Enduring Retribution e-book by Kathi S. Barton

tone.
    He roared, making rocks tremble in his wake. Sparks rained across the stone close to where she was as his long, sharp claws angrily scraped down the stone walls in his fury. She nearly told him she’d play his way, but didn’t like spoiled beings any more than she did spoiled humans.
    “I will make no other deals with the Printer. No deals for the Printer, no more indeed. She does not play my games well. She does not cheat me, but she does not play fair.”
    “Troll, I am sorry, but I played fair.” Bailey thought to reason with him anyway. “But I will give you another try. A question from me then. I will give you my first name for your trouble if you tell me one answer question. I will play fair, red troll.” Why did she suddenly sound like Dr.
    Seuss?
    “Deal! I will have my fun with you. You are a good being. Yes, good being indeed.”
    “I am the Printer, but how did you know? I gave you no clue, yet you knew when I first walked into your lair. Tell me how you figured it out.”
    “Ah, that is not so hard. Everyone knows of you. You have a smell of all of us. You are the maker of rights, righteous to the innocents of all the other beings. Yes, we all know of you and your were. You have the friendship of a Cynogriffon, do you not?” Glee filled his voice. “He is very powerful, yes, powerful in magic. We all love you, tasty or not. I do not wish your name, though it will make me envious of those who do not, but I will tell that you offered you to me.
    Yes, yes, I will.”
    Yep, they were both trying out for Dr. Seuss, or the little green guy from the Star Wars movies, whatever his name was. All they needed now was a light saber and things would be complete. She so needed a vacation.
    “Thank you, troll. I am in your debt. You honor me with your kindness. If I may have your treat, please, I will bother you no more. But if I am in need of you, may I call upon your hospitality?”
    “Yes, yes do. I will be honored to help the Printer. Yes, help you, I will. Thank you. You may have my tasty treat, hummm my treat.” She heard him lumber away, taking most of the offensive smell with him.
    What he tossed to her from the depths of his lair was a woman, a vampire to boot. The woman was in horrible shape, but alive. The troll was right in her being a treat for him. Eating a blood-sucker was a treat indeed for a troll. Bailey was suddenly glad that she’d made the deal with him. But she needed to get her help or she would die.
    “Griff, I need a vampire and a donor at my location right now. Can you do that for me? I have a very weak female vamp and it has been about ten days since her last feed.” S he carried her out into the night and laid her on the cold ground.
    “Yes, mistress, I will have someone there immediately.”
    It was ten minutes before the two men showed up. One was a master of this realm, the other a human servant. The human servant knelt before the woman and gave her his throat. Bailey looked away as the woman drank deeply, yet still didn’t have the strength to get home on her own.
    The master, Leighton Chalmers, a large Dutchman who had been around since the twelfth century, had also heard of the Printer. Sheesh, it was getting so a girl couldn’t go anywhere without someone hearing of her.
    “I am in your debt, my lady. Laverna is a very important female in our Kiss, as you are in yours, I’m sure. You shall have safe passage to the realms here in the Netherlands for your lifetimes, and my protection as well whenever you need it. I shall let the other beings know of your kindness to us.” Leighton bowed low before her and kissed her hand in gratitude.
    “I am very glad for your offer. I am, however, not a part of a Kiss. I live and work alone, sire. You have my gratitude, as well as the troll who found her. I would ask that he remain unharmed for as long as he lives. He could have kept her for his own rather than give her up.”
    Leighton looked at the mouth of the cave and