Mae slipped from the bed, reached for her boots, and shoved her feet into them. She patted her apron pocket, checking that her flute, raven, and wand were stowed safely as Callum’s spell tightened the laces on her boots and tied little bows. Her ears swiveled to listen to the night noises in the cottage.
Callum’s breathing was deep and even, and Aletta made little snorting noises. Even when she wasn’t a pig, Aletta kind of sounded like one. Mae hoped the wizards were both sound sleepers. She reached into her hair and untangled Trina from her curls. The squirrel looked at her with sleepy eyes. “You have to stay here, Trina.”
Trina shook her head, perked her whiskers, wiggled out of Mae’s hand, and jumped into her apron pocket.
“No, Trina. You can’t come.” Mae pulled the little squirrel from her pocket and set her on the pillow. “You’ll be safe from Gelbane here. Now stay put!”
Mae tiptoed across the room and scuttled up onto the foot of Reed’s bed. He didn’t stir as she stepped careful-like around him and pushed the window open.
The cloying fragrance of the night-blooming flowers hung in the still air, luring moths toward their nectar. Owls hooted. Coyotes yapped. Crickets chirped. The forest was alive with the sounds of night. Mae lifted her knee to the windowsill and pulled herself up. Shifting her body, she planted her feet in the flowerbox and slid the window shut. Mae pressed her nose against the glass and peered back into the room. She couldn’t help but think of the last time she crawled out of a window.
Reed still slept, unmoving except for the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest. Trina stared from Mae’s bed. Mae hoped the little squirrel wouldn’t run to Callum and tattle.
Before she had a chance to change her mind, Mae jumped out of the flowerbox. She sprinted for the shortcut that would lead her to the Wedge.
Chapter Fourteen
“Shine brightly,” Mae whispered, holding her wand in front of her. The end illuminated the pillars of the bridge. The runes were dark and magickless. She touched them and a jolt of energy sizzled up her arm as the leyna charm fizzled and fell away to reveal a vandalized stone face. Nervous moths rose in her stomach at what her wand revealed. Her hand shook as she touched the last pillar. The last bit of protection against the trolls.
A sharp crack, like a twig breaking underfoot, surprised Mae, and the light at the end of her wand winked out. Someone was approaching from the village. Mae scampered into the edge of the woods to hide. Remnants of cloud from the storm floated across the ivory moon, its half-light throwing more shadow than illumination. Mae peered into the blackness at the distant figure.
Lumpy and shambling, the figure drew near, carrying a large sack on its back. Something in the bag clinked together, metal on metal. Mae recognized the awkward gait. Gelbane!
Mae crouched, still as a fence post. She could hear Gelbane snuffle the air with her wide, flat nose, like she was savoring the aroma of a fatty stew.
“She’s been here, that wretched spit of a girl,” Gelbane muttered. “Snooping on me, no doubt.”
A shiver ran through Mae. Gelbane had no idea how close she was to the truth. Whiskers had sprouted from Gelbane’s chin and her ears were small and bald. They looked like withered, dried pears on the side of her head. Great yellow fangs protruded from under her top lip. Gelbane must have abandoned the leyna charm. That wasn’t a good sign.
Gelbane dropped the lumpy sack on the road just before the bridge and untied its rope. The clouds blew away and the half moon shone again. She pulled out a pair of worn boots. The soles were thick and riddled with long iron spikes.
Of course! Maewyn slapped her hand against her forehead. Metal hurts magick…that’s what Callum had said. Gelbane had found a way around Remington Gythal’s protection spell.
Gelbane shoved her feet into the boots. A snigger floated on the air. “Those muffin-brained hapennies have no idea what’s coming. Trusting some kitchen wizard to protect them. Well, they’ve got what’s coming to them now. I can almost taste the hapenny stew.” Drawing out a hammer and a chisel from the bag, Gelbane, in her true troll form, crossed the bridge. The nails scraped against the wooden planks. She settled the chisel against the last stone pillar and began to cut away the remaining trace of the runes protecting the Wedge.
