Like Father Like Son
Five-shot arc to tell a story, wrap up a few headcanon items, and spend just a dab more time in the world of Arcadia Oaks…without the aliens just yet. I enjoyed the last arc of Trollhunters immensely – though I might have changed just one or two things, I'm quite the sucker for a happy ending – and have one story idea for it. Just the one. Hopefully you enjoy it. If you don't, please pass along to another lovely tale and have a pleasant day, there's no shortage of wonderful things to do.
Also my uncle passed away and my mental state is rather shot and anything even remotely sad is just not doable right now. So nope. Bonding and family and triumph over adversity with a little more sugar added to an amazing, if somewhat heartbreaking, season finale.
WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NOT SEEN THE END OF THE SERIES. PLEASE DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU HAVE SEEN IT OR DON'T CARE ABOUT SPOILERS. Ordinarily I wouldn't think this necessary but since the series finished so recently I figured a warning would be advised.
Chapter 1
A Very Different View of a King
Toby didn't know what to say.
Aaarrrgghh was seated beside him, mossy fur lifted in suspicion. Warhammer was out, glowing and warm in his hands. And the man just looked mildly impressed.
"Some kind of gravity curse, right? I haven't seen one in a long time." He pointed past the hammer. "You missed one."
Toby glanced back over his shoulder, seeing one more goblin scuttle toward the wall. He threw the hammer, ignoring the splatter and going to pick up his weapon, wiping it off on the pavement. It was already a mess anyway. The man watched him with vague interest. "Goblins always like to huddle around schools. All the stress about tests and relationships turns into fear. So we stake out here when there are big tests coming up."
"And how do you find time to study for them yourself?" Toby lifted his phone and hit play. An audiobook began to read aloud. "Ah, gotcha. Clever."
"Why you here?" Aaarrrgghh was not so interested as Toby in this stranger, something Toby knew. But it wasn't every day a citizen got to witness an awesomesauce defeat of such creatures. Now that Arcadia knew about trolls, it was much easier to defend people against them. On his armor was a bright sticker, an orange hammer with the letters "THAO" in it.
"Looking for someone. Heard he was supposed to be in Arcadia Oaks at first, but hasn't been here in half a year. Ever since the 'meteor shower' affected the power and signals and caused that 'funky eclipse.'" The man made air quotes and Aaarrrgghh mimicked him curiously. "The deal with Morganna. Probably a good idea to not tell the whole world about this stuff."
"You're awfully well-informed." Toby leaned on his hammer, not exactly trying to look cool – but not trying to not look cool either - and took in the sight of the man standing outside the school gate. He wore ripped jeans and black boots that looked like he'd been walking for a very long time, rubber scuffed and faded. The hems of his pants were threads. His shirt was a blue v-neck sweater and a long black trench coat covered his shoulders and billowed behind him. He had a white ball cap on his head covering a mass of unruly black hair. His face was unshaven but his jaw was sculpted, eyes bright blue, and his lips quirked wryly. There was something mischievous and warm about that face. Something that made Toby homesick. "Who are you looking for?"
Rather than answering directly, the man read the letters on his armor. "What's that stand for?"
"Troll Hunter of Arcadia Oaks. It's a legit police division now." Toby patted Aaarrrgghh's massive arm an the troll lifted his head a little so the sash around his shoulders was more visible. It too bore the letters. "There are a few specially trained individuals on it."
"No tell him too much," Aaarrrgghh muttered.
"That's stuff anyone can find out buddy," Toby said fondly. "Stop ducking the question dude. Who are you looking for?"
"Jim Lake. Junior." Toby nearly stumbled and Aaarrrgghh growled. "I understand he's left the area. I heard there was something…wrong. I wanted to assist if possible." Meeting Aaarrrgghh's large, dark eyes, Toby finally approached the school gate, letting the troll scoop him up and jump over it.
"Why? You're not a changeling obviously." Even so he pulled out a small metal horseshoe charm and pressed it to the man's hand. Nothing happened, which matched his assumption. The Darklands no longer existed, much less had babies trapped in it. The man's hand was large and calloused. He worked with them. "You say you want to help? With what?"
"I heard a rumor through the grapevine that he'd undergone a certain change. I wanted to see if that was true. And as a Troll Hunter, I hope you know where he is." The man's voice had no tint of anger or impatience, just good humor.
