Eighth Circle

The prison gate swung open. Liala watched in amazement as the trolls lined up to form a guard of honour. They streamed out of buildings and came down from the watchtowers with their weapons held in the vertical position. It was spooky to say the least. The carnival trucks were receiving the full ceremonial treatment reserved for royalty.

It was the last thing anyone expected. The resistance fighters were clutching their guns ready to spray the trolls with bullets. The rocket crews had selected their targets and were waiting for the signal to take out the command posts.

Allain's plan was to wipe out the trolls in a lighting strike, free the prisoners and disperse his forces before the guardians could strike back. Now it looked as if they could achieve their objective without a struggle. Killing trolls would merely alert the guardians to their presence.

'Hold fire.'

His voice sounded over the radio.

'Remain alert but do not fire unless ordered.'

Liala returned her attention to her companions. They looked even more tense than before. That wasn't surprising. There was something unnerving about driving between two lines of heavily armed trolls, knowing they could turn their weapons on you at any moment.

'What's going on?'

The girls started to chatter amongst themselves.

'They think we are royalty,' Liala said.

All eyes turned towards her.

'How do you know?'

'Because this is how they treat me.'

She pulled back her hood and revealed her face.

A gasp went up.

'You're really her ... someone said you was.'

'I've come to lead you against the guardians ...'

Words flowed from Liala's mouth and a wave of excitement swept the truck. She didn't have to think. The words kept coming. Father was right. When the time came she would know what to do.

'My family have worked for this moment. We have felt your pain and shared your joy. As Plaid Koerno has grown stronger the guardians have grown weaker. Their evil empire is crumbling. Today, we shall strike a mighty blow for freedom. We shall put an end to the foul obscenity that feeds off the young to stay alive.'

She tapped her gun.

'Listen to the commander. Don't fire unless ordered. Then give them all you've got. Trolls are slow to react but when they do there's no stopping them.'

Their arrival had triggered an elaborate ritual of stomping and head bowing by the trolls. Liala saw it whenever she passed through the gates of the palace. The girls would have seen it on television when watching visits by members of the royal family to government establishments.