Page 4 of Troll Charming

Confused, Troth and I duck our heads and try to suck in our oversized bodies as we squeeze through her narrow doorframe.

“Wait, but—”

“Oh, hush, just get in here, I’ve been expecting you both,” she says dismissively.

Once in, I look around and see the rest of the unmated males sitting in oversized chairs around her spacious living room. Three others sit staring at her as she places red candles before each of them. I recognize my neighbor, Sammy, the dedicated single dad sasquatch; Kaldor, our resident intellectual minotaur; and Thorne the orc, who seems dead set on turning around the orc stereotypes that pervade even the magical world. And of course, myself and Troth.I can’t help but think we make a rather motley crew.

We sit dutifully in too small, overstuffed chairs. As the tiny witch lights each candle before us, she starts chanting in atongue I do not recognize. I look around the room to see if anyone else understands, but each face is as confused as mine. Then Tabitha glides from one to another, handing each of us something from a bag off her small coffee table. I do not see what she gives the others, but she smiles when she comes to me last.

“You are first,” she says, handing me an emerald-green scarf. “You should go now.” Before I could ask Troth what she gave him, Tabitha grabs my arm with her tiny hand, with a strength not possible for a woman her size, pulls me out of the chair, and pushes me out her door.

“What is happening?” I ask her, rubbing my arm.

Piercing me with her bright green eyes, she smiles, showing perfect pear-like teeth. “You must prepare your house now.”

“How?” I ask, puzzled.

“Well, clean it, for one thing. A mate will not like how dirty it is. Stop wearing your boots in the house, for goddess’s sake. Make your bed up with clean, washed linen. And clean out your bathtub!” she says pointedly. “And remember, every threat does not need to be crushed like a bug!”

What the hell is she talking about?

With that, she closes her door, leaving me outside, bewildered, holding the silky green scarf.

For three days,I have been waiting for something to happen. I did as Tabitha directed. The bed is fresh, and the bath is clean.

“You’re first,” the witch told me. Yeah, right. The scarf sits on my table, useless. Every time I look at it, I feel more foolish for even believing something might just happen. I should throw it out. That little bit of hocus pocus did not impress me one bit. No wonder that witch is not mated; she is crazy. I toss the scarf intothe trash. Then I hear the alarms of an intruder go off. Someone has breached our borders.

The bang on the door is hard and fast. Sammy’s son, the bigfoot youngling Whisper, stands at my door. “Someone has broken the magical wards and is threatening the village! The elders sent me to come and tell you!”

Of course. I’ll go out there and take care of it.

As I open the door of my home wider to leave, a gust of wind picks up the scarf and blows it into my face.

“Dammit,” I sputter, pulling it from my large, bulbous nose. “Get off me!” I shove it into my pocket. I’ll throw it out later, I figure as I grab my club. “Thank you, Whisper. I will handle it.”

With that, I head out, swinging my club a few times to warm up. Whoever dared to break through the spells guarding this village will be sorry.

CHAPTER 3

The sun is high in the sky. It’s midafternoon, and I am miserable. It’s so hot out here, beads of sweat drip from my ass down into my fancy hiking socks. My moisture-wicking shorts look like I’ve wet myself. If anyone were around, I’d be embarrassed, but right now, I’m a little worried. I have no idea where I am. I wish someone were here to help me.I’ve walked in circles for hours, and every tree looks the same. I was supposed to turn left at the wooden “squirrel trail” sign, but I think I passed it a few times, and that was hours ago. I haven’t seen any signs now for a while, let alone a trail. I grow more concerned. I am hopelessly lost, alone, hungry, and thirsty. I think I am losing my mind.

I keep hearing noises behind me like someone, or something, is following me, but every time I turn around, there’s nothing, not even a bird. That’s strange—I haven’t heard any birds for a while. When I started this hike, the sound of bird songs was almost deafening, and now there’s silence. This part of the woods feels different somehow.

I look around warily. Once the sun goes down, anything can come out of these woods and eat me.

Stop catastrophizing, Alex!

Right, I need to remember I have a tendency to do that sometimes. But what was I thinking, going by myself? I should have thrown that brochure away and stayed home to safely read my Xavier books in the comfort of my living room.Maybe I could have used my money to get here and buy a new rug under my couch.

My stomach growls loudly. I’m so thirsty.

“God, it’s hot out here!” I call out. Somehow, the sound of my own voice restores a little of my nerves. But only a little.

My t-shirt is soaked through. But even worse, I don’t think I am even sweating anymore. And my throat hurts because of the need for moisture. I thought I packed enough water and power bars, but somehow, I finished the last bottle probably two hours ago. And the power bars have turned up missing. Knowing me, I left them in my car down the mountain. The car I have no hope of finding now. Maybe the rangers will see it in the morning and come looking for me. By then, I’ll be dead. I shake the thought of my lifeless body being eaten by wolves out of my mind.

Coming here on my own was a mistake. This was supposed to be a fun girls’ trip where we could all bond and become close friends again. Instead, this may be the last trip I ever take because a bear will maul me or whatever is currently hunting me. I should have brought a knife, a gun, something.

Breathe, Alex. Relax…

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