Book 3: Chapter 83
Tiffany
A/N: Sorry I was gone. March is hard. A lot of late family, including my mom were born around this time of year. Spring and fall are hard, and nothing I write I like. Oh, and also sorry that I haven’t responded to posts in a while either.
AND I KNOW about the timeline error. Just… give me some *Time*. (^.^)
Tiffany
The first day of the trial was easy-peasy. He even said he’d be back at sunrise, and leave about 4 pm….
It told me that he only needed me to watch them in the afternoon, and I was fine with that. For now, the sun was Just peeping above the horizon, and I slept in.
Since the sheep were still asleep, I also figured that they were probably used to a laid-back schedule. That and that monster who hunts them is probably nocturnal. Grihk said he’d be back and to wait for him, and I used that excuse. I was naked and comfy… The blanket left out for me felt like clouds, maintaining the perfect sleep temperature.
It was about 2 hours before sundown the day I arrived, so yesterday was ‘day one’ . He left and I went to sleep on their couch naked last night. To be fair, the only reason I even cared was because without the silver wool blanket, it was nippy.
The sheep were with me, and they all farted and snored still, and I remained snuggled. I didn’t bring a watch or phone, but the sun was a little brighter, peeking through sheer, blue curtains.
This place looked like a regular house on the inside too, but for someone 10 feet tall.
It reminded me of a medieval home because it didn’t have electricity, but he did manage to have running water. They had a woodburning stove that could probably fit me inside, a sink, and their enormous dishes were in glass-front cabinets…. I doubt I’ll be able to lift them without Theo. There was a bathhouse-style room for bathing, along with a bathroom!
THAT was the part that made me thankful.
They had a giant toilet made for a troll, but it was a toilet that flushed by pulling a rope! I thought I was going to have to use outhouses and chamber pots last night, thank the Lord.
“I’m back.” He said, opening the door, being jumped on by his sheep like they were excited puppies. “Down girls…. Jix said she needs a little more time. The Lord of Bicorns wants a new gown for his wife, and he’d already paid for it before I got there.”
/I got you. I’ll do the language part, but let you keep control./ she beamed.
Finally… It was *Weird* letting her have the lead….
I felt like I was being steered like a car or something yesterday. I hated it.
“That’s fine. I said I’d be here two days anyway.” I said sitting up, using the wool blanket as a toga, shielding myself more for the morning draft than his gaze. He has a mate, but even if he didn’t, he looked at me like you would a friend. He gave up his angelic, perfect appearance for his wife AND his masters’ favor; he holds no love for anyone else.
He chuckled. “Sorry. I have spare robes. I forgot you’re living, and your robes don’t shift with you like the spirit world.”
Inside his closet, he had light silver Roman robes made of sterling wool, and gave me pretty much a blanket…
I really liked this material… It was soft as cashmere, but made of silver. And since it’s magic wool, it doesn’t tarnish… I assume they make *good* money off this. They feed the sheep rare herbs only found in abundance here …. Everywhere else, only small bits of vine here and there can be found, often tarnished or low quality…
He cultivated fields as crops for his sheep, and the wife spun it into yarn or thin thread and sold the spools at the market. I assume since it is real silver, that people would only use it sparingly. I doubt anyone else would be sporting solid silver robes unless they were rich.
I half imagine solid silver robes, magic wool or not, are expensive.
And he gave me such an expensive garment casually, as if it meant little. It was shorter than what he put on, but still way too long for me! I looked like a little kid trying to put on a tablecloth!
“HA! Here, let me cut it short. Even compared to my wife you’re little.” He took the hem and cut the fabric with a claw. “You should use the scraps as a hood. It can get dusty out there.”
I did, and now I looked like I was ready to go on an adventure, not herd sheep. He gave me a stick to use as a staff, but I am taking this with me…. This was wood from the BeastWilds,
/What happened to the epic fight with lasers and my liquid fire?!/ Huffed Theo as a joke. /To be honest this is better. This is going to be chill./
It really was….
And with that….. I weaseled my way out of a fight I couldn’t win.
I ate breakfast with him, I had some cheese and bread while he ate sheep liver. After that I helped him tidy the place up a bit, and we fed his charges. We gave them water, and at about noon, I struck up some conversation before he left out again.
“Have you ever been past the gates?” I pointed to the top of the bridge.
“Look at how nice it is out here!” He motioned the bright, sunny day, and green fields. “My children do, but I prefer my bridge. I tried staying up there, but I built this place from scratch. Even cut the stone.”
“Really?!” I said as he nodded.
“Yup. I gained their favor back for it, but out here, all the land you see, and the forest belong to me. I’ll show you the ropes a bit more before I go.” He smiled. “Over here is their water pump. I’m sure you know how to fill a water trough. Over there is where I sheer them, and they don’t mind. Their fleece is sterling silver too, so my tools are made of Haven Steel. Oh right, you’re a *night* creature, little witchling… Don’t touch it.”
“Yes sir.”
For the next 4 hours, he showed me how easy this was. He also finished making soup. It smelled hearty and bubbled in the pot that could probably fit me inside, but I was a little standoffish on trying troll food.
And like… it was SUPER easy. They knew the routine and followed it for the most part on their own, even Dolly, but I did hold a *little* pity. He should be alive; I bet if he was, he wouldn’t have been a forgotten footnote in history…. I almost felt bad until I heard Theo scoff.
/I remember Nissan Alteerma telling me about that. He ate kids or somthin’./ Said Theo.
/WHAT?!/ I asked.
/And exactly HOW are you surprised Mrs. I’m A *Witch* and I Should Know This?! Did you forget Basic Lore?…That the Troll father was part of a created set of 4, and only 2 pleased Beast and Beauty?/ she huffed sassily. /He’s not just a regular troll… he’s a *bridge troll* on top of being the First ….. That’s kind of their whole deal…../
…She was right, but I still wanted to confirm….
“Wait…. Aren’t you the troll behind the Bally Goats Gruuff story?” I asked,
“Yeah, Twenty Year Old Kids!” He countered.
“You Were Eating STILL Their Cubs, you know how humans are! In the original the ‘kids’ were KIDS!” The sheep grazed as we talked, now that they were used to me. They didn’t care; their feed was the only thing on their minds.
“They Disobeyed Fae Law!” He complained. “Those humans BEGGED me to make that bridge and didn’t pay up. Then they have the NERVE to get mad that I take my compensation when they refused to give it!”
“…. They offered you those three children, didn’t they?” I said shaking my head…. If they offered, like… it IS their fault… Why’d anyone offer up such a precious thing as their own child?!
Plus I know with such an offer, he wouldn’t have turned them down…. Magical creatures *do* love their firstborns, virgins, and young. That fairy tale was told to *all* non-troll, elf, or goblin kids as a warning about crossing bridges in the woods, or in abandoned places…..
“Aye.” He said with crossed arms. “When we shook hands, the magical deal was struck. I’m no magician, but I am a fae.” He said proudly. “I thought if I kept helping him, that he’d relent, but no,” he grumbled. “It isn’t *my* fault he offered up his damn kids, not thinking he’d have some! That was *his* idea.”
“Well…At first, he had three wives and no children at 30…I assume he thought he could get the bridge done for free.” I said thinking out loud and he nodded in confirmation.
Also, Grihk is the First Troll… I don’t remember everything, but I do know that he’s the first of the elvish races.
Theo said nothing, not *disappointed* that I didn’t remember, but not exactly happy that I didn’t expect this obscure lore to even be a thing!
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