the wounded troll cautiously. He was immediately taken aback by the sheer size of the creature. He guessed it would stand at least eight feet tall, with shoulders twice as broad as a normal human. Its dark green flesh and bald head was so caked with mud and grime, he couldn’t be certain if its flesh was really that color or just tinted that way by the layer of filth. Around its waist hung a skirt made from what looked like a combination of moss and bark. These materials had also been used to fashion the crude shoes on its enormous feet.
The troll turned to face Ethan. Its features were flat and unusually large, even on a head of such great size, giving it an almost comical appearance. The creature’s narrow-set brown eyes were filled with terror and its face contorted in pain.
Ethan held out a hand. “Take it easy, big fella. I’m just here to help.”
The troll cowered against the tunnel wall, letting out a frightened whimper. Ethan could see deep gashes on its arms and legs, and several more across its back.
“What are you waiting for?” said Birger, pushing his way past.
The troll began to tremble as he squatted down beside it.
He waved Ethan over. “This was your bloody idea. I’m not doing it by myself. Don’t worry. It won’t hurt you.”
Ethan knelt beside the dwarf while he rummaged through his pack.
He removed a copper tube and a blue shirt. The latter was handed to Ethan. “Tear this into strips,” Birger instructed, then scowled as Ethan complied. “That was my favorite bloody shirt,” he grumbled.
Putting this major annoyance aside, he opened the tube and scooped out a thick yellow salve. The air filled with a sickly sweet odor as he began applying it to the various bites and gashes covering the troll’s body. The torn remains of his shirt were then used to bandage the most severe of the injuries. As Birger was wrapping its legs, the creature let out an ear-splitting howl.
Ethan fell on his backside, stunned.
Birger spat a curse. “Its leg is broken.”
“Can you set it?” Ethan asked, after recovering from the shock of the troll’s cry.
“Yes,” Birger replied. “But I’ll need your help.”
Taking hold of the troll’s foot, he motioned for Ethan to do the same. “I don’t have anything to use as a splint, but hopefully this will be enough for it to get back to its herd.” He took a long deep breath. “Ready? One. Two. Three. Pull!”
Ethan yanked as hard as he could. The troll let out a howl so loud that he had to fight an urge to cover his ears. Then, after a few seconds of straining, he heard a loud crack as the bone shifted back into place.
Birger and Ethan scrambled up and backed away a few yards. The troll sat there for more than a minute, staring blankly at them. Eventually, it pushed itself to its feet and tested the broken limb. Its face grimaced with pain, but this time it was able to remain standing. After giving the pair one final lengthy look, it hobbled away. They watched until it was out of sight.
“I hope your kindness didn’t just kill us all,” remarked Birger. He then waved for the others to follow him down the tunnel.
“I’m impressed,” said Markus after catching up. “That took guts.”
Ethan smiled. “A gentle giant. That’s all it was.”
“Yeah. But a gentle giant that left you covered in muck.”
Ethan looked down. There was green grime and dirt all over him. He groaned and tried to wipe his hands clean on his trousers, but only succeeded in making matters worse.
“Even being a boy scout comes at a price,” Markus teased.
He raised a hand to slap Ethan on the back, then stopped himself. “On second thought, I think I’ll stay clean.”
Chapter Twenty-one
WITH ONLY BRIEF stops in between long grueling marches, by now even Birger was beginning to show signs of fatigue. Jonas, fueled by the dwarf concoction, was the only one unaffected.
Even so, despite aching muscles and painful blisters, Ethan was becoming cautiously optimistic. Birger had been using the stone he kept in his pocket regularly, and was as certain as he could be that they were not being followed – at least not too closely. They’d also had the good fortune to run across an underground spring where Ethan was able to wash off at least some of the grime left by the troll. However, a musty odor persisted.