The Toll

by Jeanette Lynn

  “An’ who be ye grandah, wee willy demon?”

  The second troll was much more talkative than the first, but something about him had me more on edge, my hackles rising.

  “I don’t know about wee willy,” I joked, ignoring them when it fell flat, “but uh...” Why am I telling them all this? I wondered, stopping myself. I don’t even know them. They’re trolls, after all. “Aren’t you going to try and scare me and make me run off? Eat me alive? Peel and boil my flesh...? I don’t know...”

  Canting his head, Beast grunted, cracking his knuckles. “Want me to?”

  For a moment, I thought he was actually considering it as he gave me a long, all-encompassing look. “Uhm... no.”

  The second troll smiled wide, glancing over at his comrade. “He’s no’ afraid, brother, an’ he’s got a pretty like the one Ketik copped off Mum. I say we keep him a while.”

  “Papa willna be likin’ it.” Beast’s face pinched in a grimace and he grunted, large hand rubbing the back of his head undecidedly.

  The second troll smirked at his counterpart, rubbing at his chin in thought. “Been a long time since we’ve teased the ol’ man.” Grunting a chuff, he tossed his large head at Beast, studying him through the corner of his bright, beady, orange swirling troll eye. “How ye think he’ll feel if we bring a wee pisser of a human that looks like us inta our cave?”

  “Shite himself,” Beast muttered, then, studying me, paused, chuckled, and grinned just as wide.

  “But I paid a toll,” I muttered, my feet scuffling along the planks nervously as I slowly backtracked, realizing, belatedly, that I still hand the coin purse in my left hand.

  “I dinna take a toll.” Snorting, large head turning on his unimaginably thick neck, he called, “Did ye, Beast?”

  Grunting, Beast ran his tongue, a healthy pink color, too thick to be human, against his wide, pearly white teeth. “No, Hellion, matter ‘o’ fact, canna say I did.”

  “Damn me.”

  They both reached for me at the same times as I yelped, shouted out, spun, and ran.

  All Shook Up

  I guess this isn’t so bad, I thought, eyeing the wide bodied creatures that had decided to draft me for company, watching them surreptitiously through low lids.

  Mind you, I’d been swinging upside down for the better part of fifteen minutes by the hook they’d shoved my boot in on my third attempt to escape, but, you know, could have been worse.

  I’m alive, so, somethin’ to that.

  Once I’d finally passed out, not from fear, mind you, but from all that blood rushing to my thick noggin, they must have cut me down. Presuming I’m dead, maybe?

  “Mum’s gonna kill ye arseholes,” a thick, gravelly voice rumbled.

  “Shut it, Brosius. Who’s gonna tell ‘er, eh? Ye?” That one sounded like that Hellion fellow—the bastard. How would he like to be strung up and hung by his ankle, hmm?

  “Bloody shut the fuck up,” Beast snarled, blowing out a noisy breath. “I wanted ta see.”

  “See wha’?” A heavily accented voice, with a bit of a hitch to it, almost a lisp, much heavier than the first three but lighter in its depth, barked incredulously, “If ‘e’d piss ‘is self?”

  “If he had any magicks, ye dolt. He coulda,” Hellion whispered back fiercely.

  “Canna torture ‘im ‘cause ‘is ma’s a right bloody she-devil slag, ye fool. If the whelp ‘ad any magicks, ‘ed a showed em. Stupid, eejit.”

  “Fuck off, Mav.”

  “Och, forget Mav, fuck ye both! Gone an’ done it now.”

  “An’ fuck ye too, ye bastard arse, Brosius.” This from Hellion.

  “Like ta see ya try, ya orange haired arsehat.”

  “Ugh. Knock it off now, ‘e ‘asna wakened.” A note of worry tinted Mav’s words.

  “Shoulda been wakin’.” Brosius sniffed, chuffed, and grunted.

  “Think we killed the poor sop?”

  “Can a human pisser die of fright?” Hellion mused.

  “Mum never said. Dinna think so. Don’t be believin’ everythin’ Ketik an’ Quaz spew at ya. Bastards’ll pull yer willy fer shits an’ giggles, they will.”

  “Shoulda been made ‘o’ sterner stuff, shaken from our tree, eh?”

  “No’, my tree,” Beast snapped. “I’m Ornthren, through an’ through.”

  “Hah! Oh, ho-ho, an’ ye came from a woman’s snatch. A human woman, fer the most part. What that make ye be, then? A big fat pussy?”

