“I’m Demi.” I used my left hand to grasp my right injured elbow in a typical troll gesture of being well met that I’d learned from Delphi, and her smile grew wider.
She grasped her elbow and bowed her head. “Well met, Demi. How did you learn our greeting?”
I sighed. “Delphi…” I wasn’t sure if she would know what that was, but she winced the moment I said it, so that told me she did.
“Banished? Is that where you got those?” She pointed to my wrists.
I nodded. “Sort of. Wore them all my life, but these are new. Vampires.”
Again that vicious predatorial look was back. “I tried to take them off while you were out. They shocked me!” she spat.
“Magic. Keeps me from shifting.” Again I felt for Sawyer and again got nothing.
No. No. No. What did that mean? Was it this place, being in Troll Village? Or were we simply too far away from each other? I’d done something in my anger before. I’d severed our imprint and it was barely working before, and now it felt completely busted.
I wanted to cry, but Marmal pulled me from my panicked thoughts.
A frown pulled at her lips. “Are you running from Werewolf City? You can stay here a few days, but the vampires will probably speak to the Troll Council and they’ll come looking for you eventually and turn you in.”
That was the last thing I wanted. “I’m actually trying to get back to Wolf City. The vampires kidnapped me. Do you know a way?”
She frowned. “The closest way to Wolf City from here is through the Wild Lands, Vampire City… or all the way around.”
I frowned. “All the way around what? I didn’t grow up here.”
Vampire City and Wild Lands were out of the question.
She nodded and stood, walking across the room. She went to a little wooden desk and pulled out a piece of old suede. “Here, you can have this extra map I made for my little sister. She’s married off now.”
Married off? I knew nothing about troll culture. “And you’re not?” I grasped the map and started to unroll it.
She chuckled. “Men don’t want to marry me. I’m a successful farmer with my own land, no debt, and a brain between my ears.”
I grinned, instantly liking her. “Parents?” I asked, holding the map flat on my lap.
“Died when I was fifteen. I’ve been on my own ever since.”
I frowned. So young, and with a little sister to take care of … that was tragic. No wonder she was so capable; it was her only option.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” I told her. I peered down at the map in my lap and my heart sank.
“So… this is a map of Magic City?” I traced my finger along the path I would have to take to get to our nearest ally, the light fey. It was sandwiched between the Dark Fey Territory and the Witch Lands, which touched Werewolf City. That meant I would have to travel through all of Troll Village, and then through the entirety of the Dark Fey Territory to reach the light fey. It was either that or risk going back into Vampire City which wasn’t an option. The Wild Lands also weren’t an option, not after Sawyer killed Butcher. They’d skin me alive on the spot.
“It’s not ideal,” she sighed, “but I can give you one of my donkeys and a traveling pack…”
That was a very kind offer and a good backup plan. “Thank you. That would be great… but if I could just call my friend and tell him exactly where I am, he will send a helicopter to get me before the vampires even realize.” I knew my mom, Raven, and my dad’s number by heart. One of them could call Sawyer, because I hadn’t memorized his.
She looked confused, and then understanding crossed her features and she nodded. “You mean a telephone? Oh we don’t have electronics in Troll Village. We believe they are cursed and will steal our magic.”
My heart dropped.
Of course not. And my cellphone and backpack were MIA since my kidnapping.
Fuck.
“So… I’ll take that donkey and travel pack, then.” I gave her a weak smile as my heart grew more worried. Ride a donkey through the dark fey territories and get to Light Fey City to find a phone and call my parents?
Easy peasy. I totally got this.
