The Assassin Omega

Chapter 16: Dinner with the Trolls

Alex and Kyle were brought to a giant cavern that was made to be a huge dining room. The tables were lined up in a swirling pattern like a giant wooden snake. The tables were covered in all kinds of food that Alex and Kyle could and could not recognize. The trolls sat at the tables, not even glancing at the intruder, too busy eating to care. The difference was that instead of the revealing loincloths that the trolls had worn in the throne room, they were all now dressed in leather tunics.

The pair were then ushered by Blemmyes to sit in a cramped space between several trolls, who all scooted away to make room for the giant men. The trolls grunted, seemingly indicating a greeting before digging back into their meal.

"You may eat. I know you are not used to the food, but all is good," Blemmyes said before digging into his own meal. Another troll came over and sat next to him before the two pecked each other on the lips. Blemmyes then turned to the pair, "this is my husband, Dingonek."

The troll that was just introduced as Dingonek then pointed to himself excitedly, and repeated, "me Dingonek, call Nek."

"He's not very good at English. You can call him Nek."

"Oh, I am Kyle and this is Alex."

Nek just nodded, seemingly confused before Blemmyes repeated what Kyle had said in troll speak. Nek nodded again and then gave a slight bow while still sitting down.

"Cousin, idiot" Nek questioned and Blemmyes just nodded.

"Why am I..." Alex started to ask before being interrupted by Kyle.

"So how do you know Kai?"

"Small wolf once saved me from an ogre a long time ago. He was wounded in the fight so I brought him back here to heal and the King got attached to him. He was here with us for several months. I am the one who taught him troll speak. He is the one who taught me human speech."

"What do you mean..." Alex started again before being interrupted again by Kyle.

"I see, so you're not as dangerous as Kai implied you were. I am guessing the Troll King likes to put on a spectacle for guests?"

Blemmyes laughed hard before saying, "yes the King likes to make a spectacle, loincloths and all. It's all fun and games. As for being dangerous, you're lucky we didn't slit your throats on sight."

Blemmyes then turned to Nek and they started talking amongst each other, getting closer and closer to each other as time passed until Blemmyes was nearly in Nek's lap. Neither Alex or Kyle could understand what they were saying, but they could infer that it was probably something a little explicit. The two men just sat there in silence, picking at their food and wondering what the hell they just got themselves into.

***

After dinner, Blemmyes lead the pair through the tunnels of the mine on foot. Although the troll was only about three feet tall, he moved swiftly in the poorly lit tunnel, leaving Kyle and Alex struggling to keep up. Eventually, the three could make out light at the end of the tunnel and before long they escaped into the brightly lit forest.

"We shall wait here for the small wolf's return," Blemmyes said before sitting on a moss covered rock and started reading the book that he had been carrying around.

Alex looked to Kyle, who just shrugged his shoulders before sitting on an adjacent rock to the troll. Alex was furious inside but couldn't show it. He had been dragged along, kidnapped, and insulted by pretty much everyone he came into contact with today. Quietly cooling down, he went and sat on a rock that was as far away as possible while still being able to see the tunnel.

Hours passed and the sun started setting before they heard someone coming out of the mines. Blemmyes stopped reading his book, placing a pressed dead leaf as a bookmark to mark his page and got up from where he was sitting. Alex got up and walked over, kicking Kyle who had fallen asleep and was snoring loudly.