When they entered, they found her in the middle of the room with what appeared to be a shield made of light. Gisela had never seen anything like it. Larger than most, it was circular with writing on it she couldn’t identify.
An extra-large troll stood in front of her and was doing his best to kill her.
Without thinking, Gisela turned into a troll and rushed the attacker.
Masakage appeared out of thin air and wrapped his arm around Candara’s waist and pulled her away while Xaydin created a sword that he threw to Gisela. She caught the weapon, then twirled about with it to confront the troll.
He smiled as soon as he saw her there.
For a second, she thought it might be Garyn even though Xaydin had pronounced him dead. But something in his eyes didn’t look quite right. Not that she had time to think about it. All she could do was react as she parried his sword strokes.
She lunged toward him.
As she did, Candara and Masakage hit him with glowing fireballs.
And just as she went for him again, he vanished.
“Are you kidding me!” Furious, she glanced around the ground, hoping to find him there as a roach or some other nasty bug she could stomp into oblivion.
But there was no sign of him.
She toed the straw, wanting to make sure.
Still nothing. Grinding her teeth, she met Xaydin’s equally peeved glare. “I understand why you hate shifters.” Because she seldom shifted, she expected the same courtesy from others.
Apparently, they were slippery buggers.
Without commenting, Xaydin turned to Candara. “Are you all right?”
Candara nodded. “He made me angry. No harm. But when we catch up to him…he’ll wish he’d killed me.”
As they left her room to return below, Rob met them in the main part of the inn.
“Forgive me, Cuz. I just received a message from your brother, the king.” He handed it over to Xaydin.
His brow turned dark as he scanned it. Whatever news it held, Gisela could tell it wasn’t welcomed.
“He’s ordering you to find me and bring me in?” Xaydin asked incredulously.
Rob nodded. “Normally, I’d obey. But if anything happens to you, there’s no telling what the populace will do. Most of the trolls and ogres I know would rather have you as king. I don’t think he realizes what a threat you actually are. And he definitely doesn’t realize the revolt that will happen if you’re taken into custody.”
“I should lead the coup just on principle.” Xaydin folded the letter and returned it to Rob. “We’ll get going.”
“You’re still wounded,” Rob reminded him.
“I’m healing. The last thing I want is to see you executed for failure to follow orders.” Xaydin scratched at his ear. “How much of that do you think is Zagrun and how much is Gregun?”
“Given that my father keeps Zagrun under his fist, I think you know.”
Xaydin nodded in agreement. Rob was right. Zagrun would never dare something like this. Rob’s father thought his position as advisor kept him from being targeted. But a shadow-king was still a monarch.
And it was obvious that he wanted Xaydin killed before he died.
Poor Rob to be caught in the middle of this fight.
“I never saw you.”
Xaydin grinned at Rob’s stern tone. “Understood. We’ll be on our way in a few minutes.”
