The trolls dragged them to their campsite which was just on the other side of the large boulder. They already had a large cooking fire prepared that was sending out an immense amount of heat.

"How do you like your human prepared, Falnook?" the troll known as Golgoth asked.

"Extra crispy, of course," Falnook replied.

"Extra crispy it is. Myrinrok, find me a large stick I can sharpen and use as a skewer. We shall place the humans upon it and use it to roast them over the fire."

"Look, I've got to be honest with you guys," Fabian said. "I'm old and rangy. My meat is tough and tasteless. You don't want to waste your time eating me. These two are young, tender, and succulent. You'd have a much better meal eating them and then you could let me go. It's a win-win situation for everyone."

"Excuse me, sir, but how is that a win for us?" Brandon asked.

"Why, you'd get to die knowing that you provided much needed nourishment to another living creature. Is there any greater honor than that?"

"Uh, yeah. Completing our quest. That would be much more honorable, don't you think?"

"Don't worry, I'll complete our quest for us. You can rest assured knowing I'll take care of business for sure."

"Found stick with one end already sharpened," Myrinrok said.

"Good. Saves me effort of carving it. Now I say we skewer the old one who talks a lot first."

"Good call, Golgoth. He is very annoying. Let's shut him up and shove him in our bellies."

"I wouldn't advise doing that if I were you," Fabian said. "Unless you want some of this!" He pulled out his dagger and hurled it at the nearest troll. Unfortunately his timing was off as he spun it through the air and the dagger hit its mark handle end first and bounced harmlessly off.

"Oh! Falnook does enjoy food that fights back. This will be very scrumptious meal indeed."

The troll known as Myrinrok licked its lips as it approached Fabian with the large sharp stick. "Don't worry, little human. This will only be painful for a few hours or so. Then you be dead."

Suddenly the troll's chest burst open as the pointy end of a sword emerged from it. The troll let out a gurgling noise as blood spilled from its mouth and then it slumped to the ground revealing Briawny standing behind it.

"There you are, thief. What was the meaning of your little stunt on the flying carpet? You weren't trying to ditch us by chance, were you?"

"Ditch you? Oh heavens no," Fabian said. "That carpet had a mind of its own I tell you. I was trying to tell it to slow down but it just kept going faster and faster. Nothing I could do about it. And I really, really tried. Thank Balthazaar you managed to catch up to us."

"Well, it was smart of you to remain in one place so we could find you," Briawny said. "Now perhaps you could lend us a hand killing these other two trolls."

Sir Mikael was already engaged in an intense battle with the troll known as Falnook. Meanwhile Golgoth had picked up a large club from somewhere nearby and was lumbering over towards them. It swung the club at Briawny's head. She ducked out of the way and managed to put a large slash into its leg with her sword. Brandon pulled out his cutlass and took a swing at the troll. He didn't connect solidly, but managed to put a little cut in the troll's abdomen.

Fabian retrieved his dagger and snuck around to Golgoth's back side. When he was pretty sure its attention was occupied with Briawny and Brandon, he made a move to plunge it into the troll's back. It didn't even seem to notice as it swung its club at Briawny again. This time it made a solid impact and she went tumbling towards the ravine. The troll ran up and gave her a solid kick and she flew right over the edge and disappeared from view.

"You bastard!" Brandon shouted as he jammed his cutlass into the troll's belly. It gave a couple of jerks and twitches and then slumped over, falling over the edge of the ravine.

"Hate to bother you chaps," Sir Mikael said as he dodged a blow from the troll known as Falnook. "But do you think I could get a little help over here?"

"On my way!" Brandon shouted as he raced over to join the battle.

Fabian was tiptoeing backwards to avoid having to join in when he heard a soft voice calling from nearby. It seemed to be coming from the ravine. He walked over and peeked over the edge. Briawny was hanging on by one hand to an exposed root. "Fabian! Thank the ten lords! Give me your hand immediately!"

"I could do that," Fabian said. "But what if you pull me over the edge and I fell to my death? That wouldn't be good."

"Fabian!" Briawny snapped. "I'm in a bind here. Stop fooling around and help me out!"

"Yeah, I don't think I'm going to do that," Fabian said. "You've been kind of mean to me during the course of our journeys and I really don't appreciate it."

"What are you talking about? I've saved your life on multiple occasions! Including just now!"

"Did you though?" Fabian asked. "It seems to me I had all of those situations well under control. You kind of come across as one of those glory hogs that has to swoop in at the last minute and grab the attention for yourselves. Plus, there's also the matter of the reward. If you're out of the picture that's one less person I have to split it up with."

"Fabian, I'm not kidding!" Briawny shouted. "This root is starting to give. I don't have much time! I don't care about the reward. You can have it all. For the love of all that's sacred just give me your hand."

"Sorry, toots. You say you'll give me your share of the reward now, but I just don't know if I can trust you. The only way I can be sure is if you're not around to collect. So, sucks to be you, but glad it's not me."

"I swear to-" Briawny said but then the root broke free and she tumbled away down the ravine before disappearing from view.

By the time he turned around Brandon and Sir Mikael had finished dispatching Falnook.

"Jolly good fight, brothers," Sir Mikael said as he wiped his sword off on the troll's corpse. He looked around for a moment. "Where's Briawny?"

"I'm afraid she didn't make it," Fabian said. "She fought valiantly to the end, but I'm afraid some people just aren't cut out to make it as adventurers like I am."

"I shall have to add the saga of the noble Briawny to my tale of the brave Derek and spread their legends far and wide."

"You mean your dumb-ass story is going to get even longer? Remind me not to be around when you start telling it."

"Is the princess okay?" Sir Mikael asked.

"Huh?" Princess Wartha asked. "Yeah, I was just looking at this really pretty flower over here. What were you guys doing?"

"I propose we take a moment of silence for our fallen comrade and then perhaps we should make camp for the night. Briawny and I rode hard day and night to catch up to you."

"Yeah, how about we get away from these gross dead trolls and then maybe we can settle in for the night. I'm starving, by the way. Do you think troll tastes any good?"

"It doesn't smell so good," Princess Wartha said. "I'm not eating that."

"Mikey? You want to go hunt something tasty and delicious for us? Did I mention how much I've missed you, big guy?"

"I'm afraid these trolls have probably scared off any game that might be nearby," Sir Mikael said. "They're loud and have a strong scent and that tends to chase animals away."

"So troll meat it is then," Fabian said. "I'm hungry enough to eat anything. Although, if one of you guys wants to sample it first and make sure it's not poisonous I'm totally okay with that. Then I say the three of you split up watch duties and let's get this show on the road in the morning."