Melkree had only recently become king of the trolls in the land on the border between Paxia and Epesia. He sat on his throne of stone, hidden deep under the mountain. However, his sights were not set on the underground. Like every other leader of troll-kind, he took his crown with bloody fists. Melkree’s predecessor, his father, had been old and becoming less focused on what their people needed - plunder. His men were bored and arguing again. That would not do. He needed to wage war along the river, raiding every village with the faintest whiff of prosperity and even those that didn’t. At least it would keep his men busy.

Melkree rose from his throne, the massive beast standing over twelve feet tall. Thick muscles lined his entire golden-hued frame. The trolls of old may have preferred the nude, but now, being civilized, he wore trousers. Trolls had little use for clothing, with their gods-given bone armor that ran along their entire body. Amber flesh peeked out from under the natural plating that could crack a diamond.

Previous troll kings preferred raiding villages and towns haphazardly, without a strategy. However, Melkree was an enlightened warlord, picking his targets well and precisely timing strikes so there would be hardly a fight. The more trolls he kept alive, the more loot they could take. It made little sense to attack the well-fortified.

The newest troll king looked over his map. The village of Poppy was the closest village still standing to the troll enclave. He would roll in and pluck it like the low-hanging fruit it was now that the imperial garrison had been slaughtered. The troll king had heard whispers about what had happened, but they were all rumors. A man made of darkness had slaughtered the entire army. Absurd, of course, but that was what he had heard. The stranger thing had been when villages on the border started getting wiped off the map. One by one, being snuffed out like candles. Whatever had happened, it left an awful lot of dead on the border, a fact the king was only too happy to exploit, starting that night.

***

Gigi rushed through the forest as if something was chasing her. Her dress fluttered in the breeze as the past few minutes unspooled in her mind. A vortex of emotions raged through her. She couldn’t grasp one of the volatile shards and hold onto it. It was like trying to catch a knife, getting cut every time she tried to slow down her mind.

Did he say he loves me? He had known her for two months at most. She wanted to say it was ridiculous, but she had suspected he felt this way for a while. She supposed it shouldn’t be that surprising. Of course, he had feelings for her; she was the first to show him kindness. Gigi didn’t know what to do with his love, even if it was pure and sweet.

Drake be damned though, how did she feel? Sure, the kiss had been nice. Well, it had been more than that. It was wonderful. Even now, she felt his soft lips on hers. She knew that this blissful tingling wasn’t everything. Just because they had shared their bodies a few times didn’t mean they loved each other. Gigi knew that, yet she would be lying if this didn’t feel like more than her past dalliances. When she looked into the glassy blue eyes, her heart came alive.

She came upon the festival, relieved to be out of the woods, but didn’t know what she would do here. Her escape plan hadn’t actually involved checking if her family needed help. She was confident they did. No, what she desperately needed was a drink.

Gigi made her way through the crowd, a drunk pig-kin rudely bouncing off her. “Watch it!” she shouted. She missed having Drake with her. He was so much taller, and people didn’t just plow into her when he was there. She imagined him alone by the river, and her ears drooped. She hoped he was okay by himself. The goblin felt terrible for running off again, but she was on the verge of blurting out those three words that terrified her.

I love you.

The words screamed through her mind. Gigi had been so close to saying them, but what scared her most was that she wanted to say them. Why didn’t I? Why did I run? She wasn’t sure, but it was her turn at the bar.

“One mug of mead and one...do you have milk?”

A scream sounded behind her. Gigi whipped her head around, searching for the source. Then, more erupted, and people all around her shouted and ran. She hated being so short in a crisis. Gigi went to a nearby table, hopping up to see what in the seven hells was going on.

Trolls, at least a dozen of them, were rampaging through the center of Poppy. Their gargantuan golden bodies roiled through the crowd. The festival was in chaos, with everyone trying to get out of the way of the invaders. Gigi saw a troll put a massive torch to a fireworks vendor, immediately catching the booth on fire, and soon, brightly colored sparkles and explosions danced amongst the flames as they shot out in all directions.

Gigi jumped off the table before an errant firework hit it, setting it ablaze. She rolled through and was back on her feet. The dress was making moving more difficult than usual. “I’ll be damned if I’m going to rip this dress,” she muttered, hiking to dress above her knees. She walked forward and felt a tearing sensation, looking down to see the fabric had caught on the edge of the table and now had a large hole.

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

“Whatever,” she said in defeat.

Gigi grabbed the destroyed hem of the dress and pulled in a straight line, creating a tear up to her thigh and freeing herself of the constriction of the fabric. Gigi knew she wasn’t a soldier, but she was a fighter. Despite some broken fingers, she wasn’t going to run. She also knew that most of Poppy was far less able-bodied than her. If she were going to live with herself when this was over, she would need to do what she could to help, injured or not, perhaps if she could lead them away from the village. Worth a shot.

