Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon by Kerrelyn Sparks

Author:Kerrelyn Sparks
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Chapter Sixteen

Gwennore stumbled back, her gaze darting from one side of the stream to the other. Goddesses help her! The trolls looked every bit as frightening as the illustrations in Torushki’s Bedtime Tales of a Mountain Troll. But this wasn’t a nightmare. She was awake, and they were real. Their spears were definitely real.

The injured troll on the boulder was telling the others something and motioning to his leg.

“Yes! I’m a healer,” Gwennore called out in Norveshki, hoping they could understand. “I mean you no harm.”

The trolls started jabbering to one another, but she couldn’t tell if they were excited or angry. She backed away slowly, ignoring how much her feet were burning from the icy water.

One of them on the ridge noticed her sneaking away, and with a shout, he pointed his spear at her. Another one on the opposite bank lunged toward her.

Goddesses protect me! Gwennore lifted her skirts and ran, splashing through the stream toward the lake.

There is no need to fear, one of the Kings of the Forest said softly.

She scoffed. Easy for the Kings to say. They were practically indestructible. The water grew deeper, up to her thighs, then her hips. In desperation, she ripped away any remaining shield around her mind and envisioned herself mentally screaming. Puff! Can you hear me? I’m in trouble!

A spear shot past her, bouncing off a boulder. Puff! They’re attacking me! Help me!

Where are you? His voice sifted into her mind, and she almost wept from relief.

He’d heard her! Puff was there for her. I’m north of the castle, close to the lake.

The stream’s current knocked her off her feet, and with a squeal, she plunged into icy water that was up to her shoulders. As the current swept her along, it took all her concentration to keep her head above water and avoid being slammed into any boulders. Before she knew it, she was dumped into the lake.

She treaded water as the current carried her toward the center of the lake. Thank the goddesses she’d learned how to swim on the Isle of Moon. And she no longer had to worry about crashing into any rocks. Glancing around, she spotted the trolls. They had followed her to the lake and were shouting at her, gesturing for her to swim ashore.

Were they hoping to take her captive? She couldn’t let that happen. But the freezing cold was seeping into her bones. If any of her muscles cramped, she could drown. Puff?

I’m coming.

Her heart squeezed at the sound of his sweet voice. He would save her again. Goddesses help her, if he wasn’t a different species, she would date him.

Have you reached the lake? he asked.

I’m in the lake.

What? Dammit, Gwen, get out. It’s dangerous.

I can’t, she replied. The trolls will attack me.

I’m almost there. Don’t get caught in the current.

A little late for that, she thought as the current swept her slowly south. If she just stayed afloat, she would eventually make it all the way to the village of Dreshka.

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