We thanked the old vendor for his information and made our way through the market. I had to restrain myself not to stop at every booth as we made our way to the castle. For the first time since arriving in Gaia, I felt like I was in a true video game world.

Weapon and armor shops, marked with their traditional sword and shield logos, sat behind fully stocked tents that showcased hundreds of different styles of swords and armor. I marveled at the goods as we walked past.

I bet Chogu would love this place.

Focus. Kalli droned, dragging me toward the castle.

Of course, I was forced to drag her away from another booth containing pretty dresses that seemed out of place for the trolls who prided themselves on their ugliness.

A very large troll who was much larger than the normal ones glared down at us as we approached the gate. “State your business.”

Kalli fidgeted and looked to me for advice. What should I tell her?

I wasn’t entirely convinced that the wretched thing in front of me was female outside of the rather impressive swelling of her chest.

I don’t know. Ask if we can speak with the empress.

Kalli looked up at the troll who towered over us holding an axe that looked too big to be allowed. “We would like to speak to the empress regarding something we saw in the mines.”

“You went to the mines?” The troll sneered down at us. “Do you realize that it is a crime to go to the mines without proper authorization?”

We waited in silence for the troll to either arrest us or attack but neither happened. After a minute of uncomfortable silence, she tapped her axe against the metallic door three times.

CLANG CLANG CLANG

Kalli met the troll’s cold stare and asked me. Should we run away?

I shrugged.

Let’s see what happens.

A short while later a disembodied voice asked, “What is it?”

The large troll yelled through the door. “Two strange smelling trolls wish to speak with Esha. They asked for the empress.”

“Well, that’s not strange at all.” The voice shot back.

More silence. Then suddenly, the door lurched open and a mini-troll that only came up to the large troll’s knees poked his head out. “Why not? Come. Enter the domain of the empress, strange-smelling trolls.”

Kalli gave me a nervous glance. What do you think? It looks like a trap.

My mind was racing with the possibilities. In the worst-case scenario, they would arrest us once we entered the castle and throw us in the dungeon. At least then we would figure out what they did with Guinny’s dad. So far they hadn’t seemed like the kind of trolls that killed on sight. Also, we still had group chat, so telling Wendy what happened to us would mean she could try to find us some awakened help if we were locked up. I tried the connection just to be sure.

Wendy, can you hear me?

She quickly replied. Yes. I’m here. You have to try this tea. It’s delicious. Also, Mylicant had some ideas about…

I cut her off.

Focus. We are about to enter the troll castle. If we get captured, we will need you to tell everyone what happened.

She laughed. Don’t go into the troll castle. That sounds like a bad idea. What can I do if you get captured? Just find out of Guinny’s dad is alive and come back. We can tell the nobles next time they come. Mylisant seems to think a visit is coming soon.

Kalli gave me a worried look. That’s too long. We need to go now.

I motioned to the open door.

Ladies first.

Ignoring Wendy’s advice, we crept into the castle, nervously looking around as the mini-troll led us through the empty halls. We passed by a throne room that looked like it has seen better days. The throne itself sat on a dais, half-covered by a tarp. The red carpet leading up some steps was stained in many places and often worn through to the rocky floor beneath.

I was beginning to think that the little troll was going to just walk us to the dungeon and ask us to give up when he stopped. We stood in front of a large dining hall with rows of thick wooden tables.

Closest to the door sat the ugliest, fattest, smelliest troll I had ever encountered. She sat alone, hunched over a table where she buried her face in a bowl of stew. The mini-troll cleared his throat and she rose, face dripping with a thick droll of stew.

“What is this?” The belched, slamming a fat fist on the table. “Why do you interrupt my meal?”

The mini-troll jumped when the empress spoke to him. “I apologize, Esha. The two, err, Trolls, said that they wished to speak with you. They claim to have been in the mines without permission.”

She turned her attention to us, still dripping stew as she kicked her chair out of from under her. “Really? Trolls in the mines? Are the two of you trying to start a war? You cannot fool my nose. I know you aren’t trolls. Now, tell me why I don’t eat the two of you and have done with it?”

Kalli stepped forward. Mel, Take off the illusion.

Realizing our cover was blown, I withdrew the mana that was maintaining the effect. Kalli glanced down at her body for a moment before saying, “Empress Esha. We came down here to ask that you return the father of one of the villagers from the town of Hudholm Summit. We realize that the mines may have breached your city but I am sure they didn’t do it on purpose.”

Esha stood in the middle of the dining hall with her hands on her hips as she listened to Kalli. When she finished, Esha spoke. “The two of you are younglings, are you not? Why did they send children? Surely, if Lady Mardella wished to collect her property, she could have sent an adult to do her bidding. No. My guess is that the two of you were sent to die down here.”

I took a step forward, standing between Kalli and the troll. “Nobody sent us. Well, technically Guinny sent us but that’s just because she misses her dad and doesn’t want to be an orphan. We came down here of our own accord. Is that how it’s going to be? Do you plan on trying to kill us?”

