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(Pause to author sipping cold coffee as she gazes, dismayed, at the piles of springtime paperwork to be filed, the folder holding pages of notes from workshopping another long short story/possible novella, and emails reminding her that edits are due for a group project. The heels of her hands are cold and she realizes she needs to drape the green wool shawl over her shoulders because no sunshine today; she will not regret the last several days out walking in sunshine and snowmelt in the February false Spring.)
***
Picture this instead: Ferah and Rockmouse have caught their breath and Rockmouse covers ground in split seconds to wrangle the other gnomes into some kind of order so that the Weber barbecue can be saved, oranges confiscated, and dinner be served up, while Ferah slips silently across pine needled ground to the shed and gently opens the door to find her brother Montay, exhausted and naked, lying on the floor in human form, bits of snakeskin stuck to his glistening skin (never shapeshift while molting; he is nauseated, too).
Picture next: Gnomes nibble and toss animal bones over their shoulders as Ferah approaches, arm supporting Montay who is barefoot and wrapped in short burlap, lifting his nose to the scent of grilled meat, potatoes roasted in butter and bacon with a pinch of fresh dill, and the tantalizing aroma of zest and an orange being cracked open, which Rockmouse snatches from Fernlodth because…she wants his stomach to settle so they can all enjoy the meal.
Picture and shiver: Jimann, hidden, in form somewhere between snake and human and something else not quite identifiable, watches the tableau unfold below him, eyes glinting green, teeth sharp and damp, long nose obsidian sharp.
Interest piqued, he raises an eyebrow, tips his head, and smiles coldly.
© Liz Husebye Hartmann (2026)
(To be continued)
Valley of the Trolls 
(darn right “to be continued”!)
Doesn’t anyone have a clue how close Jimann is! Time to take him down 😆
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what a fun, refreshing presentation of your story! very sensual (entirely in the wholesome, WP TOS use of the word, of course!)
or… perhaps a nice MLT where the mutton is nice and lean… (P. Bride)
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As you wish! 😂 I was wondering what I was gonna have for lunch! 🐑🐏
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;]
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Glad he has reunited with his sister …. But what will Jimann get up to next!
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Heh heh heh! 😏
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The food sounds excellent, and it’s making me hungry. However, I’m still not very happy about those gnomes who can change into snakes … (very scary, I would say).
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Even…monstrous?!
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I am hoping Jimann is slathering over the sweet meats on the Webber and not one of our feasting friends…. but I do not think we will be that lucky!
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😏😄
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I hope Montay learns what side to be on, and resists what Jimann probably has planned.
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❤️
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I am glad to hear Montay is united with his sister. May good things happen to Jimann as well, if he lets them.
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❤️ Wait & see, Frank!
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I pictured it all, and could just about taste it and smell it too.
Glad the author got to enjoy some sunshine prior…
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Yep normal Feb today here in the TC area, with 3 inches so far. Up in Silver Bay, they’re socked in, so no complaints. We take what Mother Nature offers…then 🐧❄️🐧
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I really, really don’t like Jimann very much at all. Love the story though!
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He doesn’t seem…trustworthy, does he.
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No! A bit of a nightmare actually. 😳
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