The Price of Magic

Chapter One-3

HOPPER WAS NEVER MORE aware of the thick golden fur that covered every inch of his body than at this moment. Walking naked in the mountain snow felt as natural to him now as skating on home ice in full hockey gear did to his human counterpart back in the real world. He glanced up at the gray sky and blinked his large blue eyes. A snowflake landed on his thick stubby eyelashes.

He caught a hint of movement out of the corner of his eye and froze. A bull elk came into view on the top of the far rise. From a distance, Hopper could easily be mistaken for a human covered in a fur coat and leggings if it weren’t for his oversized head. He doubted the elk bothered to distinguish between human and troll before it bolted from sight when Hopper dared to reach for his bow.

He shrugged at the loss of the large amount of tasty flesh and continued through the deepening snow. He slung the day’s catch over his shoulder with a grunt. Beaver was not as plentiful, but it was one of his favorite meals. He would eat well tonight without the elk. Increasing his pace, his eight-foot form sporting a pair of long legs made quick progress.

Hopper took solace in the beauty that surrounded him. Tall snow-covered peaks nestled around a small frozen lake. A tiny cabin sat next to a two-horse stable that overlooked the frozen water. The cabin was small with a ceiling just high enough to accommodate him. It offered shelter, but that was of little concern. Climbing the porch steps, he shook the snow out of his fur. He hesitated at the threshold and inhaled deeply. Nicole and Jack’s scent still lingered.

Ducking low so the large branch strapped to his back he used as a weapon would clear the door, he stepped inside. His eyes went to the quilt-covered sofa that sat against the wall to his left. For an instant, he could almost see Sarah’s slender form lying on the floor next to Cabal’s injured body laid carefully on the small sofa. Cabal, the Elf Prince, was recovering from a wraith bite. Sarah’s delicate face was pale from exerting too much magic trying to save him.

He shook the image from his thoughts and sat the four frozen beaver carcasses on the kitchen table. His long razor-sharp nails clicked together as he released the beavers and laid his bow on the table next to them. Suddenly, a wicked shark-toothed grin spread across his large face. Nicole’s disgust and annoyance that he was butchering a carcass on her clean kitchen table brightened his day. He chuckled and went to work skinning the beavers. When he was done, he spread the meat out on the table. The temperature in the cabin was cold enough to freeze the meat overnight. He stretched each fur out taut on a board he kept in the cabin for such an occasion and leaned them up against the far wall.

He gave the cabin one last glance, stuffed a few handfuls of meat into a leather pouch, and headed back to his cave. The freezing temperatures were tolerable during the day, but once the sun went down, even he couldn’t survive long without a fire. His cave was always a nice 60 degrees. That’s where he belonged. Trolls belonged underground. Most trolls anyway. His son Mikado was the one exception.

Despite being sired by two trolls, Mikado was born with a smaller head and quickly lost most of his fur. What remained was thin and sparse, similar to a very hairy human, perhaps a nearly bald ape. To this day he displayed the human traits of Hopper’s past life in the real world. That’s why Mikado was better off with the Elves. He couldn’t live in Hopper’s world, and Hopper couldn’t survive the harsh temperature shifts on the surface.

He hesitated at the tall narrow slit in the rock wall that led into his cave. Something wasn’t right. He set the bag of meat next to the entrance of the cave and fingered the large branch strapped to his back. Pulling it free, he stepped into the cave. His eyes adjusted instantly. A tall winged figure stood at the end of the narrow entrance. Its leathery wings relaxed and foldedbehind him as Hopper neared. Its leathery gray skin held a stark contrast to the dark wavy brown hair and smiling blue eyes that greeted Hopper.

The wraith lifted his hands out to his sides and opened his fingers wide, allowing his razor-sharp talons to extend into the darkness and said, “I come in peacefulness.”

“How did you find me, Tom?” Hopper’s deep voice boomed throughout the small cave. Tom’s attempt to mock the troll greeting sent a shock of irritation through him.

Tom chuckled, “This is literally the last place we looked. Pony and I have searched every tunnel from Fortress City to the ocean looking for you. Honestly, I was getting pretty pissed off.”

There was a shift in the shadows behind Tom and a massive lion with coal-black fur and a short mane stepped out from behind Tom. She stood as tall as the wraith. Her amber eyes flashed with annoyance at Hopper.

“I needed space,” Hopper snapped a bit too harshly in response to Pony’s expression.

Tom’s smile vanished. “I get it, Hopper. You lost your entire tribe to the renegades. It was a harsh blow. But you’re not the only one who lost someone. The Woodland Village is in ruins, and Fortress City was devastated by the attack and is still trying to rebuild. The death toll among the elves is staggering. Add to that the return of the dwarves into the tunnel system and our land is in utter chaos. This is not the time for isolation. We need to come together, forge new bonds, strengthen our alliances, and comfort our loved ones.”

