Lowering the sword, Tristan turned back to us. “It was a test, the real threat is…”

Horns blasted from the south, drowning him out. Over and over again they echoed off the mountain peaks and through the valleys, the tone ominous and threatening. The sound of war.

“They have discovered their cage has been broken,” Tristan said, and taking hold of my hand, he led me back to the castle.

The courtyard was full of the nobility who had spilled out to watch, and at their head stood the Regent and Lady Marie.

“Anushka is dead and the curse broken,” Tristan said. “The trolls are free, and our immortal brethren are returned to this world.”

He hesitated, and no one said a word, the nobles, guards, and servants all waiting to see what he would say. Some few knew about the trolls, but all had seen the dragon, and that was enough to lend truth to his words.

“I am Prince Tristan de Montigny, and my father is King of the Trolls. In his mind, King of the Isle of Light, and in his heart, the future ruler of all the world. He is coming; and mark my words, he will show no mercy to those who do not bend their knees before him.”

“And you are his forerunner.” The Regent’s voice was bitter. “Here to prepare the Isle to receive its new king.”

Tristan shook his head. “I’m here to fight with you, and with your help, to take the crown from my father. To find a way for your kind and mine to live in peace, and to protect you from those who would see a return to the days of old when humans were our slaves.”

I watched as the crowd exchanged worried whispers, and my heart sank. We didn’t have time for this – the trolls were free, and too few of those here understood the magnitude of their threat. Roland, Angoulême, and Lessa – they were coming…

“Why should we trust you?” the Regent demanded. “I know your kind. I know your ways.”

“Because I am your only hope,” Tristan replied. “You are not fighting for dominion over this Isle or even for your own sovereignty. When they come, you will be fighting for only one thing – survival.”

In the distance, the horns blared once more.

They were coming, and I had no idea how we’d stop them.

III

Warrior Witch

For KG, who allowed me just enough sleep to finish this novel.

Chapter 1

Cécile

My voice, the one thing about me that had always been valued, suddenly seemed inconsequential in the cacophony of voices filling the courtyard. Questions and demands fought with the cries of those whose nerves had collapsed in the face of this unknown adversary, their collective onslaught driving me back step by step until I stood apart in the snow.

Tristan raised one hand, silencing the din. “Your questions will be answered, but not here and not now.” To the grim-faced Regent, he added, “Assemble your counsel. We’ve plans to make and time is short.”