Chapter 13

"Princess Reilly." Burly just stared at her, she had insulted him again, and she was not afraid of him. He began to think maybe this girl would be fun to keep. He raised his hand again, he would show her who was in charge.

"Hit me one more time and I will never tell you anything. Do any more damage to my face and Wendell will repay you tenfold." Reilly glared at him. "You have kidnapped the future Queen of the Fourth Kingdom, a crime punishable by death." Reilly bluffed. Tony looked at her, he was in shock, Reilly had always been so quiet and peaceful. Tony glared as Burly dropped his hand, however he did not like the way Burly was leering at Reilly.

"We will see if you end up being queen, once I have finished with you." Burly snapped. He dragged Reilly to the horses and slung her over one, he slapped her on the bottom. "You belong to me now." Burly yelled to his siblings and lackeys to get moving. He wanted to get home as soon as possible so that he could play with his "new toy."

Chapter 14

Channon paced around his room, since he had been away from other wolves and living as a human he had been able to resist the moon's call. Maybe it was being around another wolf, maybe it was Reilly, but the moon was making him crazy. The final full moon was tonight, if he could just get through this night he would be okay. To survive, since the fire that took his parents, he had gone to other kingdoms posing as a human, he was a wandering tracker and mercenary, using his heightened wolf senses he was able to track criminals, yet he was able to control his instincts enough to pose as human. He spent full moons locked in his room, pacing as he was now. He turned toward the window, he had caught scent of horses. Maybe Reilly was back early. He pulled on his boots and tucked in his tail and headed downstairs

Virginia and Wolf were in the living room snuggling on the couch when they heard the approach of hoof beats. Virginia stood up, almost dumping Wolf on the floor, "Dad and Reilly must be back early. Wolf go see if Channon is up to meeting them." Virginia went to the door and opened it. Before Wolf could bound up the stairs Channon appeared. They were all shocked to see Wendell and his guards. He dismounted when he reached them. "Wendell?"

"Virginia, please come in and sit, all of you come in and sit I have some disturbing news." Wendell replied walking into the living room and sat in the chair. Virginia, Wolf and Channon all took seats on the couches. "Let me start by saying I offer anything you ask to help resolve the issue."

"What issue?" Virginia asked. Wolf stood and began pacing.

"Your father and Reilly never reached Cinderella's castle. I left the day after they did when I had arrived Grandmother asked me if they were with me. She thought I had told her the wrong day."

"What," Channon growled and he leapt off the couch at Wendell. He grabbed Wendell by the collar, Wolf pulled Channon away. "What happened to them?" Channon joined his brother in the pacing. "Now she is gone, I never told her how I felt and now she is gone," Channon mumbled to himself.

"Huff Puff, what do we do Prin… Wendell." Wolf asked.

"Well I have my royal guards looking for them right now." Wendell sat down on the couch and took Virginia's hand, "We do know that they were ambushed by what appears to be trolls. My carriage was found last evening hidden in the Disenchanted Forest and it was covered with Troll dust. Reilly, Tony, and two of the horses were missing. The footmen and guards were bound together. I was wondering if Channon would like to serve me and help track them."

"If it will bring Reilly back I would go anywhere." Channon replied. He stopped pacing and looked at Wendell, "I do this for Reilly and no one else. I will find them and bring them home safely or I will hunt down their captors and kill them." With that, he ran up to his room. He was packed and down in just a few moments. "I must be permitted into Reilly's chambers to retrieve an item with her scent on it." He looked to Virginia, she nodded.

"Wait here," Virginia stood, "I have the key in the kitchen. Wolf, please pack some food for Channon."

"Yes, cream puff." Wolf touched Channon's shoulder. "Do you want me to come with you?"

"No. Brother, you must stay to protect Virginia and the cub." The two men hugged. "I will return with Reilly or I shall not return. Wendell please bring me your fastest steed."

"I have just the horse with me now. He is called Midnight Snow." Wendell opened the door, pointed to a huge black stallion with silver mane, nose and tail. "He shall be yours now and forever. I will return to the castle now, I leave four to guard Virginia and Wolf and two of my best soldiers to accompany you."