“Why would they let you come down here?” The troll asked furiously. “For that matter, where are the guards? How did they even get in here? Shortstacks. Go fetch Pip and Lip.”

The troll known as Shortstacks mock saluted the empress and said, “Right away Esha. I mean empress. I mean your majesty.”

“Feh,” Esha growled, slamming her fist on the table again. “Children. We will return you. However, you will have to wait until Lady Mardella returns. Nobody in that accursed town can speak our…”

The troll trailed off, eyeing us curiously. “How is it that a couple of small human children came to know the language of the trolls. Explain this to me and I might be compelled to grant you a favor. Or at least feed you in any case. Do you care for muckrat stew?”

I felt Kalli’s stomach twist at the sight of the stew. She clung to my arm and informed me, You do not want to try that. It’s disgusting. I was forced to eat muckrat before.

I replied, “No thank you. I’m not hungry. We happen to know all of the languages. It’s magic. The only favor we want is for you to release Guinny’s dad.”

The troll raised an eyebrow and asked, “You have no pity for the other humans trapped down here?”

“There are more?” Kalli blurted out, the fire inside of her rising.

Esha laughed, sitting down in front of her stew again. “More than you know, child.”

Kalli rushed over to the empress and begged, “Please. That is the only favor we ask. Please release all of the humans. They are innocent.”

Esha laughed again but this time she was in the middle of a bite of stew, causing the thick broth and several chunks of meat to cascade across the table. “Innocent? Hardly. You humans pollute the mountain. Do you have any idea what goes on in the world around you? It is not the trolls who are the villains. Of that, I can assure you.”

Kalli wasn’t letting it go. She snatched the spoon out of the troll’s hands and said, “If you are good then prove it. Let them go. Please.”

Once again the bench chair went flying as Esha exploded to her feet, towering over Kalli. “Let’s test this courage of yours. I challenge you to a trial of strength.”

“I accept your challenge” I barked, not wanting Kalli to get hurt.

Esha shook her head, laughing. “Silence. In our world, women fight for power. Men exist to do our bidding and warm our bedding.”

I could feel the fire raging through Kalli just beneath the surface as she bravely stood her ground. “Very well, I accept. What do I have to do?”

“Fight me, of course.” The empress bellowed a laugh, rising to her feet and moving toward the door. “I suppose I’ll have to test you personally since you so kindly accepted my challenge. Come, follow me.”

Kalli was speechless as she followed the troll back the way we came. She shivered when I took her hand.

If it looks like you’re in trouble, I’m jumping in.

She turned her head and gave it a little shake. No. You heard her. Men aren’t allowed to fight. If we cheat then we will never save Guinny’s dad.

When we got to the entrance to the castle, Esha shoved both doors open, sending the massive troll outside sprawling to the ground. Esha took a deep breath and announced, “Citizens of Wrotor. Hear me now. A pair of humans have snuck into our empire and are making demands. I have challenged this girl to a trial by strength. Come and witness the might of the empress most foul.”

Howls of laughter erupted from all over the market as trolls shut down their shops to watch the trial. Esha held out her hand and received a spear from one of the guards that was easily eight feet long.

She turned back to the massive guard and said, “Tubby. Keep an eye on this one. He is not to intervene.”

Wanting to get an idea of what Kalli was up against, I inspected the troll.

Name

Esha The Pugnant

Class

Empress of Wrotor

Level

13

Affection Level

Rancid

Kalli looked miniature standing in front of her. Esha was a lot taller and twice as wide as the pyromancer. Getting an idea, I called out to her.

Go naked flame angel mode.

She forgot all about her nerves when she turned to stick her tongue out at me. You wish. The clothes are staying on this time but good idea otherwise.

At first, it appeared as though her red hair has been caught in a gust of wind. It billowed out behind her, flames flowing through it. Then it streaked down over her skin, rippling harmlessly over her dress until her entire body was covered in flames. Little balls of fire burned in her eyes.

Through our connection, I could tell that it gave her a sort of heat vision as she regarded the troll cooly. Esha for her part backed away a few steps, unsure of what to make of the flaming human.

Kalli moved forward, pressing her advantage. Only when she got close did she hesitate. I don’t want to hurt her.

Chuckling to myself, I gave her another suggestion.

Do what you do best. Clean her.

Kalli knew what I meant right away.

“Pvruzth”

The flames jumped from Kalli to Esha, washing over the troll, feeding hungrily on the filth that the troll had built up over a lifetime of very poor hygiene. Kalli didn’t stop there. Through our connection, I felt her flame invade the poor troll’s mouth, giving her a free deep gum cleaning in the process. The flame went right through the troll’s clothes, washing over places that made me want to take a thousand showers.

When the spell was finally through, Esha sparkled, easily the cleanest troll in Wrotor. She shrieked in outrage, dropping the spear as she fell to her knees. The other trolls stood in stunned silence as they watched their leader who had been doomed to be clean, at least for a little while.

Constantly licking her teeth, which were suddenly shiny and white, the troll extended a hand to Kalli. “You have bested me. I was certain you would run away if given the chance.”