought them together, and magic tore them apart. May this shield protect us, and them, from the men who destroyed them.
Jasyn felt numb. The whole story made almost no sense. He’d hoped it would clear up the puzzling account he’d read in the book, but it just confused him more.
There was nothing more to be found here, so Jasyn headed back to the pass with a heavy heart.
9
Bonding
“Go back to camp, I’ll wait for Jasyn.”
The troll warriors were more than happy to leave her to her vigil alone. It had been a hard fight and everyone had the wounds to show for it. Losi would be busy tonight.
A stinging sensation on her arm reminded her of her own wounds, and she examined the cut there. It wasn’t deep. It could wait until Jasyn returned. He shouldn’t be long.
But as the minutes passed and Jasyn didn’t appear, her concern for him increased.
She shouldn’t have left him. It was his first real battle. Anything could happen. What if a human caught him unawares? He could be dead.
She didn’t want to consider that possibility. If he didn’t return, the whole battle would have been in vain. True to their instructions, no one had bothered to take any food or supplies. The gem had been their main aim. The gem that Jasyn now had.
If he didn’t make it back…
Kriss strained to hear any sound that might indicate Jasyn’s return, but the pass was quiet. She took a step forwards, then hesitated. Going back for him alone would be suicide. Even though the humans wouldn’t be expecting anyone, a single troll would stand no chance against the whole village. They would take her down with ease.