Io seemed stunned by Lily's unexpected act of bravery, but only for a second. Then he rushed forward, taking advantage of the opportunity Lily had given him. He swung the cricket bat wildly, sending blue sparks through the air as it impacted hard with the troll's fat belly, making him double over. That put the troll's head within Io's reach and the next blow connected with the troll's jaw, sending him crashing to the ground.<br/>Io hit him a few more times while he was down, but it was clear that the fight had gone out of the troll. Lily even thought she could hear him sob.<br/>"Not for eating!" Io said with emphasis, breathing heavily from the short but intense fight.<br/>"Now, crawl back under your bridge!"<br/>To Lily's surprise, the troll did just that, sniveling and looking so beaten she actually caught herself feeling sorry for it.<br/>"That was unpleasant," Io said as he put the bat back on the bike, "but unavoidable. He would have eaten you if I had given him a chance, my Right of Passage does not grant me the right to bring guests."