“Thy will, Dread Master,” said Atros and bowed out of his presence.
There were a few other details Atros forebore to mention. His searchers were mostly allies or those who wanted the reward promised. Worse, nearly half of the searchers were trolls. Trolls are none too bright and far too inclined to murder to be ideal for this task.
Beyond that, Atros knew he could not hold his army together much beyond one night. The creatures not sworn to the League were restless, chancy things who would not stay no matter how great the promised reward. Even the League’s sworn servants could not stay long. Such a concentration would quickly attract the attention of the Council’s Watchers.
Not that it mattered, Atros told itself. One night would be more than sufficient.
Where were they bound? he wondered. They seemed to have a destination. The elf duke’s hill? That made no sense. Elves were badly disposed to mortals of all varieties. Besides, if they wanted shelter among the elves there were easier roads to take.
Whatever their destination, they would have to swing south shortly or they would blunder into the deadest dead zone in all the North, a place where the tiniest spark of magic would show instantly. By now Atros had a grudging respect for this alien wizard’s masking spells, but no spell could be good enough to hide them in that.
Atros was well satisfied as he went down the corridor. Not only did he have things well in hand for the capture of the strange wizard, but his other plans were well in hand besides.
Soon. Very soon.
“Where are we going anyway?” Wiz asked, sitting on a stump by the fire.
Moira looked up from stirring the porridge. “Someplace safe.”
“You said that before.”
“I prefer not to name it. There is always the chance of being overheard.”
“Well, what’s it like? A farm?”
Moira laughed. “No, it is a very special place hidden away in the Wild Wood. A place built like no other in the World.”
“You make it sound wonderful.”
“It is that.”
“Have you ever been there before?”
“This deep in the Wild Wood? Not likely. I have heard of it, though.”
“Right now anyplace that put a roof over our heads would be wonderful.”
“Patience, Sparrow. We are perhaps a day or two from our destination.”
“Then what happens?”
“Then you will be safe and I can return to my village.”
“Oh.”
“I have work to do, Sparrow. There are people who need me.”
“Yeah, I guess so. Only . . .” Moira held up her hand to silence him.
“Wait,” she said. “There is something . . .”
With a roar four trolls charged into the clearing. They were huge and foul smelling, clad in skins and leathers and rags. One brandished a rusty two-handed sword in one hand and the others carried clubs.
A troll closed in on Moira, arms extended and fanged mouth agape. Wiz grabbed a faggot from the fire and charged. With a casual, backhanded swipe and without taking his eyes from his prize, the creature sent Wiz sprawling through the fire.
Wiz rolled out as the beast got a hand on Moira. Without thinking he reached back into the fire and grabbed a burning brand. He pointed it at the troll and yelled “Bippity boppity-boo.”
The troll was unfazed but the tree behind it exploded into flame with a crackle and a roar. The astonished troll weakened its grip and Moira twisted free.
“Moira! Run!” Wiz yelled and ducked under the grasping arms of another troll. He twisted about and pointed the stick at it.
“Bippity boppity boo!” he shouted and another tree blazed up. The troll cringed back.
Whirling in a circle, Wiz pointed the branch and yelled “BippityboppitybooBippityboppitybooBippityboppityboo.” Trees all around the clearing turned to fiercely burning torches and the confused trolls cowered and whimpered in the ring of light and heat.
Wiz sprinted in the general direction Moira had taken. Behind him he could see the forms of the trolls black against the orange-yellow glow. The scent of burning pine filled his nostrils and he coughed from the smoke. One of the trolls groped after him. Wiz pointed the stick at a tree between them, shouted “Bippity boppity boo” and watched the tree turn to a lance of flame in the very face of the monster. Then he turned and ran as fast as he could.