Curse of the Troll, Emma Hamm [books to read to increase intelligence TXT] 📗

sudden flash of light that was too bright to be a troll and far too vivid to be something troll-made.

Gold.

She was here. That had to be her. He tried not to crane his neck to stare through the crowd of trolls, but he was certain that was Elva. It had to be.

He twisted in the saddle only to have his face caught in the hand of the troll princess. “What are you looking at?”

“Nothing.”

“There isn’t another troll here who’s more beautiful than me. You’ve already got the best one.” Her fingers squeezed his jaw painfully. “Stare at me if you wish to stare.”

Donnacha winced, then looked forward. “You’ve got it, bride of mine.”

Stomach churning, he watched the road in front of them for the rest of the ride. Was she here? Had she finally made it?

16

Elva crouched in the bushes beside Angus. The bugganes were so close she could smell them, and it wasn’t a pleasant smell in the slightest. She forced her hand to stay at her side instead of covering her mouth as she desperately wanted to.

“Well, we’re here,” she hissed. “Now what?”

Angus silenced her with a glare and then pointedly stared at the bugganes mere steps from them.

They were gigantic creatures who were sorely lacking in looks. Covered entirely with coarse black fur, they looked more like animals than fae. Of course, their glowing red eyes and large tusks curving up from their bottom lip didn’t help either.

Three of them stood in front of the bushes, muttering about some food they needed to find. Or cook? Elva had a hard time understanding them when the tusks made their words lisp.

Elva leaned closer to Angus so the bugganes wouldn’t hear her speak. “What’s the plan?”

“We wait until we have an opening.”

“I think there’s an opening in front of us.”

“They will kill us if we barge into their camp. They aren’t exactly the most intelligent of creatures and are prone to knee-jerk reactions.”

She arched a brow. “Are you afraid of them?”

He jerked as if she had shot him. “Afraid of bugganes?”

“It seems like you are.”

“I’m not afraid of faeries.”

Right. She somehow very much didn’t believe that when he was already casting a nervous glance at the three bugganes who might overhear them.

“I should never have doubted you, Your Majesty. My apologies.” Elva shook her head at him, then stood up.

“What are you doing?” he hissed, tugging at her pant leg.

“Finishing this.” She didn’t have time to waste because he was afraid of what these creatures might do. Who cared if the beasts wanted to fight them? She had a sword and had the training to take them down. Somehow, she doubted they would attack them on sight.

Bugganes might be terrifying-looking creatures, but they weren’t as stupid as trolls. They knew how to speak with others and had created an entire homeland for themselves. They didn’t attack faeries; they didn’t cause trouble. In fact, most of the other faerie species had forgotten they existed at all.

That didn’t seem to be a race of creatures who wanted to hurt others. Not in her experience with the rather dangerous and terrifying Seelie Court.

She strode from the bushes, shaking off Angus’s hand, and made her way toward the three bugganes.

“Good morning,” she called out. “I’d like to ask you a question if I might.”

The buggane closest to her immediately fluffed up. Its fur pointed out in all directions and it whirled on her with a growl that blasted Elva’s hair back from her face.

Closing her eyes for a moment, she wiped away a spot of spit that had stuck to her cheek. “Well, that’s one way to welcome visitors.”

The other two bugganes loomed closer, while the one who had growled straightened. “Who are you trespassing upon our lands?”

“My name is Elva. Lovely to meet you.” She held out the hand which was now slick, resolving to wipe the creatures own bodily fluids back on it.

The buggane reached forward and shook her hand.

They were suspicious of her, and she couldn’t really blame for them. After all, it was a dangerous thing to see another faerie wander into their territory without reason. And she was wearing a sword to boot. She just hoped they didn’t think she was going to attack them. She didn’t want to have to draw said sword any time soon.

“I need you to take me to the troll kingdom,” she said. It was better to simply say why she was there than keep them waiting.

The buggane holding her hand coughed. “You what?”

“The Troll Queen has someone who is very important to me in her dungeons, I assume, and I want him back. I’ve been told you are the only creatures who know how to get there.”

“We’re not taking you to the troll kingdom.”

Elva blinked. “Why not?”

“Well, it’s dangerous ma’am.”

“The kingdom or the journey?”

The buggane looked over its shoulder at the other creatures behind it, clearly confused at the direction this conversation was going. “Both?”

“You don’t sound very confident in that answer. I need you to be more confident.”

“I—well—you see—”

Elva interrupted the creature, not quite pleased with how it was responding. “I need to go now. There’s no time to waste. Can one of you take me, or do I need to ask someone else?”

The largest buggane of the group stepped forward, peering over the other’s shoulder with beady, glowing eyes. “Who are you?”

“I’ve already told you that.”

“Yes, but…aren’t you afraid of us?”

“No.” She shrugged. “I don’t think I’m afraid of much, honestly.”

Her hand dropped as the closest buggane backed into its friend away from her. “What manner of creature are you?”

“Seelie.”

“And you aren’t afraid of the troll kingdom?”

Elva pretended to think about the question, then shook her head. “No.”

“Why not?”

“I need my friend back, and fear is only going to stand in my way. He taught me that letting fear rule my life is a waste of time. And I want him back.”

“Why do you want him back?” The buggane leaned closer until Elva could smell the wet dog scent