Troll tax

“Lovely day for a wedding huh Gordon?” Ventured Gunther Willowsbrook as he held the reigns of the wagon.

The Blonde Elegance baker that sat beside the Innkeeper nodded his agreement. “Oui monsieur Willowsbrook. And Earl Truffeau’s commission for the cake was quite generous.”

The burly black-haired innkeeper nodded his agreement. 

“Indeed, and you need not worry about the cake Gordon. Quigsley cast a stick spell so it won’t fall over. We’ll be to the sea shore and the Earl's wedding party soon enough.”

Gordon Lestant of Elegance sighed in relief. “I appreciate you helping me with this. Still consider this, the growing community and all these misfits does it not all seem rather odd?”

Gunther snorted out a laugh. “My friend the Warlock Masters want me dead for the Gods know what reason! Normal left when my friends and I fled the Foamy Mug Tavern months ago.”

Up ahead a stone bridge came into view. “That’s one of the stone bridges Master McElroy and his family built.” The Elegance man noted.

As they rolled on to the bridge all seemed normal. Then came the splash of water as three figures leapt out of the river. All three let out a loud, “Yah,” Before they landed on the bridge.

Gunther reigned in the panicked horses as the wagon stopped. He recognized the grey-skinned, toothy, gangly, black-haired figures before him. Or at least two had black hair, another had brown hair.

“Par Les Dieux, or by the Gods Guardian Trolls!” Gordon gasped.

Gunther’s face furrowed. “Um, shouldn’t you be in a city or large town?”

The leader of the trolls stepped forward and snapped, “In the name of the Lord of this region we decree a tax on your cart.”

“Yeah, and the tax we charge is that fine smelling cake you got in the back of that wagon.” The second troll called.

“Corr, Gorrif I don’t think this is a good idea.” The brown-haired troll ventured.

“Shut up Grimsley!” the other two shouted.

Gunther and Gordon’s faces paled. “But wait, you can’t have that cake, it's for Earl Truffeau’s wedding. We’re taking it to him right now." Gordon protested.

“Nice try,” the second troll snapped. “You can’t fool us. Hand over that cake or we’ll rip you in half!”

“Brothers, they’re telling the truth,” Grimsley ventured.

“I said shut up Grimsley,” the troll named Corr snapped.

Gunther put up his hands. “Hold all, let’s not resort to violence.” He stated in a calm tone.

The Innkeeper raced through his mind, and then an idea came to him. “Gordon, the three extra travel rolls we brought in case of delay, get them out.”

The blonde Elegance baker did so. Gunther turned to the trolls. “I won’t give you the cake, but I have some travel rolls, will those work?”

“In fairness,” he warned. “One of them is a specialty roll, meatless in nature.”

That caught the brown-haired guardian troll’s attention. “Wait, did you say meatless?” Grimsley asked.

Gunther nodded. “Oh, praise the Gods, I’ll take that one, you see I’m a vegetarian!” The brown-haired troll explained in a sheepish tone.

That caused Gunther to fall over in disbelief, but he recovered. “A vegetarian guardian troll, wonder of wonders.”

Gordon brought out the three rolls. The trolls soon had them as Gunther explained things. When he finished the first two trolls looked stunned.

“I told you Corr and Gorrif, I told you that convoy that passed us wasn’t the local lord! But you never listen to me! It’s always shut up Grimsley this and that!

“Yes, I’m a Half-Troll but that doesn’t mean I don’t have a point!” Grimsley chided.

Corr’s face paled as much as it could. “Oops, apologies Mr. Willowsbrook, messed up I did.”

"Likewise." Gorrif added also sounding sheepish.

Gunther said, “Apologies accepted. But I do have to deliver this cake to the wedding.”

Another idea came to the Innkeeper. “Hey, how about you guys be my escort to and from the wedding? I can put in a good word with Natalia Rominev and the Warrior’s Guild for you.”

The trolls gaped. “Jobs, you’d offer us jobs?” Corr ventured.

Gunther stated, “Believe me strong trolls like you would be welcome in the Warrior’s Guild.”

“Excuse me Mr. Willowsbrook,” The Half-Troll ventured.

“With all due respect, I’m not interested in battle. I do this only because my brothers do. In truth, I’m something of a baker in my own right, could I work for you instead?”

Gunther hadn’t expected this surprise. He turned his gaze on Gordon who gave him a pleading expression.

Gunther sighed and said, “Okay…Grimsley was it? Once we get back to the Inn show us what you can do. By the way I heard you say you’re only half-troll?”

He nodded. “My father is human my mother is a troll.”

“And both are as ugly as warty pigs!” Corr snorted.

Grimsley glared at the two. Gunther snickered and muttered, “This is an interesting community that’s developing.”

 “Okay, let’s get this cake to the wedding, then we’ll see to business." Gunther stated before the group set off down the forest road.