"Why should we tell stranger?" Aaarrrgghh asked, voice brusque and threatening.
The man smiled. "Well Aaarrrgghh, Toby, that's a good question." Seeing him start, he continued, "I've been keeping an ear out for Arcadia Oaks. And it's imperative that I check on Jim. Because if anything's happened to him, I intend to deal harshly with a certain old magical man."
Jim woke up with his head in Claire's lap and to the sound of Blinky talking loudly. "I can't allow anyone to make off with materials belonging to human businesses. Scrapyard is acceptable – car lots are not."
Her hands were cool as she swept his bangs away from his face. "They at it again?" he managed.
"Si querido. Nunca termina." He squinted at her.
"Did you just call me a cheese?" She snorted.
"'Querido' not 'queso.' Querido means dear, darling." That was much better. Claire examined his horns. "They're starting to grow wild. Want me to help you file them again?"
"I broke the last file. I swear these grow like crazy. Maybe RotGut will part with one for a recycle bin full of aluminum." He sighed. "How are the supplies, did you hear?"
"We are down to one ton of steel and six junked cars. And if anyone can put themselves through it, the dumpster behind the taco place is about a third full of half-eaten enchiladas." Claire didn't wear her armor at the moment, and he was grateful for it. There was a comfort in her purple sweater dress, fleece leggings, smart boots. It was chilly during the fall and winter so far in New Jersey.
Jim didn't remember falling asleep, let alone being coaxed to lay his head down, but from the warmth of her legs and the sound of the tunnels – far less active than night – he'd slept a couple of hours. "But, good news. My mom ran a 'litter sweep of the city' and got a lot together. Toby and Aaarrrgghh offered to run it up to us on the gyre."
"Thank God," he breathed. "The heartstone keeps growing, but it can't sustain the trolls here without them getting enough to eat."
"'Them' includes you. Don't you pretend, I know you're skipping. If you get exhausted who's going to help Blinky to make sure they're safe? Aside from me." Jim sat up and didn't meet her eye. "Hey, don't make me go all Regan from The Exorcist on you." She fake-hissed at him.
"Perish the thought. How will I survive without my lady to defend me?" He spoke jokingly but took her hands in his, lifting one to his mouth to kiss her fingers. "I'll eat before my guard duty. Do you work today?"
"Nah, no secretarial work today. I swear my mom knows someone important from every state. People hear 'Nunez' and roll over. But I'm off today. I figured I'd see if I could check around for any more scrap sources." She let her forehead rest against his. Jim hoped he didn't smell – he maintained his hygiene as best he could, and trolls weren't given to sweating, but brushing his teeth was frustrating when the brush kept busting in his grip.
"You should rest too. Get some sun. You're looking pale." He stroked her hair. "It's growing out."
"I know. It just seems…I don't know, wrong, to worry about getting my hair styled when things are so serious." Claire looked up and Jim followed her gaze. "Six months is a long time."
The caverns hung immense over them, deep and dark and cool. His eyes adjusted to it easily, and Claire had spent enough time in them to see by the faint light of what crystals had been coaxed from the walls by magic and murmurs. Splotches of buttery light and icy blue marked paths through the massive tunnels, and they stood in what was referred to as the Grand Foyer – a somewhat mocking title for what they hoped would end up being a great new place for Trollmarket – and it was bare save for small hutches carved into the walls. It would take years to build enough new homes for all the trolls.
Blinky huffed as the troll turned and plodded away, muttering to himself. "I get more cantankerous every day. No wonder Vendel was so coarse some days." Blinky rubbed at his eyes. "I feel terrible for that poor businessman. Three Mercedes consumed, three! Police swarming the city at night!" He sat down wearily, rubbing two of his eyes. "I've made it clear that only those with express knowledge of human cities should be going to Hoboken."
"They're trolls Blink. They're not great at following orders regarding safety. Or…any orders, really." Claire gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "Can I get you guys anything?"
"If you could return these books to the library I would be most indebted to you. Avoiding caves known to humans is integral, but I feel I've thoroughly scouted the surrounding areas. We're quite safe from brushing up against any spelunkers." Blinky got up but Jim beat him to the stack, tucked behind several cinder blocks commandeered as a bench. He brought them to her and she pressed a kiss to his cheek.
