The Heart of Glass Read Online Free Page B

was the trolls. They used to catch dwarves, because . . .” She hesitated, then went on. “Because in those days the trolls liked nothing more than a dwarf for dinner.” She saw the Oldest’s horrified expression and added, “I’m talking about a
very
long time ago, Elsie dear.”
    Marlon leaned forward. “So — we’re talking traps. One way only? In but no out?”
    “I would imagine so.” Edna pondered for a moment. “I suggest Marcus try to talk to the dwarves. I’m sure they could dig Gracie out again. . . . I imagine she’s fallen into some kind of pit.”
    “Marcus — dwarves — chitchat — rescue — happy ever after. Check.” Marlon stretched his wings. “Better be off.”
    Edna held up her hand. “One moment. The dwarves don’t always take kindly to humans, especially if the humans are asking for a favor.”
    “But Marcus is a
prince,
” Elsie said in shocked tones.
    “In my opinion, that’s a distinct disadvantage,” Edna told her. “It’s the Royals who keep the dwarves so hard at work. They’re always wanting gold for weddings and suchlike.” She fished in her pocket and produced a handful of silver threads. “Here — take these. They’re offcuts from the web of power, and they can be quite useful, although you never can tell exactly how they’ll work. Pure and unadulterated goodness is an odd commodity. Give a couple of them to the dwarves with my best wishes, and keep a couple for emergencies. Do be careful, though. They can have unexpected side effects.”
    Marlon looped the threads around his neck, staggered, and fell off the chair. “Got a problem,” he announced from the floor.
    Elsie hurried forward and removed all but one of the silvery wisps. She looked reproachfully at the Ancient One. “You never remember how heavy these are, Edna. They come from the web, remember. Only Truehearts like you and Gracie think they weigh nothing at all.”
    “I’m so sorry,” Edna said. “Are you all right, Marlon?”
    The bat nodded and fluttered back to the chair. Even the single thread seemed to be weighing heavily on his small, furry shoulders, but he held his head up high. “Report soon as mission accomplished,” he promised. “Erm . . . what about Gubble?”
    The Ancient One smiled. “Let’s hope you and Marcus will have rescued Gracie by the time he reaches the Unreliable Forest. He’s not the speediest of travelers.”
    Marlon nodded, wobbled, regained his balance with an effort, and launched himself into the air. “See ya!” he called, and swooped out the window.
    Elsie watched him go, then turned to Edna. “Tell me,” she said, “I didn’t want to ask in front of Marlon — I didn’t want to worry him . . . but what if Gracie’s fallen into a tunnel? Where would it lead?”
    “To the trolls’ caverns, most likely.” Edna shook her head. “Not a happy thought. The underground trolls are better than they used to be, but they really are a completely different breed from overground trolls like Gubble. Still, at least they sent all the Old Trolls away. They were even nastier than the ogres, and that’s saying something.”
    Elsie looked uneasy. “Wasn’t there some rumor that King Thab kept one of the Old Trolls as a bodyguard?”
    “What?” The Ancient One’s voice was sharp. “Where did you hear that?”
    Elsie took her wig off, scratched her head, and replaced the wild red curls. “I really can’t remember. I could be wrong, of course.”
    “Let’s hope you are,” Edna said. “You should have told me about that as soon as you heard it. And while you’re busy digging around in your memories of the past, is there anything else I should know?”
    “Well . . .” Elsie hesitated. “I was wondering, how do underground trolls feel about Truehearts? Isn’t there an old story about a Trueheart and a troll king?”
    The Ancient One sat down hard on a kitchen chair. “Oh, my goodness. You’re right. The prophecy . . . Oh, Elsie, how could I have