Age of the Gods: The Complete, twelve novel, fantasy series (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) (174 page)

Though he knew the trolls lived high up in the mountains, he had believed that he still had a long way to climb before he would find the large, thick-skinned men. With such a belief, he was surprised to see the obvious signs of people here upon the top of the cliff.

Across the platform atop the cliff lay a surreal landscape of the likes Gnak had never imagined. Nearly level, the surface of the cliff ran almost a hundred yards ahead with neither a living plant nor animal. Placed at regular intervals were monolithic stones carved into the likenesses of trolls, each facing the center of the clearing. Three separate rings of the giant stone statues stood in silent witness to his approach from over the lip of the cliff. But it was not the statues that grabbed and held his attention.

From the center of the innermost circle, rainbow hues of light danced among the monoliths, covering their surfaces with light that seemed alive. Moving for a better view of the source of the spectacle, Gnak froze as the breath caught in his throat.

Never before had he seen such beauty in nature as what he witnessed atop the cliff. It was no wonder the trolls had built stone guardians to protect that which they cherished. Here, in the center of the rings of stone men, stood a stone of the likes Gnak could not recall. It thrust up from the stone of the mountains as if seeking escape.

Nearly transparent, with flecks of gold and silver, the giant prism of stone stood perfectly vertical. With perfectly geometric sides, the crystal seemed as if it were carved and polished to perfection, but Gnak knew by instinct that no craftsman besides the gods themselves could have erected such a magnificent creation.

As the stars winked in the heavens, so too did the prism wink in return, its myriad dancing light encompassing the faces of all the stone trolls protecting it, making them appear to alter their expressions as the light glimmered and changed.

Though he had not meant to underestimate them, Gnak had inadvertently assumed that trolls were not overly intelligent. Their slow demeanor made him believe that they were slow of wit as well. Now he was beginning to think different. For if there was any proof of a man’s intelligence, it had to lie in the items he was able to create. Here, the trolls had created something majestic. Gnak was in awe.

Moving closer to the prismatic gem at the center of the clearing, he looked into the faces of its stone guardians and was surprised to find each of them detailed and unique. Rounding the last one that stood between him and that which he wished to admire up close, he paused briefly to behold it once again as the light from its many facets washed across his skin.

Though he believed the thing to be completely natural, it was only when he came close that he saw in detail the thing that sat atop the tall prism. It was almost like a spear tip, the way that it covered the pointed tip of the geometric stone, but beyond that comparison it was unlike anything he had seen before. He recognized the material it was made out of, as it was the same metal that the goblins sought, but he could tell it had value beyond that of its material.

Carved upon every side of the golden cap that sat atop the gem, were small runes and symbols in a repeating pattern. He had never seen things such as this, but studied them closely, curious as to their meaning. As he leaned in closely he could feel heat washing off the stone and was forced to pull away slightly. He dared not touch it, lest it scald him. Instead he thought to commit the symbols upon it to memory, but hearing a sound in the distance, he realized that his curiosity would have to wait.

Turning and sprinting away from the noise, he found there was nowhere to go if he had been discovered. Without any place to take cover, he turned and peered across the distance to the slopes beyond, just in time to witness the first of them approaching.

Like nothing in the world could drive it into action, the troll moved towards him so slowly he was not certain at first that it moved at all. For a moment he even thought it might be another of the stone statues that he had not noticed before. But then as he watched it took another slow step, revealing another of its kind behind it.

Looking around for a place to hide and observe, Gnak realized that there was only one place to go. Bending down, he grasped the vines that clung to the edge of the cliff and swinging over the side carefully he slid below the surface of the plateau. Then, both carefully and slowly, he raised himself up just enough to peer over the lip.

In a single file procession the trolls came, and then another appeared from another direction and then yet another. Gnak watched as all three processions of trolls slowly converged on a single spot.

They were odd creatures, tall with long thick limbs of wrinkled leathery hides that resembled the bark of trees. Their faces appeared to be little more than a lump atop their thick necks, and their feet were nearly round with only three wide toes that spread out when in contact with the ground. And on they came.

When the first from each procession reached the gem, all three placed their hands upon it, and bowing from three different sides, they touched their heads together and each made odd rumbling and grunting sounds before uprighting themselves. Once completed, in a process that only took a few seconds, the trolls then walked away, making room for the next three behind them. Only they moved differently than before.

