Quest For The Talismans

 The Troll God War, Part 1:

Quest for the Talismans

By P. T. Shepherd

Published by PT Shepherd

Copyright 2018 PT Shepherd

CHAPTER ONE

The citadel of the Troll God was a place that struck fear into the bravest warriors. It stretched into the heavens, a blue tower surrounded by smaller buildings. The only settlement in the north was a frozen waste land that only the troll dared inhabit.

The building looked cold and uninviting, which was no wonder since it was made of ice. This far north the ice never melted, making it the ideal building material. The trolls didn't feel the cold as the other races did and thought nothing of building in ice. 

It shone with a dull white blue light when the sun hit it. The castle stood in a field of white ice and snow that clung to everything that touched it, even the few people that passed here.

The citadel itself was a spacious building with a center court and six four large towers, each tower ending in a turret. Everything inside and out was the same blue-white icy color, as if whoever designed this place decided this color was the only appropriate one. There were only four windows, one on each tower, and a burly troll stood at each to keep track. 

The gate of the citadel was made of solid metal colored to match the surrounding building. It was a simple gate with a simple lock. A lone rock troll stood menacingly in front of it.

The whole place appeared as inhospitable as any wasteland and indeed it was. Nothing grew here, not a single tree not a single blade of grass. No fire burned, and the sun only shown about half the year. Few beyond the trolls and the gnomes had ever traveled to this place.  Those that did rarely survived to tell the tale.

It was here that Rygan Doveaux had spent years of his life after the Troll God had him forcibly bought there. The watch on him had grown lax recently and Rygan was able to make his escape in the dead of night. 

Moving quietly but quickly through the mountains, he traveled with very little sleep for several weeks, determined to find a man he'd been told knew all there was to know about the seals. He didn't even have a name though. Just a description that could fit a lot of people. The search was impossible and the task hopeless.

He eventually made his way to a small village in the eastern half of the world. It was here that he would begin his quest. An old woman in a small house had directed him here.  He hoped he would find the one he sought. 

Rygan was an odd-looking man with blue scaly skin and sharp blue eyes. He had sharply pointed ears and a black beard that he kept neatly trimmed, which was the best he could do. His head was a cascading flow of the same black color.

Two and half meters tall and broad shouldered, he was well-built as well; a lifetime of learning to use a sword had left him with plenty of muscle. All who saw him were taken aback by his appearance.

He eventually came to a small white house with a small garden in the back. Two pine trees flanked it providing shade. They reminded Rygan of needles. The grass was neatly mowed and the garden, which had recently been harvested, was laid out in perfect rows. 

There were whispers in the village of the man that lived here with his granddaughter. Whispers that they weren't quite normal. That they kept to themselves and that the garden seemed to tend to itself. These whispers helped confirm that this was, indeed, the house he sought.

**

Danielle Aurilla hummed to herself as she worked in the garden outside the small hut she shared with her grandfather, Samenth Aurilla. The old man was crusty, often grumpy, and the only family the young girl could remember. But she loved him dearly. It had just been the two of them for if she could remember and the maiden could imagine no other world than that in which she lived. A world which contained herself, her grandfather, the nearby village of Arcton and her secret.

She had brown hair that hung down her shoulders when she didn't tie it back.  She often found it simply unmanageable when she didn't.  Her eyes were a brown color, deep and thoughtful. These were her best feature, and easy to manage.  Not like the hair and Sam.  On her neck, she wore a necklace with a bright green crystal attached. The crystal, which she had owned since she could remember, was very important to her.

**

She brushed the dirt off her simple brown dress and turned to wave at Sam who had just stepped outside. He tapped his pipe on the porch rail. 

You're late, he growled. I expected you weeks ago. 

Danielle blinked in surprise. She whirled in a complete circle but saw no one. She turned to face the old man.

Grandfather, what are you going on about? She asked.

Sam ignored her and lit his pipe. He chuckled to himself

He spoke once again, You'd best come inside, lad. The villagers will burn you at the stake if you're caught. Danielle, supper! 

He turned and strode back into the hut. Danielle blinked in surprise and followed him.

**

Once inside, she got bread and cheese out. She dished up two bowls of the stew which had simmered most of the day.

Three bowls, dear, Sam told her without looking. Confused, Danielle still did as she was bid, dishing the extra serving out and putting it in front of the chair Sam insisted on keeping for guests even though they never really had any.

No sooner had she finished than the floor creaked. Danielle turned and froze. The man who stood in the doorway was about seven feet tall with skin gleaming darkly in the sunlight. Huge blue eyes sparkled in his weather-lined face. A beard, meticulously trimmed, centered a pointed chin while two pointed ears peaked up above the dark hair cascading down.

