Troll: Taken by the Beast by Jayme Knight Page B

speak she just nodded in response as she turned and walked from the building. It was a long cold walk home that night as it started to snow again, she stopped and looked up to the twin moons high in the night sky. She thought about how tomorrow the largest moon would be full and the offering would be made, she was going to give another person to the troll so she did not have to go. She hung her head in shame thinking her eyes not worthy of such a majestic sight and finished her walk home.
    Kara walked up to the heavy wooden door of her home and entered quickly trying to keep the heat in and cold out. She unbundled from her outer covering of layered furs and heavy wool shirt. She could hear movement behind her and knew it was her mother by the light steps in the wooden floor.
    “Kara,” her mother said. “What did you pick?”
    “I picked white mother,” Kara answered in a very relieved tone as she turned and looked at her mother worried half to death. She was a beautiful woman but this offering had taken a lot out of her and just hearing the good news seemed to breathe life back into her.
    “Oh, thank the gods child,” her mother said breathing deeply as she wrapped her arms around Kara and hugged her tight. “Who picked the troll’s eye? Oh, please say it was not Caecelia, her mother has lost one child this season to an avalanche, and she does not need this too.”
    Kara let go of her mother and stepped back , she could see her father leaning against the door frame to the larder his face solemn as he was ever the warrior. She was suddenly set back as she seen just the barest of smiles creep over his lips, and she shook her head and came back to answering the question. “No, it was Edda.”
    Her parents both became very quiet when the y found out who was being offered, she knew they were good friends with Edda’s parents. The rest of the night was quiet and solemn they did not talk as Kara sat and ate a late meal with her parents and turned in to bed for the night.
    ***
    Kara woke from her fitful sleep and the morning sky was still dark, it was the way of winter here dark when you go to sleep and dark still when you wake with only a few fleeting hours of light. She could smell food cooking from the other room letting her know her mother was already up. She went through her usual daily routine checking trap lines, her household chores and then she headed to Oleg’s trading shop and picked up the rope the priest had ordered her to pick up. It was along walk and she had plenty of time to think on the way to the temple and she came to the realization that this was what was best for the community.
    As Kara walked up to the temple she could see the Priest of Thor standing by the entrance waiting for her.
    “Follow me child,” he ordered stone faced as he turned and walked away from the temple down the snow covered main road.
    Kara followed the priest through town along the main road and then split off down a well walked path to the entrance of the hot springs cave just south of town.
    The priest came to a stop and pointed into the cave as he spoke. “Edda is inside. She must be cleansed from head to toe in the hot spring waters and then anointed with oil from the silver decanter. Every inch of her must be covered in the oil as it will protect her from the elements until the troll comes for her. Once she is anointed in oil you will help bind her for the journey to the offering place. Once you have completed these tasks come and get me, I have a special rite to perform before we take her to the offering place. Do you understand my commands?”
    “Yes Gooar.” Kara responded.
    She watched the priest step aside allowing her full access to the cave. Kara walked tall and proud into the cave, she knew this place, all town folk did as it was the only place to have a good bath in the winter. There were oil lamps lighting the cave all the way in and she knew to step carefully as the cave floor was slick with moisture. She