"What says?" Hopper stared at her. "You mean the book is talking to you?"

"No, silly." Sarah giggled and shoved at Hopper's ma.s.sive shoulder, which didn't budge him an inch. "The t.i.tle, on the cover."

"You can read it?" Jack asked running his fingers over the strange runes that ran across the top of the cover.

"Duh," Sarah stared at him, uncomprehending. "It's English, Jack."

"No, it's not." Hopper chimed in.

"It's not?" Sarah stared at the writing. "It is to me."

"Then I guess it belongs to you." Nicole smiled, grabbed the book and tossed it to Sarah.

While Jack slept, exhausted from his ordeal. The others dove into the book. Sarah read the t.i.tles of the spells and incantations aloud as she flipped through the pages. Hopper insisted on earmarking certain spells for easy future access. Tiring of the search, Nicole left them to their work. Deciding her time was better spent in examining the map they'd gotten at the Inn. She grabbed the satchel and headed over to sit next to Jack's sleeping form just as Hopper and Sarah began to work on a levitation spell.

*Okay, raise your arms out in front of you and command it to rise." Hopper instructed as Sarah concentrated on the spell.

The words were unnatural and hard to form, much more difficult than the spell Nicole had taught her. She wasn't entirely sure she was even p.r.o.nouncing them 'correctly.

The book contained no instructions, simply the incantations. Nothing happened as she stood over the small block of cheese, her hands stretched out above it. Sarah frowned and wiggled her fingers at the loaf of bread on the gra.s.s before her as if that would aid her spell.

"Well, you cast a spell over me long ago and you didn't even have a book then."

Hopper grinned, his booming voice deepening further as he gazed into her deep blue eyes.

Sarah glanced up and met his gaze. "That was cupid. He got us both with the same arrow that day." She smiled, forced away the blush that threatened and turned back to the bread. Lowering her hands to inches above the cheese, she repeated the phrase over and over again until everything around her faded from view. Her fingers, then hands began to itch, then tingle. The sensation moved up her arms. Then, ever so slowly the loaf began to rise off the ground, stopping to hover nearly a foot above the gra.s.s.

"I did it!" She squealed jumping into Hopper's arms and kissing his ma.s.sive mouth.

"I knew you could!" He spun her around then quickly deposited her back in place. "Now, try something else." He added pulling back slightly and running his huge hand across his gruesome maw.

"There's a hiccup incantation. Let's try it on Jack." Sarah smiled mischievously, heading for her first victim. The strange words flowed from her, dancing on her tongue.

The sensation was tantalizing, invigorating. She felt the power of the magic rise inside her. Then, suddenly, Jack bolted upright and hiccupped.

Giggling with glee, Sarah and Hopper fell onto the gra.s.s unable to contain their Delight Jack glanced around as the hiccups quickly worsened then suddenly subsided.

Studying the two wriggling forms on the gra.s.s before him and judging from Nicole's large grin, he grew suspicious.

"What's going on?" Jack's eyes narrowed at the ugly troll as Hopper righted himself and tried to look innocent.

"She just cast a spell on you Jack." Nicole explained as two imps rose and Gleefully staggered toward them.

"What kind of spell?" Jack demanded turning toward Sarah.

"Oh relax, Jack. It was just a little case of the hiccups." Sarah announced, proudly.

"Well then we can quit worrying about those warriors now. Sarah has everything under control. She'll make them hiccup so hard they'll fall right off their horses." Jack chuckled, leaning back against the tree.

"l'm just getting started, Jack." Sarah answered with a defiant smile. "Go back to sleep, Barbarian."

"Not likely." Jack grabbed her hand and pulled her down beside him. "Show me your stuff oh Magical one."

"I should try another small spell, before I attempt anything remotely threatening." Sarah smiled slyly and turned toward Hopper.

A look of great concern came over Hoppers face as she began to chant. Trying to hide his distress, he managed a smile and said, "Did I tell you how beautiful you looked just before you lay down on the cot this morning?"