After releasing the giant gemstone, the three trolls turned quickly and strode away from the thing, moving more quickly than Gnak had imagined possible for the creatures. With his eyes wide he watched as the process repeated with the next three, and then the three after them. Each instance was the same. The trolls came to the stone slow and lumbering, but strode away from it quick and nimble. Was it magic?

Gnak could not help but wonder if the sounds each of them repeated was a prayer of some sort to whatever gods the trolls might worship. Were each of them blessed with power? If so, was it simply a blessing of speed that allowed them to keep up with the rest of the world? He had no way of knowing, but he swore himself to watch and learn all he could.

Hour after hour the trolls came in three steady streams. The females were only apparent by their wider hips and lumpy chests, but even they came to the crystal protected by the statues. Trolls of all ages and sizes came by the thousands, and every last one of them left the stone much more invigorated than they had arrived. What raised yet more questions, was why they came in organized lines, yet left the scene seemingly at random. Try as he might, Gnak could not get his head around what he was seeing. There was nothing to do but wait.

As the night deepened, the air up this high in the mountains grew colder and colder and Gnak actually watched as ice crystals began to form on those monolithic statues nearest him. As he breathed, so too did his breath freeze upon the air and he worried that one of the trolls might see his breath and come to investigate, but none ever did. Instead, they came and went as if he did not exist, and before the sun began to rise yet again, they had each left the clearing. But to what end, Gnak did not yet know. There was only one way he was going to find out.

Heaving himself back up the short distance, he pulled his legs over the edge of the cliff and climbed to his feet. Knowing his swords would not serve him well against the bigger men, he pulled the spear from his back, and struck out towards the north at a steady but cautious jog.

Carefully selecting every footfall, his eye scanned the ground and then ahead and so on as he continue forward. Beyond the cliff top, the natural mountain slopes took over once more, climbing uphill steeply. The terrain was rocky as it had been before the crater and the cliff, and here, like below, great evergreens thrust roots down into the rock and what little soil clung to the cold stone faces of the mountains. It was less than half an hour later when he spied the group of four trolls ahead of him and, careful to keep the large trees between himself and those he pursued, he stealthily moved ever closer.

Closing the distance slowly, he watched as time and again one of the trolls would leave the others, to scout ahead and return again many minutes later. What impressed him more was the fact that he was able to witness them having a conversation. Though he could not understand their words, it was obvious that they communicated verbally as did all the other races of men Gnak was familiar with. The fact gave him hope. If they could talk, than perhaps they knew the common tongue as did the orcs, humans, and goblins. There might yet be a way to bring them to his cause without a war.

As the morning broke, Gnak followed the trolls further up the mountains as the air grew thinner and colder by the minute. Here frost clung to everything, and a dusting of snow even covered much of the ground, but that was to be expected. What he witnessed the trolls doing ahead, was not.

Rounding a bend in an obvious game trail, Gnak watched as ahead of him, the scout troll vanished into a cave in the side of the mountain. Even from here he could smell the scat of the animal and knew what it was inside the cave. With a thunderous roar, his thought was confirmed as the troll again emerged, waving a fist full of long dark hair. Even from his location fifty yards away, Gnak could feel the ground shake as the bear broke free of its den. Gnak’s jaw dropped open.

The beast was immense, putting to shame even the great bear he had slain for Catunga what seemed like a lifetime ago. With much of its fur having turned gray, it was obvious the animal was ancient, but its age did not show in its aggression.

Rising up on its hind legs, the bear split its great maw before leaning forward to release a defiant roar, as Gnak watched on. Without warning the beast lunged forward, slashing out with its immense paws, and Gnak witnessed what he would not have believed if he had not seen it with his own two eyes.

Like seasoned orc warriors, the two nearest trolls dove aside, avoiding the bear’s huge claws altogether. From the side, a third troll raced in, smashing into the bear’s ribs with its own body, taking both over in a heap of wrinkled flesh and fur. Rolling and kicking, both combatants roared at one another in defiance as fists and paws traded blows between cries of both fury and pain. Though it seemed both were becoming injured, eventually the troll uprighted himself, holding the bear beneath it for an instant as the other three trolls leapt back into the fray.