  “Dinna be talkin’ ‘bout Mum like that, fucker!” Three pissed off snarls matched Beast’s, Mav and Brosius joining in.

  “Wasna!” Hellion shouted, sounding genuinely offended. “I says ye were a pussy! Don’t be puttin’ words in me bleedin’ mouth!”

  “Ye talkin’ ‘bout her lady parts! Dinna be shite talkin’ me mum! Rip ye limb from limb, gut ye like a fish an’ make ye eat it!”

  “Dinna be blubberin’ murderous plots, ye twat. Just ate.” Brosius deep chuckle cut in on all the shouting.

  “Shut yer hole, Brosius, no one finds ye funny.”

  “Oh, an’ ye are, Mav, I ‘spose?”

  “Oi she’s me mum too, bastard! Fuck ye! I says ye came from one, not she’s one!” Hellion’s voice fought to boom above the rest.

  “Big bloody frickin’ difference!”

  “Wha’ is the difference?” Mav muttered, mildly confused as he caught the tail end.

  “There isna one!” Beast roared.

  “Screw yer stupid arse!” Hellion matched him shout for shout.

  “Canna, on account ‘o’ yer so bleedin’ ugly, an’ hairy!” Something smacked my cheek as I played dead at their feet, shuffling inches from my head, my eyes squeezing shut tight as I tried not to flinch. A droplet of water—spittle—I realized, as another bit hit my forehead.

  “He’s no more hairy than ye.” Mav put in.

  “Then fuck ye too!”

  “No, fuck ye!”

  “Enough!!!” Guttural, like the snarl of an angry bear, this was a new comer. Roaring so loud the walls shook, when it looked like they weren’t going to stop, there were a few muttered bellows and distressed shouts before the sounds of heavy objects crashing the dark red cave walls pricked my ears.

  Upon feigning waking at the sound, not wishing to be stomped, I found five massive trolls, all conveniently dispersed throughout the generous space, hovering over me.

  All varying degrees of orange or blue eyes, dark and light grey skin, and differing bright shades of orangey red hair, all different lengths, I could only blink, mouth flapping uselessly as nothing came out. They all had swirling patterns over their massive bodies, painting their shoulders with swirling, curling symbols, and all dressed in the same matching thick animal skin black breeches.

  Surprise had flit across every single one of their features as my eyes popped open, even more so when I screamed like a little girl, rolled, scrambling to my feet, and made to run.

  The largest of all of them, possibly a foot and a half taller than my own outlandish height, and conveniently closest to me, caught me by the back of my shirt, wrenching me back, shoved my sack, jewels, and coin purse at me, and snarled, “Stay.”

  Nose dipping to snuffle at my scalp, I cringed but let him, not wanting to upset the guttural, more untamed of the group. Chuffing out a grunt that sent my hair flopping into my eyes, the large being hefted my burly frame, tucked me into his wide, hairless arm, and toted me, like a sack of potatoes, over to their roaring fire.

  “Sit.” Plopping me down none too gently, forcing me to prop up on a thick, wooden stool, he picked up a huge platter filled with succulent smelling meat, and proceeded to eat in front of me.

  The other trolls, watching the exchange curiously, walked up to the large male, and it was Hellion who grunted, “What be this, Duke?”

  Duke growled low, and the other troll’s eyes widened, slowly backing away. “Demon stays.”

  Rubbing my thick, calloused hands on the knees of my thread bare brown
breeches nervously, my eyes darted between them, hand reaching up to tug my black best and white linen shirt back into place. The ties at the top of my fairly good shirt had ripped clean off, and my vest fit a lot looser now, but there was nothing to be done for that.

  “Canna just do that, brother, no matter what ye smell. Tis different but similar, eh? Be human too, despite the scent. Canna keep him, just ‘cause. Doesna work that way.”

  “A toll?” Duke grunted, glancing over at me.

  “We hadn’t gotten that far,” I croaked out when no one else would speak.

  The looks on the other four troll’s faces tightened. Apparently, I’d just said the wrong thing.

  “Cos’, no toll, Dukes says he stays.”

  Yep, I’d guessed it right. Most feral troll, right in front of me. Even the others feared him, somewhat. I could sense it, feel the tension rolling off of them in waves.

