'Old Man River' by Birgit K. Gaiser

Old Man River’s bridge was just ahead of them. Bronk and Prink both looked radiant, their skin studded with precious stones and their hair oiled and piled up on their heads in the traditional wedding style. Bronk wore the necklace of hip bones that was Prink’s proposal gift to her.

As they approached, the bridge started groaning, one of its pillars shifting ever-so-slightly. “Welcome, daughters!”

So the rumours were true: Old Man River, the venerable troll shaman, was so ancient that his body had begun to fuse with his bridge, becoming one with the stone.

“Venerable one.” They both kneeled before him.

“What do you bring as your sacrifice?” he asked.

Bronk removed a large diamond from a pouch. “My most precious stone – other than my true love, of course.”

Old Man River rumbled with laughter, shaking so hard that Bronk worried about the bridge.

Prink presented a thumb-sized ruby. “My most treasured possession – other than Bronk.”

The shaman chuckled once more, but more carefully this time.

“The necessary sacrifices have been made, and I can see that you love each other truly and dearly. I hereby declare you wife and wife. You may engrave your names into my pillar.”

Bronk and Prink thanked Old Man River and used their sharp nails to scratch their names into the pillar, hoping it wouldn’t hurt the shaman too much. As an afterthought, Prink drew a heart around their names, something she’d seen the humans do. They were good for something, after all.