The Troll King (The Bowl of Souls Book 9)

by Trevor H. Cooley

  Chapter Two

  “King Demetrius Vriil?” said Sir Edge. From the way the named warrior’s eye twitched as he pondered the concept, Willum could tell that he found it both intriguing and disturbing. Willum knew the feeling. He had felt the same way when the imp had first suggested the plan.

  “If things go as planned, that is,” Willum said. “I was surprised when Demetrius agreed to the idea, frankly.”

  They paused their conversation for a moment to climb over the thick trunk of a tree that had fallen across the road. It was once a large leafy evergreen that looked like it had been killed by an insect infestation. The branches held just a handful of dry waxy leaves and the trunk was mottled and pitted.

  “Stop!” shouted Jhonate bin Leeths, Sir Edge’s betrothed. She was still standing in front of the fallen tree and her striking green eyes flashed as she pointed her Jharro staff at her brother who had stepped over the trunk with the rest of them. “Clear the road, Qurl. We should not leave this obstruction here.”

  Qurl scowled back at her. He was the Protector of the Grove’s fourth son and the highest ranking of the score of Roo-Tan warriors that were ‘escorting’ the party. He had been put in charge and obviously did not like his sister giving him orders. “This will only delay us.”

  “And what would father say? You would leave this tree to hamper some poor farmer heading home with his cart?” she asked, hands on her hips. “Come, it will not take long.”

  Qurl sighed. He shouted out to the score of warriors that were spread out along the road. “Clear the tree!”

  Several of them gathered around the fallen tree, their Jharro weapons forming sharp edges. They began hacking the thick trunk into pieces that could be easily moved. Surprisingly, the Jharro blades cut through the wood as if they were made of steel.

  Willum realized that in the weeks he had been traveling Malaroo’s roads, this was the first fallen tree he had come across. It was a miracle considering how densely forested the country was. Xedrion must take his roads seriously, he remarked mentally.

  “He’s the general of the Roo-Tan armies, Willy,” replied Theodore from within Willum’s axe. “Blocked roads slow armies.”

  “You believe that the nobles are seriously considering this?” Edge asked Willum, as the other men worked. “I mean, after what we went through with Ewzad, the name Vriil . . .”

  “He knows,” said Djeri, his voice dull. Willum glanced his way, but the dwarf’s helmet hid his expression. He was wearing his uncle’s famous platemail armor, polished to a mirror-like finish, the Firegobbler insignia on his chest gleaming like a red and gold beacon in the sunlight. This was the first time Djeri had spoken to them since leaving Roo-Tan’lan. The dwarf wasn’t usually this silent. Willum wondered what was bothering him. He knew that Djeri didn’t like how many Roo-Tan warriors they were bringing back to camp, but it was more than that. He was probably worried about Tarah.

  “I hope you took no offense, Willum,” said Sir Edge.

  “How could I be offended?” Willum replied. He had more reason to hate his heritage than most. “As for the plan, I didn’t think it would work either, but Demetrius seemed pretty confident in the last letter he sent me. He claims he has several influential noble families on his side and that those opposing him are under a lot of pressure from the populous.” He shrugged. “But that was weeks ago. For all I know it has fallen apart since.”

  “Nonsense, Willy,” said the imp, who was monitoring the conversation as usual. He couldn’t hear Willum’s thoughts unless they were directed at him, but the imp listened to everything. “The plan will work without fail. Trust me. Ho! You humans are so easily manipulated.”

  “I do not understand why there should be any difficulty,” said Jhonate with her usual formal tone. She wore a slight frown on her face as she watched her fellow warriors dissect the fallen tree. “Lord Commander Demetrius is an excellent candidate for the position. He is an accomplished leader who has proven himself in battle. Is there anyone more qualified?”

  “Well, uh, no. But that has nothing to do with it,” Willum said. He opened his mouth to say more but hesitated on how to proceed.

  He didn’t consider himself to be close with Sir Edge’s betrothed. Jhonate seemed to respect his combat skills and allowed him to call her by her first name, but she wasn’t exactly friendly. In fact, she could be scary at times. He had felt a distinct uneasiness when she had insisted that she come along to meet Tarah Woodblade. Willum had a feeling that the two women wouldn’t get along.

  “Most Dremaldrian’s would agree with you, Jhonate,” said Sir Edge, rescuing him. “At least, the peasants would. But the nobles are the ones who decide who will be king and, among the nobility, the standing of a person’s house is more important than their prowess in battle.”

  “How nonsensical,” Jhonate replied.

  Jhonate’s brother Qurl snorted in agreement and muttered something about, “Dry-foot politics.”

  “Pfft! It’s the way of all the nobles in all the world, Willy,” said Theodore. Though Willum was the only one that could hear him, the imp’s voice sounded loud in his ears. “Roo-Tan nobles aren’t any different. Look at the ribbons they wear in their braids. They denote which of Xedrion’s wives is their mother.”

  Willum’s eyes lingered on the Roo-Tan siblings. The ribbons woven into the braids on either side of Jhonate’s face were the same green as her eyes, while Qurl’s ribbons were a deep red. So?

