Goodness, she stepped on the flowers because they were more attractive?
Elva took a deep breath and moved forward. “Princess?”
The princess flinched, caught one foot underneath the other, and fell onto her backside. She scrambled away from the sound before her gaze landed on Elva. “Oh, it’s just you, the hunchback.”
At least Elva knew the cloak really was hiding everything it needed to hide. She tugged the edge closer, hoping it looked like she was embarrassed about the way she looked, and walked closer. “Yes, it is I.”
“What do you want?”
That was easier than she thought it would be. Elva cleared her throat. “I have heard the celebration of your wedding to the dwarf will be the grandest event the troll kingdom has ever seen. I would like an invitation.”
“Why?”
“To see you in all your splendor, of course.”
The troll princess stood, brushing leaves and sticks off her backside. “I think you’re a little too interested in my groom.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Maybe the princess wasn’t as drunk as Elva thought.
“I think you want him for yourself.” The princess stepped closer menacingly. She loomed over Elva and, for a second, Elva thought the gig was up. But then, the princess began to laugh. “Do you really think he’d choose you over me? The hunchback of the troll kingdom? Hardly.”
Elva bowed low. “You are right, Your Majesty. I could never compete with your beauty. However, I would still like to see the party. If only for the memories.”
That was a little too close to a lie. Though sarcasm did count as a truth, she wasn’t sure she wanted to actually see the party. It was a little too much for even her. How was she going to keep herself hidden with that many creatures in close quarters?
The troll princess looked her up and down, then held out her hand. “What do you have for me this time?”
Of course, there was going to have to be a deal. Elva had made enough of them in her life to know this creature would want something more than just a golden apple this time.
She reached behind her into the pack that created the hump on her spine and fished around for what she might find. Though the position must look odd, the troll princess didn’t blink an eye. Maybe she thought Elva was pulling something out of her behind, for all she knew.
Her fingers caught on a chain and a clasp. Now, this was something that would convince the troll princess to allow her access easily enough.
Elva withdrew the necklace with a flourish and let the chain dangle from her fingers. “A gift for the most beautiful troll in the wedding.”
It was a dainty piece, a thin golden chain and a single bead with an emerald the size of Elva’s thumbnail. Still, it somehow managed to look quite simple and beautiful.
She hoped that was something the troll princess would enjoy. Such a thing didn’t seem to be her kind of jewelry.
Glancing up, Elva watched the troll’s eyes glaze over with want. “It’s so shiny.”
All right then, trolls were apparently interested in shiny things as well as gold. That was something she’d have to store away in her mind for another time.
Elva shifted her hand, swinging the chain to keep the troll’s attention. “And it’s yours if you let me into the ball.”
“Done.” The troll princess lunged forward for the necklace.
Elva pulled it away at the last second. “And a dance with your groom.”
“A dance? Why would he want to dance with a hunchback?” She tried to grab the necklace again, only to lean back and stomp when Elva wouldn’t give it to her. “You said it was a deal!”
“I didn’t. I want a dance with the groom. He can tell me he’s not interested himself, but I’d like to at least try without troll guards threatening to kill me.”
The troll princess pouted, her lip thrust out, before she finally caved and nodded. “Fine. But I want you to put the necklace on me now.”
“It will compliment your outfit wonderfully, Your Majesty.”
The troll princess turned around and lifted the scraggly end of her ponytail. Elva couldn’t believe the foolish girl. She gave someone she didn’t know her neck? How in the world had she not been murdered already?
Elva linked the clasp and let the necklace drop onto the troll’s thick neck. The chain was immediately swallowed in the gray rolls, but she could see the emerald just fine when the troll turned around. It was… beautiful? Maybe. It certainly did stand out amongst the gray, like a gemstone deep in a mine.
“It’s lovely,” she murmured, bowing low.
The princess fingered the stone, then said, “You know, I think I like you, hunchback. Your gifts are always so much better than everyone else’s.”
Of course, they were. Her gifts were dwarven made. Elva bowed low again. “Thank you, Your Majesty. Anything to please you.”
“Those are words I love to hear. Come on then, hunchback. You can come in the back way with me. We’ll go back to the ball together. Maybe I’ll make you stand next to me for the rest of the night. You certainly make me look far lovelier.”
Elva trailed along behind her, praying the cloak would stay in place. The hood over her face was so long, it was highly unlikely anyone would peer into the shadows it created. But if someone saw her, that would be the end of this charade.
The interior of the castle was as unimpressive as she was expecting. There wasn’t much here at all, just a blank room carved into the stone and a few tables that had been shoved to the side. No decorations, no carvings, nothing but rough stone and a throne at the far end.
The troll princess strode into the room with her head held high. With good reason, all the other trolls flinched away from her. They
