Page 24

I rolled across the dirt floor and watched Mulan block the main exit. She was doing her best to stab him with her staff that had grown a helpful, pointy end. He shrieked when she finally sank her weapon into his shoulder. Roaring, he pulled the weapon out of the wound with Mulan still gripping it. He lifted her and the staff before flinging her at a nearby wall. Luckily, his walls were dirt and not stone. She smacked hard before she slid down, cursing in multiple languages.

The troll roared one last time at us both before fleeing down the exit and outside. It was someone else’s fight now.

I laughed while we struggled to our feet. “Are ya okay, Mulan?”

“He used no shaman magick,” she said to make sure I knew.

She muttered to herself in Chinese as she dusted off her perky ass. I limped to the exit and walked slowly down it. Outside, I found a giant Conn gripping the troublemaker around his neck.

“Don’t kill him, Conn. Ya know he’s worth more to us alive. Don’t let the big bastard speak, though, because he probably is a shaman. There was no cage in there big enough for that giant snake. He did something to it before sending it out to attack us.”

Conn made a fist with his free hand and bonked the troll on the head. He did it a second time until the troll hung in his grip.

I shrugged about the troll possibly not surviving Conn’s abuse. Dealing with his unconsciousness was better than fighting his magick.

“He’s not going anywhere and that works for me,” I said.

Rasmus stood nearby watching us. Goddess only knew what he was thinking about our method of capturing the troll. He probably could have snapped his fingers or something, but I didn’t see him offering to help.

I grunted and turned away from him to see if Mulan made it out. She had and was carrying one of the troll cat cages.

“Call for collectors, please. I bring animals into sunshine.”

I looked to Rasmus and motioned to Mulan with my head as she went back to the lair entry. With a nod, his wings disappeared into his back. How did his shirt never get ruined when he did that?

“Magick,” he whispered as he walked by me.

“Are ya reading my mind again, Rasmus? That’s an invasion of my privacy.”

“You think so loudly that I have little choice in the matter.”

I pointed my sword in warning, but he only laughed. As he disappeared into the troll’s lair, I let my weapon and armor fade away. Conn dropped the unconscious troll on the ground. Even unconscious, the troll grunted. I decided that proved he was still alive.

Conn returned to his human form. “Spell him to keep him from talking. He will not stay under for long, though.

“Right,” I said, walking over to drop a spell on the troll’s mouth.

By the time all the animals were out of the lair, Ben had sent his new collectors to our location. Conn changed into his demon form to help them bind the troll who now couldn’t speak and carry him back to the van. It took several trips for all of us to walk the animal cages out.

I looked at Rasmus. “Let’s swing by the office on the way home. We’ll turn in this capture and maybe I can set Bo free.”

“Are all retrievals this easy?” he asked.

I grunted. “They are for the person standing around doing as little as ya had to do today. Mulan and I will be sporting bruises for a week, which is why I prefer the sleep muffin approach. Trolls love to beat ya up. It’s in their DNA to prove they’re stronger.”

Rasmus grinned. “Do you want me to drive us?”

I took out my car keys and handed them over. “I’m going to nap because someone isn’t letting me get enough sleep at night. Mulan says ya’re making me weak.”

“I am. Every chance I get,” he agreed with a smile. “As always, the Wu Shaman is right.”

I snorted. “Mulanis notalways right. Maybe her average is higher than most people, but that’s all I’m going to concede.”

His eyebrow lifted as he glanced my way. “Are you still worried about her keeping that kitten?”

“It’s not a kitten. It’s a tiger cat.”

“She’s keeping it in a cage like you suggested.”