Mae stood abruptly. She must get back to Callum and Aletta before Gelbane could tell the other trolls that the bridge was not protected anymore. A heavy hand closed over Mae’s shoulder and another covered her mouth. She struggled as her captor pulled her off her feet and dragged her further into the trees. “Looky, Nord! Looky what we ‘ave ‘ere,” a gruff whisper blew against Mae’s ear. “A little spysie-wizey.”
“What’s going on over there?” Gelbane bellowed. “Nord? Taureck? Be that you?”
“‘Tis me, Taureck!” The troll shouted back. “No worries, Gelbane, we jus’ catched ourselves a little rabbit!”
“Well, be quiet, you lousy halfwits,” Gelbane shouted back. “We don’t want to give them any warnin’s.”
Mae cringed away from the sharp, metallic smell of the female troll’s breath. She struggled in her grip as another troll emerged from the trees. He was large and broad across the shoulders. Greasy, dark hair hung around his jowls. He squeezed Mae’s arm. “Should make a nice addition to our supper.”
Mae aimed for his nose with her heel, but he grabbed her legs and cinched them in his grasp. Watery black eyes appraised her. “Nice an’ pudgy, this ‘un. Ain’t like that string bean a coupla weeks ago.”
They’d eaten Mother Underknoll! How had they captured her? Mae squirmed and tried to yell, but the claw against her mouth clamped down hard. She gagged at the feel of moist skin against her lips.
“Oh, Nord, we ain’t ate a good hapenny stew in years, and we finally get some and ye still be complainin’,” Taureck grumbled.
“Tie her up, Taureck. When Gelbane’s chiseled the last of the runes from the pillar, we’ll celebrate with this ‘un!” Nord ambled off through the brush and bramble.
Mae struggled hard against her captor. Her mind was wild with fear. The few spells she knew whirled in her head. Mae concentrated on Taureck’s arm and imagined red spots growing like a pox on the scrawny green wrist.
“What’s that?” The troll’s grip on Mae weakened. She shook her arm as if the spots would fall away. Mae wriggled loose, but was snatched by the collar.
“Oh, no, you don’t. No hapenny tricksies are gonna work on me!”
A moan of anguish rumbled in Mae’s throat. It was daft of her to think she could rid the Wedge of Gelbane and find Leif by herself. Sneaking out was the worst idea she’d ever had. Now she hoped Trina would tattle on her.
“Quit your caterwaulin’.” Taureck bound Mae’s wrists with a scratchy bit of rope. Mae tried to run again, but the troll shoved her to the ground with a long arm. Mae spat out leaves as her feet were tied together. The troll rolled Mae onto her back and chucked her under the chin with a bone-thin finger. “You be so small, you be cookin’ fast; you’ll see. The other one was taller, but she only screamed for a few minutes. She was so easy to lure across the bridge. Pity she put that baby down first, though. I haven’t had flesh that tender in a lifetime.”
“That is a terrible thing to say.” Mae scooched away from the troll’s touch and cowered against a tree.
Taureck flashed a black-toothed grin and swiped at the stringy red hair falling across her face. Ripping a piece of thin material from her filthy vest, Taureck tried to stuff it into Mae’s mouth. Mae turned her head and clenched her teeth. The troll grabbed her face, claws pushing into skin. “Terrible? You’re gonna find out just how terrible I can be.”
Reluctantly, Mae opened her mouth so the troll would release her grip. She couldn’t fight back if she was scratched and infected again.
“That’s a good hapenny. Always willin’ to please, the lot of ye be.” Taureck stuffed the dirty rag in. Mae bit down hard on the troll’s finger.
“Owzies!” Taureck pulled her finger from Mae’s m
outh and shook it in the air. “You be the first one I eats!” A skeletal finger pulled a rattling bone necklace from under her faded blue corset. “And your teeth will make pretty baublies on my necklace.”
Mae fought against the panic building in her mind as the troll pushed herself off Mae and ambled away with a rolling gait. Mae turned her wrists in the binding. She turned and twisted her arm. The rope burned her skin. She wished she hadn’t made Trina stay at the cottage. Her sharp teeth would’ve made quick work of the ratty rope. Mae’s mind spun as she tried to remember some kind of helpful spell. She fought against the tears building behind her eyes and the tightness in her throat. Crying wouldn’t help anything.
