Hapenny Magick by Jennifer Carson

shook as she touched the last pillar. The last bit of protection against the trolls.
    A sharp crack, like a twig breaking underfoot, surprised Mae, and the light at the end of her wand winked out. Someone was approaching from the village. Mae scampered into the edge of the woods to hide. Remnants of cloud from the storm floated across the ivory moon, its half-light throwing more shadow than illumination. Mae peered into the blackness at the distant figure.
    Lumpy and shambling, the figure drew near, carrying a large sack on its back. Something in the bag clinked together, metal on metal. Mae recognized the awkward gait. Gelbane!

    Mae crouched, still as a fence post. She could hear Gelbane snuffle the air with her wide, flat nose, like she was savoring the aroma of a fatty stew.
    â€œShe’s been here, that wretched spit of a girl,” Gelbane muttered. “Snooping on me, no doubt.”
    A shiver ran through Mae. Gelbane had no idea how close she was to the truth. Whiskers had sprouted from Gelbane’s chin and her ears were small and bald. They looked like withered, dried pears on the side of her head. Great yellow fangs protruded from under her top lip. Gelbane must have abandoned the leyna charm. That wasn’t a good sign.
    Gelbane dropped the lumpy sack on the road just before the bridge and untied its rope. The clouds blew away and the half moon shone again. She pulled out a pair of worn boots. The soles were thick and riddled with long iron spikes.
    Of course! Maewyn slapped her hand against her forehead. Metal hurts magick…that’s what Callum had said. Gelbane had found a way around Remington Gythal’s protection spell.
    Gelbane shoved her feet into the boots. A snigger floated on the air. “Those muffin-brained hapennies have no idea what’s coming. Trusting some kitchen wizard to protect them. Well, they’ve got what’s coming to them now. I can almost taste the hapenny stew.” Drawing out a hammer and a chisel from the bag, Gelbane, in her true troll form, crossed the bridge. The nails scraped against the wooden planks. She settled the chisel against the last stone pillar and began to cut away the remaining trace of the runes protecting the Wedge.
    Mae stood abruptly. She must get back to Callum and Aletta before Gelbane could tell the other trolls that the bridge was not protected anymore. A heavy hand closed over Mae’s shoulder and another covered her mouth. She struggled as her captor pulled her off her feet and dragged her further into the trees. “Looky, Nord! Looky what we ‘ave ‘ere,” a gruff whisper blew against Mae’s ear. “A little spysie-wizey.”
    â€œWhat’s going on over there?” Gelbane bellowed. “Nord? Taureck? Be that you?”
    â€œâ€˜Tis me, Taureck!” The troll shouted back. “No worries, Gelbane, we jus’ catched ourselves a little rabbit!”
    â€œWell, be quiet, you lousy halfwits,” Gelbane shouted back. “We don’t want to give them any warnin’s.”
    Mae cringed away from the sharp, metallic smell of the female troll’s breath. She struggled in her grip as another troll emerged from the trees. He was large and broad across the shoulders. Greasy, dark hair hung around his jowls. He squeezed Mae’s arm. “Should make a nice addition to our supper.”
    Mae aimed for his nose with her heel, but he grabbed her legs and cinched them in his grasp. Watery black eyes appraised her. “Nice an’ pudgy, this ‘un. Ain’t like that string bean a coupla weeks ago.”
    They’d eaten Mother Underknoll! How had they captured her? Mae squirmed and tried to yell, but the claw against her mouth clamped down hard. She gagged at the feel of moist skin against her lips.
    â€œOh, Nord, we ain’t ate a good hapenny stew in years, and we finally get some and ye still be complainin’,” Taureck grumbled.
    â€œTie her up,