East

Troll Queen

IT IS WELL TO BE PREPARED, to look ahead and set events in motion that will bring about the desired result at the desired time. If there are to be conditions—and what a confounded waste of time that there should be—then you use your wits and your arts to ensure the outcome is as you will it to be.

It was no difficult matter to set up a potion maker in a softskin village—to disguise a young troll, with a desire to please his queen. And then to give him the words and goods to entice a pair of foolish softskin women.

Even if she defies her own nature and returns with him, I will prevail. As I must.

It will soon be over.

And I will have my husband.