Griscelda ran as fast as she could. Gaymond the Troll was hot on her heals and determined to catch her. She effortlessly danced over the fallen trees in the forest that were covered with snow, despite the chill it brought to her body. This was her first adventure and she was determined not to fail.
“Get back here you flighty nymph!” Gaymond bellowed. He ran almost effortlessly as the nymph, carrying a four-foot halberd. The ancient staff had been in his family for ages and had been specially sized to fit his smaller stature.
“Not on your life troll!” Griscelda cried. She did a somersault over a row of white covered brushes, landing on her feet before taking off at a full trot again.
Gaymond used his halberd to cut a path through the brush.
Griscelda pressed on, frowning as she clutched the root of the Magyar tree. She had to bring the root back to Daewynd to protect her people. Winter was upon Ingleland. Every year the warm water nymphs needed the protection only the Magyar tree could give them.
Of course procuring a precious root from the Magyar tree wasn’t easy. Gaymond’s people, the trolls, lived in the forest. They were small but much more battle hardened than the nymphs. Trolls used the roots for various tasks - they ate it, they planted it, they sharpened their weapons with it and used it to make clothes.
Griscelda was slender, her arms and legs were lean yet strong. She was armed with a delicate bow and thin arrows, typical for a nymph, who usually didn’t carry more than that for weapons. They draped over her back, but with Gaymond following so close, she didn’t have the luxury of stopping to defend herself. All she could do is run – and nymphs excelled at the chase.
Griscelda saw a vine hanging from an old majestic hardwood tree and jumped on it, swinging herself over an old murky pond filled with creepy millipedes and dirty lily pads. She easily landed on her feet which was covered in a thin pixie shoes for easy movement. It did nothing to keep the chill away from her feet.
If only she had her wings! Then she’d have no problem getting away from the determined little troll who no bigger than she was.
Gaymond got to the pond and frowned as he watched the nymph turn on her heels. There was no way he could catch her now. But he could slow her down. He reached into his pocket and drew out a dart whose tip had been dipped in the juice of gamilring. Gamilring made a person very sleepy. With expert aim, Gaymond flung his dart at the nymph and it struck her in the heel of her foot. He smiled a delicious little smile and proceeded to walk around the smelly pond. He intended to catch his prey within the hour.
***
When Griscelda realized the little foul troll was no longer close behind, she slowed down to a brisk walk and began trudging over the snow covered forest floor. She tucked the Magyar root into her shirt, keeping her focus on her task - to return to Daewynd.
Daewynd was the home of the nymphs on Ingleland. It was on the Tames River, near Catham. They lived in small rickety wooden homes, where in the summer time they planted water lilies, and made pixie dust for the local wizards. They loved to play and frolic and many people came from far away places to hear them sing. However every winter, the nymphs would have to go in search of the Magyar root. Once they planted the root in Daewynd, it would keep the ground warm enough to live through the winter months. Only winter came early this year. Many nymphs were cold and some had died from the sudden freeze.
Griscelda was the oldest daughter of Nesta, who was Queen of Daewynd. She was fifteen. Soon she would turn sixteen and be considered a woman among her peoples. That was when her wings would grow. Sadly, her mother had taken ill upon the frost and was unable to fetch the root herself. As the oldest of the ruling family, it fell upon Griscelda to procure the root.
The trolls were loath to share the root with anyone else. They expected a nymph to come around this time each year to steal what they consider solely theirs. And every year a troll was picked that would go into pursuit of the nymph. The trolls had even dedicated a week-long feast to pick the most valiant warrior among them to go into pursuit of the nymph.
The nymphs always got away. With lithe, slender bodies that were light and breezy, they commanded the air. Griscelda’s disadvantage was her lack of wings.
Trolls were unsightly little things. About three to four high, they had round bodies and stubbly little legs. They were compact, but they were very strong and battle smart. Griscelda would have to beat her troll using her speed.
She yawned a big yawn and sat down on a snow covered tree stump, rubbing her arms to keep warm from the ever present cold. When she did so, her ankle smacked the tree and Griscelda discovered the dart in her heel right before she passed out.
*********
“Wake up, nymph! Wake up!”
Griscelda twitched and rubbed her eyes.
“Where is the root?! What did you do with it?”
Griscelda suddenly felt herself rise up on her knees. The troll had picked her up by her collar and was glaring at her. He bared his brown stained teeth. He smelled like rotten eggs that had been throw over a pile of dung and wrinkled her nose in disgust.
“I can’t believe they sent an immature nymph to steal the root this year!” Gaymond thundered. “This wasn’t a fair fight!”
Griscelda proudly stuck her chin out. “I am the royal daughter of Nesta, the Dauphin of Daewynd. How dare you call me immature!”
“Where are you wings, nymph?” Gaymond curtly asked.
Griscelda frowned, choosing to ignore him. “What are you going to do with me?”
Gaymond’s cold chuckle carried in the air. “I’m going to eat you, you frivolous little nymph!”
“Eat me?” swallowed Griscelda.
Gaymond was only playing with her. Nymphs were beautiful creatures but they barely had any meat on their bones to satisfy a troll. The nymph in Gaymond’s hand was beautiful too. She had translucent blue eyes, features that did indicate she was royalty. Her ears were long and pointy. Her nose had an impudent haughty lift to it. She had high cheekbones and silky brown hair.
THWACK!
Gaymond fell over like a tree that had just been cut. She was out cold.
Griscelda scrambled to her feet and found herself face to face with the most handsome human boy in the world.