“I have no loved ones left,” Hopper answered quickly, knowing it was a lie.

“So Mikado means nothing to you?” Tom sighed and turned to walk into the larger adjacent cave. Pony’s gaze never left Hopper.

Hopper grunted in frustration and fetched the bag of meat from the entrance then followed Tom into the adjacent cave, ignoring Pony completely. Tom sat on a large boulder and stared up at Hopper expectantly as he tapped his razor-sharp talons on the rock. “I’m sorry, Hopper. This whole thing sucks; it’s a freaking tragedy for everyone. But it’s been six months. It’s time to return to reality. You can’t hide in this cave forever.”

Hopper dropped the bag of meat and glared at Tom. “Tell me something, Tom. How have you helped with the recovery efforts? Did you rebuild the towers of Fortress City? Perhaps you cleared away the debris from the burned cabins in the woodland village? How much time did you spend scouting tunnel system for the ancient family caves so the dwarves could return to their ancestral homes? Did you take any time to help your friends and neighbors? Or did you spend all your time searching the tunnels for someone who didn’t want to be found?”

Tom rose slowly as Hopper stepped closer and offered, “I was worried about you. We all were. No one wanted to say it but... hell, Hopper, all the trolls are dead. You disappeared so quickly after the battle at Fortress City. I thought you might have gotten caught in the aftermath when the troll council was slaughtered.”

Hopper’s face screwed into a knot of anger. “What do you know of the aftermath? You and Pony darted off into the woods for a quickie as soon as the battle was over. Where were Cabal, Jack, and the others when the troll council was murdered? They were too concerned about returning to the woodland village to worry about my people. I was the only one who went into the troll tunnels to search for survivors. The elves were too intent on sealing the tunnels to even give thought to the trolls who sacrificed their lives to save Fortress City. For all I know, the elves turned on the few trolls who survived the battle and slaughtered them mindlessly.”

Tom held out his hands. “I didn’t come here for a fight. No one, I repeat no one, turned on the trolls after the renegades fled.”

Leaning closer Hopper demanded, “Then where are they? Not one survivor returned to the troll caves.”

Pony appeared at Hopper’s side and forced her way between them. Hopper stepped back and glared at the large cat as its form shimmered and changed into that of a naked human female with olive skin, coal black hair, and amber eyes. She gazed up at him and reached out to lay her hand on his chest. “Mikado is sick.” Her deep sultry voice was barely audible.

“If that’s true,” Hopper answered darkly, allowing his gaze to linger on her large round breasts, “get Sarah to heal him. There’s nothing I can do.”

Tom’s eyes narrowed. “What happened to you, Hopper? You’re a jock, a professional hockey player for crying out loud. You’ve never run from a fight in your life. But it seems like that’s all you’ve done since you came to this world. Sarah told me how you disappeared for an entire year and let everyone think you were dead. Then, as soon as Mikado was born you dropped him off with Gravid and Tirana so you could go chase after the rebels.”

Hopper growled, “Leave Mikado out of this.”

Tom continued, “Why do you keep running away? Your son needs you to step up to the plate.”

A flash of movement and Hopper sent Pony flying across the cave. Hopper had his hands around Tom’s throat in an instant. Pony rolled into a ball and shimmered back into the black lion. She bounded off the far wall and darted back toward them. Tom raised his hands high into the air and extended his talons to reveal the venom dripping from their tips. “Don’t piss me off, Hopper,” he managed. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Hopper shoved Tom backward and spun to meet Pony’s advance. The large lion didn’t hesitate. She slammed into Hopper and they careened across the cave. Pony rolled on top of Hopper and dug her nails into Hopper’s chest.

“Ouch! That hurts!” Hopper roared, and punched the lion in the face.

Pony shimmered back into the form of the human female and stared down at him. “Stop!” she snapped, rubbing her cheek, “Gather your things. We’re heading to the Woodland Village in the morning.”

If a troll could pout, that was the expression Hopper’s massive mouth formed. He sighed and asked, “What’s wrong with Mikado?”

Pony climbed off him and glanced at Tom, who answered for her. “It started out like a minor cold, but it won’t let go of him. He’s developed a nasty cough and has a fever that comes and goes like clockwork, always spiking in the middle of the night.” Tom glanced at Pony then added, “He’s lost all his body hair. He looks almost... human now. Tirana isn’t sure if that’s related to the illness.”

Hopper ignored Tom and sat up, addressing Pony, “Is he weak?”

Pony’s eyes locked on his. She reached out and touched his arm. “He’s as strong as any human male of equal size, but he’s weak for a troll. Sarah tried to heal him, but so far nothing has worked. Tirana is afraid living on the surface may be the cause, but without his thick fur he could easily take a chill in the troll tunnels.”

Rising to his feet, Hopper announced, “If we leave now, we can reach the village by dusk tomorrow if we travel through the mountains.”

**********