“Ogga hurt Grammy.”
The words struck her hard and any fear she had for the witch turned to anger.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
Henry’s large hands clenched. “Ogga say if Henry no listen…” His voice faltered. “Grammy get hurt.”
Bria’s anger rose instantly. “She threatened your grammy?”
Again, Henry nodded, though this time tears glistened briefly in his dark eyes, but he blinked them away quickly.
“Grammy old.” His voice cracked. “Only family left.”
Bria reached out and placed her hand gently over one of his. His fingers were enormous compared to hers. The vision came quickly, an old, woman troll smiling as she hung a large shirt on a tree limb to dry.
“Your grammy loves you so very much,” she said without thinking.
A tear ran down Henry’s cheek.
For the first time since meeting him, Bria realized how lonely he truly was.
“Henry protect Grammy.”
The determination in his voice surprised her.
“Aye,” Bria said softly. “You do.”
The rays of sunlight filled the horizon then, bathing the hills in gold.
Henry watched. “So pretty.”
Bria smiled. “It is pretty.”
For a little while neither spoke.
And for the first time since entering Driochmor, she felt she had made a true friend.
Bria gave Henry’s hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it. “Henry, may I ask you something?”
The troll nodded.
“The pendant. Where did you find it?”
He scratched his head. “In stream.”
Bria blinked a bit surprised. “A stream?”
Henry nodded. “Trying catch fish.” His large hands demonstrated the motion. “Fish fast.” A look of frustration crossed his face. “Henry too slow.”
Bria smiled. “I very much doubt that.”
“Fish think so.”
That nearly made her laugh.
“Fish was a big one.” His arms spread wide. “Very big.”
Naturally, the fish grew larger with the telling.