He was like nothing Danielle had ever seen. She stared at him until Sam gave a slight cough. 

Oh! Danielle gasped, realizing abruptly just how rude she was being. She dropped into a curtsy, Welcome to our home Mr.--

Rygan, he growled.

Welcome to our home, Mister Rygan, Danielle motioned to the extra chair. Please have a seat. 

Rygan seemed to hesitate and Danielle wondered if he would bolt from the house. He sat, however, looking extremely confused.

**

Rygan didn't exactly know what happened. He had been crouched in the field waiting for it to get dark when the old man had spoken. Before he could wrap his mind around it, Rygan was sharing dinner with the two humans.

The old man set his fork down, finally pushing the remains of his supper away. He looked at his visitor with a smile on his face.

You have found me, Rygan, he said. I congratulate you.

Rygan started in surprise. This man was the wizard he'd been seeking. He leaned forward. 

You? he asked.

Me. I am sometimes called the keeper, but what I'm supposed to be keeping is open to interpretation. Here in this village, I am simply Sam the farmer, he said as he met Rygan's gaze. Ask your question.

Where are the seals of the Troll God's prison? Rygan got right to the point.

Danielle gave a small squeal of fear. Her face went pale at the idea of confronting the Troll God.

Stop that, her grandfather snapped at her, he turned to study Rygan through narrowed eyes. Rygan couldn't help but squirm as Sam's green eyes bored into him, seeming to see into his very soul. So, the children of the prophecy are beginning to finally stir it seems. You have both of course heard the story of the elven seer and the twelve talismans?

I am not a child of a prophecy, I am just a mixed blood trying to stop the Troll God from destroying all I love. Rygan responded, unable to look away from the old man

'We will see, Rygan. Sam replied. I do not know the locations of all the seals, and I'm afraid all I can do is put you on the path. In the morning, I will give you a map."

Rygan nodded, I would prefer--

Also, Sam interrupted, you will take Danielle with you. Danielle's face drained of color. She looked like she had been slapped.

Rygan calmly set his spoon down and looked at the girl. She looked strong enough for her age. Her arms were muscular and sinewy from working on the farm, but this wasn't going to be a vacation. Besides, the girl obviously had no idea what the hell was going on. Not that Rygan had a clue himself.

He fished into his pocket and found his pipe and tobacco. Under the pretense of filling and lighting the pipe, he looked around. The hut had one room, with the kitchen and dining room area tucked into an alcove. The walls were bare except for a few wall lanterns and a large tapestry. A large rug covered the floor near the door. The furniture was simple: a large rocking chair, a small couch and two small beds. There was a small alcove with a sliding door near the beds. Obviously to provide Danielle with some privacy as she dressed.

His eyes flicked back to the tapestry. It was exquisite. The picture depicted an elven maiden stroking the snout of a large green dragon. The maiden and the dragon stood in a field of red and blue flowers. In the distance, a black tower loomed. It was an elven tapestry; the colors popped out in a way no human could reproduce. It was wondrous! If he closed his eyes, he could almost smell the elf girl.

His head snapped around towards Danielle, You're not human!

I resent that that! She flicked hair out of her eyes. I'm entirely human... o-on my mother's side.

Why in the world should I take her, old man?

The keeper smiled, So she can see something of the world before she finds a lad to marry.

That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard! Rygan roared. Do you think I'm taking a holiday to the coast or something?!

She also has one of the Talismans, the old man told him.

Sam, Danielle said, I don't want to go.

He let out a long sigh. This is important, Dani. If you don't go, you may never know where you came from.

Rygan shrugged. You can come, but you have to pull your weight.

She stood and walked around the table. Standing next to Rygan, she stuck her hand out. He reached up and shook it.

I am Danielle Aurilla, she said, Granddaughter of that old man whom I call Sam, and some call a wizard.

I am Rygan Doveaux, he bowed. Descended from the elf clan Marites and the Shelton family on my mother's side, and from the Karas Mountain Dwarfs and the Troll God on my father's.

He pulled out his sword, This sword was crafted by my father's half-brother, the Dwarven smith Caros. The jewel is the Talisman of Courage. It allows my sword to cut through any object made by man. It is but one of many talismans that are said to be needed to imprison my grandfather Turok.

Danielle touched the pure white crystal she wore at her neck. Her form, that of a brown-haired, brown-eyed human girl, shimmered and changed. Now she had full blonde hair and green eyes. Her ears came up into pronounced points. Her eyebrows curved like that of a human's but her elfin nature was unmistakable.

I don't know which Talisman I have, She said, but this is what it does.

It is called the Talisman of Secrets, Sam said.

Rygan nodded, We leave in the morning. With that, he turned and strode out of the hut.