"See you Jim. Bye Blinky. I'll see if I can find any books on minerals in the area. Maybe we can find some rocks trolls deem edible, or more supplies to build better housing." She leaned in conspiratorially. "And maybe a few Nougat Nummies for the gnomes."
"They'd love you even more." Claire beamed at him and pecked him on the cheek. "Be careful. Text me if you have any trouble." She carried the stack of books toward one of the smaller tunnels, their route to get to the road. It was a significant distance, but Claire's protective father had personally hired a chauffeur for her to use while in New Jersey. As far as the driver knew, she was an expert spelunking enthusiast. She acted as though that was a bit much, that she didn't need it, but Jim was privately relieved. Though Claire having a staff to replace her old one definitely didn't hurt matters. Blinky had configured it, an extending staff with significant weight to allow for powerful blows. Alas there was no teleporting – he couldn't make anything on the level of the Skath Hrune – but Claire having a big stick was better than nothing.
The sun had risen. He felt it in the delicate heat soaking into the earth, less than a degree of difference. Jim closed his eyes and pretended for a second that he was standing in the sunlight, getting ready to cook a mango egg white omelette for Mom, and one for Toby…and had he ever made one for Claire?
He opened his eyes and the illusion was gone. But Blinky was gazing at him. "What?"
"…Nothing Master Jim. Why don't you get a little more rest before you patrol the tunnels, get something to eat? These six months have been…difficult."
Jim shook his head. "I'll grab some scrap. Thanks Blinky." He strode past the troll and into the nearest tunnel, leaving his memory of the sun behind.
It wasn't so bad, he told himself. There were definite perks to troll agility and strength, and even though he still couldn't remove the armor – Merlin had promised to research that when he had the time – it wasn't too hard to clean off in a steaming bath.
Hot showers before school, fixing lunches for Mom and Tobes and himself.
And he had a much greater defense now that his skin was stony like a troll's.
Sitting in the sunlight at the pool, waiting while Tobes tried to chat up lifeguards when they were thirteen. Claire's hands brushing the sides of his face, warm skin to warm skin. Mom's hand on his cheek as she called him her beautiful boy.
It wasn't like he ever had to worry about what to major in for college.
Plans of ever being a chef, going to culinary school, up in smoke. No graduation, no cap with a tassel turn. No diploma or Mom taking pictures and sniffling the whole time.
Jim realized he'd been standing in place, panting, and shook his head, snarling at himself. "Quit! This is stupid! It's over, get it? Gone!"
His phone rang so suddenly that he nearly threw it. He was near the surface if he could receive a signal, even with Merlin's tampering. He answered it, clearing his throat. "This is Jim."
"Hi honey. Oh, your throat…are you feeling okay?" Mom's voice was concerned, patient, and Jim coughed several times.
"Oh you know, just this section of the caverns. Little dusty, y'know?" He regained himself enough to talk. "How's it going? Finding homes for all the changling babies?"
"Well, we're about halfway through. But the last adoption didn't go through, so Walter and I are actually taking care of one of them until we meet a new set of foster parents. I haven't changed a diaper since you were toddling around the house, but boy, you never forget." He managed a laugh.
"The baby's lucky to have you looking after them. How is Mr. Strickler doing anyway?"
"Shockingly well, for his first baby. He has to stay indoors during the daylight of course. But it's…really sweet to see him rocking Walter Jr. to sleep." She paused. "Well, we couldn't really register a child as 'Waltolomew.' Ophelia has been a gem helping with it all. Anyway, he and Dictatious have been okay. They've worked up a little area in the old Trollmarket where they can work on projects. I – oh sorry, that's the cradlestone. I rock it sometimes for the babies still in there. We'll get them all out…bit by bit."
Him and Claire older, married, and her holding a tiny dark-haired bundle that had her eyes.
No chance. Never. Gone.
Jim held still, forcing his breathing to slow. "So the cradlestone…that was a pretty nifty idea Merlin had."
Mom was quiet. He tilted his head away from the phone, hoping his breath had steadied. "Jim, how are you really? It's okay if you're not okay." Jim blinked – Mom telepathy? "Your voice is doing that thing. It gets all soft and breaks." She sniffed. "I want to come visit. Toby said the gyre could make it in about an hour."
