Dragon Bride

Chapter 31 Troll Baiting

"The trolls are definitely in there," Bjorn said as he and Unni circled on dragon back above the rock face that held the cave, "Are you sure Karlie..."

"She is," Unni and Loki responded in unison.

"She doesn't feel to be in any distress currently," Unni said, "are we going to land?"

"Not this time," Loki said, "repeated visits will leave a scent trail. Trolls are stinky creatures but they have very a acute sense of smell."

"I like Bjorn's plan to lock them out."

"Timing is critical," Loki said, "and we have to sneak you in somehow to warm Karlie or she could get hurt."

Late that night they cautiously approached the cave. "I watched them leave a few hours ago," Loki said. Loki rolled open the huge boulder that acted as a door. "It smells really bad in there. They left a small fire burning but you can see the fissure leading into the treasure cave."

Unni nodded, "I'm going in. Do you want to come in for the keystone?"

"No, it's hidden out here in plain sight. I'll roll back the door and lock you in. Bjorn should be in position in a few minutes. Then we wait."

Unni entered the cave. Loki was correct the stench was awful. She retched and lost her dinner as the boulder closed the cave. She heard Loki fitting the keystone and prayed the trolls would not see it. Then leaning into the fissure she shouted, "Karlie I'm home!"

"Unni! What are you doing here?"

"Rescuing YOU doofus! What did you think. Bjorn planned this. I'm coming down to you."

"It's a tight fit. You'll need to take off your clothes or you won't fit." Unni undressed then bundling her clothed pushed them into the fissure and crawled in laying on her belly. She reached the narrowest stretch and called out, "I'm stuck sister dear." Karliene pushed into the fissure and seizing the clothing bundle pulled it out.

"Why did you come face first?"

"I don't know," Unni said, "but my boobies are stuck. I can't just turn around."

"Slip one arm and shoulder through. Blow out all of your air. Good girl now keep coming."

Unni slipped forward then stopped again. "I'm stuck again! My butt this time!" Karliene wanted to tease her about her big butt but held her tongue as Unni had real fear apparent in her voice. Karliene crawled to her and taking her arms and bracing with her feet against the narrow opening tugged hard. Unni literally popped through and they tumbled together into the cave landing in a tangle of arms and legs. When they rose to their feet Unni exclaimed, "what are you wearing girl?"

"It's a toga. You like!" Karliene twirled around for her sister. "I have several in my fabulous wardrobe. You may share but I imagine you would like a bath first after being in the stinky upper cave."

"You have a bath!"

Karliene nodded and led the way smiling at her sister. "I have some lovely ham if you're hungry and I'll brush out your hair after you bathe. If we have time before our rescue."

"We have time. I had imagined you languishing and starving here."

"It was scary and mostly lonely. I'll tell you all as we bathe, are you sure you don't want any ham?"

Bjorn climbed to a position on the rock face about one hundred and fifty feet above the cave. The cave was facing the east and on a steeply climbing cliff. Bjorn stood just above the tree line and could see the light that preceded the sun rise. He heard the trolls approach.

"Nothing again to eat," one of the trolls said bitterly to his companion.

"And we got plenty to eat at home but that little woman stole it all." They were grunting as the pushed against the boulder and finding it would not budge. They tugged and pulled unsuccessfully at the boulder for several minutes while Bjorn waited for the right moment. Then above them Bjorn shouted.

"That little woman you complained about is MINE. And I want her back!"

The trolls looked up and saw Bjorn standing brandishing his sword. "I thought I smelled our dinner," one of the trolls said. "We'll eat you after we use you to entice the little woman out. You can watch us eat her."

"I'm surprised you two morons could devise such a clever plan with your pea sized brains. You'll have to catch me fir..." the trolls leapt before Bjorn could finish. In an instant the trolls where on the ledge that held Bjorn. But Loki had been cloaked and waiting. The instant they landed Loki had uncloaked while in a steep dive down the cliff face. He snatched Bjorn and pulled off to the east. The trolls turned, startled by the dragon's appearance and caught the first rays of the morning sun full on their faces. They groaned as they slowly turned to stone melding into the cliff face.

Loki removed the keystone and rolled back the boulder. He entered the cave behind Bjorn. "We freed you from the trolls," Bjorn shouted.

"You can't come down hear," Karliene shouted, "we just finished bathing and your to big to fit in the opening."

"What pray tell are you wearing?"

"Absolutely not a thing bear!?

"That I'd love to see. Loki wants to do a quick burn. It will loosen up the boulder closing off the treasure cave and clean up from the trolls."

"Pack the opening with wet blankets the seek shelter as far back as you can," Loki shouted, "you'll be free in about two hours." Unni and Karliene did as instructed then Loki breathed fire into the cave. The blast of flame was directed against the boulder but reduced the piles of garbage and poo the trolls had fouled the cave with to ash. When the boulder cooled he rolled it back and Bjorn and the dragon entered the lower cave. Karliene and Unni were sitting tailor style on a thick stack of heavy furs. They were eating ham and drinking from two jewel encrusted goblets. They stood as their rescuers entered.

"Have some ham," Karliene said smiling with mischief.

"And the wine is excellent," Unni added.

"What are you two wearing!" Bjorn asked.

"Togas, you like?"