“Hello, Nymph.” His deep timbered voice announced. “You looked like you were in a bit of trouble. I’m Stryker.”
Griscelda swallowed, barely able to speak in his presence. He was just a little bit taller than her, but his chiseled features and tanned skin made her heart pound in her chest. She barely felt the chilly weather surround her now.
“You’re a Ramadin, aren’t you?” Griscelda squeaked out.
Ramadins were warriors for hire that wandered Inglewood in search of adventure.
“I am. And you are the most beautiful nymph I’ve ever seen.”
Griscelda’s fair cheeks grew rosy red. He wore a dark warrior’s vest, cropped pants and high boots. He carried a sword and a dagger on his belt. There was a scruffy bag haphazardly placed over his shoulder, no doubt full of various equipment at his disposal for whatever the occasion called for.
“I…thank you…I am Griscelda. I must go back to my home as soon as possible.” She checked her pocket for the Magyar root and thankfully it was still there.
“Would you like company?” Stryker asked.
Griscelda almost fainted at his invitation. His broad chest and stunning malachite eyes took her breath away.
“I promise to protect you from the trolls,” he added with a wink.
Griscelda nodded her head. “I’d love company.”
Stryker and Griscelda left that area of the forest and continued their journey on foot toward the Tames River. He asked her many questions about Daewynd, but was much more evasive when she asked him questions about his past. Thankfully, she didn’t press him too much. Soon night fell and they couldn’t travel anymore.
“There is a small town nearby, Naughtington. In that town is a tavern which will provide us with a room, if you are agreeable?” Stryker suggested. They stood on the outskirt of the forest.
Griscelda agreed. Stryker seemed to glow in the moonlight.
The slave boy at the door of the Naughtington’s gates immediately recognized the Ramadin and let him in. To disguise the fact Griscelda was a nymph, she wore a long brown cloak under her slender frame and a hood covered her pointy ears.
The tavern was run down. It smelled of three-day-old ale and stale meat, but Griscelda didn’t care. After a good night rest she’d be able to finish her journey back to Daewynd.
Once she and Stryker were inside their room, he stoked the flames of the fire, while Griscelda took off her cloak. The only place that truly felt warm to her was next to the fireplace, but Stryker insisted she sleep in the bed. He threw a sheet on the floor next to the bed for him.
Stryker took off his warrior’s jacket, a mark of pride for him, and laid down wearing only a thin off-white shirt to cover his chest and his pants. Griscelda watched him out of the corner of her eyes, marveling how gracefully his moments were for a human.
He threw his bag down to use as a pillow. It was uncomfortable but it would do. He glanced at Griscelda who appeared to be sleeping in the bed. She was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. Not that he’d seen many girls in his travels. He’d only recently decided to become a Ramadin. His heart ached to kiss her, but he didn’t dare. Nymphs weren’t supposed to kiss men like him. He was a scoundrel, a rake, a warrior for hire.
“Stryker? I’m cold,” Griscelda’s airy voice cut into his thoughts.
Stryker got on his knees and looked into her face. “Cold? The fire doesn’t warm you?” He saw the nymph shivering under the covers.
“Not entirely. I cannot get sick. Not now. If I fall ill, I can’t deliver the root to my people who so desperately need it,” she explained.
“Can I lay next to you in bed?” He asked. Body heat would warm her up.
Her heart skipped a beat! To feel his well-muscled body next to hers would be heaven! She nodded her head ‘yes’.
Stryker took off his pants, wearing only a brief covering over his private parts and crawled into the bed with her, spooning her. They exchanged warmth. He nuzzled her delicate neck with his nose. If only he could have more! Sadly, a nymph and a Ramadin were not to be.
Griscelda rolled over to face him. Their eyes met in mutual desire.
“This is wrong, Nymph.”
Griscelda reached out and cupped his cheeks in her hands, stealing a wispy, light kiss from his breathless lips. She knew what she wanted. She knew he was a man of ill repute but she desired to kiss her secret savior anyway.
Stryker trembled at her touch.
“Are you warm, Griscelda?”
“Very warm,” she teased.
Every ounce of him wanted the nymph. Instead, he got out of the bed. “You are a nymph and I am a Ramadin. We cannot be together.”
Griscelda shook at his rejection. He took his place back on the floor and slept.
***
The next morning, Griscelda woke up and he was gone. The most handsome boy in the world was gone. She didn’t care if he was Ramadin. Her heart wanted him.
She had a mission to finish though. She got dressed and took to the road. By mid-day she was in Daewynd. The nymphs rejoiced as she planted the root in the middle of the town. The ground grew warm around the nymph city. Nesta was proud of her daughter. As soon as the nymphs of Daewynd grew well, they would celebrate in Griscelda’s name.
If only Griscelda could see her Ramadin again.
***
Stryker watched from a distance as the nymphs celebrated the planting of the root. He was proud of Griscelda and vowed to come back to her in a year, once she had her wings. He walked off with a smile on his face. His boots kicked through drifts of snow. There were more adventures to be had until then.
Swamp Alley is a portal between this side and the other side. The Wizard is destined to save the land from the Ugly Babies in the Land of Lack Luster on the other side. With the help of Madame Plume and her magic wand, can they save the magical doll
Kings, Queens, Heroes, & Fools (The Wardstone Trilogy Book Two)
Join Hyden Hawk Skyler, and some great new friends, on an adventurous quest, over land and sea, to find the Silver Skull of Zorellin.
Fight with Mikahl, Ironspike,
