“Did you learn anything?” he quietly inquired.
“There were two aliens. We have one. The second one escaped. The stallion—the stallion died before he could show me everything,” she replied in a soft voice.
“I noticed tracks leading into the forest. They belong to a troll,” Pai said.
Nali clenched her jaw. The two who found the first stag had thankfully kept their distance and sent an alert to the palace, but this troll may not have been so cautious.
“It will be night soon. We need to visit the troll village to find out who was here. We can stay there for the night and then resume our journey in the morning,” she said.
“There’s smoke rising from chimneys along the river a few miles inland,” Pai replied.
Nali nodded. She turned her hand over and looked at the red gem containing the essence of the Sea Stag stallion. Pai silently stood by as she stepped to the water’s edge and waited for an incoming wave to roll ashore. She knelt and released the gem into the receding water, watching as it carried the gem back out to sea. With a deep sigh of sorrow, she straightened and faced Pai.
“Let’s go. I have an alien to kill,” she declared. Her tone was as hard as her ebony skin.
Chapter 2
Asahi sat on an outcropping of rocks that loomed above the river and watched the first moon rise above the trees, followed shortly by the second. A sense of peace swept through him, and he focused on the emotion, the way his grandfather had taught him. The simple meditation helped keep the residual waves of dizziness under control.
He pulled his jacket out of the duffle bag, put it on, and zipped it up. His thoughts returned to Ruth Hallbrook. He genuinely hoped that she had survived her trip through the portal, if indeed she had gone through the portal at all. Throughout the day, he had searched for signs of her with no luck.
He studied the surrounding area. He had followed the flow of water that meandered southward, hoping that it would eventually lead to the coastline.
As afternoon became early evening, Asahi had started searching for a suitable place to make camp. He had finally settled on the rock platform where he now relaxed. He had needed to cross the river, but that hadn’t been an issue thanks to the natural bridge formed by the accumulation of rock and debris that had been washed downstream.
He looked across the river when he saw movement. A dozen small shaggy animals emerged out of the forest.
This spot turned out to be a good place to make camp for the night, he thought.
The yellow and brown striped animals were about the size and build of a wombat, but they had markings like a zebra. Several juveniles grunted with delight and broke for the water ahead of the adults. He chuckled when they began splashing each other.
He slid back and leaned against the rock. A poke in his side reminded him of the dagger at his waist. He adjusted the sheath to a more comfortable position and relaxed. The sound of snapping wood and the warning sounds coming from the family of yellow-striped animals drew his attention back across the river.
A bear-like creature, the size of an elephant, emerged from the forest a hundred yards from the wombat-like mammals. The bear’s low growl sent the juveniles dashing out of the water and back into the shelter of the forest, squealing in alarm. The adults took up a defensive stance, but the bear merely shook its head and ambled over to the river. The immense beast waded in and submerged itself in the gently flowing water, propping its head on a convenient rock with a contented sigh.
Asahi laughed softly. It took the striped adults a few minutes to relax. Once they did, the juveniles returned to the river with more caution tempering their enthusiasm.
“This world is amazing, Grandfather,” Asahi murmured.
As unusual as the forest appeared during the day, it was even more spectacular at night. Bioluminescent plants and insects began appearing as the evening progressed. He didn’t make a fire for several reasons. The last thing he wanted to do was attract attention to his location. He also didn’t want anything to affect his night vision.
There was now a chill in the air as the sun settled over the horizon. With a tired sigh, he reached into the duffle bag again, this time pulling out a thin thermal blanket. He zipped the bag and adjusted it for use as a pillow before lying down and covering himself. He was a light sleeper, a habit that worked in his favor because for the foreseeable future, he would have to be on alert.
Lying on his back, he looked up at the moons, and wondered if fulfilling his grandfather’s last wish was a wise thing to do. After all, there was no guarantee that he would make it back to Earth, and if he did, he didn’t know what year it would be. He had taken precautions, making sure certain items would be passed down as an inheritance. Still, would he be ready to handle a world that would have changed over a forty-year—or more—period? He knew all too well the struggles that his grandfather had faced.
He touched the hilt of his dagger, drawing comfort from it. Intense fatigue dragged at his consciousness. His eyelids drooped. The splashing river below and the chirping insects soon lulled him into a light but restful sleep.
The Troll Village
Nali and Pai landed in the center of a ring of massive thatched huts. The small community had clearly been busy with activity a few minutes ago, but the trolls had stopped what they were doing to watch her arrival. She scanned the group. They were several times larger than even her tall physique.
“Empress, what brings you to our humble village?” Zenma, the Elder troll, asked as she stepped forward. She wore a long, beautifully embroidered tunic and carried a long, carved staff.
Nali shifted into her softer form, and greeted the Elder troll. “I fear it is a matter of grave importance, Zenma,” she said.
Zenma looked down at her with concern. “Of course, Empress. Please follow me,” she said.
“Pai, check the village. If you find anything, do not engage,” she cautioned under her breath.
“Yes, Empress,” Pai replied.
Nali followed Zenma to a central longhouse. As she climbed the steps, she scanned the surrounding area. Zenma stepped through the opened doors and into the cheerful interior. Three long rows of tables, most of them as tall as Nali, stood perpendicular to a fourth table up front on a low platform. While the tables in the center of the room had bench seats, there were individual chairs beside the table on the platform.
Zenma paused and glanced with concern at the benches and chairs, then at her. It was easy to see what the Elder troll was thinking. Nali gave Zenma a reassuring smile and motioned for the old troll to sit.
“If you sit, we’ll be a little more at eye level,” Nali suggested.
“Yes, thank you, Empress,” Zenma said with a sigh as she slowly lowered herself to the bench. “I’m afraid the years are finally catching up with me.”
“How are the trolls doing? Do you need anything?” Nali politely enquired.
Zenma smiled at her. “The trolls are doing well, thank you for asking, Empress. However, I believe your visit involves a more pressing matter. Does it have to do with Elderberry and Dew, the trolls who found the Sea Stag?” the Elder troll asked.
Nali nodded. “Yes. I would like to speak with them, and I believe there is also a third troll. We’ve discovered another Sea Stag, a mortally wounded stallion. Pai saw troll tracks nearby,” she explained.