Sarah ceased her chanting and stared expectantly at Hopper. "Well?"

"Well, what?" Hopper stared back at her. "What kind of spell was it?"

"You tell me." Sarah answered , rising to face him.

"Nothing's happening." Hopper glanced over at Jack, "Is it?"

"You look the same to me." Jack said, "No feminine features yet, Sarah."

"What?" Hopper staggered backward terrified.

It was Jack's turn to fall back laughing.

Hopper grimaced, "Very funny." Then suddenly he stiffened and started to squirm. "Sarah!" He bellowed, "Stop it!"

Smiling wickedly at Jack, Sarah, "He hates to be tickled."

Hopper jerked and wiggled, screaming with laughter as he worked his way toward them. "Sarah! It feels like ants are crawling all over me." He gasped, then fell to the ground and started rolling and kicking with laughter. "Enough!"

The others laughed in spite of their empathy for the tall troll. "I thought nothing could bring him to his knees " Jack said with a guffaw. "Leave it to a seemingly defenseless female to lay you out cold, eh Hopper?"

"This will teach him to appreciate you, Sarah." Nicole added. ..

"Well at least he'll never underestimate me." The tall sorceress smiled back at her.

Hopper rolled onto his knees and crawled to Jack, gasping for breath. "Help . . . me."

Jack knelt beside him. "Sarah, I think he's had enough." A shiver ran through him as he recalled Nicole's recent fit of hysteria.

"Well your hiccups stopped right away." Sarah's smile vanished. "It should stop any second."

"I . . . can't . . . stand it!" Hopper collapsed onto the gra.s.s. "It hurts . . . "

"Todd?" Sarah rushed to his side.

"Is there some kind of counter spell?" Nicole asked.

"Can't . . . breathe . . ." Hopper gasped, his lips were turning blue. Tears were streaming down his hairy cheeks.

"Do something! " Jack grabbed Sarah by the shoulders.

Sarah jumped up and rushed over to the rocks where she'd left the book and scanned the pages surrounding the tickle spell desperate to find anything to help. "I can't find anything. It HAS to wear off?" She rushed back to them. "Todd? Hold on, just a few seconds more. Concentrate on your breathing, try to take just one slow breath."

Hopper was oblivious to anything but the torturous laughter the flowed uncontrollably from his mouth.

Sarah screamed as Hopper began to convulse. "Oh G.o.d! Jack, do something! I'm killing him!"

Jack sprung up and rushed to her side. "I can't read it! You'll just have to take it one page at a time."

Nicole moved slowly toward Hopper as Jack and Sarah raced through the book.

Taking Hopper by the arm , Nicole gently pulled him to his knees. "Laughter's unusual for a troll." She whispered. Her eyes grew gla.s.sy and dark. "Trolls and elves have never been close friends you know, but I'll help you, Hopper. I won't desert you." Her eyes began to brighten and glow the same soft green light as when she arrived. Nicole led Hopper toward the pool as she began to sing a whispering lullaby.

Sarah's scream jolted Nicole back to awareness. The young Sorceress' eyes filled with horror as Nicole pushed the nearly unconscious Hopper into the dark frothy water.

"He'll drown!" Sarah cried rushing toward them. "He's too weak! "

Hopper's head popped out of the water as Sarah reached the edge of the pond.

"I'm all right." He gasped, sucking in a deep breath of air. "Thanks to Nicole."

Jack was in the water beside him in an instant helping the huge troll to the edge of the pond. Sarah's waiting arms pulled his ma.s.sive hulk out of the water and held him tight. Taking his large head in her hands, Sarah kissed his huge lips deeply. "Nicole, how did you know?" She turned toward the silent elf.

"Water is a pure element. It dilutes acid, stops chemical reactions, and washes away the dust of the earth. It's a cleansing agent what would work better to cure a dark spell?" Nicole answered quietly, surprised at her own words. "You could have killed him Sarah."

