Page 19 (1/2)

Cypher nodded and looked down at Lilly "Are you ready?"

Lilly took a deep breath and let it out with puffed cheeks, the air blowing the wisps of hair around her face "Cypher, sweetie, no one is ever ready for this kind of thing" She patted hi Cyn as she started off

Q

"What brings you to h Fae, friend of the pack, teacher to the healers?" The troll’s voice was deep and gravely, as if he’s spent a ate keeper," Peri gave the troll a slight nod; not because he deserved her respect, but because it never hurt to flatter the one you needed to bargain with She stepped around so that he and the bushes, which the others hid behind, were in sight

"I’ve coe," said Peri with deliberate slowness Trolls were not the sood day, and Thurlok had been stationed at the bridge for a very long tiish froerly as his hands rubbed together and his eyes widened like a greedy child in a candy store Peri nodded and he grew impatient "Co his interest, leveraging the troll’s natural appetite to possess things of great power or value

"First, I will tell you what it is that I want in exchange for what I will offer"

Thurlok et on with it

"I, and eight coe into and out of the In-Between Upon our exit, ill be bringing back prisoners ere unjustly captured Nine will go in and seventeen will come out We will be unharmed as we enter; I fully understand you are powerless to protect us once we enter Upon our exit, ill ree of us ever being here or of the identity of the individuals being rescued" Peri went over the request in her mind to ensure that she did not leave any loopholes that the troll e

Thurlok’s stared at Peri, his overlarge eyes growing even bigger In his tis ever requested to go in voluntarily and he certainly hadn’t had anyone be rescued on his watch He knew of the ones she spoke of, the males that Desdeot out somehow, she would be out for blood, and it would probably be his blood she would seek first

"That is a very dangerous request," he responded cal not to show her just how curious he was "What do you have that is of such great worth that I would give up the witch’s prisoners?"

"So eyes on" She paused dramatically before she spoke "A stone of the Fae," she finally said

If Thurlok’s eyes ide before, now Peri was certain they were going to pop out of his head She was right to say that he would only ever drea eyes on the stones, very few ever did, no th of their lives

Peri watched the troll closely His thoughts flickered on his face She could tell he was exa his best to detered on his lack of knowledge of the stones; very few understood how they actually worked, or the purpose behind theer and stir Thurlok’s suspicion

"Do you think he’s going to hurt hi that hard?" Jen whispered, as she and the other fee

"It’s quite possible his headas hoe need him to let us into that hell," Jacque added