Free The Faerion by Jim Greenfield Page A

travelers?"
    "That's how they catch their meals."
    "I'm not going to be a meal," said Crestan.
    "Good thing," said Kirkes. "You'd make a Troll sick."
    "I know what you are doing!" cried Crestan. "And it won't work. I won't fall for your schemes!"
    Kirkes merely looked at Crestan until the latter turned back to the trail, picking up the pace. Kirkes and Rocodt stayed back, not wishing to injure their mounts.
    "By your remarks regarding other races, Crestan," said Kirkes. "I would guess that you were a member of the Brotherhood of the Rose."
    "I am a knight! I do not hold with Daass' practices. Can you open your mouth without insulting me?"
    "Perhaps. But it remains that you do Daass' work for him. And the Brotherhood has their own knights. You would fit in well with those inadequate knights."
    Crestan did not respond, mulling Kirkes' words over.
    "A knight must take responsibility for all results of his actions. Remember that, Crestan. Daass appreciates your efforts. You forward the aims of the Brotherhood."
    "Bah! I will deal with Daass and his Brotherhood of the Rose when King Treteste takes residence in the castle at Nantitet. I have long felt Daass oversteps his authority with regularity. His followers worship openly, rejecting all manner of royal decisions; setting themselves up outside the law. It's criminal."
    "I agree with you, Crestan. However, Daass has spent nearly forty years building his power base. He has influence in unlikely places. Worst of all, his eyes and ears could be anywhere. Even Treteste does not have the spy system of the Brotherhood of the Rose."
    "Yes, I would suspect you have a special dislike for Daass. Especially with your activities. I'm sure Daass would take special delight in vilifying you."
    "What do you mean by that?" Kirkes's voice rumbled low and hard. Crestan chuckled; glad to have finally gotten under Kirkes's skin.
    "Nothing. I'm sure you have nothing to hide."
    Crestan rode slightly faster, still grinning. Kirkes exhaled slowly, riding an even pace downward after his companions.
    Kirkes saw the Trolls before the others and rode forward with a shout. Crestan soon followed. Three Trolls waited for them at the bottom of a ravine. Watty and Holder crouched behind a rock with the squires.
    "We can't fight Trolls!" cried Holder.
    "Let's retreat," said Rocodt.
    "Good idea," said Watty. They ran while the knights held off the Trolls.
    A huge club dented Crestan's side, nearly toppling him. Kirkes's lance broke against the tough Troll hide. The Trolls grinned. The knight drew his sword, dancing out of the reach of the lumbering creatures, striking at the tendons behind the Troll's knees. The Troll danced out of the way with surprising speed. Kirkes struck again, hitting only air. Then he faked a blow, striking from the opposite side. The Troll could not change direction quick enough and Kirkes' blade found sinew. The creature screamed, slumping to the ground. Crestan had seen Kirkes's maneuver and tried to emulate it. The Trolls, not as dumb as expected, backed away, finally turning to run. Watty shouted in victory.
    "Wait," said Kirkes. "They will be back."
    "We beat them," said Watty.
    "Ride down the ravine quickly. We might be past them before they attack again."
    "Surely you can do your trick again," gasped Crestan, holding his side.
    "Trolls may seem slow and stupid, but don't bet your life upon it. They will be back and with more Trolls. If we do not clear the ravine before then, we best turn back."
    "We can't do that!" cried Crestan.
    "Agreed. Now move!" shouted Kirkes.
    They spurred their horses to a quick pace down the rough trail. Their eyes searched the hills while Kirkes concentrated on their route. He held his sword ready. His horse snorted, sensing his tenseness.
    They had ridden a hundred yards when the horses shied, suddenly.
    Trolls rose up on all sides, screaming and waving their clubs. One hurled a huge spear, gazing Holder and ramming him into the earth. Howls of laughter