Like they had performed the task hundreds of times, two of the trolls seized up the bear’s front paws and pinned them to the ground with their own body weight. Though the huge beast thrashed this way and that, so heavy were the combined trolls that it could not escape. As the fourth troll pinned the bear’s hind legs to the ground, the first troll rose up from atop the bear. Then, staring it in the eyes, the troll grasped either side of the beast’s head and smashed it full in the face with its own. The bear’s face crumpled before the blow, as blood and teeth sprayed out from the impact.

Releasing the great beast, the trolls rose as it twitched and thrashed upon the ground for several minutes before finally becoming still. Gnak summoned its will to himself as it departed the beast. He had learned much about the race of trolls already.

Not only could the trolls talk, but like orcs they hunted, too. Though they hunted in packs, like wolves, and their methods were obviously different, it was becoming more and more apparent that orcs and trolls had much in common. He hoped that this fact boded well for his future endeavors.

It was not long before two of the trolls shared the burden of carrying the gargantuan bear, and striking out in the same direction as before, Gnak followed at a distance. Thinking the trolls’ hunt was done, he was surprised when the scout vanished into the trees ahead once more and the other three paused. Pausing himself, Gnak watched intently, wondering what sort of beast it could be that led such powerful men to fear going further. It was then that huge, thick arms and hands folded about his face and chest from behind. He had been duped.

Snatched off of his feet as if he weighed nothing at all, Gnak was pulled up and back in a crushing grip that threatened to break his bones. As panic set in he thought to pull the will from his attacker, but if the man froze he would still be trapped in its arms. If he fought or struggled, they could easily kill him. So instead, he simply submitted to the troll who held him and his fate in its arms.

Still able to see despite the arm around his head and neck, Gnak watched as he grew nearer to the other trolls in the hunting party. His captor carried him in an unrelenting grip, but not so roughly that it caused him pain. All there was to do was wait and see what would become of him. If he felt threatened beyond that of being their prisoner, he could always stop them in their tracks and try and escape.

After nearly an hour’s climb up the same path they had followed all day, Gnak listened as the trolls began to speak in their own language. Though it was an odd rumbling of sounds that seemed more related to choking or coughing, he watched on as one would speak and another reply, and even witnessed as something was passed between them that caused all four to do what he presumed was laughing. He imagined that they told jokes at his expense. Not that it mattered.

For much of the day they traveled in silence up and around the mountain until at last they topped a small rise and, peering ahead, Gnak could see a valley between two neighboring mountains. It was yet another déjà vu moment as he realized he had been here before.

Looking down into what he realized was a troll village of some kind, Gnak saw what would one day be the location for his temple to Ishanya. Here and there about the village, huge fires blazed as smoke coiled up and was carried aloft on a crisp wind to the south. Odd structures were placed all around the fires, constructed of stacked and piled stones with roofs made of logs and branches. From all directions that he could see, trolls dragged felled trees towards the village, where they piled them into huge heaps.

The closer they came to the trolls’ home, the larger the building and fires became. What appeared to be single dwellings for the trolls from afar, were now realized to be communal homes that would likely house a dozen or more under each roof. Each fire was a blazing inferno that, passing even remotely close to, caused his skin to heat to an uncomfortable level within seconds.

Entering the community, trolls stopped in their tasks and watched as he was carried past, their curiosity of him apparent everywhere they went. Though he was able to watch where he was going, the further they went the less likely he thought an escape would be. It seemed they were headed for the center of the village.

Nearing one of the massive buildings, the four trolls exchanged words, and the only one not carrying a prize rushed ahead and entered the structure. Just moments later he poked his head back out as they approached and waved them in his direction. Passing into the building, Gnak was struck by the immense changes that occurred instantly when passing the seemingly harmless threshold.

In stark contrast to the bright sun outside, reflecting off ice and snow alike, inside the building it was pitch black without so much as a single star’s light. Though outside stood a blanket of snow, inside was sweltering hot, so close were the stone walls to the raging fires outside, Gnak began to sweat profusely as the troll holding him dropped him upon the floor.

As his eye adjusted to the change, he witnessed at least two dozen trolls milling about in the darkness of the building, but only one among them approached. From out of the darkness a troll of the likes he could never remember seeing stepped into the light that streamed in from the doorway behind Gnak.

