Eighth Circle

Allain picked up her jacket and handed it to her.

'Put it back on or you will catch cold.'

She wondered if he would lecture her on how to behave.

Allain had more pressing things on his mind.

'The commander is dead.'

He made the announcement in a matter of fact voice as if death was an everyday occurrence. Liala listened as Bryn asked what happened.

'The death trolls got him.'

Liala was horrified. The guardians kept the death trolls in reserve as a special operations unit. There could be only one reason why they had been let out of the palace.

'They were sent to find me,' her voice shook. 'I've caused you more suffering. I should have stayed on the island and waited for Crispin to rescue me.'

'They weren't after you, Princess,' Allain's voice remained calm.

'Not after me?'

'No. They wanted that little man who was with you.'

'You mean Balduur ... they were after him?'

'So it would seem, Princess. They captured him and killed everyone else they could find. He joined in the fighting. The sergeant escaped. He said Balduur killed two trolls before they got him with a stun gun.'

'He killed two death trolls?'

'The sergeant said they clearly had orders to capture him. Otherwise they would have burnt him to a cinder like they did to the commander. He killed them with his bare hands.'

'He told me he was a warrior,' Liala said abstractly.

'And a traveller between realms,' Allain added. 'The guardians now have Balduur and the big man called Tom.'

'I wonder why they are so interested in them.'

'That's something we have to find out, Princess.'

Liala didn't like the way Allain had started to call her Princess again. His next remark indicated why his attitude towards her might have changed.

'I am now commander and will remain so until the central committee of Plaid Koerno finds a replacement. Since I was previously deputy commander, I shall probably remain in the position.'

'I shall be honoured to serve under you,' Liala said.

'Thank you, Princess.'

'What do you want me to do, Commander?'

'Avoid being captured or killed, Princess.'

'You are calling me Princess again.'

'And you are calling me Commander.'

'That's what you are.'

'And you are a princess. Your biggest value to us is as a princess ... not as an ordinary person ... however much you want to be one.'

'You want me to tell the people I am on their side.