Page 43 of Shelf-Made Man
It also explained, Tobias assumed, why a wizard hadn’t managed to escape. How did you magic-proof a room? Was it some kind of insulation, like eggcratefoam used in sound booths? Or a lining, like lead used for x-ray protection? He’d ask about it later.
“Unlock the door,” Alfie commanded Snjokarl.
“I don’t have a key. I shall need to call a guard.”
“Do it.”
Tobias followed Snjokarl to the door at the end of the hallway and watched as he knocked a few times. “It is your master,” he called. “Open this door at once.”
He was obeyed promptly, and a pair of trolls stood in the doorway, gaping. “Your Highness! We were told you’d been kidnapped and?—”
“Yes, yes. Now come unlock the wizard’s chamber.”
One remained in the doorway while the other entered the corridor, squeezing by Tobias. The look she cast at him wasn’t friendly, and he wondered if there was any possibility he could ever have a nice chat with another troll and find out more about his birth species. It would be interesting to learn which of his quirks were troll things and which were… just him.
The troll hefted an impressively large key, worked the lock, and then pulled the door open. When Alfie hung back—who could blame him?—Tobias pushed forward to look inside.
It was a windowless space about ten feet square, with featureless white walls and floor. As in the hallway, there was a sourceless glow. The only furnishings were a toilet, a sink, and a stone bench. A man sat on the bench with his knees drawn to his chest, his back pressed into a corner. His head was deeply bowed, andall that Tobias could see was a matted mass of dark hair.
“Olve?” asked Tobias. “Olve Lange?”
The man’s only reaction was to curl more tightly into himself. It was no wonder he wasn’t reacting well—Tobias was a troll.
Tobias took a cautious step into the cell and tried again. “Um, I’m Tobias Lykke. I think you rescued me when I was a baby? The Countess—um, your wife, Virginia, is my godmother.”
Now the man did look up, eyes wide. “No. It’s a trick.”
“No, it’s not, I promise. Look, let’s just step into the hallway—Alfie’s there; you rescued him too—and I’ll get us the hell out of here.”
But Olve hid his face again. “Stop tormenting me,” he whispered.
Maybe it would be better if Alfie lured him out. Tobias started to turn around—and something hit him hard on the back of the head.
Chapter
Nineteen
Tobias’s ears discerned a conversation before he could make his eyes focus or get the rest of his body to do anything useful.
“—sorry. I didn’t…. I couldn’t trust….”
“You’re not to blame,” said a second voice. Alfie. That was Alfie speaking, and just hearing him was a relief, although Tobias couldn’t quite remember why. “I was the one who foolishly thought Snjokarl would keep his word.”
Tobias growled slightly and felt a cool hand stroke his cheek. “Shh,” said Alfie. “You should lie still.”
Tobias didn’t want to lie still. He wanted to plunge his fist into Snjokarl’s chest and yank out his beating heart. He wanted to hear Snjokarl scream and watch the life fade in his eyes. He wanted?—
Where the hell was he?
It took several minutes to corral his thoughts into anything coherent and get his bearings. He was lyingon his back on a hard floor, his head pillowed in Alfie’s lap, Alfie’s fingers gently combing his hair. His head hurt, his stomach was queasy, and even the slightest movement made things worse. The light was too bright even through closed eyelids.
“Alfie?” he managed. “Where…?”
“We’re in Olve’s cell. You got bashed in the skull and probably have a concussion. Usually I’d be able to work some healing magic on you, but not here. I’m sorry. This is all my fault.” Alfie sighed loudly.
“Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. After the troll knocked you out, she picked me up and threw me in the cell with you two and then closed the door.”
