Barnes

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The three guards stayed close to Sibling, who were grateful the Trolls did not attempt to touch them. From the looks of things, the Trolls almost expected that Sibling would suddenly become some forty-foot tall monster and devour them. Even with the differences in their minds, the twins could feel that there was fear in these men, fear of humans. After years being close, Diva was easier to read, her mind more familiar and more easily navigated, when she wished it.

Diva and Ekanga moved off to follow Malthu, leaving the small group and the prisoner alone. Sibling had no illusions, they could not speak any of the tongue and knew that trying any mental contact would probably doom the whole affair. They hadn’t lived this long without some observation skills, some motions and actions would likely be universal for any biped: long eye contact a challenge, open hands exposed indicating peaceful intent, a bowed head meaning subservience. They hoped so, anyway.

One of the guards, a Troll with almost red hair, spoke to the other two. One of those broke away while the speaker and the remaining Troll turned to fully face sibling. The walker strode to the barred door of the barn and unbolted it, moving several heavy bars and pulling the single gate open. The interior looked from here to be Spartan, but lit from above, obviously artificial since the sun was almost lost behind the tall trees. The red-haired (actually more a bronze-moss color) Troll made a motion with one arm, almost a request. Sibling lowered their head and started that direction, passing through the door onto a shining floor and into a room that would be small by Troll standards.

There were no decorations, no exposed mechanics or plumbing, just a plain room about ten feet square. Along one wall was a Troll-size bunk, like it had been carved out of the same material the floor was made of, and opposite that a table or ledge. There was nothing mobile or loose in the room, and a small alcove in one corner, with a privacy wall dividing it from the rest of the room, where they found a basin and seat, crude but effective for bodily functions.

Sibling walked to the bed and tested it, no sheets or padding, and was surprised to feel it give slightly to their hand. Sitting on it, the material slowly conformed to their shape, and the temperature was neutral, like it mimicked their body heat. A quick touch on the walls confirmed it was much the same material, and probably very resistant to physical blows with the padding effect. Very clever was their opinion, for a holding cell.

Sibling moved to the center of the floor, certain someone would be watching, and not wanting to antagonize. They sat and waited, all they could do with Diva pressing their case.


Ekanga stayed slightly to the side and rear, showing Diva the direction to the main doorway of the house. Malthu had gone around one side, probably to another door, but Diva knew, at least from her country, that any guest was brought through the front. The craftsmanship of the house was apparent, and shown with pride, carvings on the door and decorative figures made from pale colored stone had been crafted into the actual walls. The walk looked to be one solid piece, until a stray shaft of light revealed tiny crevices where many hundreds of stones had been fitted together. Once she saw the pattern, she could tell the entire path was simply an intricate jigsaw puzzle.

“You are Divya?” Ekanga spoke as they approached the door.

“Yes,” she replied startled slightly from her reverie, so unused to being addressed correctly in a native tongue. “I am called Divya, and my companion is Sibling.” That word was foreign and did not sound precisely the same, she chose to use the human pronunciation, since there was no equivalent.

“Your companion, the female?” He asked, not entirely without interest. Diva knew that not all questioning is done as such, many truths could be learned by small slips.

“My partner,” the exact word meant equal and friend.

“Not your superior?” He asked, motioning that she should open the door with the simple handle. He was professional, she would not be able to take him unawares if she tried to.

Pressing on the metallic handle, the door quietly swung in, revealing a large central room with some matting on the floor, like woven saplings. A group of other Trolls stood near a low couch, chairs for various sized people forming a semi-circle centered on it. She could see that the facial characteristics meant this was likely a large family.

“No, I am free, as she is. I hold only to my desire for her company, she is not my superior.” Diva realized this would be a key question, if the humans here enslaved others, they would have agents. That meant servants like Troll and Goblins to do their bidding.

“These things will be discussed, I warn you,” his voice was low, intended for her ears as they approached the group. “Know what you will say.”

She glanced from the corner of her eye, was there some modicum of concern on his face? Why would he feel the need to warn her, if he was the head authority? That had to wait, she was being introduced as a guest, no matter the circumstances.

Malthu introduced members of the group, which was his extended family, from great-grand children to his wife, Bhuvana. The young ones strained at their parent’s arms to see closer, some middling year youths trying to appear aloof but their eyes betrayed their interest. She was taller by far, and as broad as Ekanga in the shoulders, now glad she had worn a tasteful outfit for the “short trip” to Portal Co. Her horns, wrapped like a ram’s, were the most obvious other feature of difference, all these Trolls had straight horns, short and polished.

Serious questions waited, a political custom here, until after the young were removed. Everyone greeted her, some more wary than others, and then retreated into the house, another custom. When it was left to only Ekanga, Malthu and Bhuvana, Diva knew the time had come for the real questions. Bhuvana brought a large bowl of steaming liquid, and this was not something she understood.

“It is tea,” something like it from her world, though this had more body and was thicker. Ekanga said. “You are a Troll, no matter where you are from…”

“Or the company you keep,” interjected Bhuvana, obviously not the deferential wife.

