Page 96 of A Light So Blinding
The hood of the cloak moved from side to side.
“The trolls are much more used to our kind walking around Trollveggen now. They weren’t welcoming to me, but I was one of the first to be here. Even those who had kidnapped human women to improve their bloodline didn’t let their brides walk around like we are now. But things are changing, and we are the ones who are going to keep those changes happening.” Maia nodded, seeming to like this plan. “Besides, Bjorn still has some money left over from his father, I’m sure. We’ll have to spend it.”
Astrid jumped in at that. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea?—”
“He’d want us to spend it. The trolls love adorning their women.” Maia didn’t seem worried at all about that, so Astrid decided she wouldn’t be worried either. This was what these new people expected, and all she wanted was to be a good troll wife.
Maia seemed the best to emulate. She was already a rather good troll wife to a very large troll. So together, they all wandered down the steep side of the cliff that had been worn by centuries of troll feet, and into the market below.
It was somehow much easier to head into the market than it had been to leave it, although it seemed like a shorter trip than she remembered. Perhaps they had been so desperate to touch each other that any trip would have seemed long. Now, though, Astrid got to marvel at the beauty of this kingdom.
Giant mushrooms stretched overhead, the delicate filaments beneath looking like fans. Some of the mushrooms even glowed, casting blue tones all over the ground they walked on. Then there were the purple-leafed trees that were so big, it was almost hard to fathom how they had grown so tall. The troll houses thatdotted the landscape were absolutely stunning. Each of them with their thatched roofs melded into the landscape, similar to the homes built in the grotto, but these were made mostly out of stone and thick lumber.
How the humans had no idea that this hollow kingdom was filled with artisans and impressive craftsmen, she would never know. Even the windows were beautiful. Some of them were stained glass, with all manner of murals depicting stories flowing through each building as they walked by them. The streets were carved right out of the mountain, so they were smooth and buffed by years of travel.
The market itself was so full of people it was hard for even her to breathe. No wonder Bjorn had been so uncomfortable. Now that her mind wasn’t so busy with everything else, she was shocked to count the incredible number of trolls who had no care if they bumped into each other.
Two young men locked tusks, shouting at each other with so much anger it was almost violent. Bright bursts of color radiated off them before one of the shopkeepers broke them apart. The two young men then seemingly laughed it off and headed down the same street together. Like nothing had happened.
“Troll tempers run hot,” Maia said, shrugging as she guided them through the streets. “They deal with their arguments in their own way. You’ll get used to it.”
“Will I?” she murmured, shocked at the violence that she’d seen. They hadn’t even hit each other, and still her heart was pounding. How was Rose? The poor thing must’ve been shaking like a leaf.
But her sister appeared fine under her hood, wandering from stall to stall until she stopped. Both Astrid and Maia had been watching her, so they both went over when she waved her hand. Apparently, Rose had found the right clothing for her.
This stall was mostly covered by a roof, so she had to walk into it through mounds of clothing and racks of hanging clothes. But inside it wasn’t quite as bad as the thick press of bodies outside. It was cool in here as well, which Astrid hadn’t even realized she needed.
“This one,” Rose said, holding up a pretty blue gown. It was fitted at the waist, and much shorter than anything Astrid would ever have chosen for herself. But the fabric would sway around her knees very prettily with that cut.
Out of the back, a troll woman loomed. She was tall, round, and took up space unapologetically. And, by the gods, she wasdecorated.
Every part of her body was dotted with piercings. Her ears. Her lips. Her eyebrows. Her nose. Even her collarbone sported glistening gemstones.
The rings on her fingers clacked together as she pressed her hands onto what looked like a table and stood. She was tall too, Astrid realized. This was a substantial woman who had more than enough jewelry to feed an entire kingdom with that amount of wealth. What was she doing here? Sellingclothingof all things?
“Ladies!” the troll woman said, her voice booming. “You’re here to buy a dress?”
Rose turned, saying absolutely nothing as she held the dress up and pointed to Astrid.
“Ah, a lovely color for a lovely human.”
Oh no. The troll woman was coming toward her now. Astrid tried very hard not to cower before the sheer amount of energy that crackled toward her as the shopkeeper thundered toward her with every step.
At least she was dressed beautifully as well, Astrid mused before the woman’s hands landed on her shoulders. Because for all her size and space she took up, this troll was incrediblyeye catching. Astrid couldn’t stop looking at her as the woman snagged the dress from Rose’s hands and held it up to Astrid’s body.
“Your friend has a good eye,” the troll murmured. “This will look lovely on you. Take your dress off. Let’s see if we’re all right.”
Astrid blinked. “Excuse me?”
“You’re Bjorn’s new wife, aren’t you?” The woman seemed impatient. “He’ll want to see you in something other than that. Men love variety, especially when it comes to their women. Off with the dress, put this one on. Or were you going to buy it without knowing what it looks like?”
The loud chortle that came out of the woman was a whip crack through the air. Astrid realized she was very serious about changing into the dress right here, right now. Which...
She’d changed in front of many women in her lifetime. There was no privacy for priestesses, but somehow this made her a little uncomfortable.
Astrid stripped the spider silk dress off herself and told herself not to cover her body while the vendor handed her the dress. But the woman made a little sound under her breath, almost like she was surprised.
As Astrid struggled into the dress on her own, the troll woman turned to Maia. “Didn’t I hear she’s a soul whisperer?”