He was an ancient specimen of the mountain men, his skin so loose it hung in wrinkled pools around his swollen joints. Though still tall and massive in girth, the old troll leaned forward as it moved slowly towards Gnak. Its eyes, though still alight with much life, seemed more deep-set than those of its peers, and its mouth, a wrinkled and puckered slit in its face, opened and closed as if to speak, but as if the creature forgot the words it wanted, no sound escaped it.

When it stood close enough to be looking directly down at him, the old troll leaned precariously further forward and brought its own face directly to Gnak’s.

“Goosta boork doobi nog,” the ancient troll said, much to Gnak’s dismay.

Without any idea how to reply, Gnak just looked back at the man, a confused expression on his face. The troll’s mouth began to move yet again.

“Common, then?” the ancient troll asked in a slow and emotionless tone.

“Yes, Gnak speak common,” he blurted excitedly.

If he could communicate with them, then there was a chance for him to succeed. But he needed to be cautious. He needed to learn about them, and more importantly what they intended to do with him. For now he would let the troll lead the conversation.

“Good. Then you will talk to Borgo,” the elderly troll said in introduction. “Why have you come here, orc? These are not your lands.”

“Gnak come talk to troll leader.”

“You can talk to me, orc. Then we will decide if you see the king. Why have you come?”

Once again Gnak found himself at a disadvantage. Even the trolls had a better understanding of the common tongue than he. He swore to himself that if he succeeded, he would spend more time speaking to the shaman to learn more words.

“Gnak… King of orcs,” he began. “Talk to god. Have vision. God say gather all orc, all goblin, all troll. Build city. All build. All live as one clan.”

For a long time the troll seemed to digest his words, his dark, deep-set eyes squinting slightly. When the ancient troll did speak again, his demeanor had changed slightly, though Gnak could not tell if it was to his advantage or detriment.

“The gods are very mighty, orc. It is true, they sometimes visit the races of men. Our history tells of such a story. If what you say is true, what proof do you have?”

Gnak found himself at a loss. He did not want to show his power, lest they have magic users also. He was not about to give away the secret that could be his only chance for escape.

“Have no proof. But gods tell Gnak do. So Gnak come. Speak troll king. Make offer.”

“And what do you offer, orc?” the ancient troll named Borgo asked.

“Gnak need troll land to build city and temple to Ishanya. All share city, all build city. Gnak share city with trolls. All live together. All learn. Have new ways. Are better.”

“So you serve Ishanya? Who is to lead this city? Who will rule?”

“Yes, Gnak serve Ishanya. Goddess say Gnak rule city.”

“Then I am sorry, orc. You cannot speak with my king.”

“Why Gnak no speak?”

“After we lost many of our gifted warriors just weeks ago against the humans alongside orcs and goblins, all trolls swore to never serve a leader of another race. It is now forbidden to us.”

“What if Gnak challenge troll king, win fight?”

“We are not orcs, if our king is killed, another will take his place. You will never rule our people.”

Gnak pondered the situation. It was frustrating. The goblin king did not want to serve him, he wanted more power and more gold. The troll king would not serve him. How did Ishanya expect him to pull this off? He was beginning to get frustrated.

“What happen when orcs and goblins come up mountain to build city?”

“If you do not have our consent, then likely we will fight for our lands,” Borgo answered in his monotonous tone.

“What if orcs and goblins give trolls gold?”

“We have gold, though we do not need it. Greed is not a flaw of our kind, orc.”

So that was it. The trolls did not want anything. They would not submit to his rule. With defeat in his heart, he knew that the only solution would be bloodshed. But it still left a question unanswered that he had pondered some time ago.

“Why trolls come fight humans with orcs last moon?”

“Your big chief came and spoke to our king. They made a pact to stop our races from fighting one another. But now we hear the big chief has died, and his pact has died with him. All that was gained is now lost.”

Finally Gnak had an opening.

“Gnak is big chief now. Gnak speak to troll king. Make new pact.”

“No, it is too late to remake the pact. The terms cannot be restored. We will not help you and your people, and we will not allow you to build on our land.”

“What can Gnak not restore? Who you to say no? Gnak want speak king,” he demanded angrily.

