THE TROLL QUEEN by JOHN VORNHOLT

Author:JOHN VORNHOLT
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ALADDIN PAPERBACKS
Published: 2003-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9 FROM THE FRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE

SHRIEKING IN PAIN, THEIR PELTS AFLAME, THE THREE OGRES came roaring out of the cavern. Ludicra thought they would stampede over her, but the gnomes made themselves useful by tripping the ogres. Chomp, Weevil, and Motley sprawled upon the floor, allowing the others to cover them with dust, drinking water, and their own bodies.

Ludicra personally fell upon Captain Chomp and tried to reassure him as she smothered the burning oil in his fur. “You’re all right. You’re alive!” she assured him. “Get control of yourself, Captain.”

“It was a booby trap!” panted Gnat. “Maybe an enchanted booby trap. You couldn’t help yourselves.” The gnome glanced at Ludicra and winked, so that she knew he was making it up. At least it gave the ogres a chance to excuse their stupidity.

“Those wicked elves!” grumbled Chomp. “This is their doing … intended to slow us down.”

“No doubt,” answered Ludicra as she rolled off the singed ogre. “If not the elves, who else could have done it?”

“And why a treasure?” asked Filbum. “Do they think we’re looking for treasure?”

“No, but maybe they are!” crowed Crawfleece. She patted Filbum affectionately on the head. “Oh, you’re so smart.”

He blushed a deep shade of purple, while Ludicra studied the wounded ogres. “Get some eel grease on those burns,” she suggested. “Captain Chomp, can you tell me why you all fell down at once?”

“We tripped,” answered the ogre. He looked at his fellows for confirmation, and they nodded.

“I bet it was a trip wire,” added Weevil. “It must have lit a fuse.” She shook the smoldering embers off her pelt and staggered to her feet. “You know, a bunch of elf heads would look good in my den.”

“The best way to foil their plans is to keep moving,” declared Ludicra. “They are searching for something, and we’re spoiling it for them. Let’s find the stairs.”

Wearily the party picked themselves up from the cavern floor, which was littered with fake baubles and burnt bits of rag. Seen after the fact, the trap was more amusing than deadly, and many of the gnomes congratulated each other on their bravery. After a few moments, the ogres laughed too, and Chomp and Weevil blamed each other for leading the greedy charge.

After searching in the smoke and sulfurous mist for several minutes, the gnomes found the stairs down. Once again, they descended into the moldy darkness, and Ludicra hoped they were getting close to the bottom.

The Enchantress Mother frowned sadly at Rollo, then lowered her head. “I’m sorry,” she whispered hoarsely. “There’s nothing I can do. The council is meeting to pass judgment on you.”

“But what kind of judgment?” asked Rollo from inside his prison. The hut was covered with so many nets and mats that he could barely see the white-haired elf in her flowing pale gown.

Melinda grimaced. “I only know that many would like your death—not just for this visit but for the last one too. They trace many of our woes to your first coming, and now we don’t know what has become of Clipper … or the black knife.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.