Flashback ( PDFDrive )

The tiny female gnome was one of Sophie’s favorites.
But . . . she was Calla’s great-great-grandniece.
Sophie should be protecting her.
“Flori volunteered when she overheard Sandor and Grady
discussing your security,” Edaline explained. “She also gave quite a
memorable demonstration of the methods she’d use to defend you.
From what I hear, don’t ever upset her when you’re near any tree
roots.”
Sophie had to smile at that.
But it faded as soon as she tried to imagine sweet, green-toothed
Flori leaving her peaceful spot in the shade of Calla’s Panakes tree and
facing down the Neverseen. Calla had sacrificed herself to save the
rest of her species from a deadly plague. Sophie doubted she’d want
her favorite niece to put herself in so much danger.
Also: Having a gnome and an ogre serving together was a recipe for
every possible kind of disaster.
“Does Flori realize she’ll be working side by side with one of King
Dimitar’s Mercadirs?” Sophie asked.
“She does. And she said that if the ogre’s willing to risk their life to
protect you, she’s willing to fight at their side. Sandor also made it
clear to King Dimitar that whoever he sends needs to view a goblin as
a leader and a gnome as an equal—along with a dwarf and a troll.”
“You okay?” Elwin asked, waving a hand in front of Sophie’s face
after a stretch of silence.
“Yeah. I’m just . . . trying to picture it.”
She could see herself with Sandor and Flori—and it wasn’t that hard
to imagine a dwarf and an ogre standing there too.
But a troll?