“Do they need to feed on happiness to survive?”
“Not exactly. The only way they feel happiness is by consuming someone else's.”
“Like the Bergens?”
“The what?”
“RememberTrolls—the cartoon we watched with Falcas?”
“The one with the little pink-haired doll?”
“She's a troll, Tiernan. And their enemies were the Bergens, who could only feel joy when they ate a troll.”
Tiernan scowled. “Yes, I recall it now. Horrid premise for a children's movie.”
I lifted my eyebrows at him.
He made a surprised snort. “You're right. It's similar to the Licho. Except they feed directly on the emotion, sucking it out of humans.”
“I wonder if the person who wroteTrollsknew the Licho myth?”
“Probably.”
Then I jolted upright. “Oh, fuck, Tiernan!”
He flinched. “What?”
“They don't feel happiness. I assume that means they are full of the darker emotions?”
“Oh, dear Goddess,” Tiernan whispered. “They're a feast for the blight.”
“Hurry, babe! The fucking Bergens are about to become lunch!”
“That's what they get for eating trolls,” Riosel muttered.
“These are our Bergens, Riosel!” I snarled. “And if you had watched the damn movie, you'd know that they just want to be happy. They don't deserve to be eaten by the motherfucking blight!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Riosel bowed his head. “I mean, no, Your Majesty.”
Chapter Sixteen
“Oh, fuck,” I whispered as Pech came into view.
“Danu save us,” Riosel added.
“Oh, now, you're worried about them,” I grumbled.
“Danu can't save us.” Tiernan set us down several yards outside the village.
He couldn't land any closer. The entire village was overrun with black, glossy vines. I didn't want to think about the number of body-sized heaps among the woven tide.
“But I will.” I jumped out of the cair as soon as it touched down.
“Seren!” Tiernan shouted. He shut off the cair and came running after me.
I stopped six feet away from the edge of a hill of pulsing darkness. Tiernan joined me, grimacing at me before looking at the heap.
“Have a little more faith in me.” I glanced behind him at the emptying cairs. To our soldiers, I called out, “Keep your distance until I've cleared the village.”