“Our pact was hinged on the mutual belief that the dark mage of Valdadore had to be destroyed. He could not be allowed to live, but he has. Our king believes that none devoted to Ishanya the deceiver should be allowed to live. This is why I tell you no. And my word is law.”

Angered and defeated, Gnak had his answer. Again, he had been duped by the trolls. He had been speaking to the king the whole time, and the man had simply been working him over, trying to gather information himself. Now that the relic had what he wanted, he not only refused everything Gnak wanted, but said that he would not be allowed to live. Gnak lunged at the ancient king of the trolls.

Punching the tall man square in the jaw, Gnak kicked out as he sprang away, driving the larger man to the ground as his knee folded beneath him. With no way to win a direct fight, Gnak stretched forth his arms, and sought out the wills of those nearest him. Focusing himself he began to pull as a scream interrupted his concentration.

“Noooo! Not like that!” Jen screamed in his mind. “Do what Ishanya told you!”

Gnak was at a loss. More than a dozen thick-limbed bodes rushed towards him, forcing him to rethink his position. Ishanya wanted him to gather the races of orcs, goblins, and trolls. He
was
doing what she had told him. At least trying to. So why was Jen screaming at him? Then he had it.

That which you need to see my will done is within your grasp. You need only reach out and take what is yours.
That is what she had said, and in that instant Gnak understood what he had been missing all along. It was not his ability to steal the will of others that was his greatest power. No. That was only a fraction of his ability. Stupid orc brain. All the hints had been there in his visions. Looking into a mirror to see the goblin king should have been a dead giveaway, but he had missed it. When Ishanya had told him to take that which was his he thought she had meant the will of others, but then too it should have been obvious.

Feeling himself caught up in the grasps of many giant troll hands, he plucked the will from the king of the trolls and flung himself at the ancient man’s body just before everything went dark.

Mind-numbing pain assailed him as his body jerked and twitched uncontrollably. His head felt as if it were splitting in two as those rushing to his side fought to keep him upright. Aches and pains replaced the spasms, and for a moment he was certain he would vomit, but then the sensation relented. Coughing, he blinked his eyes to clear the water residue that remained, and then it hit him.

Raising a hand before his eyes, not eye, he looked upon the thick fingers in wonder as he turned his aching body to see those other trolls who rushed to the aid of their failing king. Without reason, he recognized their faces and knew their names. He knew the roles they served among his people and a million other things. He could recall more than seven hundred years of life that was not his own, and there were multitudes of memories that felt both foreign and familiar. Gnak was inside the troll king. He had become the troll king. A wrinkled smile split his face as he turned to look upon the orc frozen stiff upon the ground just feet away.

Everything finally made sense. Trolls, it seemed, had problems when it came to temperature. When their bodies were cool their metabolism slowed nearly to a stop, allowing them to live incredibly long lives. But in order to perform tasks, like hunt, they needed to be able to move faster, and as such they warmed their bodies. They had several options for doing so, the easiest of which was simply standing in the sun, but this barely warmed them, especially in the cold climes of the highest reaches of the mountains. Like in their village, they often used fire to warm their blood and its effects could last for several hours, allowing them to perform scouting patrols, and gather some supplies. Their best option, and one considered holy to their people, was a recharge at the crystal where Gnak had first saw them. For reasons unknown even to the king, the stone was able to heat their insides in mere seconds and increase their metabolism to incredible levels that could be sustained for nearly a week. Though such increases, if regularly performed, were known to shorten the lives of trolls, they used its power to prepare for battles, large hunts before the winter, and other dire situations.

Hearing several of the trolls speaking, Gnak was surprised that he could understand their words and quickly joined in the conversation.

“I think the orc is dead,” said a troll Gnak recognized as Voolid. “We should burn him.”

“No,” Gnak replied, amazed at his ability to communicate so easily in the troll’s native language. “Leave me with the orc. I want to examine him.”

Immediately the trolls began to disperse without question. Theirs was a society of respect for their elders and as the oldest living of their kind, he was their king. As the longest lived he was considered the wisest, and his orders were not subject to question. He had led his people for nearly seventy years since his last elder had passed into the realm of the gods. Gnak knew everything there was to know about the troll.