Page 38 of The Lord of the Labyrinth

Kate’s gaze shot across the group of trolls, and suddenly she had an idea.

“I said, ‘Pick on someone your own size.’” She pointed at one of the other trolls in the group that had been throwing stones at the smallest troll. “Someone like him.”

The troll in question looked shocked, wondering why he had been singled out. The other trolls seemed just as confused.

“Why him?” asked one troll.

“She said because he’s our own size,” said another.

“Yeah, but I’m taller than him,” the first one pointed out.

“And I’m wider,” said another.

“Well, what about him?” asked Kate, pointing out a different troll.

“Naw, he’s not my size either,” said the first.

“He is my size,” said the fourth.

“Yeah, but you’re twins, ain’t ya?” said the first.

At least they had stopped throwing rocks at the small troll. The problem was, if Kate didn’t think of something fast, they might start throwing rocks atherinstead.

Then a thought occurred to her. If these trolls lived in the labyrinth, perhaps Roan had some control or influence over them. What if they lived here at his command? It was worth a shot.

Kate crouched down and slipped Roan’s silvery dagger from her boot, then held it up.

“By the command of Lord Arun, I order you to fight each other.”

One of the trolls growled, the sound like thunder, as he weighed the stone he held in his hand.

Shit... this isn’t going to work.

“Lord Arun?” one of the trolls grunted at the leader.

“Yes, it is Lord Arun’s command that you leave that troll alone and fight each other. May the best troll win. He promises a prize to the victor!”

Please... please... please fall for it,she begged silently.

The leader growled again. “What kind of prize?”

“Um... it’s a surprise! The best kind of prize!” Kate lied.

Another slow growl. “We must hold council,” the leader replied. He and the other trolls slowly moved to form a circle.

Kate didn’t wait for them to decide what to do. They’d just given her an opportunity to act, and she wasn’t going to waste it. She ran around them to reach the fallen troll. The poor creature was leaning against the labyrinth wall, its head still covered with its hands. When she touched the creature’s shoulder, it flinched.

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you. You need to come with me while they’re distracted.” She shook the troll’s hefty arm.

The beast turned a bruised face toward her, one eye swollen shut, the other staring at her in confusion.

“Oh God... They really hurt you, didn’t they?” Kate murmured as she rubbed the troll’s arm. The fur beneath her hand was as soft as silk. “Listen, I’m trying to help you. But we need to move. Now.” Kate pointed in the direction she wanted to go with her dagger. Patch waved at her frantically, jumping up and down.

“Who are you?” the troll asked.

“I’m Kate,” Kate whispered to the troll. “Please, come with me. Hurry!”

The troll’s unswollen eye fixed on the shiny dagger in Kate’s hand.

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