Page 215 of A Dagger of Ice and Intrigue
My powers worked–sort of.
I was in a much better state than the last time I’d found myself in a strange clearing.
My lungs protested each breath, but they swelled.
I flexed my fingers and toes.
Everything hurt, but everything worked.
Now to find a way to get back up there.
Just as I steadied myself on my elbows, another roar sucked the courage right out of me. I snapped into a crouch, ignoring the pain.
The gods had truly been merciful today.
I’d fallen only a breath away from a jagged rock which would have cracked my skull instantly.
Another roar, more guttural this time, shook the ground.
Despite all of my senses screaming at me to stand still so the predator wouldn’t see me, I slunk toward the rock. Whatever beast was making that sound was behind it and I needed to see what I was facing.
Slowly, I peeked from behind the rock–and the view froze me.
Far enough away that I wouldn’t be spotted if I didn’t move was a roaring fire, taller than even Vylkor. Around it in a circle were beings I’d never seen before.
Twice as tall as any human and three times wider, these hulking beings were covered in thick fur whiter than the snow around us. Their feet, palms, and faces were ice blue and each carried a huge wooden mace across their right shoulder. Its end was flecked with razor-sharp ice shards. One swing and they could take out an entire pack of wolves.
Around their necks, they each wore what looked to have been necklaces made out of enormous antlers.
A dozen or so of them were gathered around the fire. Only one stood and grumbled in a strange tongue, while the rest sat on stones in a circle.
The whole situation reeked of ceremony. Not human, but sacred all the same.
The one who’d spoken sat back down. As another rose, it let out that bone-chilling roar.
Just as a surprised gasp threatened to escape my lips, a gentle hand covered my mouth.
Instead of flinching away, my body recognized the warmth instantly.
“Shhh,” Ryker whispered in my ear as the roar continued to make everything around us tremble.
“What are they?” I mouthed against his hand, hoping he’d understand.
Smart man, he did. “Trolls.”
My eyes widened.
I understood why the humans in Solkar’s Reach were so terrified of them. Their palms and feet were stretched, ideal for navigating in the thick snow, and their faces looked crumpled, eyes barely peeking out from behind the folds of their brows–but that meant the winter chill couldn’t get in easily. Their breaths turned to smoke in the cold, as if in warning.
They looked perfectly created for this realm.
“Nadya and the wolves?” I mouthed against his skin.
“Safe with the rest of the group.”
I sighed against his palm. Everyone was okay–but we wouldn’t be if we didn’t get out of this stony ravine.
Whatever the new troll speaker was saying, the rest of them didn’t like it. Maces were raised in the air. The air pulsed with their roars, each beating against my bruised ribs.