  “Be thinkin’ it through,” Brosius murmured quietly, as if to soothe. “Just wee lads, brother, he dinna know ‘bout Mid, he dunno ‘bout-”

  “Go ‘way,” Duke barked at the others, snapping his jaws when Beast snarled in affront.

  Making as if to stand, the swirls on his skin lighting up, they all slowly slunk back.

  I watched the entire exchange, slack jawed, and I hoped most fervently he didn’t ever snap at me like that. I’d probably piss myself and have a heart attack. Hopefully, if luck was with me, I’d have the heart attack first.

  Glancing at me, cocking his head to listen to my stomach as it rumbled fiercely, this Duke troll slapped my wrist, ignoring my pained yelp as all my possessions tumbled to my feet.

  “Eat.” Shoving the biggest drumstick I’d ever seen into my stunned hands, he picked up a pitcher, filled his own mug, and shoved it in my face. “Duke feed Demon-cos’.”

  “Uhm, thank you.” Taking it carefully, sure not to make any sudden movements, for fear the giant creature might snap, I swallowed past the thickness in my throat, nodding my head gratefully. “Much thanks, uh, Duke.”

  “Duke-cos’,” he corrected, grunting, smacking his wide troll chest with a closed fist. “Drink, Demon-cos’.” Raising the pitcher he’d filled the mug with in his big, meaty paw, he brought it to his own thick lips and drank greedily.

  Following suit, as he seemed to have befriended me for the time being and I didn’t wish to offend him, I took a huge swallow of his offered beverage. Large blue eyes, tinged with orange, focused on me so intently, I didn’t know what to think.

  “It’s good, uh, Duke-cos’. My thanks.” Picking up the leg of meat, I took a huge bite, juice dribbling from my chin as I bit back a moan. Tender, with just enough spice, whatever they were, it was delicious.

  We went on like this in companionable silence for the better part of an hour, the occasional grunt from my dinner companion filling the air.

  “You know,” I murmured aloud, “I think that Hellion still has my mother’s locket.”

  Licking a bit of juice from his dinner off his lips, Duke glanced up at me. “A toll?”

  Wiping my hands on my pants, I picked up my sack, coin purse and ruby necklace, rummaging around before slowly shaking my head. “It’s not here. He must have kept it.” Feeling marginally lighter, I smiled. “Guess I’m free to go then, right?”

  Hunching forward, Duke’s gaze shifted. A flash of hurt and sadness I didn’t’ understand entering his freakishly scary eyes, he glared into the fire. “That be what ye wish?”

  “Uh, yes.” But it felt wrong to say them aloud. Why? I didn’t know, but my guts knotted.

  “Demon can go.”

  “Really?”

  “Mm. Yes.” Duke’s face pinched even tighter and his head dipped, large bare feet scuffing the ground.

  As I shoved everything in my sack and went to leave, I stopped halfway to the entrance, hesitating. “Thank you, again, for sharing a meal.” Digging in my sack, I took a deep breath, turned, and shouted, “Catch.”

  Head snapping up, hands automatically cupping to receive the treasure, I smiled at the arched browed look on Duke’s face.

  Angling his head slowly, as if it was hard to look away from the glittering gems the troll marveled over, he choked out, “For Duke?”

  “Why not, right?” I shrugged, flopping my bag over my shoulder. “What are friends for, right?” We were friends now, of a sort, I’d venture to say.

  Nodding his head, a slow, fleeting smile crossed his wide mouth. Picking something up from the ground, he tossed it at me. I caught it right before he hit me smack dab in the forehead with it.

  Fingering the piece, I blinked down at it wonderingly. “Hey, this looks like grandah’s old chess piece. We used to play, until I lost too many pieces. But this, this looks exactly like the one I gave too...”

  Duke nodded, staring into my face so hard I thought he might burst a blood vessel, his concentration was so focused.

  “The one I gave to my imaginary friend, Dukos.”

  “Dukos big now, yes? Not puny baby Ornthren to chase in barn no more.” Lips stretching so wide I thought his face might split, he slowly stood to his full height, arms stretching out wide.

  Blinking up at him stupidly, I muttered, “But they said you weren’t real.”

  And mother had beaten me soundly whenever I slipped and brought him up.

  Dukos, the imaginary grey boy who used to come and play with me on the nights I chose to sleep in the barn all those summery nights ago.

  Though much bigger than me, even back then, I’d known he was younger. He was like the little brother I never had. He didn’t talk much, either, but we’d had great fun. I’d even taught him his letters, just like Grandah had taught me, chess too.