“Mother, there may be more here than we see.” His eyes rested on Diva’s, not uncomfortably.

“Yes, honored wife, speaker-out-of-turn,” Malthu said the word Diva knew, and saw it was applied with some humor. They were an old, married couple. It earned him a withering look from the woman, and brought a small grin from Ekanga.

Diva heard the sound of a door, and turned. The other Trolls stood quickly from where they had taken chairs in the talk. Across the simply furnished room, a troll with almost black hair leaned on a cane, the heavy wood stick grasped between hands small and delicate. From behind her she knew the others had risen, and did the same, the older the person, generally the more revered.

“Of course you sense there is more to this Divya than you see! You are my grandson, and thanks be that some of my wisdom passes on.” The female Troll moved quite well without the cane as she walked to the group, hooking it in one hand and using only her feet. Diva could feel that the woman was more than an older Troll, but her eyes would have told anyone that, there was a spark there.

“Grand Mother CuppaJo,” Malthu spoke the honorific title. This was the chief of the clan.

“Ah,” she waved away his hand, “You think I would miss the time to meet someone of such import as this one? Word came to me, and I hurried to see her.” This would have been unheard of, for the high chief of a clan to “hurry” to meet a guest, where Diva was from. Half a world away, the chief would have a petitioner brought before them to plead their case. Definitely, this was not a simple Troll, or even only a Troll Chief.

“Divya,” the woman’s voice was strong, as was her grip when she grasped the much taller Diva’s forearm in greeting. “I welcome you to this village, and this world.” Diva almost missed the sly ending of the greeting, but the woman’s eyes were full of mischief.

“Yes, I know a many things about you, and your companion.” The others were standing in some shock. “Could you not tell. Son? Grandson? Even her scent is not right.” The woman’s nose, delicate for a Troll, worked a moment above her toothy smile.

“I cannot stay long, here, and maintain my impartial appearance. That elf is suspicious as it is, and has reason to fear should the humans deal with other than him. I have come to tell you, Divya, and you Ekanga and Malthu, that she is true, her companion is not of the humans. They come here by accident, but they are here with purpose.”

She made to sit in a large chair, her cane never having touched the floor. Diva could see that what she said caused several emotions in the three others, starting with wonder that the wizened woman knew these things, and ending with interest for more. If this woman was the oldest Troll, which her title proclaimed, it would have fooled anyone by her movements.

“The humans come through our lands, Diva, and gather workers and others. Our leaders, in The City, allow this for pledges of protection from some of the more savage bands of others. The workers are made to serve, and this is a plague, but the others, they are our hope. I know that you have the mind gifts, and your companion. This is what the humans truly lust for, and how their armies are so successful. They make those of us, and the dwarves, that show mind powers work for them in their armies. In this way, they control all mentalists in our lands.”

She motioned to the rapidly cooling broth. Bhuvana looked somewhat embarrassed, and quickly passed the bowl to her with ceremony. All discussion passed until the ceremony was completed, a sharing of the broth as a symbol of graciousness. It also served to build suspense, which CuppaJo apparently enjoyed. She was used to having the say, being the arbiter and the rule, and was skilled like few others.

“Fine,” CuppaJo finished, showing great appreciation for the flavor.

“Pardon me,” Diva began, “they steal all your talented, to work for their armies? But I sense…”

“Of course, I am talented, but know the ways to keep from being discovered. Besides, they would not care for a Troll of my age. They wish for the easy to indoctrinate youth, my mind is iron to their methods. I have passed some of my talent to my son and grandson,” she motioned to the two males.

“However, our skills are small compared to yours. You, and your companion, have as much power as all those I have ever known, together. Do not try to be modest, I know the truth.” Diva quieted, accepting the great compliment. “You have come for a purpose, not by accident.”

She rose, quicker than one would have expected. “I must not stay long, or some will question my fairness, my diplomacy. Tomorrow, representatives will come from The City, and the Council will vote. Know these things, and listen to me Sister Divya,” that reference immediately had her attention.

“The people from The City guess what is afoot, and mean you harm. You and Si-bil-ing,” the word was difficult, “have the chance to help this world. You could fail, and should rely on my family, even when I cannot help you. Finally, this is most important,” she was walking toward the door, the family moving with her, “Morgaine knows of this, and the great pattern continues beyond even our sight.”

“Be well, Daughter.” Grand Mother CuppaJo spoke quietly. Her words meant she would not be able to intervene, or be compromised, and this she would not do if it endangered her family. With that, she left by a side door, and Diva would have sworn she literally disappeared in a flash of light.

“She is rarely seen outside the council Sanctum,” said Ekanga, still seeming stunned. “This was a singular honor.”

A weight increased on the young woman’s shoulders, and Diva hoped she could bear it. The hopes of a whole race? Her race? She needed to speak to Sibling, she needed a week to speak to Sibling. Occupied by the oracle’s words, she missed the awe that passed over Ekanga’s face when he gazed on her again.

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I don't get it.