"I didn't realize." Sarah's eyes filled with tears. "Todd, you know I'd never . . ."

"It's okay, baby." Hopper pulled her to him. "I know you'd never hurt me."

"Thank you, Nicole." Sarah reached out and took Nicole's hand. They stood staring at each other as the glow faded from Nicole's eyes.

"Forget it." Nicole answered, turning away.

"I'm sorry about what I said." Sarah called after Nicole.

Nicole spun and flashed a smile that hid her concern over her own mental stability before she moved to ready the horses for departure. "We better get moving, we don't want to get caught with our backs to the water."

"She's right." Jack confirmed, reaching out to Hopper and taking hold of his shoulder. "You up to it?"

"Get me on a horse and l'll be fine." Hopper shook his large head violently, showering them all with water. "Sorry." He smiled weakly and then escorted Sarah to her horse.

The dark warrior gazed at the small group from across the rolling waters. His sapphire eyes showed great astonishment at the sight of the beautiful Sorceress showing such devotion to a troll. Perhaps they weren't Puissant's destroyers after all. Staring at the young woman his eyes fell to the rocky ground beneath them as thoughts of duty pressed him to action. He couldn't let a pretty face and a seemingly compa.s.sionate heart dissuade him from what must be .

Jack and Nicole quickly packed the food and supplies as Sarah helped Hopper onto his horse. Fetching the thick tree limb that served as his weapon, Sarah insisted on tying it to Hopper's saddle before mounting her white mare.

"The map shows a large series of narrow canyons running the entire length of the mountain range." Sarah announced, studying the soft leather parchment. "There's a canyon pa.s.sage near the crest of the double peak."

"We'll have to find some high ground. You can't see the sky through these trees, much less a mountain." Jack said as he headed for the waterfall.

Climbing the rocks, Jack stood near the edge of the cascading water and gazed over the trees. "There's a double peak just west of here." He yelled.

"Wonderful! Now anyone in the immediate vicinity knows exactly where we are headed." Sarah chided him.

"Let 'em come." Nicole declared as she swung up on her horse. "I'm ready for a little exercise."

"How much longer until nightfall?'' Sarah asked.

Nicole shrugged, "What do you think Barbarian?"

"Beats me." Jack answered climbing down. "Let's go. I'll take the point."

They headed into the forest. Working their way through the trees, they searched for any sign of a path leading into the mountains. Nicole sang to the animals and they reappeared to greet her, scampering away when the others came near. The small red fox from that morning appeared suddenly out of a dense thicket. It moved toward Nicole quickly then veered off to one side, disappearing into the trees. Eyes narrowing, Nicole called the party to a halt.

"We've got company." She announced, as a band of nearly twenty elves on horseback appeared from the far end of the thicket just ahead of them.

Without hesitation the leader of the elves, a golden haired elf of large stature dressed in black chain link armor drew forward raising his sword high above his head. His eyes met Sarah's and he hesitated. Sarah froze, expecting a dark cold glare, she found a pair of warm blue eyes staring back at her.

"Back!" Jack shouted turning his horse around. The others followed suit, retreating back the way they had come. A shrill war cry pierced the air as the warriors charged. Veering from the path and crashing through the underbrush, Hopper cleared a path with his club for the others to follow. Galloping blindly through the thicket Hopper searched for an easier route in an attempt to gain distance from their attackers and still head toward their goal. The warriors raced toward them, unhindered by the dense line of trees and brush.

Suddenly a large doe leapt out of the thicket directly in the path of the charging elves. The lead horses, startled by the sudden movement reared, screaming in fright. The instant of confusion slowed their approach, allowing the adventurers to lengthen their lead. Pushing the frightened horses aside, the dark warrior rushed past, continuing the chase. Arrows began to a.s.sault the brush around the adventurers as the elves attempted to halt their escape. The small red fox dashed out of the underbrush to race under the legs of their pursuers' horses, sending several more warriors reeling into the thicket. All save the dark leader.

