Hapenny Magick by Jennifer Carson Page A

Taureck. When Gelbane’s chiseled the last of the runes from the pillar, we’ll celebrate with this ‘un!” Nord ambled off through the brush and bramble.
    Mae struggled hard against her captor. Her mind was wild with fear. The few spells she knew whirled in her head. Mae concentrated on Taureck’s arm and imagined red spots growing like a pox on the scrawny green wrist.
    â€œWhat’s that?” The troll’s grip on Mae weakened. She shook her arm as if the spots would fall away. Mae wriggled loose, but was snatched by the collar.
    â€œOh, no, you don’t. No hapenny tricksies are gonna work on me!”
    A moan of anguish rumbled in Mae’s throat. It was daft of her to think she could rid the Wedge of Gelbane and find Leif by herself. Sneaking out was the worst idea she’d ever had. Now she hoped Trina would tattle on her.
    â€œQuit your caterwaulin’.” Taureck bound Mae’s wrists with a scratchy bit of rope. Mae tried to run again, but the troll shoved her to the ground with a long arm. Mae spat out leaves as her feet were tied together. The troll rolled Mae onto her back and chucked her under the chin with a bone-thin finger. “You be so small, you be cookin’ fast; you’ll see. The other one was taller, but she only screamed for a few minutes. She was so easy to lure across the bridge. Pity she put that baby down first, though. I haven’t had flesh that tender in a lifetime.”
    â€œThat is a terrible thing to say.” Mae scooched away from the troll’s touch and cowered against a tree.
    Taureck flashed a black-toothed grin and swiped at the stringy red hair falling across her face. Ripping a piece of thin material from her filthy vest, Taureck tried to stuff it into Mae’s mouth. Mae turned her head and clenched her teeth. The troll grabbed her face, claws pushing into skin. “Terrible? You’re gonna find out just how terrible I can be.”
    Reluctantly, Mae opened her mouth so the troll would release her grip. She couldn’t fight back if she was scratched and infected again.
    â€œThat’s a good hapenny. Always willin’ to please, the lot of ye be.” Taureck stuffed the dirty rag in. Mae bit down hard on the troll’s finger.
    â€œOwzies!” Taureck pulled her finger from Mae’s mouth and shook it in the air. “You be the first one I eats!” A skeletal finger pulled a rattling bone necklace from under her faded blue corset. “And your teeth will make pretty baublies on my necklace.”
    Mae fought against the panic building in her mind as the troll pushed herself off Mae and ambled away with a rolling gait. Mae turned her wrists in the binding. She turned and twisted her arm. The rope burned her skin. She wished she hadn’t made Trina stay at the cottage. Her sharp teeth would’ve made quick work of the ratty rope. Mae’s mind spun as she tried to remember some kind of helpful spell. She fought against the tears building behind her eyes and the tightness in her throat. Crying wouldn’t help anything.

    Taureck had a smoky fire started when Nord strolled back through the trees. His yellowed fangs anchored a leering smile. “Gelbane said we can’t eat that ‘un yet. She wants us to bring her the little morsel.”
    One of Mae’s hands slipped through the binding. She shook the rope loose from the other. She wasn’t sticking around for Gelbane to see her.
    â€œBring it to her?” Taureck shrieked. “But I caughts it, and I’m hungry!”
    â€œDon’t matter. Gelbane said she’s keeping it with the other ‘un for the feasty tonight.”
    Mae shrieked against her gag. The other one? That’s what Reed was trying to tell her. Gelbane had Leif! Mae sagged against the tree. She had no choice now. The easiest way to get to Leif was to let Gelbane take her. She wouldn’t be able to cross the bridge without Gelbane