Frostborn: The Gorgon Spirit Read Online Free Page A

piled up in the square. It seemed unwise to enter the village, so we came here to warn you.”
    Calliande offered a faint smile. “By your usual standards of recklessness, that was prudent.” 
    “What slew the pagan orcs?” said Arandar. “Raiders from other villages?”
    “No,” said Ridmark. “Trolls.” 
    “Trolls?” said Jager. “Are not such beasts mythical?”
    “I have never encountered one,” said Arandar. 
    “You’ve never come this far north before,” said Ridmark. “I have. Kharlacht has, too, I would wager.”
    The big warrior offered a curt nod. “They dislike warmth, and prefer to keep to the mountains of Vhaluusk and the Mountains of Ice. I am surprised they have come down from the mountains. You are sure trolls slew the folk of the village?”
    “There were troll tracks everywhere,” said Ridmark. “It happened recently, within the last two days.” 
    “What can you tell us about these creatures?” said Arandar. “If we are to fight them, then it is wise to know as much about them as we can.” 
    “They are large,” said Kharlacht. “Eight nor nine feet tall. As strong as five men, and deadly quick. In appearance they resemble large kobolds.”
    Calliande shuddered at that. She had been taken captive by kobolds, Gavin remembered, before her powers as a Magistria had returned. 
    “They are also clever and cunning,” said Ridmark, “and have some ability to camouflage themselves. They are intelligent, fearsomely so, but do not have any kind of society or civilization. Their ability to heal, it seems, makes them averse to the company of their fellows, and they eat anything they can catch.”
    “Anything?” said Jager.
    “Anything,” said Ridmark.
    “One imagines they would find halflings to be particularly toothsome,” said Morigna. 
    “Compared to you, certainly,” said Jager without missing a beat. “You would be far too bitter. And stringy.”
    Morigna’s black eyes narrowed, but Ridmark kept speaking before Morigna could respond. “I hope to avoid them if we can, but if they pick up our trail we will have to fight. They can heal from almost anything, save for fire and vitriol. If we fight them, take them down and cut off their heads, and let Morigna burn the wounds with her acid mist.”
    “Would not the soulblades harm them?” said Gavin.
    “They are not creatures of dark magic,” said Ridmark. “Their strength and healing come from their flesh, not from any dark power.” 
    “We are but a day from Khorduk,” said Kharlacht, “and from there we can hire guides through the High Pass and the Vale of Stone Death. Perhaps we can elude the trolls entirely and reach the gates of Khald Azalar without incident.” 
    Calliande swallowed at that. 
    “Perhaps,” said Ridmark. “Once we leave camp, we’ll circle south of the village and then head for the foothills. From what Kharlacht has said, it should be a straight path to Khorduk from there.”
    The others nodded and started to move, but a quiet voice interrupted them. 
    “I fear,” said Mara, straightening up from the fire, “that we might have another problem.”
    They all looked at her. Gavin liked Mara, but she inspired fear in him in a way that not even Morigna managed. Certainly Mara was the most level-headed among the Gray Knight’s followers. She never quarreled with anyone, never complained about anything, and never even raised her voice. She was short and pretty and soft-spoken and pious, and yet Gavin had seen her mow her way through the Warden’s orcs like so much wheat, the power of her dark elven blood making her disappear and reappear so fast that his eye could barely follow. If she felt like it, she could probably kill half the people in the camp in the space of a few heartbeats. 
    He was very glad she was on their side. Though he did wonder what Jager had done to charm her. 
    “What kind of problem?” said Ridmark.
    “I think my father is coming here,” said Mara.
    It took a