Seeing Mom. It sounded so good. But telling her how he felt, all the problems…no, he couldn't saddle her with that. And it was still too dangerous in the caverns for humans that didn't know their way around. "Well, it would be good to see you. It'd be best if you stayed in Hoboken though…still kind of a work-in-progress down here."
"I'm sure it's great. It's got you there." The love in her voice nearly undid him.
"Thanks Mom. Look, I've got to patrol. I'll call you in a few hours, okay?"
"Of course. Love you Jim."
"Love you too." He hung up and hurried into the darkest parts of the tunnels, letting his trollish nature assume the lead, human pains falling back. It deadened the sharpness, the needles of sadness and the suffocating blanket of depression, and left only the animal mind.
Blinky glared at the bottles. "I have found one of you for certain, and I will find the others. It is only a matter of time." The bottles, of course, had no response to this. He picked up the nearest flask, swirling its contents. "Perhaps with a drop of human blood and the knucklebones of a changeling, it might…oh no, that would throw off the acidity factor. But I'm quite sure the heat is right."
A familiar step into the room was easily ignored. Blinky had carved this alcove out for meditation, work, and – as of late – a little experimentation. A stack of trollish books rested in the corner, and Dictatious was hard at work on creating a new volume, if Toby's Nana's calls could be believed. Of course he could only dictate, and a few words were a little…creative in their spelling, but it was all he could ask. But the elements and potions were kept locked away, save when he himself was in the room. "What are you doing, Blinkous?"
"Hello Merlin." He never looked at the wizard, adding a drop of the potion to his mixing flask. "Mm. Not the right smell. I am mixing substances."
"I can see that. What are you trying to make?" Merlin was hard to put a finger on. He was curious as a child, but spiteful as a toddler, and Blinky found he tolerated him at best. "Some kind of transformation potion?"
"Yes. You see, while in Gatto's Keep – his stomach, rather – there was a combination of chemicals that blew onto me and, surprisingly, changed me temporarily into a human. I have identified one of the components. I'm working on the others." Blinky sniffed the next bottle. "Oh. Definitely not that one."
"Looking to jaunt about Hoboken are we?" The lofty tone made his nostrils flare. Merlin coughed. "I'm sorry. That wasn't kind. I…know you care deeply for James."
"Jim."
Merlin's eyes slid to his and Blinky gazed coldly back. "His name is James."
"He prefers Jim."
Merlin sighed. "Very well. 'Jim.' Your affection for him is obvious. But it's been six months. He's gotten accustomed to his new form. I sympathize, I really do. But even if you could figure out this potion – unlikely, given that you have only one known ingredient – it would only have a temporary effect, assuming it worked at all. Wouldn't that be crueler, giving him a taste of his old world only to lose it in a matter of days?"
"I would make several batches. He could live as a human, at least for a time. Perhaps even go to school. Education is not to be disregarded."
Merlin shook his head. "He wouldn't be able to use the amulet in a human form. He's connected to it in troll form. If a threat came, he would be helpless to stop it." Blinky clenched one fist and nearly cracked one of the flasks. He quickly put it down. "Besides, what are you testing those potions on? You're not just going to pour it on him and hope for the best?"
"Of course not. I test them on myself. My fourth pinkie, if you wanted to know." The shocked silence was pleasant, though Blinky knew a diatribe was coming. Merlin was older and more magically gifted than any of them. Which he liked to remind them of. "Could I persuade you to skip the part where you tell me it's foolhardy, dangerous, unwise, and selfish of me to put my life at risk for the sake of an experiment? I've only tested two batches, and that after I tried it on dead troll stone." He gestured to a piece of paper tacked to the wall. "That one gave me a rash on my finger, and that one made me glow fluorescent green."
Merlin shook his head. "Far be it from me to try to sway you from your experiment. If anything happens to you I'll try to console the boy when he breaks down from losing another loved one."
Blinky glared at him. "Are you so completely without empathy? I assured you, I've been around a millennia, and I have not lost the ability to care. And I am still quite suspicious of you insisting there's no potion to reverse or alleviate this situation for him. Particularly now that you have all the magic you could ever want."
"Which I have been funneling into the heartstone for the new Trollmarket!" Merlin inhaled deeply. "Look. I came here to say the heartstone is showing progress. Would you like to see it?"
Blinky quietly corked each of the flasks and put them in the wooden chest he had found in a dump and repurposed with a padlock. "Yes, I would like that. And I do thank you for what you're doing. It's just…hard to see him like this."