Taureck had a smoky fire started when Nord strolled back through the trees. His yellowed fangs anchored a leering smile. “Gelbane said we can’t eat that ‘un yet. She wants us to bring her the little morsel.”
One of Mae’s hands slipped through the binding. She shook the rope loose from the other. She wasn’t sticking around for Gelbane to see her.
“Bring it to her?” Taureck shrieked. “But I caughts it, and I’m hungry!”
“Don’t matter. Gelbane said she’s keeping it with the other ‘un for the feasty tonight.”
Mae shrieked against her gag. The other one? That’s what Reed was trying to tell her. Gelbane had Leif! Mae sagged against the tree. She had no choice now. The easiest way to get to Leif was to let Gelbane take her. She wouldn’t be able to cross the bridge without Gelbane seeing her. She forced her hand back into the binding.
Taureck screwed up her face. “’Gelbane said, Gelbane said’! Do you always do what Gelbane said?”
“You and me, we’re to go to the others and tell them the way’s made open.” Nord grabbed a fallen limb from the ground. “Let’s truss that ‘un up so she don’t try to kicksy us no more.”
It was hard to breathe with the smelly rag in her mouth, and Mae’s wrists stung from the rub of the rope. The runes were gone. The trolls controlled the bridge, which meant they were free to invade the village. She was too late to repair the runes, but at least she could help her friend and maybe warn the others.
Her flute and wand slid from her pocket and bounced into the grass as the two trolls trussed her to the branch. Mae shrieked and wiggled. She needed her wand! Taureck smacked her upside the head. “Be quiet, loathsome creature! Dinner’s not supposed t’ talk.”
The trolls bent over with laughter as Mae swung like a suckling pig, stars filling her eyes. A smudge of daylight crept into the eastern sky. Her heart sank into her apron pocket as Taureck noticed the flute in the grass. The troll picked it up and stroked the shiny finish.
“Whatcha find, Taureck?” Nord asked.
Taureck folded the flute protectively in her hand. “Nuttin’, just some shiny bits of wood.”
“Let’s go, then.” Nord scowled. “Gelbane is waitin’ on us, and you know she don’t like to waitey.”
Mae bounced painfully as the trolls lumbered along the wooded path.
Nord halted at the bridge, eyeing it with uncertainty. “Uh, ladies first.”
Taureck shoved the pole Mae was trussed to into Nord, pushing him toward the planks of the bridge. “Oh, no. I insist you have the pleasure.”
“But—I—”
“Let’s go, you lowly good-for-nothings!” Gelbane shrieked. “We don’t have time for your ninny-naggin’. The magick’s gone!”
Nord stepped forward with hesitance, searching for the wood of the bridge with the tip of his toe. One eye was pinched shut; the other was only half open. Mae heard him take a deep, nervous breath. Mae held her breath, too. Perhaps luck was with her. Maybe Gelbane didn’t quite finish the job.
Nord planted his foot on the bridge and froze.
A breeze sped through the trees.
The leaves rattled.
“C’mon, nitwit!” Gelbane advanced over the bridge and gave Nord’s head a swipe with her fist. “You be alive. ‘Tis a relief to know I did the job right.”
Nord and Taureck exchanged a glance.
“Let me see what you’ve got there.” Gelbane bent to peer at Mae. She ran a stubby finger across Mae’s cheek as a wicked smile spread across her face. “Looks like you caught my runaway.”
“She bit me, so she’s the first ‘un to go!” Taureck cackled.
“No, she’s the last. I’m going to enjoy the look on her face when I eat her friends.” Gelbane plucked the gag from Mae’s mouth. “What do you have to say about that?”
Mae’s stomach churned with loathing. She scowled at Gelbane but did not answer. The wicked snigger Mae had heard too often in the last six years settled over the fields.
“Follow me quickly.” Gelbane turned down the path. “You need to be gone before the Wedge awakes.”
Sooner than Mae could believe, they were halfway down the path that would take them to her home. In the dim light of dawn, the flowers growing out of the earthen roof were wilted and sad. The tree branches drooped to the ground. The rooster crowed at the rising sun. The chickens clucked sleepily from the trees at the edge of the forest. Mae hoped she wasn’t hearing the rooster’s crow for the last time.