**

He camped on a hill overlooking the village that night. Danielle had tried to convince him to spend the night in the hut, but he turned her down. He didn't feel like sharing the large bed with Sam. That and he wanted to think.

Most of the houses in the village were exactly like the one Danielle and Sam lived in, white with small gardens. Some had larger gardens while others boasted blacksmith forges and other such workshops. There was one particularly large farm just south of the village; Rygan guessed that most of the villagers worked there. All the roofs were made of thatch except for the buildings in the village proper.

He couldn't see these buildings but assumed they were the typical village fare. A few taverns, one or two inns, some shops for buying and repairing the day to day items used by the villagers. There'd be a single road cutting through the village, probably made of dirt and the whole place would smell of horse dung and ale. He hated that smell. 

Rygan wondered if the elves knew about Danielle. Certainly, the humans who lived nearby didn't. The typical reaction from both races was to kill any halfling they found. His mother's father had fled his homeland with his infant daughter, seeking refuge in a remote mountain valley. She had been lucky. She now lived amongst the Karas Dwarfs with her second husband, the dwarf Kerotas.

He wondered as he feasted on travel cakes and stared into the fire if she was well and, additionally, if his stepfather was well. He hadn't seen either of them since his manhood ceremony ten years before.

Rygan laid on his bedroll and stared at the stars. Sleep was a long time in coming.

#

Danielle patted the black horse's head then tightened the bridle straps expertly. The horse - whose name was Starlight - nickered and tried to pull his head away. Sam had thought it amusing when Danielle had named the horse three years earlier. A horse that was as black as pitch named Starlight seemed like a jest.

Easy boy, Danielle said. We have a long journey ahead. Don't give me any trouble. She hummed softly to Starlight. The stallion settled down and allowed the girl to saddle him.

There's a good boy, she said.  You look very handsome today Starlight.

You're very good at that.

She let out a small squeal and spun around, dagger in hand. Rygan leaned against the fence, grinning as he chewed on a green apple. He eyed the dagger, his grin never faltering.

You don't mean to gut me with that, do you? He asked, gesturing with the apple at the dagger she held.

Danielle scowled. You startled me.

Hmm, he grunted. You should've heard me coming. You're half-elfin; you should learn to use your elfin senses as well as your human ones. You don't mean for me to ride yonder beast, do you

No, she said, startled that he'd changed the subject so quickly. Starlight is my horse. The gray mare is our pack horse. You want a horse, go into town and buy one.

He glanced at the mare which was standing idly nearby eating grass, already laden with supplies. She looked up and him and nickered softly, her ears flicking back and forth.

No, Rygan said. No horses for me. Maybe it's the dwarf in me, but I could never stand to ride those things.

Danielle stared wide-eyed at him, You've been traveling without a horse?

He shrugged and tossed the core of the apple aside, That's because of my troll blood. I can run as fast as any horse and I've twice the endurance.

**

Their conversation went on in this manner as they continued to prepare for the journey. The pack horse was laden with food, dry clothes, horse feed, and fine supplies. Each of the travelers carried a pack containing a bedroll, a small tent (Danielle had insisted on having her 'privacy'), some travel cakes and toiletries. Rygan's also contained his pipe and his tobacco pouch.

They left the farm at noon and headed east. A lone figure watched from the doorway of the farmhouse. As the pair vanished over the horizon, the figure sighed and went inside.

**

Sam made his way to the storage closet and dug through the odds and ends. He at last produced a large circular mirror and a pure white brush. 

He brushed the mirror with the brush and chanted, Donum fac ante oculos mentis. The mirror glowed white. Show me Danielle. 

The image of Danielle appeared on the mirror. She was okay, though most of the dangers were ahead of her, so that wasn't surprising. Danielle's face shimmered and vanished, replaced by the brown hairy face of a ground troll.

I can see you... the troll said in a sing-song.

Stracken! Sam hissed.

He glared at the troll who only laughed at the old man's reaction. Stracken was a large troll and the Troll God's number one lieutenant. His skin was a bronze color so dark it was nearly golden.

So, Keeper... it's been a long time! Now, where are you? The troll's voice was a hiss.

Sam did the only thing he could think of, he brought his staff around and smashed the mirror into a thousand pieces. He stood looking at the shards for a long time. It was time for him to move on, if the Troll King found his location he could offer no help to the seekers.

**

Do you have any idea where we are? Danielle asked from her horse's back. 

They had been traveling west for over a week, stopping in a few towns for supplies, but not finding anything they were looking for. Sam's map, which he had given to Danielle, changed as they traveled. The land was mostly plains with a few small patches of woodland. Nothing large enough to be called a forest of course, just a few smatterings of trees. These would suddenly block out the sun at random moments and then would be passed momentarily later. 

