The Rift

6

   There was an army of trolls going to and fro in the image that Lillian conjured up in a puddle of water. Lillian and Phyllis looked at each other. "I've never seen so many in one place. Usually they travel alone. Scattered, but never in a group this big.", said Lillian. Phyllis and I looked at each other and then at Lillian.

"That all feels bad. Maybe they know something we don't.", said Phyllis.

"That could be. But, we would catch some drift of it.", said Lillian, looking down at the reflection pool she was using to scope out the trolls' perimeter. My mind raced for options. Some way to get them out of there.

"We have to find a way to get them out without being seen.", said Phyllis.

I shook my head and then it all clicked. "Maybe that's just it. I've heard so many tales. Stories that I don't believe are just stories anymore. Trolls love to trade and to show their strength.  So, we won't hide and free my friends. We challenge them and get my friends back. Along with anybody else they have their hands on in that camp.", I said, pointing to the image.

"So, you suggest we just walk in and challenge them?", questioned Lillian.

"Not all of them, just their leader.", I answered.

Lillian lead the way into the camp with her head held high and with Phyllis and I on either side of her. The trolls stopped and looked at us. Many were pushing around frightened villagers and one of them was a little girl about Isabelle's age, brown eyes and black hair. I was about to branch off when Lillian grabbed my wrist. "Remember why we are here. We'll free them.", said Lillian. I looked at the little girl once more and then we continued towards the center of their camp. The air smelled foul. So foul that I could taste it. We were stopped by two guards. "State your business, mundane.", grumbled one of them.

"We've come to make a deal.", said Lillian.

The guards looked at each other and laughed. I looked at Phyllis and then back at the guards. "What's so funny? You have no choice because what I learned about trolls is that you love to make deals.", I growled, stepping forward looking back and forth at them both. "So, let's make one."

The trolls looked at each other and one of them knocked on the door they were guarding. There was a roar inside and then the door flung open. A big ugly troll came thundering out. His eyes red with rage and his belly quite big. We stepped back, and Lillian gave me an impressed look and then looked back at the leader. "Who are you and what do you want?", he grumbled. Lillian narrowed her eyes.

"My name is Castille, daughter of Sirius. I challenge you to a duel. If I win, all the mundane that you have here will be freed. If I lose, you will have us as your servants. Do we have a deal?", I proposed.

The troll leader snorted and nodded. "Very well. But you won't be fighting me. You will fight one of my greatest warriors. Seleste, come forward and get this over with." I narrowed my eyes when I was thrown into a tree. The trolls roared in a cheer. I rolled onto my stomach and lifted my head to see a four armed she-creature barreling towards me. She swung her axe in a swift motion. I rolled out the way and the axe hit the earth. She growled in frustration and I got to my feet and reached for my sword on my side, but it wasn't there. My eyes searched the ground and I spotted it behind one of the trolls. I raced inside the crowd and she came after me hitting everything in her way. I dove for my sword and I wrapped my hands around the hilt. I stood and charged towards her. I slid between her legs and sliced her inner thigh. She fell to one knee and she grabbed my leg and hit me into the ground. I felt disorientated. My sword slid over towards a troll and he picked it up and broke it. "No!", I screamed. He laughed, and I turned over and kicked Seleste in the eye. She roared out in pain and I wiped my mouth to see blood. My mind went blank and I shuddered. I looked at the troll who broke my sword and raised my hand towards him. He cried out in pain as the pieces of the sword burned in his hand and once he released them, they flew towards me. I grabbed the hilt and piece by piece it was wielded back together. I put my sword to her neck. "I should kill you.", I growled. I took one step back and put my sword back in its sheath. They all gasped and the cheering stopped.