Page 26 of Hallowed & Haunted
“If you win, you get what you came for. You can eat me.”
Niillas utters an offended snort as if he couldn’t believe what Sander is saying, and somehow it helps Sander keep his nerve.
“But if I win,” Sander continues, raising his voice. “You leave this place forever and trouble no one who finds shelter here.”
The troll grins, showing off its horrible stone teeth.
“What battle of brains do you suggest?”
Sander takes a deep breath.
“Answer my riddle correctly, and I’m yours,” Sander challenges, his heart fluttering like a panicked bird. “Answer wrong, and our bargain is sealed. You leave and never return.”
“Riddles?” The stállu leans forward and snaps its teeth, suddenly curious. “Yes! It’s been too long since I heard a proper riddle. Very well, boy. Ask your question. But when I answer correctly, I’ll pick your meat from your bones while you scream.”
Sander is dizzy with horror, but he must think quickly. The riddle has to be perfect, something the troll can’t possibly know. He can’t mess this up.
Niillas’ snout nudges against his ear before his mind can go blank with fear.
“Breathe. Whatever happens, I won’t let him have you.”
Niillas’ voice is a soft growl, and his protectiveness helps Sander to relax just enough to think properly.
“Okay. Here is my riddle: What has keys but no locks, space but no room, and you can enter but cannot go outside?”
The stállu’s face contorts as it considers, yellow eyes narrowing with the effort of thought.
“Keys…” it mutters, the word rolling strangely off its inhuman tongue as it starts to pace. “Keys are for opening, for unlocking treasures. But no locks? How can keys exist without locks to open?”
Sander remains silent, letting the creature stew.
“Space but no room,” the troll continues, its voice rising with frustration. “What kind of sorcery is that? Your riddle makes no sense, boy!”
“Do you have an answer, or do you have none?”
The creature thumps its club on the ground in fury.
“This is trickery!”
“The challenge was properly made and accepted,” Niillas growls. “Do you accept defeat?”
For a moment, Sander fears the troll might attack anyway, ancient laws be damned. Rage twists its features into something even more monstrous, and its terrible claws extend fully. But Niillas steps forward, rising to his hind legs to his impressive height, and the stállu seems to think better of it.
“No, this is a trick,” it snarls. “The boy’s riddle has no answer.”
“A keyboard,” Sander says hastily. “The answer is a keyboard.”
The troll stares at him with uncomprehending fury, then throws back its head and howls like the mountains themselves are crying out in pain. It turns in a small circle, pacing agitatedly.
“Trickery! Lies! Sorcery!”
“A fair challenge,” Sander says.
And somehow, he can sense that the troll knows the truth of his words deep down in its ancient bones.
“No, squishy human,” it snarls. “You win now, but I’ll remember your scent. I’ll remember your voice. And when the old laws fade and the world crumbles, I’ll find you again.”
Niillas surges forward, his huge paws thumping against the old floorboards so hard that his claws leave marks.