I swallowed hard and followed Marmal outside into the morning light. We crossed the large front yard and then stepped over to the big barn.
“This is Ginny.” She smoothed a hand over the donkey’s grayish fur and the animal nuzzled into her. “She’s trained to come home on her own, so just let her loose when you get to the dark fey border.”
I nodded, wondering how an animal could travel back that far without guidance, but kept it to myself. Maybe it was magic. The trolls had a way with animals.
“This food pouch hangs from her neck, so she will self-feed. It’s got enough for the journey and some extra if you get into trouble.” She indicated a leather sack that hung around the animal’s neck. It was full of some kind of pellet or grain.
I nodded again, growing more and more nervous by the moment.
Heaving a large leather sack over one shoulder, Marmal began to tie it to the animal’s backside, showing me how to loosen and retighten the straps. “Shelf stable food for two weeks, water for three days. Running water is safe to drink, standing water is bad. Got it?”
Fuck.
“Sure.”
Maybe I could just go back to Vampire City and Sawyer could negotiate my return?
Yeah, right.
Flashes of them talking about “bottling” my essence flooded my mind and I shivered.
Next, Marmal stepped over to the exterior barn wall and pulled a shotgun from where it was leaning against the side. “You know how to shoot one of these?”
My eyes widened and I shook my head.
She nodded, breaking the barrel in half to expose two dark holes. “Pop two shells in here…” She snapped the gun shut. “Close it, aim, pull back hammers, and shoot.”
I gave her a dry smile. “Is that all?”
She grinned. “It’ll have some kick, so prop it on your shoulder. It’s your last resort weapon, because you can hear it a mile away.”
I nodded. Pop, close, aim, pull hammers, shoot. Last resort. “Got it.”
She handed me two leather cuffs that fit perfectly over my metal ones to disguise them, and I pulled her in for an unexpected hug. “Thank you,” I croaked.
This woman had quite literally saved my life when all I’d expected of her was to turn me in. It showed me that not all trolls were bad, just like not all Paladin were bad.
Her jasmine scent washed over me and she squeezed me back. If we didn’t live worlds apart, we would be good friends, I just knew it.
“Be safe. You’re a Paladin wolf trader, remember?” She pulled back as I slipped the leather cuffs over my metal ones. They were hard like they were wrapped over plastic or something to help it keep shape, perfectly fitting over mine and covering them completely. I looked like a badass archer and not a girl on the run from banishment.
“Be careful, Demi. When you make it back, if you send word to Marmal at Rosedale, rumor will reach me and I’ll know you are safe.”
Both of our eyes were glistening. We were two woman who had bonded over hard times, and it was tough to say goodbye. I couldn’t reach Sawyer, I was all alone, and if the vampires weren’t after me I would just stay here for a while with her and learn to cook and tend to the animals. It was peaceful here.
“Go on!” She waved me off and wiped her eyes. “I can’t be seen crying, I have a reputation to uphold,” she joked with a smile.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, and then hopped onto Ginny. Reaching back behind me, I slipped the shotgun between the straps of my pack for easy access. Then I pulled out the oil-stained map Marmal had given me and pointed Ginny in the direction of the Dark Fey Territory.
“Goodbye, Marmal. I’ll send word.” I waved to her.
She nodded, swallowing hard, and waved me off with glistening, teary eyes.
Part of me wanted to stay longer. Life was easy and joyous here on the farm with her, but I knew I needed to get back. I needed to see Sawyer. I needed to kick Meredith’s ass. And most importantly, I needed to find out more about what the vampires wanted with me, what thisbottling of my essencewas all about.
* * *
I passeda few farmers who waved or greeted me, asking what I had to trade. Marmal had given me a few less-than-desirable items so that I could just be on my way. And people did decline quickly. It seemed a Paladin trader was a regular fixture here in Troll Village. I wondered just how bad they could be if the only one I ever met had saved my life, and if my mother loved one. Maybe Sawyer was wrong about them.
