Chapter 26 The Forest Troll
“Well, there he is,” Brynn said, nodding ahead. We were at the edge of a clearing in the forest. Ahead, through the break in the trees, we saw the troll. He was eating the remains of a deer, like we might eat a cob of corn. Only it was a lot more bloody and gruesome.
Unlike mountain trolls, and other variants, forest trolls were the least human looking.
They were massive, with giant like proportions, and they were a greenish-gray color.
Most trolls wore loincloths and the females, a raggedy tube-top like garment.
But forest trolls ran around naked, the nether parts of the males hanging out of a bush-gone-wild thatch of hair.
The females sported breasts that made any big-busted woman envious, because apparently gravity was no match against their chest muscles. But our boy here was truly a big boy.
I glanced at Brynn. “He must make lady forest trolls happy.”
“Size isn’t everything,” she said. “Totally depends on how he uses it.”
I snorted, then abruptly stopped as he lifted his head, dropped the remains of the deer, and looked around, sniffing the air.
“Uh oh.” I had a bad feeling he could smell us. Sure enough, he turned our way and began making his way across the clearing, a puzzled look on his face.
“We’ve got company,” Reggie said, pulling out a spell he had prepared. “I’m casting minor protection—group up.”
We closed ranks, while he crumbled some herbs in his hand and blew them over us.
“Powers of safety, powers of might, protect us through the day and night.” As he incanted the spell, a sense of peace settled around us. The spell wouldn’t prevent us from being hurt, but it would give us an edge on negating some damage.
I nocked and aimed an arrow, aiming for his heart. As my arrow flew, Brynn and Thornhold prepared their weapons—Thornhold bring out his hammer and Brynn, her sword.
The troll did not appreciate our attention. The moment my arrow lodged in his shoulder—my aim was way off—he began striding our way, kicking rocks and tree limbs out of the way as he let out a long grunt. Crap, he was fast.
“Hurry up—hit him again!” Ray said.
I brought up a second arrow, hoping to hell the poison did something. This time, it lodged in his stomach. He was starting to slow down, and I took a deep breath and jumped back as Brynn and Thornhold went in with their weapons.
The troll let out a low roar, but then began to shake. He looked around, confused, then turned his sights on us again. The wounds from my arrows were bleeding profusely—more than I expected them too—and the blood was turning a pale shade of pink, almost like it had been diluted.
Brynn rushed forward, circling her sword over her head.
She let out a shriek, startling the troll.
He reared back as she landed in front of him and swung, aiming for is kneecaps.
She hit, hard and deep, and the troll shrieked back at her, freezing in place as he looked down at the wounds on his body.
He pulled one of the arrows out of his hide and a fountain of blood followed, again—thin and pale pink instead of the thick red that it should be.
“Holy crap, is that what the poison does?” I wanted to prove it, so I’d know, but there was nobody else around to strike with an arrow and I wasn’t about to test it on myself or the others. I’d have to wait till later.
“I don’t know but it helps, whatever’s causing it.” Thornhold raced forward, swinging his hammer across the troll’s left knee. On top of the damage that Brynn had done, the flesh split open, exposing damaged tendons and a shattered patella.
Now, we were making headway. The troll began staggering from side to side as Brynn took another shot at him, aiming her sword for his ankles. She swung, then ducked and rolled out of the way, catching him right across the heels.
Trolls might be more immune to pain, but they weren’t immune to the actual damage.
And this troll might be a scourge to the Wildings, but for us, he wasn’t a massive threat, thanks to the poisoned arrows.
I decided that, after we were finished, I’d go back and collect more of that resin.
I wouldn’t shoot anything we were determined to eat with the poisoned arrows, but this stuff worked wonders against enemies.
The troll swung again, but it was so random and he seemed so disoriented that it wasn’t hard to just step out of his way.
“What level are forest trolls?” I asked as Reggie tossed a handful of dust at the troll. The creature yawned and then, in slow motion, began to fall.
“That should knock him out,” Reggie said. “I think they’re less dangerous than mountain trolls. They’re 7th Level.”
“Oh,” I said. I’d thought we were pulling off an incredible feat, but if he was only Level 5 or 6, then it wasn’t surprising that the five of us could take him down. “Well, at least we’re helping out the Wildings.”
“Look—there,” Ray said.