Gelbane slammed the front door open and gestured to the hallway. “Put her in the cage with the other one.”
Mae craned her neck to peer around the trolls and into Gelbane’s workroom. Leif stared at her, his fingers clenched around the iron bars.
Leif! Leif was the creature she’d glimpsed in the cage!
The trolls dropped her on the floor and Taureck hissed, baring her fangs. Leif cowered into the corner while Gelbane opened the cage door. Nord cut Mae from the branch and shoved her into the cage.
“Don’t be bruisin’ our dinner, nitwit!” Gelbane growled.
Mae yanked the gag from her mouth and threw her arms around her friend.
Gelbane turned the key in the heavy lock and pointed to Taureck. “Go, fetch me some breakfast. And be quick about it.”
Taureck pointed to Mae. “Why don’t you make her do it?”
Gelbane bared her fangs. “I’ve got other plans for her.”
In a tantrum, Taureck stormed out of the workshop.
“See you soon.” Saliva dripped from Nord’s fangs as he waggled his tongue in their direction and poked a claw through the bars, like a child poking at a rabbit in a cage.
“Or maybe I should say, taste you soon. My mouth is watering already.” He sniffed the air. “Mmm…sweetmeats…”
Gelbane knocked him upside the head. “Over-anxious hapennies turn sour. Now leave ‘em be and wipe that drool from your fangs.” Gelbane sneered. “If anyone’s mouth should be watering, it should be mine.”
Taureck returned with three eggs clutched in her hand. “Should I put ‘em in the pot for ya, too?” Taureck sneered.
Gelbane smashed the eggs in Taureck’s hands. “How sick I am of eating eggs.” Stringy yolk plopped onto the floor. “What I really want is the sweet taste of hapenny stew. Do you know how many years it’s been since I last tasted the soft flesh of a hapenny?”
Taureck held up her sticky claws and tried to count them. “Um…three?”
Nord smiled and nodded his head in agreement.
“Six, you idiots!” Gelbane whirled on the two trolls, swinging her fist and thumping Nord on the head again. “Six long years it’s taken me to chisel those runes away. Six long years I’ve pretended to be a nasty hapenny. Six. Disgustingly. Unsoiled. Years!”
Nord rubbed the lump on his head. “Why didn’t you just eat ‘er?”
“And have no one to do me chores?” Gelbane shrieked. “I wasn’t gonna work like a hapenny, just ‘cuz I looked like one!” Gelbane turned to Mae. “Your mother was nice and fatty. I suppose you’ll taste just as sweet, even if you are just a bite.”
“You ate my mother?” Mae screamed. “But—”
“But what, dear one?” A smirk slowly spread on Gelbane’s face. “What about the letters she’s written you promising to come home soon? Hapennies
are so easy to fool.”
“You wrote them,” Mae said, “to keep me around.” Tears burned in her eyes. Her heart sped. The clench of her fingers around the cage bars turned her knuckles white.
“That’s right. My, you’ve become so smart. Too smart for your own good. But it doesn’t matter. There’s nothing you can do about it. My magick is stronger than yours.” She turned to Nord and Taureck.
Mae glared at her former guardian’s backside. She wished she could pull every one of Gelbane’s teeth from her vile mouth. A red-hot hatred built in the pit of her stomach.
Gelbane pulled a copper pipe from her pocket and gave it to Nord. “Use my wand if you have to. She has a little bit of magick, but she don’t know how to use it yet. Otherwise, I would’ve been discovered long ago. Just make sure she don’t escape.”
Nord turned the pipe over in his hands. “What do I do with it?”
“Just point and flick!” Gelbane screeched.
Nord pointed it at Gelbane.
“Not at me!” Gelbane shoved the wand out of her face. “I can’t trust you two with nothing important. I’m gonna go tell the others the way is clear. You two nitwits will stay and keep watch over these two. Can you handle that?”
Nord and Taureck nodded.
With a leer, Gelbane pointed to Mae. “Tonight, we feast!”
Chapter Fifteen
Nord scuttled to a broken chair and forced his butt into it, cradling the wand like a baby.
Taureck tried to follow Gelbane, but halted when Gelbane scowled at her. “Could you send a signal when you arrive with the others?”
Hapenny Magick Page 8
