Riley's Journey Read Online Free PDF Page A

whirled, punching and kicking as he had instructed, somewhat clumsily in the heavy clothing, but managing to make contact from time to time. She knew her chances of ultimately prevailing were minimal at best, but she wasn’t ready to give up. She was beginning to tire when one brute rendered her a hard blow, knocking her to the ground. Panting from her efforts, pain throbbing from various areas of her anatomy, she cowered, resigned and awaiting her fate.
    From out of nowhere, a huge white dog crashed through, biting and snapping, forcing the gnomes back and keeping them from advancing any closer. Amazed, she could only stare as the huge beast ripped and tore pieces of hide and flesh from her attackers. Bones crunched loudly as his huge jaws clamped first on one and then another, screams erupting as he pounced. Backing off, the gnomes regrouped, advancing as one upon the dog who never gave an inch of ground, his teeth bared, gnome-blood dripping from his huge maw.
    From the same direction the dog had come, a much taller gnome entered the fight, swinging a heavy club and yelling like a banshee. The dog latched onto the leg of one of the gnomes, his jaws clamping down in a death grip. The creature screamed, attempting to dislodge the dog, but the dog only held on tighter. The new individual swung a club, landing a blow to the nearest head, knocking the creature to the ground. The gnomes backed off, clearly intimidated by the newcomer. The dog allowed him to pass, his eyes intent on the original group. The new gnome or troll stared at her out of a face from some misbegotten nightmare. He smiled, or she thought he smiled, but with his broken, dirty teeth, it might have been a grimace or a snarl.
    * * *
     
    Nathan stared down into the first human face he had seen in over five years—and a woman to boot—a really good-looking woman! Stunned, he forgot who he was or what he was doing, and forgetting how he looked, he smiled, immediately regretting it by the horrified look on the woman’s face. Better get her out of here before one of the others claimed her. He reached down to help her up.
    Riley scooted back as the big one reached for her. The others were muttering and grunting among themselves, angered by his intrusion, but clearly intimidated by the much larger gnome. Riley fought to stay out of the big one’s grasp, but he was quicker than she and grabbed a handful of her hair as she scurried away. Jerking her back, he hoisted her over his shoulder and started back the direction from which he came, with Riley hanging over his back like a big sack of potatoes. The dog paced behind, covering their retreat.
    Riley screamed hysterically, kicking and fighting but he kept walking, her movements seemed to have no effect on him whatsoever. She pounded his back with her fists, clawing his neck and pulling his dirty hair, frightened and enraged by this turn of events.
    “If you don’t lie still,” the troll said in perfect English, slapping her sharply on the butt, “I’ll leave you to them.”
    Startled, Riley quieted down, amazed that this thing had actually spoken to her, and that she could understand him.
    “What the hell is going on?” She screeched, trying to kick free.
    “Shut the hell up, or they’ll be on us again,” was his only reply. The dog growled, baring its teeth, daring her to move. Under the circumstances, she decided it was best to just be silent for the time being.
    After they had cleared a small rise out of the sight of the group, he dropped her to the snow-covered ground. She landed face down. The dog moved towards her, stiff and menacing. “Back,” he directed the dog, “stay.” The dog settled down, watching her every move, waiting for her to make one he didn’t like.
    The gnome reached down and grabbed her arm, hauling her to her feet. He tied a length of leather to her wrist and started off, pulling her behind. She considered kicking him or hitting him, but the dog was watching closely and she