System Break

Ailen weaved his tale of the boar kill ensuring he embellished Reyas' part. They may have treated her badly, but they were still proud of her. It was one of those human contradictions. And there was the fact that they only now appreciated what they had lost.

The demon bird landed and perched on the windowsill as Ailen spoke of it eating the guts from the boar. It was either coincidence or the bird had a flair for the dramatic. Most of the mountainfolk were disturbed by it, probably more than my mask. I had it perch behind me to ensure no errant axes were thrown in its direction.

Reyas fetched furs and made us comfortable near the long, wide window. I lounged with her under one arm and Gisael under the other as Ailen told the story of the troll in the forest.

Gisael's naked body pressed against mine and warmed us both. Her hand moved subtly under the furs. She caressed the dragon and I swear she was trying to embarrass me by causing me to groan.

Reyas was mostly quiet, she whispered in my ear on occasion but otherwise watched her folk with her head on my chest.

We must have been the second form of entertainment when Gisael disappeared under the fur to take the dragon breath in her mouth.

The hall thinned with the locals leaving for their homes, but the visiting clans and we remained to sleep the night. I did not feel like I slept amongst allies and our wariness was not good for our rest.

Ailen and Sakaala slept like babes. While at least one of us remained awake with the demon bird keeping watch behind me. The strange bird slept for two days and now remained awake day and night.

The night passed uneventfully with no knives or axes in our backs. I chuckled when I saw the bleary eyes of Flek, his night was as restless as ours. He either dreamed of the cave troll or was scared I would kill them all in the dead of the night with my demon bird.

When the first ray of light pierced the sky, we rose and silently readied for the journey west.

We waited at the main gate for the mountain warriors who were joining us. There was five of us, Talila was in the forest, and there was eighteen of them; six from each clan.

Demon bird flew above us and Reyas led. The eighteen ran hard to keep up with us, not all were as hardy as Skanvord and Flek.

By the end of the day we were cold, tired, and crammed into a cache. A cave filled with furs and supplies for the hunting groups of the Trovas clan. It didn't worry me I was crammed between Gisael and Reyas.

I took off my mask and my demon bird perched beside it. Its eyes were open when it slept, and no one was the wiser. Reyas and Gisael took turns spooning me, and I them, and we rested as best we could.

For the second day we rose with the first light in the high mountains.

I adjusted my spear and said loud enough for all to hear, "Today we kill a cave troll." When a mountain man gazed at me, I added, "And you will all be in a song a hundred years from now. They'll probably leave us out." And I laughed with most of the mountainfolk joining in.

I carried six quivers to lighten my companions load and we followed Skanvord to the home of the troll.

We made good time and arrived mid-afternoon. It was slow going through the high mountains, but the local warriors knew the best routes to take.

I lay atop a ridge looking down at the craggy valley below and my demon bird flew in search of the cave troll. Gisael's skin pressed against mine, she must have been feeling the cold but showed no outward sign of discomfort.

Skanvord approached crawling across the rock. He was their designated ambassador, the one who least feared and despised me.

"We wait here?" he asked.

"Until the bird finds it, then we get into position."

"How will you know? Does the bird talk to you?"

"I can see what it sees," I said.

He swore and then prayed to his gods under his breath. "This bird did not come with you last time."

"It's a baby bird," I said and that confused him further. The demon bird was the size of an adult crow. I held out my hand forestalling more questions.

"Found it," I said and pointed up the ravine. I chuckled. "I think the big bastard comes this way." If it came down this valley, we didn't have much time.

I pointed. "We need twelve men on the other side ready to push down boulders. Hurry we have less than an hour to prepare."

He nodded and a question died on his lips. He moved off and began to issue orders to the mountain men.

"Does the bird feel the cold?" Gisael asked. The demon bird flew high in the icy winds and was now perched on a snowy ledge watching the troll.

I smiled as I felt her breasts pressed into my back and her arms wrapped around my middle. "I don't think so, he doesn't complain. We'll get you some leathers when we return here."

She kissed my shoulder blade.

I turned my head slightly to look at Reyas. "Let's set ropes along the ridge so the archers can move quickly. We don't know if the troll will retreat, stand its ground, or push on."

She nodded and retrieved her hammer and pitons. Sakaala and Ailen followed her and placed the spare quivers along the ridge; they wore two on their back.

"Do not do anything foolish," Gisael whispered in my ear.

I ignored the statement for a time and watched the troll through the demon bird's eyes. It was rummaging through boulders, lifting them, and turfing them. It was looking for food.

"If it goes to plan, I won't have to," I said.

She held me tight with her cheek on my back. "It never goes to your plan."

"What - and your plans are flawless?"

She chirped which was her way of chuckling. "They were until you came."

I sighed. "It's simple. I will do what needs to be done."

"It is not our land. It is not a bad thing to run and fight another time."

We were quiet for a long time. The cave troll came up the right valley, it would be here in half an hour.

Before I pushed myself up, I said, "If I die, I will live on and I will return to you."

Her button nose rubbed against my back, it was cold, and she was warming it. "I believe you," she said, and she hopped off my back, allowing me to rise.

I stood and waved my right arm for a minute. It was the signal that the troll was coming. The demon bird flew over our ravine. We were arrayed on two sides of a valley and the opposite side was a sheer drop at most sections. The mountain men worked hard preparing boulders with their picks and sturdy crow bars.

A few on our side did the same where the outcropping overhung the valley. They all carried backpacks full of coal.

Reyas returned and fixed the last of the rope down into the valley. I looked at it and at her and smiled.

The giant cave troll was covered in white fur; it blended into the snow. It had four fangs visible when its mouth was closed with two protruding from the bottom and top of its jaw. When its mouth was open it was a mangled mess of sharp teeth.

It could easily bite a well armoured man in half with a single snap. Its arms were as long as they were strong. They dragged apelike by its side and its large hands grasped small boulders and threw them easily.

The large boulders needed both hands and I swear it could lift ten tons and hurl it. It didn't tire, it slowly made its way searching for food. It sniffed and moved rocks with its hands and feet. It swallowed a rodent with a single bite like it was jelly baby.

It sniffed and lifted its head. It drooled and quickened its pace. It smelled us and was coming to feast.