"He seems all right to me." Merlin sounded sincere and Blinky said nothing, instead following him out of the alcove. "In hindsight I wish I could adjust the amulet to let him take the armor off. I will work on that as soon as the heartstone is stable."
Merlin meant well. Blinky had to believe that. It was the only thing that ever kept him from socking the man in the face.
"Eres tan embrigante, eres tu…"
Claire hummed faintly along to the radio as she hunted for new books, scouring the shelves. "I swear they're going to ban me for excessive printer usage." She selected two of them and walked down the aisles, pausing again when she spotted another genre. "Ooh, young adult. What's new?" She set her books beside her feet and crouched to scan the titles. "Ugh, no love triangles, I'm sick to death of those."
With an effort Claire stopped talking to herself. It was a bad habit that had formed in the past few months. Sometimes she imagined responses to her statements – generally soundings like Toby and Jim, or in some cases Mary and Darci. She pursed her lips as she scoured the books. Sci-fi…oh, the next Gun Robot manga was out. Pulling out her phone, Claire jotted a note to herself. Jim would never ask her to get something so 'childish' as a comic but it pleased her to no end to see his face light up when she brought some small taste of the human world to him.
Her phone buzzed in her hands and she jumped before answering. "Hi Dad, what's up?"
"Princess! How are you? Is Alberto a safe driver? Is Jim doing okay, and are you…erm…partaking in excessive canoodling?"
"'Excessive canoodling.' I can safely say no one has ever referred to sex as 'excessive canoodling.'" He was silent. "No Dad. Jim's a perfect gentleman." She would not mention the kisses that went on for several minutes that left her breathless – that was personal. Even if they did have to be careful about the teeth. "He's…well, busy. We all are. Making a home for trolls is harder than you'd think. But Alberto is a great driver, he's very nice. He just got me a documentary about spelunking, isn't that sweet?"
The conversation went on a while, Claire assuring her father she was safe and liked Hoboken. She would have to visit soon, he insisted, which she agreed to vaguely as she printed articles on minerals. Sometimes the internet turned up more than paper books. She didn't give a date as to when she would come – she didn't feel comfortable leaving the trolls without a human that could go into the city for an emergency without proclaiming, "How on earth do the traffic lights time themselves in sync with the others!?" And Jim…Jim was depressed. He thought he hid it well but Claire had talked enough girlfriends through bad breakups and worse to know the signs.
She hung up after giving her father love and blowing a kiss into the phone. A girl near the printers snickered at her. "Miss Daddy's Girl?"
"More like 'Miss Has a Good Relationship With Her Family, Keep Your Nose Out of Her Business,'" she said cheerfully. With that she carried off her books. She had a store to get to.
Aaarrrgghh did not like the stranger. He was unsurprised by nearly everything and that made the troll very nervous.
The gyre had been the first thing mended after the destruction of Trollmarket, and it helped Aaarrrgghh to know that if Jim or Blinky or Claire needed them, they were just a nauseating ride away. Blinky and Nomura had built a station to receive it and Merlin had been kind enough to create a tunnel to the Arcadia site. They hadn't been able to visit yet – the station had only been finished last month and then a group of goblins creeping from the wreckage of the Darklands had come out, and for the sake of household pets and small children everywhere they had to stop them.
More and more people came to Toby with requests for other matters as well – finding lost children, stolen items, getting a bully off their back. Aaarrrgghh was adored, in spite of his hulking frame, and when a little girl they had rescued the cat of hugged him, he felt as if a little of his past slipped further away. The darkness fell back; the twilight of contentment, of heroism, was here and it was good.
The man had made no violent move, and he was easygoing. But every time Aaarrrgghh looked at him, his fur prickled.
"So you know Jim?" Toby grunted as he tied another wad of plastic in place. The litter sweep had been fruitful, and Aaarrrgghh was happy they were finally able to send some help to the other trolls. Strickler had agreed to do their rounds for them during their visit.
The man had a large dog with him now, one that followed his heels. It was a pretty animal, though it smelled wrong for a canine. Where it had hidden before Aaarrrgghh didn't know, and it made him very nervous. Toby, of course, was a softy when it came to animals. But then, that was why Aaarrrgghh was there. Toby patted the dog's back and it panted, wagging its tail. "I know of him. And a little of the adventures you've had here." He clicked his tongue and the dog returned to him, pointed ears laying back blissfully as he gave it a scratch along its nose. "Draig is my buddy," he added.