  “So? Ho-ho, Willy. It’s just another way for them to keep track of status within their house,” the imp explained. “Didn’t you notice the color of the Protector’s braids earlier?”

  No. Willum replied mentally. He thought back to his uncomfortable first meeting with Xedrion back in Roo-Tan’lan’s prison. Well, the ribbons were green, if I remember right.

  “See, Willy? Oh, how that must burn the rest of his wives! It’s a visible reminder to everyone who sees him that he favors Jhonate’s mother above the others.” The imp giggled. “He can shift the status of the members in his house at a whim. All he would have to do is change the color of the ribbons in his braids and the balance of power in Malaroo would change.”

  How do you know so much about politics among the Roo-Tan? Willum asked. Theodore had been around a very long time. Exactly how long Willum didn’t know, but surely that didn’t make him an expert in everything.

  “Oh, Willy. Long before Tad the Cunning dug me up I spent some time here in the hands of the merpeople. Ho! I know a lot more about this country than I ever wanted to.”

  That sounds like a story I would like to hear, Willum replied. The imp was still such a mystery to him. It was hard to get him to talk about his past unless he was bragging about something.

  “Meh, maybe later,” the imp replied.

  The tree was soon sectioned and cleared, Sir Edge’s rogue horse helping the men move the larger chunks of the tree. Jhonate ordered the wood left in piles beside the road in case any passers-by wanted it and the party continued on their way, heading southwest towards the camp where Willum and Djeri had left Tarah.

  “Just over a mile to go,” Djeri announced as they crested a hill. Willum knew he should be able to make out the area where they had camped from here, but the whole country was so thickly forested it all looked the same to him.

  Willum felt a heavy nudge at his hip and nearly stumbled as Gwyrtha came up close, the massive creature nuzzling his side. To his surprise, she bared her sharp teeth at him in a frightening mockery of a smile. That was a new behavior from her. He forced a smile back at her and reached out to scratch her behind the ears as he had seen Sir Edge do numerous times.

  The rogue horse was a fearsome beast; a patchwork mix of horse and lizard and various other creatures, but Willum had come to know her pretty well over his time at the Mage School during the war and knew that she was sweet at heart.

  “Uh, hello, girl,” he said. She huffed back at him, a throaty sound akin to a purr.

  “Oh-ho, the
power, Willy,” said Theodore, his voice full of longing. “I can feel it coursing through her veins. There is so much I could accomplish. Why, with just a sip I could-.”

  You are not feeding on another rogue horse, Theodore! Willum said, cutting him off. Especially not Sir Edge’s bonded.

  “Why, Willy! Of course I’m not suggesting such a thing. Ho! How little you must think of me!” Theodore protested. The imp had gotten a taste of rogue horse blood during their failed attempt to save Esmine from Scholar Aloysius. He brought up the experience constantly since. “Nevertheless, if perhaps, the beast was wounded accidentally-. Or in battle for some reason and you should accidentally drop the axe on top of her blood . . .”

  Shut up, imp, Willum warned.

  “She’s letting you know she likes you, Willum,” said Sir Edge, walking up close to him.

  Willum jumped at the sound of his voice, feeling a surge of guilt about his conversation with the imp. “Uh, yeah. Gwyrtha and I are friends. Aren’t we, girl?”

  “Tell me something, Willum,” Edge said, a speculative look on his face.

  “Sure,” he said.

  “Why all the secrecy?” the named warrior asked.

  “What do you mean?” Willum replied.

  “You two have been acting strange. Jerry isn’t talking at all. You’re willing to tell me about the local gossip from Dremaldria, but when it comes to the demon army or what you’re even doing in Malaroo, you’re tight-lipped.” He pointed a finger at Willum. “And you’re jumpy.”

  “That had nothing to do with-.” Willum saw Djeri’s helmet turn as the dwarf gave him a warning glance. “We’ll explain everything after you meet Tarah.”

  “That’s what you said earlier,” said Sir Edge.

  “We’re almost there,” Willum said. “We’ll tell you everything soon.”

  Edge stopped walking and folded his arms. “I want to know now.”

  “Stop everyone, Qurl!” announced Jhonate suddenly. She was several yards away, yet seemed to be perfectly in step with Edge’s thoughts.

  Qurl raised a closed fist and the procession came to a halt. “What is it?”

  Jhonate raised an eyebrow in Willum’s direction. “My betrothed needs to have a conversation with our academy friends before we proceed.”

  “Uh-oh, Willy. Looks like that plan of the dwarf’s is blowing up in your faces,” chuckled the imp.

  “We really are close,” Willum said to Edge, ignoring the imp.

  “Is that so?” Sir Edge said, his form immovable. He was an imposing figure; near a half foot taller than Willum and his short-sleeved linen shirt did nothing to hide the enormous muscles brought on by his bond with the ogre. The hilts of his swords stuck up over each shoulder, along with his quiver and unstrung Jharro bow. “Deathclaw has been scouting ahead and he says there’s nothing there.”

  “Oh. Well, Tarah’s really good at hiding,” said Willum lamely.

  “From Deathclaw?” Edge said. Deathclaw’s senses were sharp and he was an excellent tracker. Explaining this one away would be hard.

