Fire Stone by JennaKay Francis

Author:JennaKay Francis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Young Adult Fantasy
Publisher: Writers Exchange E-Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Jansson strained against the long pole, pushing it hard against the river bottom. Slowly, the barge turned its course and shot from the river into a wide, black lake to drift toward the northern shore. He relaxed, pulled the pole from the water and heaved a sigh. The troll soldiers glanced at him in puzzlement, much the way they had every time he had offered to help. They were quite obviously used to a king letting others do for him. And, indeed, Isham was holed up in the cabin, resting.

"Jans, look!" Darosenim gripped his arm in panic.

Torches flared at the far end of the lake and Jansson groaned. "Gods, I do not feel like fighting another battle."

"Maybe we can put aground before we get there," Darosenim suggested.

"And go where? They're sure to have seen us. They probably think we're friends. If we tie up sooner than their camp, they're going to know something is up. They'll be over us faster than a lightning strike." He sighed. "What we'll have to do is take them by surprise."

"Now you're starting to think like a troll," Isham said, coming up behind them.

Jansson started, whirling. "Firesass! I'm getting my hearing checked. I'm tired of people sneaking up on me. Kyel I expect it from, but --"

"But someone as large and heavy as a troll, no?" Isham interrupted. Jansson blushed and Isham chuckled. "We take pride in our ability to move stealthily despite our size. We are not always on the offensive, contrary to what you may think. There are times when silence and secrecy are our best allies." He glanced ahead at the flickering torches. "And there are times when our brute strength is necessary. We will sail up to the Rendar encampment as if we were friends. My men are quite large enough to appear as Rendars from a distance. Once we have grounded, we will take the encampment by siege. Unless, of course, you have a better plan."

Jansson grimaced. "At this point, I don't."

"Very well. I will prepare my men. I suggest that you and King Darosenim stay out of sight until we stop. That is, unless you wish to play the part of our slaves."

"No, thank you," Darosenim put in quickly. "I'm all for staying out of sight."

He and Jansson returned to the cabin as six trolls, hunched into their heavy, coarsecloth cloaks, huddled around the fire barrel. Jansson watched the lakeshore glide past as the barge moved closer to the torches. Though he dreaded the loss of life, even Rendars, he hoped that this battle was as brief and decisive as the last. He craned his neck to get a better glimpse of the Rendar encampment and gasped.

This was no encampment! It was a single man, stark naked, tied by arms alone to a thick pole so that his lower torso was subjected to the icy waters of the lake. The torches had been fixed on either side of him to illuminate his predicament, no doubt to serve as some sort of warning to others.

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