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So far, Pelan has a pretty good track record when it comes to picking stories that could easily be classified as belonging to other genres and justifying their presence in a horror anthology. This is another of those instances, as Drake is more known for his SF work. However, “The Barrow Troll” is firmly entrenched in fantasy and really doesn’t belong here.
Ulf Womanslayer is a berserker (you’d have to be with a blunt last name like that) who has kidnapped Johann, a priest, as part of his plan to slay a legendary barrow troll. Ulf’s reasoning? The priest will be able to bless a fire for him, which he will then use to kill the monster. It’s kind of an unusual idea for a Viking to use the power of Christ, but what the hell?
Johann, very clearly here against his will, is too afraid of his captor to contradict him in any way. He will help in this battle not because the troll is evil (although it probably is) but because he’s terrified to think of what Ulf will do to him if he doesn’t.
The beginning of the story is Ulf telling Johann how he found out about the barrow troll. Get this. Are you ready? The guy whose last name is Womanslayer was slaying a woman at the time. Shocker, eh? Well, he also kills her family, but before she dies, she tells him about a vast treasure guarded by, you guessed it, the barrow troll. At this point, Johann is questioning Ulf’s intelligence. Why would a woman you’re killing give you an inside track to free gold? Ulf gets this, but he’s insistent that with the help of the priest, he will defeat the troll and get the gold.
They get down to business. They find the beast’s lair, and they prepare for battle. Finally, the barrow troll comes forth, ready to defend its hoard. SPOILER ALERT: Johann only helps out a little. For the most part, Ulf gets his ass kicked (and his arm ripped off), but he somehow manages to slay the monster. Then, the priest notices that the troll is no creature but a man.
Ulf is too busy looking at the gold to notice. Then, he savagely turns on the priest, intent on killing him. Thanks to a little bit of preparation (Johann knew what was coming) and a whole lot of luck, he escapes, and Ulf becomes the new guardian of the gold. He has become the enemy, and he now has a new job, at least until someone comes to slay him. END OF SPOILERS.
There is a lot to recommend this story, and while some nasty things happen in here, the horror doesn’t transcend the fantasy. This is firmly placed in a world of swords and sorcery. If that’s your thing, swing on by. If you’re looking for horror, pass.
[This story first appeared in WHISPERS and cannot be read online at this time.]
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