"Thank you, King." Channon bowed.

"Do not thank me, bring them back."

"Yes your majesty."

Virginia came back in the room with a set of keys. "I finally found them, let's go to Reilly's suite and find a piece of clothing she has worn recently." She walked out the front door and towards the inn, Channon on her heels. Wolf headed for the kitchen to pack some food for Channon and the two soldiers.

Virginia and Channon stepped into Reilly's suite. It was on the second floor, overlooking the forest. It was brightly lit and with flowers all around. There was a small portrait of Thelen and Reilly. There was also a small portrait of Reilly with her family. Virginia stepped into the bathroom and returned with Reilly's nightgown.

"I think this is what you are looking for." She handed the gown to Channon. He held the delicate fabric to his nose and inhaled deeply.

"Yes this is exactly what I needed." He pulled his knife out and ripped a large piece off the gown. "Do not worry sister, I shall replace the item." He dropped the rest of the gown to the floor. "I must be leaving soon, I want as much daylight as possible." Channon returned to the main house and collected his things. He secured the small bundle to the back of Midnight's saddle and mounted the huge horse. Channon took the small package of food Wolf handed him and placed it in the saddlebag. He scratched his head in the solemn wolf signal. "Do not worry, I will find them and bring them back." With that, he nudged Midnight and took off at a gallop with Wendell's men just a few yards behind him.

They rode until they reached the clearing with the carriage. Channon dismounted and began sniffing the area. The two guards dismounted and followed him. Channon turned to the nearest one. "This carriage was brought here after they were abducted. Reilly's scent is only in the carriage, not here in the forest." He mounted his horse. "We will follow the foul scent of troll until I find Reilly's." The two guards followed suit and were back in the saddle in moments. The three of them followed Channon's nose back to the road. They went a few miles past where the carriage had been found just off the road and Channon picked up Reilly and Tony's scents. "I have their scent. It is only a few days old." He started off down the road toward the Troll Kingdom, "We will ride until nightfall."

Chapter 15

Burly, Blabberwort and Bluebell were singing and drinking as they rode up the path to the Troll castle. Reilly could not see very well, mostly horse side and the road. She was fuming mad and terrified all at the same time. Tony walked beside her.

"Dad , where are we?" Reilly asked.

"We are approaching the ugliest castle I have ever seen."

"Must be the troll castle." Reilly said dejectedly. "People go in but don't come out." She started to cry, she did not want to be with the Trolls for the rest of her life. She could hear the gate go up, the dirt road turned to cobblestones and the smell was atrocious. The horse came to a stop and Burly pulled her off.

Burly gagged both Reilly and Tony. The trolls dragged Tony and Reilly into the main chamber. Boar the Troll King was sitting on the throne, Tony blinked, Boar was the spitting image of his brother Relish.

"Where is Wendell?" he snapped. "Can't the three of you do anything right?" He stood up and walked down off the podium. He grabbed Burly, "I ask for Wendell and you bring me Anthony the Idiot and a girl? Your father was right, you are dumber than sheep, all three of you." He yelled at them, he shoved Burly back. "Do you have anything to say?"

"Wendell was not in the carriage. But the girlee is a princess, she is to be married to Wendell." Blabberwort said, the other two nodded. "Wendell will come for her and when he does we can get him."

"He better come for her, or I will kill the three of you. You should have been drowned at birth." He turned around and headed back for the throne. "Take Anthony the idiot out into the bean stalks and tie him to one. Take the girl to the tower."

"Uncle, can I have the girl?" Burly asked.

"Only when I get Wendell. No more questions, do what I say, now." Boar looked at the three younger trolls. "Blabberwort, you take her to the tower, I don't trust Burly. We need her just the way she is."

"Yes Uncle." Blabberwort picked Reilly up, slung her over her shoulder and carried her up to the tower room, she threw her in, then closed and locked the door. Reilly looked around. She was still gagged and her hands were still chained together. The room was small, empty and dank with only a high window. Reilly pulled the gag off. She sat on the floor, she was beginning to worry, it had been three days and Channon had not come yet. Surely their disappearance was noticed, or maybe he did not care enough after all.