  After the beating that had broken my arm, he’d stopped coming. I’d buried the chess piece, wrapping it in a letter to my imaginary friend, bidding him good-bye, but expressed an interest in finding him again.

  “Who says?” Dukos grunted. “Dukos look fake to Demon-cos?”

  Demon-cos, it was all starting to make sense now.

  “Ma and grandmother,” I whispered, dropping my bag at my feet.

  “Demon-cos stay, then? Brother-cousin wit’ Dukos? Teach play chess again, yes?” I could see the little grey boy in that focused blue and orange speckled gaze, beneath the scary male encasing him.

  “You mean... You want me to stay here?”

  Dukos nodded as the sound of a herd of feet tromping towards us pricked my ears.

  “For how long?” I murmured curiously.

  “Mmm.” Grunting, the huge troll shrugged. “Long as Demon-cos wants. Forever?”

  A small grin tipped my lips. “Don’t be silly, old friend. You know you’ll tire of me after the first month.”

  We’d bickered like siblings, in the rare moments he’d grown talkative.

  Dangling the ruby necklace in front of me, Dukos held it out in offering. “A toll fer a price?” Canting my head questioningly, he marched over, looming over me, and chuffed, “Demon-cos’ make a bet?”

  My eyes kept straying to where the sounds were coming from, a woman’s hushed voice rustling my senses. They keep women back there too? How big is this place?

  As I thought this over briefly, I really had to ask myself, why not? And what have I go to lose? “I never really was one for sword apprenticing, anyways,” I muttered, grinning as I held out my hand.

  Immensely pleased with himself, closing his hand over mine and fisting it, his eyes flashed black. “Forever it is, then, Demon-cos. Dukos’ brother-cousin stays.”

  “Brother what?!” a deep voice roared. Again, the rafters shook.

  Unfazed, Dukos turned to greet the biggest, widest shouldered troll I’d yet to see. Blazing orange eyes, fierce scowl, brutish face with thick lips and a wide, flat nose, monstrously proportioned, he was the most menacing of them all, wide flat teeth be damned.

  “Troll,” a plump, round woman with a carrot topped riot of hair trailing down her back snarled softly, a death grip on the huge
troll’s forearm.

  “Yer eejit sons bring the get of the pisser in here, an’ I’m no’ supposed ta yell!” he bellowed. “Tell me, Nugget, how should I bloody react?!”

  “Dinna yell at her, ye geezin’ old fart! That be me mum yer snarlin’ at!” Beast snapped his teeth at the Troll, erm, troll, unafraid in the face of the male’s fury.

  “Who ye be ta talk ta me like that, whelp?!” Troll roared. “An’ any ‘o’ ye too, ye snivelin’ Mama’s boys! May be yer Mum, but she’s mine!”

  “Not if ye aint breathin’, ye dirty pervert!”

  “How ye think ye got here, boy? A patch full ‘o’ cabbage?”

  “Oh, brother,” the woman, Nugget, sighed, shaking her head as she effortlessly maneuvered around the bellowing pair.

  Tensing, Dukos made to step in front of me. “Demon-cos’ stays.”

  While I couldn’t see her, I could hear her clearly. “Your papa won’t like that, sweet.”

  “He stays.”

  A soft chuckle left her lips as she stopped before the towering troll. “He’s a grown man, love. You can’t make him stay.”

  “Can,” he grunted stubbornly. “Did.”

  “He’s no’ stayin’!” Troll snarled, grunting as the small brawl with Beast turned into an all-out troll-sized tussle, the others gleefully joining in to jab and slap at each other.

  “He stays,” Dukos chuffed, thick arms folding over his chest.

  Disentangling himself from the knot of pretzel-ed limbs, the blazing orange-eyed troll shot towards us.

  Thinking he meant to strangle Duke, his eyes licking black as he gnashed his teeth, I shot out in front of my long lost friend, shoving my hands out.

  “I won’t let you hurt him!” I bellowed in my best deep voice.

  This was Dukos, after all, the imaginary friend that made childhood more bearable, a friend close enough in age when there were none to be had.

  While we weren’t children any more, I’d felt a kinship with the menacing monster, a sort of brotherly bond. He needs me, and I need him, just as we had in the old days.

  Snapping his teeth in my face, hot breath wafting over me as he growled low in his chest, he snarled, “Ye’d give yer life for a troll, boy?”