A hawk flew from the treetops into his face. He swatted it away and pushed on, gaining ground with each stride. The air around the warriors that followed seemed to take form as birds of prey dove out of the sky attacking them. The elves fought to control their horses, urging them forward to try to keep pace with their commander.

Abruptly Hopper came to a halt as the adventurers cleared the thick trees. "We're trapped!" He shouted, motioning toward the rock bluff that stretched out before them.

They'd fled into a small canyon, concealed by the trees. The sheer wall of the bluff Gave no hint of escape. Hopper turned his horse around as Jack cleared the trees and charged back toward the dark warrior.

"Todd! No! There's too many!" Sarah screamed as he disappeared.

Without hesitation Nicole drew her short sword and quickly followed. Hearing the battle cries of the warriors Jack hesitated for only an instant as his mind flashed back to the waterfall and the darkness of the cave. Pushing the reality of the adventure out of his mind Jack surged toward the trees as Sarah struggled to free the spell book from her saddlebag. Drawing his sword as he reached the small clearing where they had left the warriors, Jack found Hopper swinging madly at three large elves attempting to slip past him. Nicole sprang from her horse onto the back of another warrior and drove her short sword through his chest. Then sprang from the horse and sprinted toward a small cl.u.s.ter of warriors heading toward her.

A movement to his right and caught Jack's attention as the dark warrior charged him. Meeting the a.s.sault, Jack managed to deflect the first blow with his sword, nearly thrown from his saddle by its force. As the elf commander swung his horse around to face him, Jack surged forward yanking hard on the reins. His house screamed, rearing into the dark warrior's horse. The large elf dove from the saddle as the tan mare's hooves struck in his wake. Not waiting for the warrior to recover, Jack spun and charged into the last group of elves that had managed to surround Hopper.

Swinging his sword in a broad arc, Jack issued an impressive war cry as he severed the head of the nearest elf. A young female warrior turned and met Jack's attack carrying only a large staff. Rendering it useless with one blow, Jack raised his sword to strike and hesitated as his eyes focused on the body of the headless elf sprawled out on the ground behind her. Screaming in a rage of an unknown source, Jack turned to face another, leaving the small elf stunned. Slowly, Jack disabled another warrior, leaving him helpless and unarmed, but still alive.

Suddenly the sky darkened, turning the clearing as dark as a moonless night. The large trees surrounding the clearing dipped and swayed in the fierce wind that arose, sending a giant evergreen crashing into the center of the clearing. A loud roar came from the tangled brush before them, halting the battle in an instant as all eyes turned to face its source. A piercing scream shook the earth as the creature moved forward trampling the giant trees with ma.s.sive clawed feet as if they were a patch of tall gra.s.s. It stood nearly 20 feet, as it rose to its full height. The beast's long snout swayed from side to side between two large menacing horns as it screamed its challenge through needle-like teeth that stretched the full length of a human arm. Covered with long dark brown fur, it was difficult to discern where the creature ended in the darkness.

The warriors moved quickly away from the adventurers, as their leader fearlessly rushed to meet their new foe. Hopper s.n.a.t.c.hed Nicole from the midst of the elves and tossed her on her horse.

"Where did that come from?" He asked breathlessly.

"I don't know." Nicole answered, swinging her leg over the speckled gray's back.

Sarah appeared at the edge of the clearing as the warriors charged the monster. Galloping to them, she motioned toward the far end of the glen. Moving quickly past the battle, the small group raced into the trees "Wait!" Jack yelled, slowing their escape. "That thing . . . we can't just leave them to its mercy."

"They were trying to kill us, Jack!" Nicole challenged, sheathing her sword.

"If aliens attacked Eastern Europe, don't you think China and Russia would unite against them?"

"What?" All three stared at him.