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Dedication

This book is dedicated to my children Graham and Laura who believed in me from the very first moment, and who never lost faith. I love you now and forever.

Acknowledgement

My sincere thanks go to Julie Boyd and Ken Robb for editing this manuscript.

Introduction

Everything was fine in the Kingdom, until a Troll ate the First High Official. Now the King is not pleased, and someone has to go down there and get that Troll's head on a plate. Well don't look at me I'm just the narrator.

Chapter 1: Under the Bridge

"I am crusher and breaker of hearts. The creature of darkness and endless shadow and I challenge all who pass."

"You're joking, right? What language is that sign written in?"

"It looks like 'Troll' to me."

"Well that's not good is it?" The two adventurers looked at each other in dismay.

The tall one spoke.

"Well turn back or carry on then?"

"I will follow you, my good fellow."

"Then let's go and be quick. It will be night soon and that's the day done for. Besides, I am still good with a long sword."

The shorter man replied.

"Aye and this axe has always served me well in a fight."

More brave talk followed and they led their tired horses around the rock path. A river was burbling in the fading light.

"I've heard many stories about this place. They say the Troll guards this bridge day and night without the need for sleep, or rest."

"Aye that'll be right!" The short man gave a hearty laugh. "I've never met a Troll who could stand the daylight. If it's a Troll then we can pass before the setting of the sun. Come on, let's go, we still have a few minutes before that. Let's get on our horses and charge."

So they jumped onto their horses and shouted "ger-on" and galloped towards the bridge. But something stirred from the shadows, and was in front of them before they could take the clear path. The horses were afraid and harder to control; the two men struggled to keep abreast their backs. The huge creature stepped forward as the last of the day's sun shone upon its ugly, brutish face. The malice of its presence was so frightening that the horses became terrified, dislodging their riders, and galloping away into the wilderness.

The men ran to each other to stand as brothers and face this awful evil. The sight of a black Troll so large would have frozen the heart of the bravest adventurer. The men looked at each other for a sign of what to do, and drew their weapons, taking the fight over to the beast. The Troll looked at them and laughed a gloating sound so loud that they were suddenly afraid. The creature stood up to its massive overbearing height and gestured with a giant black hand for them to stop, laughing deeply all the while.

They didn't know what to make of this and halted the charge. The Troll looked at them and they became fixed by its evil malice. The laughing stopped.

"You did not see the sign then?"

"We saw the sign all right but thought to pass anyway."

"So the warning was fair and your folly will be your end."

"Can we not turn around in this final moment?"

"No... I think not."

"Can we offer you the trinkets and gold we have as a gesture to let us walk away with our lives?"

"I will rob your broken corpses."

"Then you have given us no option but to fight."

"You passed the sign and did not heed the warning. There is no hope for you."

The men looked at each other and agreed in that moment to battle on. The charge continued, but out-matched and committed to a hopeless fight some miracle would be needed to save them. The desperate struggle continued with none of their efforts leading to victory, and moments later they had both been killed by the Troll.

An orange disk of the setting sun left behind a darkened shadow formed horizon. The Troll picked up their broken and limp bodies, and dragged them under the bridge. The sound of crunching bones was soon heard.

Chapter 2: Be Careful What You Wish For

It is true that the final wish of a dying man could be granted by the Gods. In order that the lost essence of that poor fellow would not be in vain, and some kind of balance might be restored into the mixture of existence.

So it was that the final wish of one short fellow was ushered up to Heaven, and was received by the Gods. It is ironic how that poor man would not be around to suffer the consequences of his foolish and untimely wish.

However, others surely would, and as the next day's sun crept over the dew of the morning fields, another strange set of events were put in motion that would take some believing and even more undoing.

Chapter 3: Someone So Important

It was two more days before anyone tried to cross the bridge. Even the wind hesitated before coming this way, and the air had a dank and evil smell about it. The sun had not long poked a few fingers of light from the shutters of rolling clouds, when there was motion in the distance.

It was a troop of the King's finest soldiers leading a horse drawn carriage. The troop was lost and had strayed onto this lesser known route along the mountain ranges that punctuated the Kingdom. The man inside the carriage was not known for his patience, but for his arrogance, and the lack of pity in his selfish heart.

The Captain of the troop was a cautious man and he sent ahead two scouts to ascertain the way. When they returned with the tale of some threatening sign before the bridge, the news weighed heavy on his heart. For this was surely a short cut, but now it seemed it was also a dangerous one. The decision to proceed would not be the Captain's, but would instead be taken by the gentleman in the carriage; who was no gentleman.

The fat man stirred and waved a hand out of the window. It was a gesture that commanded someone's immediate attention.

So the Captain rode over on his horse, and dismounted at the ornate door, which swung open as he approached. The large pompous gentleman lifted his heaving bulk off the seat and squeezed himself out of the door. Some moments later he descended from the carriage.

"Well, Captain, why are we not there yet? Why are we stopped in such a place, Captain? Tell me the tale?"

"Well, Sir, the scouts have found a sign which threatens us of extreme danger if we continue."

"Hmmm, Captain, this danger must be great to put such fear into one of the King's finest."

"No, Sir, it is not fear but caution that drives me."

"Well, Captain, what do you make of this sign?"

"It's just around the corner and warns of the great danger beyond." The Captain pointed down the road.

"How many men do we have, Captain?"

"We have a troop, Sir, that's twenty men and all of them on horseback." The Captain mounted his horse.

The First Official continued.

"So let us ride with the confidence of the King's troop, to meet some creature you say; some mud dwelling creature from the underworld, rolling in its own excrement. On, Captain, on and let us give the King's hell to any creature who tries to bar the King's way, and meddle with someone so important."

"Very well, Sir." The Captain turned to his men.

"The sign be damned! Take up your arms, men we have been tasked to perform the King's business by the High Official, so let's be about it."

They steadied their horses and pulled them into formation. The troop continued down the road until the bridge appeared. The order was given to form a skirmish line and be ready to charge. The area opened out into a square of uneven ground that went left and right along by the river.

Everything was fine until the Troll climbed out from under the bridge. The horses, although unnerved, were better trained, and had known the clash of battle. They stood firm and it was their riders who were forced to take stock of themselves as the menacing creature came out to meet them.

"You did not see the sign then?"

The Troll's voice was filled with a veiled menace; contemptuous and malign.

The Captain rode on his horse to meet the Troll.

"We are the King's troop. I command you to yield, for it is written that no one shall bar the King's way."

The Troll laughed a deep throaty curse. The fear spread out to the horses which became more difficult to hold true to their riders weakening wills.

"The only law here is mine, and that law is death."

"Then, foul creature you will die. Cut to pieces by the King's steel." The Captain drew back and the order was given for the soldiers to advance. They formed a charging line and set about the skirmish.

The Troll did not seem concerned and stood on the same spot bracing itself for battle. He cracked his massive knuckles and folded them around two gigantic rock hammers.

The horses went forward and even though the spell of fear had affected their brave hearts they were still willing to charge. The Trol...