The Monster’s Caress

Chapter 2-2

The Troll Village

Nali and Pai landed in the center of a ring of massive thatched huts. The small community had clearly been busy with activity a few minutes ago, but the trolls had stopped what they were doing to watch her arrival. She scanned the group. They were several times larger than even her tall physique.

“Empress, what brings you to our humble village?” Zenma, the Elder troll, asked as she stepped forward. She wore a long, beautifully embroidered tunic and carried a long, carved staff.

Nali shifted into her softer form, and greeted the Elder troll. “I fear it is a matter of grave importance, Zenma,” she said.

Zenma looked down at her with concern. “Of course, Empress. Please follow me,” she said.

“Pai, check the village. If you find anything, do not engage,” she cautioned under her breath.

“Yes, Empress,” Pai replied.

Nali followed Zenma to a central longhouse. As she climbed the steps, she scanned the surrounding area. Zenma stepped through the opened doors and into the cheerful interior. Three long rows of tables, most of them as tall as Nali, stood perpendicular to a fourth table up front on a low platform. While the tables in the center of the room had bench seats, there were individual chairs beside the table on the platform.

Zenma paused and glanced with concern at the benches and chairs, then at her. It was easy to see what the Elder troll was thinking. Nali gave Zenma a reassuring smile and motioned for the old troll to sit.

“If you sit, we’ll be a little more at eye level,” Nali suggested.

“Yes, thank you, Empress,” Zenma said with a sigh as she slowly lowered herself to the bench. “I’m afraid the years are finally catching up with me.”

“How are the trolls doing? Do you need anything?” Nali politely enquired.

Zenma smiled at her. “The trolls are doing well, thank you for asking, Empress. However, I believe your visit involves a more pressing matter. Does it have to do with Elderberry and Dew, the trolls who found the Sea Stag?” the Elder troll asked.

Nali nodded. “Yes. I would like to speak with them, and I believe there is also a third troll. We’ve discovered another Sea Stag, a mortally wounded stallion. Pai saw troll tracks nearby,” she explained.

“I was not aware that there was another,” Zenma replied.

The Elder troll lifted her staff and brought it down twice in rapid succession on the hard-planked floor. A guard appeared at once.

“Find Dew and Elderberry, and tell them I wish to speak with them. Also, find out who else has been hunting recently,” Zenma ordered.

“Yes, Elder,” the guard said with a bow of her head.

Zenma returned her attention to Nali. “Are my trolls in danger, Empress?” Zenma quietly asked.

Nali reached over and laid her hand on Zenma’s. She would not lie to the Elder troll. The old troll's hand trembled under hers.

“There is a great danger to our Isle. I believe the same kind of alien that attacked the Sea Witch and the Isle of Magic is now on the Isle of the Monsters. Your trolls were the first to encounter the creature here. It is imperative that I speak with them,” she explained.

Zenma nodded. “The trolls will do whatever you require, Empress.”

“Elder, Dew and Elderberry are here,” the guard announced.

Nali transformed her skin back into the stone exterior of a gargoyle as she turned and faced the two trolls who entered. She searched their eyes for any evidence of the black swirling shadows that she had noticed in Magna’s. Twin sets of clear blue eyes watched her with a mixture of awe and nervousness, then Dew ducked his head.

“You wished to speak with us, Elder?” Elderberry inquired.

“Not I but Empress Nali,” Zenma replied with a wave of her hand.

“You were the ones who discovered the first stag, correct?” Nali asked.

“Yes, Empress. We planned to fish the cove. Dew was the first to notice the stag. It was struggling in the surf. We’ve never seen a stag this far north before and never that close to shore. Dew sensed something was wrong with it and cautioned that we should alert the palace,” Elderberry replied.

Nali looked at Dew. He was young, and from the way he kept looking down at the floor, she sensed that he was shy. She stepped closer to him, gently reached out, and touched his chin, forcing him to make eye contact. His eyes were clear; she was certain.

“What did you sense, Dew?” Nali gently asked.

Dew looked at Elderberry with a pained, almost pleading expression. Nali refrained from expressing a sigh of impatience. Trolls were clannish creatures, she knew, but this was no time to be keeping secrets from outsiders, so she was grateful when Elderberry silently encouraged Dew to speak with a motion of his hand. Dew looked at her with an expression of resignation.

“I… I… ca-ca-can sen-se th-th-things, like dan-danger. Th-the stag had a-a bl-blood re-re-red aura,” Dew stuttered.

“Dew is one of our most gifted trolls. His ability to sense danger has saved many of us from injury or death,” Zenma added.

Nali nodded. “There was another injured stag a bit farther north. My guard saw troll tracks leading away from it. Was there another troll with you?” she inquired.

Elderberry frowned and shook his head. “No, it was just Dew and me,” he said.

Dew shook his head. “I-I saw… Med-Medjuline in… in the woods earlier,” he replied.

Nali looked at Zenma. “Where is Medjuline?” she demanded.

Zenma started to reply when Pai and another guard entered the longhouse. Pai gave Nali a sharp look, indicating that he had found something. The guard bowed low before addressing his Empress and Zenma.

“Empress, Elder, Medjuline is missing. Her parents have not seen her for two days,” the guard said.

“Find her,” Zenma ordered, rising slowly to her feet.

Nali raised a commanding hand. “No, Pai and I will search for her. It is too dangerous for anyone to be near her until we know for sure what has happened. I will have some of my gargoyle guards come to the village in case she returns. Do not allow anyone near her. I cannot stress that strongly enough,” Nali sharply instructed.

“We will do as you command, Empress,” Zenma said.

“We will begin our search in the morning. Zenma, do you have lodgings we can use for the night?” Nali requested.

“It would be our honor for you to stay, Empress. Please follow me,” Zenma said.