Chapter 10

Early the next morning Tony arrived with Wendell's carriage and footmen. Wolf, Virginia and Channon were up to see Reilly and Tony off on their trip. Channon hugged Reilly tightly. Reilly could hear Channon's soft intake of breath as he smelled her hair. He kissed her softly on the forehead, not wanting their first real kiss to be in front of an audience. He wanted to tell her how he felt, but not in front of the crowd.

Tony cleared his throat, "Reilly, are you ready?"

"Yes," she replied pulling herself away from Channon. Reilly hugged Virginia and Wolf. "I promise I will be back in a few days. Feel free to stay in my room while I am gone sis."

"I probably will. He is impossible to share a room with when he is having his 'cycle'." Virginia replied. She was long past being afraid. "Two wolves in a home during a full moon are going to be more than I can stand. I will hole myself up and sew. See you in a few days."

Chapter 11

Reilly and Tony entered the carriage. Tony had brought along a small sketch book, Reilly had brought along some books and magazines that Virginia had brought back to her from New York. When they had ridden for about two hours, Tony put down his book.

"Reilly," He said.

"Hm," she replied still looking at her magazine.

"Can I talk to you?" Tony asked.

"Yeah, sorry Dad." Reilly put her magazine on the seat next to her.

"Reilly, I know I am not really your father, but…" he paused and took her hand in his, "there are quite a few bachelors at Cinderella's castle and Wendell is joining us tomorrow. I know I told Virginia I would not interfere, but…"

"Dad, I like Wendell but…" Reilly looked out the window, she thought she heard something strange in the woods and could have sworn she smelled Troll. "he is like a big brother to me. I don't want to be a queen. I just want to get on with my life."

"You hardly know Channon…"

"Dad we are just friends. I…" Reilly stopped when she caught the smell of Troll again. She heard shouting. Tony stuck his head out the window and was promptly hit with Troll dust. He slumped over in his seat. Reilly began having flash backs to the Troll invasion of Beantown, she screamed. The carriage jolted to a stop. Reilly shoved open the door and jumped down, she felt her ankle twist, the pain caused her to stumble but she did not lose her footing. She ran for the woods, she could hear the Trolls behind her.

"Suck an elf. Wendell is not in here. Just Tony…wait someone is running into the woods." Blabberwort yelled to her brothers. "It is a girl, let's get her." Blabberwort took off after Reilly. Reilly kept running though the pain in her ankle was almost unbearable. She could hear the trolls behind her. She stopped when she came to a huge overturned tree by a small brook. She pressed herself up underneath it and willed her breathing to slow. She could hear the trolls as they ran past her. When she could no longer hear them she stood up. Unfortunately, the leader, Burly was waiting for her. He hit her with a pinch of Troll dust.

"Well girlie, girl, must be a present to Wendell." Was the last thing Reilly remembered him saying.

Chapter 12

Reilly woke up next to Tony, her head was on his chest. Her hands and feet were bound. Her ankle was throbbing. She looked around. They were in a clearing in the forest but she did not recognize where they were. The footmen were all around her asleep or dead she wasn't sure. Her dress was ripped and dirty. She couldn't see the trolls but she could smell them and hear them.

"Dad?" She said softly. She pushed on his chest with her hands. "Dad wake up."

"Virginia?" he said groggily, without opening his eyes. Reilly pushed him again.

"It's me Reilly. Wake up." She shoved him again. This time he opened his eyes.

"Are we there?" he said groggily.

"Ah, no." Reilly sat up and pulled at Tony. "We have been captured by Trolls. I think they were looking for Wendell." Tony sat up next to her.

The footmen began to stir and then realized that they were bound also. They were chained together attached to a large tree. Reilly was bound to Tony and Tony was bound to a tree near him by shackles. When they heard their captives rustling the trolls returned.

"So girlie, rest up, soon you will be mine." Burly snarled.

"What are you talking about?" Reilly and Tony asked in stereo.

"Finders keepers as Uncle Boar says!" Burly replied. He grabbed Reilly and dragged her to her feet.

"Who?" Reilly asked. "Your uncle is the new troll king?"

"Yeah and we get to keep what we find 'cept Wendell, the 'dog' prince. What will Wendell think of that? When I get to his bride first." Burly said pulling her closer. Reilly tried to back away.

Reilly struggled "Not only do you smell, but you are stupid too." Reilly spat. Burly backhanded her, cutting her cheek with his ring.

"You will not talk back to me." He glared at her. "We'll show the fourth Kingdom what we Trolls think of them." He shoved Reilly back down. "Blabberwort, Bluebell, get 2 of the horses and anything else you want and let's get out of here. If were not back soon Uncle will be mad and we will all get a beating." He turned to Reilly once again. "I will finish with you later." Burly stalked away to help his siblings. Tony dabbed at Reilly's bleeding cheek with the corner of his jacket.

"He thinks I am supposed to marry Wendell. Where would he get that crazy idea." Reilly asked as she untied her feet, but no matter how she struggled she could not get the cuffs off her wrists.

"I don't know, let him think that for now." Tony was able to get his feet undone also. "We have a secret weapon." He said.

"What, a bouncy sword?" she said sarcastically. Tony looked hurt. "Sorry dad."

"It's okay, but think, who knows Channon is now in the 4^th kingdom." Tony asked.

"Just us and Wendell." Reilly smiled. "I get it. But what if he doesn't come for me?"

"Trust me, as much as I don't like it, he will." Tony hugged quickly. "One thing about wolves, once their hooked even evil magic can't stop them."

Soon Burly returned and unchained them from the tree. He put Reilly on one of the horses and chained her to it and chained Tony to the same horse. Burly took one for himself and Blabberwort and Bluebell took their own. They had 3 other trolls with them who followed behind with a small cart in which the loaded all the items they wanted from Wendell's carriage and Reilly and Tony's luggage.

They started off in the direction of the third kingdom. Reilly did not recognize the woods or the road when they reached it. Soon it was dark. The trolls decided it was time to stop for the evening, Blabberwort chained Tony to a tree and handed him a dry hunk of smelly bread and a mug with water. Burly pulled Reilly off the horse and plopped her on the ground. He handed the reigns to one of his lackey's and sat next to her. Soon another troll brought them some awful smelling food and ale. Burly offered Reilly some. She pushed it away.

"Suit yourself girlee, but you will eat and drink someday." Burly ignored her the rest of the evening. When the troll passed out drunk, Reilly pulled as far away as possible and curled up on the ground. She was unable to sleep at first. She calmed herself with thoughts of Channon. She knew for certain that as soon as he heard the news he would be on his way. Virginia told Reilly once that Wolf had tracked her across all nine kingdoms just following her scent. Reilly knew that Channon could and would do the same. She wished he was here now to hold her. She closed her eyes and finally slept, she had nightmares of the night Thelen was killed along with her family.

"Wake up girlee." Burly said poking her with his boot. Reilly awoke angry. He pulled on the chain forcing her to stand.

"Listen you stupid troll, I have a name." She glared at him. "It's Reilly."