  Djeri cleared his throat. “It’ll make sense when we get there, Sir Edge. Trust me.”

  “What is this about, Edge?” Qurl asked. The Roo-Tan warrior came closer, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Do you think this is a trap?”

  “I doubt that these two would be involved with such a thing,” said Jhonate. “But there is something odd about the situation.”

  The rest of the Roo-Tan warriors began to gather tighter around them. Djeri tensed and his hands twitched, ready to reach for his sword. Willum prayed he wouldn’t do anything so stupid. This wasn’t worth fighting about.

  Sir Edge raised a calming hand. “I’ll get this sorted out. Come with me, Willum.”

  The named warrior turned and walked off of the road. Willum moved after him and glanced over at Djeri. The dwarf sighed and started to follow.

  “No. You stay here. I think it’s best I talk to him alone,” Edge said. The dwarf scoffed and he added, “I like you, Jerry, but I know Willum better. I think this silent treatment is your idea.”

  “This is ridiculous!” the dwarf protested. “We are allies. Why do you treat us like common enemies?”

  Edge shook his head. “Stop your blustering. Enemies would be in chains. Besides, allies wouldn’t hide the truth.”

  “It’s really not that big of a deal,” Willum said, but Edge was walking again. Willum shrugged at Djeri and followed after him. He knew that the dwarf was scowling at him under that helmet, but he didn’t care. He actually felt relieved that he wouldn’t have to hold the information back anymore.

  The named warrior led him a short distance into the trees until they were out of view of the others, then turned around and looked at Willum expectantly. “Now. We’re alone. You can tell me what’s going on.”

  “And no one is listening in?” Willum said.

  “Gwyrtha says they’re not,” Edge replied.

  “No one’s nearby, Willy,” the imp agreed.

  “Alright,” said Willum. “I wasn’t lying when I said it wasn’t that big of a deal.”

  “Then why hold back?”

  “Djeri wanted to make sure we got back to Tarah before telling the Roo-Tan everything about us,” Willum explained. “You know, just in case Jhonate’s father decided to hold us in the prison. It was the only leverage we had.”

  “You were coming to warn him of a threat to his people,” Edge said in exasperation. “Don’t you think he would be grateful?”

  “Look, we know how the Roo-Tan feel about outsiders in their country. And from what we hear, Jhonate’s father isn’t exactly nice to visitors.”

  “Well . . . that’s true,” Edge replied, inclining his head in acknowledgement. “But you can’t just tell the Protector of the Grove that there’s an army coming, then hold back important information. He’s not a stupid man. He knew. Why do you think he sent twenty men with us? He might have done worse than throw you in a cell.”

  “We were relying on your help,” Willum explained. “The only reason we came to the city was because we heard that you and Jhonate were there.”

  Edge sighed and ran a weary hand through his hair. “That’s probably the only thing that saved you. Your timing was terrible, though. Yesterday was a very hard day. I’m surprised Xedrion didn’t simply send out an army to capture your friends.”

  “Tarah wouldn’t let herself be captured,” Willum assured him. He also didn’t add that, if Jhonate’s father had kept them imprisoned, Tarah would have been able to sneak into Roo-Tan’lan and free them whenever she chose.

  “Just tell me what you’ve been holding back. What are you doing in Malaroo?”

  “We weren’t lying when we told the protector that we were following that demon army,” Willum said. “But in truth, the real reason we’re here is the gnome that’s leading them.”

  Edge’s brow rose. “A gnome leads them?”

  “His name is Aloysius and he’s not just any gnome,” Willum said.

  He told the named warrior about Tarah’s magical tracking ability and how she and Djeri had shown up at Coal’s Keep looking for help. Then he told him how they had put a party together to rescue the rogue horse and finally, how they had failed to save her.

  “Gwyrtha remembers a rogue horse named Esmine that was one of Stardeon’s favorites,” said Sir Edge. “She could turn herself invisible.”

  “Yes. That’s her,” Willum.

  “Gwyrtha never saw her again after the rogue horses were scattered.” He shook his head sadly. “To think she survived on her own all these centuries just to be slaughtered like that.”

  “Yeah,” Willum replied. “We killed most of the dwarf smugglers and disrupted the ceremony but in the end all we accomplished was keeping Aloysius from binding Esmine’s soul to his sword. Tarah was somehow able to battle him mentally and pull its soul into her staff instead.”

  “Wait. Woodblade has the soul of that rogue horse bound to her staff?” Sir Edge
replied, his eyes wide. “Like the same way the imp is bound to your axe?”

  “Pretty much,” Willum said with a nod.

  “I can see why she would want to keep it a secret,” Edge said. “That staff must be a powerful weapon.”

  Willum hesitated about what to say next. “About that. The staff can-.”

  “Don’t tell him everything,” the imp warned.

  I’m not going to lie to him, Willum replied and said aloud, “Tarah is still learning the extent of what it can do. But being bound to that staff has given Esmine the ability to make people see what she wants them to see.”

  “Illusions,” Edge said in understanding. “So that’s how you were able to come all this way into Malaroo without being caught.”