Up ahead, the Thin Man had turned back and was giving us an impatient stare, tapping long fingers against his arm. “Come on,” I said, pulling Kenzie to her feet. “We can’t worry about it now. Hopefully it’s not important.”
Carefully, we started across the bridge, Kenzie in front with Razor clinging to her neck, while I followed close behind. The planks creaked horribly under my feet, the ropes felt rotten as hell and I held my breath every time a breath of wind made the whole bridge sway. Below us, the River of Dreams glittered and churned sluggishly through the many holes in the wood. Once, I made the mistake of looking down, just as a huge pale eye rose out of the water, staring up at me. Before I could say anything, it blinked a filmy blue lid and sank back into the depths. I bit down a hysterical gulp and concentrated on moving forward, keeping my steps as light as I possibly could.
In front of me, Kenzie gave a shudder. “Did you see that?”
“No,” I muttered stubbornly. “I didn’t, and I’m not thinking about it. Don’t look down. Just keep walking.”
“I would,” Kenzie whispered in return. “But there’s a gnome blocking my path.”
“What?” I peered over her shoulder. Yep, there certainly was. A short bearded faery with a nose like a shriveled apple, staring up at us with his arms crossed to his chest. A few paces beyond, the Thin Man glanced back with a frown, but the gnome didn’t seem to notice him.
“Hello, humans,” he said, his voice like a squeaky wheel. “Lovely night, isn’t it?”
“Um.” Kenzie glanced at me, confused. I shrugged and put a hand on my sword hilt. “Yes? I guess so?”
“Excellent, excellent.” The gnome rubbed his palms. “Don’t meet many humans on my bridge, wanting to cross into the Deep Wyld. Very brave, you are. I do hope you don’t get yourselves eaten.”
“But you’re a gnome,” Kenzie pointed out, making him cock his head. “Aren’t bridges guarded by trolls?”
“Not all bridges are troll bridges,” the gnome exclaimed, sounding faintly offended. “Just because trolls like to lurk under them does not give them exclusive rights to every bridge in the Nevernever. I am a bridge gnome. This is my bridge.”
“Okay,” I muttered, closing my fingers around my sword. “Sure. So, how ’bout you step aside now and let us pass?” Kenzie kicked me lightly in the shin, and I winced. “Please.”
“Yes, yes, yes.” The gnome bobbed his withered head. “I’m sure you have much to accomplish. So, if you would kindly pay the toll, we can settle our debts, and I will get out of your way.”
“Toll?” Kenzie asked. “What toll?”
“Well...the toll for using my bridge, of course.” The gnome frowned, lacing his arms behind his back. “Those are the rules. All tolls must be paid upon request. Didn’t you see the sign? It’s right at the entrance, clear as day.”
Kenzie turned to give me a brief, unreadable look. I grimaced. “What about him?” I asked, nodding to the Thin Man, who was still watching us several yards down. “I notice he didn’t have to pay any toll.”
“Well, no.” The gnome glanced over his shoulder. “The mayor is exempt from paying the toll. As are all residents of the Deep Wyld, if they decide to use the bridge at all. Most do not. You are outsiders. Therefore, you must pay the toll.”
“Just out of curiosity,” Kenzie asked, “what if we can’t?”
“Then I will take my bridge and leave. And you can swim the rest of the way to shore.”
“Okay, fine.” I sighed. I didn’t like the idea of paying yet another price, but I liked the notion of getting dumped into the River of Dreams even less. “What’s the stupid toll?”
“Oh, something very simple,” the gnome said, looking us both up and down. “I think...your firstborn child. Yes, that should be sufficient.”
I took a breath to say Screw that! or something to that effect, when Kenzie elbowed me in the ribs, making me grunt. Startled, I frowned at her, but her attention was on the faery in front of us.
“I’ll give you a ring,” she said calmly, and the gnome arched a brow at her. “It’s silver,” she continued. “With a pink gem in the middle. It belonged to a princess, once.”
The gnome cocked his head, intrigued. “A princess?”
“Yes. Princess Alexandria St. James.” Kenzie’s voice was completely serious. “She was the previous owner. I’d give you the tiara that goes with it, but the princess lost it when she was trick-or-treating.”
The bridge gnome pondered this a moment. “Let’s see this ring,” he said at last.
Kenzie unzipped a side pocket of her backpack and drew out a gaudy plastic ring. It was a kid’s toy, the kind you’d find in bargain bins at dollar stores. The fake pink gem sparkled in the dim light, and the gnome’s eyes gleamed as he followed it.
“Well...” The gnome tapped his foot, trying and failing to sound reluctant. “I don’t know, human. It is just a ring, after all. Even though it belonged to a princess...”
Kenzie shrugged and withdrew her arm, closing her fingers around the ring to hide it from view. “If you don’t want it...”
“No, no, no. That’s not what I meant.” The gnome let out a huff. “Very well. I accept your toll. But only for you,” he added quickly. “The boy will have to give me something else.”