Gigi watched as one of the enormous trolls punched right through a house’s stone wall. She swallowed hard. The goblin had heard stories of how strong trolls were, but seeing the hideous force in front of her caused her to tremble. The beast before her was easily three times her size. She looked at her own shaking and broken hand. Perhaps this wasn’t going to be as easy as she had hoped. A satyr beside her was shakily brandishing a sword.

“Do you know how to use that?” Gigi asked.

“Yes, b-ut I’m ve-ry d-ru-nk,” he slurred. The scared goblin grabbed the blade out of the satyr’s hands. “H-ey!” he protested.

“Move!” she commanded. She pointed the sword in the direction opposite the trolls, turning to face the trolls rampaging through the town. Gigi clutched the sword with both hands, pain throbbing in her dominant grip. She did her best to stop her body from quaking. I’m not a swordswoman. What am I doing!?

She did a practice swing, reaching too far back with the tip of the sword, coming perilously close to her ear. She let out a tiny shriek as she turned her head away from the blade.

“Th-ere a-re t-w-o-” The satyr burped. “Two sid-es to th-at edge,” he finished.

“Thanks,” she spat. Gigi moved toward the trolls, holding the blade high and away to avoid cutting herself. People streamed past her. She spotted one of the hulking trolls pick up a horse, wrenching backward to hurl the poor beast. Gigi gasped and charged toward the troll from behind. With her substantial goblin strength, she sliced at the troll’s calf, the blade bouncing off harmlessly as it hit the natural plate of golden armor.

“Oh hells,” she mumbled, the shock of the blow reverberating through her arms. She had completely forgotten trolls had armor plating. Which part is the weak spot!? She eyed an area just behind the knee. Before she could get another swing, the troll turned to tower over her, horse still in hand.

“Brave. Stupid though,” it growled.

“Better than just being stupid,” she rejoined.

“Oh, you are dead, little one,” the troll laughed.

She lunged the sword directly between the plates of armor covering its foot and shin, slashing it hard in the ankle. The troll groaned, dropping the horse. The animal somehow managed to land on its feet, bucking and kicking the troll hard in the groin before running off. The troll doubled over in pain as Gigi ran away frantically.

The troll regained itself quickly and glared at Gigi’s retreating form. She looked over her shoulder as she pumped her legs in the opposite direction. Grunting, the troll charged like a bull at a matador, eating the ground between them in moments. Gigi ran into the heart of the fairgrounds as the troll gave chase, clinging to the sword for dear life while trying not to cut herself. She vaulted over abandoned benches and tables that littered the grounds as she tried to increase her lead from the rampaging golden brute.

The troll knocked the obstacles away like they were made of paper. She made her way to the stairways separating the districts. Ordinarily, they were just stairs, but during the festival, the gangway became a popular impromptu bar and place for couples to relax when better seats could not be procured. Gigi only had eyes for the mead casks, though.

She hurled her small muscular frame toward the haphazard pyramid of casks along the side of the wall. She stuck the tip of the sword in a nearby stall. With a grunt, she heaved up a barrel that was as big as her. With a cry, she tensed and hurled the mead directly at the troll’s stony face. It exploded on impact, causing the sweet alcohol to pour down the behemoth. The troll sneered and shook its head, wiping away the alcohol on his face.

“Foolishness!”

Gigi threw another barrel at his face. This time, however, the troll punched the cask, showering alcohol below. The goblin dived toward a firework cart, grabbing a discarded bundle of long matches beside it.

“Gotcha!” She grinned. The goblin struck the match, and a tiny flame erupted. Gigi tossed it, her smile quickly fading to horror as it flickered out in the wind. The troll erupted in laughter that made the goblin’s insides quake. She tried to light another match, but the troll was charging her again, and she shook too severely to strike it properly.

He closed the distance in a moment. She quickly struck the match again, the flame erupting once more as the troll rocketed toward her. Gigi rolled out of the way, dropping the flame. It fell directly into the troll’s chest, surging past the now-empty space. The fire consumed the hulking brute in seconds.

Gigi’s ears perked, and she jumped up, confident of her victory. However, she didn’t hear the cries of pain she expected to. Gigi looked at the troll. Fire blazed across his body as he advanced, full of silent fury. The goblin darted past the flaming colossus and dove for the sword. She found the sword’s hilt, then pulled and whipped it around.

With a grunt, she fell to the ground, rolling onto her back, her sword still gripped in her hand. The predator caught up to her quickly, leaning over her and glaring down, head still aflame.

“You die now,” it growled.

“Pass.”

Gigi hefted the sword up like a spear and hurled it upward. Caught off guard, the blade sliced cleanly through the troll’s left eye. Now, it was howling in pain as she had expected. Gigi staggered to her feet. These things are tough. She needed help. She needed Drake. Silently, she cursed herself once more for leaving him alone.

“Impressive,” came a booming voice from behind her.

How? There had been no one there a moment ago. Before she could turn around, she was momentarily taken off her feet and looked at the sky. Then, pain erupted throughout her body as it met the earth again. She began to slip into darkness.

I hope Drake forgives me…