A few flowers dotted the landscape with blues, reds, and light purples, although the weather was turning colder so most of the flowers had already gone into their winter slumber. A light frost greeted them when they'd woken that morning, turning the tips of the grass and the trees a shiny white. 

The path was well marked. It had seen much use, although they'd yet to meet any travelers. It started out as a dirt path but eventually merged with a brick one. The bricks were a dull red color and in good repair. A few similar roads intersected with this one but still no travelers. 

She'd noticed that they were starting to move uphill more and more. The going, once relatively easy, had recently gotten a little bit harder. This was why she'd asked. That, and the man seemed to avoid speaking.

According to your gramp's map, in the foothills of Collion, He replied. If we continue this way, we'll be in the elven woods within the month, but the map says turn to the south to a town in the foothills soon, a place called Aydahar's Bane. 

Rygan studied her. The girl didn't look tired, yet he debated stopping anyway. Danielle might not be tired, but the horses could probably use a break.

We'll have our noon meal here. He began to unsaddle the pack horse Moonbeam. 

Danielle slid off Starlight and gave him a quick pat. The horse nuzzled her then moved to graze on some fresh grass. She spread her skirt as she sat easily down. She leaned against a nearby rock and watched Rygan prepare a light meal. They took turns with the meal preparation and it was his turn this time.

It was simply bread and cheese with a little bit of fruit Danielle had found as they had traveled. The girl was good at foraging for food, much to Rygan's surprise. Like all elves, she seemed to know instinctively what was edible. It was a trait that Rygan didn't have. 

Do you know anything of your parents? he asked. 

Danielle looked startled at the question. She seemed uncomfortable about it. 

I'm sorry, he hastened to apologize. It's none of my business.

No, it's okay, She replied between bites. It's just that no one has ever asked me that before. I only know of my mother as I've mentioned before, as well as the story that Grandfather told me. My mother was a slave to the elves and one of them fathered me. I don't know who; that secret Sam refuses to divulge if he knows. After the Elf King freed the slaves and after my mother died birthing me, I was brought to Sam. Someone had put the Talisman of Secrets around my neck before I was bought to him. Sam said once that he thought it was my dad's.

Danielle brought the crystal out from under her blouse and held it up, so it glinted in the sun's rays. It reflected rainbows that seemed to dance in the air. 

I used to think that he'd come for me someday. Take me away on a white horse or something, she said. I usually wished it was so when I was mad at Sam. But then I grew up and realized that Sam is my only family and we live in the real world, not one of fantastic tales like that. 

Danielle took a bite of her lunch angrily. She didn't even seem to taste it.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. Look, I know what it's like to question where you're from. My grandmother fled her people after she was raped, he said as he stared out across the clearing. Of course, the only people who are willing to accept me are the dwarves.

They finished the meal in silence before remounting and heading on to Aydahar's Bane.

**

Several miles to the west lay the city of Thesser. Thesser was the elfin capital city where the King of the Elves Andronious had ruled for the last sixteen years. His son Sailar had been born in the second year of his reign. At fourteen, Sailar was old enough to go on his adulthood journey.

The whole city had been built with magic. A single tree had been made to grow to enormous size and then bent into the shapes of shops and houses. It was a tall red tree with bright green leaves, shaped like spear heads. The leaves remained green all year and bore fruit in all months. 

The elves lived and worked around and in this tree, maintaining it as a matter of course. They weeded, watered, and pruned it.

A second tree - this one a dark forbidding oak - had been fashioned into the Royal Palace. This was nearly half the size of the city it overlooked and towered fifteen stories high. It had seven turrets, nine walls, and five drawbridges. The Prince had counted every single one. There were hundreds of rooms and seemingly thousands of windows.

Guards in the light green uniforms of the elfin army guarded the drawbridges and the walls. The gates opened on a silver lake that surrounded the palace. The water was the clearest in the Elfin Kingdom and it was the only water the elves in the city would drink. It also held an abundance of fish. These came in many colors and varieties. It was not uncommon for a visitor to be surprised to find some giant creature passing beneath the drawbridge.

**

Sailar was nervous and apprehensive, though he had no idea what his father had planned. The adulthood journey had never even been discussed with him which, Sailar thought as he headed for the throne room, was odd. Usually a child knew what his job would be in advance, but King Andronious had decided to keep it a secret. 

It wasn't that Sailar hadn't asked; he'd been asking since he was twelve and the only response he ever got was, It is not time.

Well, he hoped it was time now because it was his fourteenth birthday; the day he was supposed to leave. He had his horse packed already, although it had been hard to choose what to take not knowing where he was