We all turned, keeping a safe distance between us and the now fully drugged out creature. He was stumbling around like we’d doped him up. Well, in truth, we had.
Ray was pointing at what looked like a massive bird nest, behind one of the nearby trees. “Ten to one that’s his lair.”
“Ten to one, you’re right.” I stopped as the troll gave one last stagger, then hit the ground like an earthquake, jarring all of us.
I slowly walked toward the creature, ready to dodge aside at any sign of awareness, but the troll really was out of it. I bent down to check out his breath. It was barely noticeable. His eyes were open but glazed over, and he was still bleeding like a stuck pig.
“I think he’s almost dead. We should put him out of his misery.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” Brynn said. “That’s…”
“Murder? We’ve practically killed him already and he’s going to die—he has to or the Wildings will continue to suffer.
It’s honestly more merciful now,” I said, feeling a twinge of guilt.
I still wasn’t used to actually taking lives, even if they were just Syms, and I didn’t know if I’d ever be.
But I’d passed the milestone where I was struggling with my decisions.
That had ended when I found out we were locked in Abarria.
“I guess you’re right—”
“I’m right,” I told her.
“Then, my sword will be quickest and least painful,” she said, bringing her blade up.
She brought it down, tip first, plunging it right into his heart.
The forest troll lurched once, and then shuddered out his last breath.
Brynn withdrew her blade from his chest and wiped it against the side of the tree. “That takes care of it.”
I glanced over at the others, who silently nodded toward the troll. It hadn’t been his fault he’d been born—or rather, created—to be an enemy of the Wildings, but that’s what had happened, and sadly, he paid for his natural inclination to hunt and kill them.
“What now? Do the Wildings want proof?” Reggie asked.
“I’m not sure, but let’s go through his nest and see if there’s anything there we can use.” I walked over to the massive tangle of branches and straw. I had no clue where he’d picked up the straw, but probably in some field near here.
Using my dagger, I cautiously began to pry apart some of the branches. I didn’t want to be taken by surprise by any parasites the troll might have, and there might be brambles with thorns in the tangle, as well. Then, I saw the white of bones.
“Um, it looks like he had dinner,” I said.
Thornhold came over and began helping, as did Brynn, while Reggie and Ray kept an eye out.
We managed to pull the nest apart and, other than too many bones to be comfortable around, we found some scattered gold and silver pieces, some ripped up leather armor, and a gorgeous katana-like sword.
It felt comfortable in my hand. Almost immediately, I felt a soft breeze waft over me and the sword seemed to nestle into my hand.
“You guys mind if I keep this?” I asked. “I need something beyond my dagger.”
“No problem. How about this?” Reggie held up a wand. “It’s an ice wand.”
“Why don’t you keep it, since you’re the mage?” Brynn glanced at the rest of us. “That okay with everybody?”
We all agreed.
“Well, it looks like he took out a fighter and a mage,” Thornhold said. “But what about all of these other bones? They don’t look human—”
“They belong to my people,” a voice said from behind a bush.
Sen-ti popped out. “The forest troll ate at least five of our people and killed three others. Forest trolls have a taste for our kind. Thank you for freeing us from the danger.” His words felt stilted but there was no doubt by his tone that he was grateful. “One of his victims was my nest-mate.”
“Nest-mate? Your wife?” I asked.
He shook his head. “No, she who was birthed with me. My twinling.”
“Your sister? I’m so sorry,” I said, my heart going out to the little creature.
“She is with the forest’s soul, now. But we miss her laughter.” He walked over to the troll’s body. “We might live on the other side, but we have to come to the forest to gather food. There will be other trolls, but for now, we are safe.”
“Is there anything we can do to help you further?” I asked.
He shook his head. “We will dismantle the nest. But we would like to offer you a night’s rest, and a meal before you head out.”
We followed him back to the oak, into the portal, and back to the city of the Wildings. There, the Elders thanked us, offering us each an acorn.
“It’s not much, but one day, you’ll find a use for it,” Sen-ti said. “Meanwhile, eat and rest. You will be safe here.”
We spread out our bedrolls, then sat with the Wildings—who approached shyly, offering us cakes and roasted vegetables and fruits—eating quietly, surrounded by a peace that I had seldom ever experienced. The next day would see us on the road again, but for the moment, we had time to breathe.