Free Three Kings (Book 3) by Jeremy Laszlo

troll version seemed more suited to the mountainside as opposed to the orc which was designed for sand.
    With an idea of what he sought, Gnak went about the surrounding area, collecting what few supplies he needed to create a litter for the troll king’s body. Finding a log a dozen feet long, Gnak pressed his blade to the end and struck it with a rock, driving it into the wood. Then, beating both the tip of the blade and then the handle, he drove the sharpened edge down the length of the log, effectively splitting it in two. It was not an easy process, but worked about as well as he had imagined. Collecting a handful of smaller logs and boughs, he began placing them into a frame-like pattern that would keep the two half logs at an equal distance from one another the whole of their lengths. Cutting strips of leather from the bundle he had carried to the tops of the mountains with him, Gnak began to lash the many poles and boughs together, tying each intersection tight with thick knots.
    Appraising his work, he was happy with the device called a ‘sled’ by the trolls in the common tongue. Sitting upon the device he ate the last strip of dried meat he had brought with him, realizing he would need to find enough food for both his bodies on the return trip home. It was well on into morning when he shifted into the troll king just long enough to lay upon the sled, before shifting back to resume his trek down the mountain.
    Pulling upon the long length of cord attached to the front of the sled, Gnak put his head and one arm through the loop, and began forward down the path. Leaning into his movements, he was surprised when the sled began to move behind him with relative ease.
    Onward and downward Gnak followed the game trails for the entire day without incident. As evening came, he carried his spear in hopes of crossing paths with a hare or stag. When the sky began to darken above, however, he realized he was not the only one hunting in the area as a howl sounded from somewhere behind him. If he had not seen any game thus far, he certainly wouldn’t now.
    Moving down the trail at a quickened pace, his hunt ruined, he was surprised when another howl sounded to his right and then another to the left just moments later. Gnak stopped in his tracks. It was already too late to escape.
    From seemingly all directions, glowing eyes peered out at him from the shadows at the dire wolves prowled nearer. Slowly they closed in upon him, and turning cautiously, Gnak counted their number. It was a small pack, numbering only half a dozen. He knew he could lay them all out with little more than a thought by simply taking their will, but as he reached out to end the beasts, something more foul was upon him.
    Springing from the darkness, a creature that was neither animal nor beast collided with Gnak, Driving him down to the ground. Seemingly half wolf and half human, the muscular thing snapped at him ferociously as it clawed and scratched trying to get a better hold upon him. Kicking out, he drove the creature away and crawled to his feet once more. He recognized the beast from the battle with the humans. It was one of the black wizard’s soldiers.
    Though he had no idea what the beast was doing on the mountain, Gnak raised his spear and took aim as teeth tore into his shoulder, and sharp claws dug into his back. Spinning from the blow, Gnak witnessed as three of the dire wolves sprang upon the body of the troll king, biting and tearing viciously. Raising his hand to summon their power, his head wrenched back as the inhuman creature grabbed at him from behind. He went down with both attackers upon him. Entangled with his flesh being torn from him, there was nothing Gnak could do. He shifted.
    Rising from the sled, the troll king ripped the fur-covered beasts from his thick flesh and flung them with all his ancient might as they crashed into the trunks of trees and rocky outcroppings, with yelps and barks of pain. Turning, he reached out his hand