"That's an interesting name for a dog. But anyway, you mentioned dealing with an old guy if something had happened to Jim? Are you a friend of his, or…what's the nature of your interest rather?" Toby shrugged. "I mean, I don't want to fight you, but since you know where the gyre is, and about Jim being in New Jersey, it's kind of something that might need to happen if you're an enemy."
"On my father's bones, I would not harm Jim Lake or anyone he holds dear." The man's face was sad. "I'm glad he has such a loyal friend."
Aaarrrgghh growled. "You no hurt Jim. Or Wingman. Or I turn you into mush."
The sadness faded, replaced by that kindly amusement. "Make that friends plural. Where I come from, making an oath like that means that breaking it would harm my father in heaven. Even with that said, I don't think I can tell you much more. It's very personal, and if I'm wrong…if Jim is, in fact, all right, I intend to disappear."
Aaarrrgghh shifted uneasily, hefting another cube of scrap into the gyre. "Someone hurt Jim? After him? Who?"
"No one maybe. But I need to make sure. If I'm wrong you don't have to worry about me anymore." The man leaned over the gyre's side, looking at the controls. "This is interesting. So you just pull that lever and you can direct it to a gyre station?"
"That's a need to know basis." Toby tugged Aaarrrgghh aside, grinning at the man. "Mind if I collude with my friend here, set up a plan in case you're a crazy murderer?"
"By all means. I'd be disappointed if you didn't." The man stepped back and seated himself on the ground. He took a small squeaky ball and Draig barked, butt in the air, tail wagging harder.
Toby watched them play for a moment. "What do you think Wingman? This guy is mondo weird."
"Not know. Reminds Aaarrrgghh of something. But also smell wrong." Aaarrrgghh put up an arm to block the man from reading their lips. "Doesn't seem bad, but won't tell us name."
"So should we take him to Jim? I don't want him knowing how to work the gyre or the route, or where the new Trollmarket will be located." Toby studied the ground as if searching for an answer there. "What if we blindfold him and bind his hands. If he really just wants to help Jim with something, he'd be okay with that. If he won't, we won't take him and we'll make him leave."
"Man powerful. Already knew about us. Might follow."
Toby hesitated. "Then…we take him captive so we can get some help finding out who he is."
Aaarrrgghh whined. "Don't like. But best thing, I think."
Toby nodded. "Okay mystery guy, here's how this'll work," he announced, turning to the man. "We can't have you knowing where the others are because it's dangerous. We also can't let you know how our device works…even though you already know where it is." He coughed. "If you let us blindfold you and bind your hands for the trip, we'll take you to meet Jim and the others."
"Sure." The man put the ball away and the dog huffed. "Can we go now?"
"Uh. S-Sure. Just let me get a blindfold." Toby glanced at Aaarrrgghh and shrugged helplessly. He took off down a tunnel and Aaarrrgghh was left with the man and his dog.
"Why you smell familiar?" Aaarrrgghh asked finally. The man adjusted his cap slightly.
"I can think of a couple of reasons why I might, but neither are pertinent unless my fears are founded in reality." He checked his phone. "Signal's pretty bad this far down."
Toby returned with a lady's nighttime sleep mask. The man's brows rose. "What, I've never had to blindfold anyone. No one tell Nana I use these sometimes, okay?" He knelt so Toby could put them on him and the cartoon, long-lashed eyes made Aaarrrgghh chuckle in spite of himself. He followed this up with handcuffs, looking guilty as he locked the man's wrists together. Draig whined.
"Calm down Draig. We can trust them." The dog obediently climbed into the gyre and curled up in a ball. "Help me up?" Toby guided him into a seat and he settled comfortably. "So, these things are like roller coasters right?"
"More like an insane tilt-a-hurl. Here's a baggy." Toby sat it in his lap and provided a rumpled paper taco bag for Draig, who sniffed it. "And a doggy bag. If you yak, please do so in these."
Aaarrrgghh gave the man a look over – no weapons, hands were well-bound, no transmitters or anything, save for the phone. "No take phone," he growled.
"All right." The man pitched it to the side where it cracked. "Material things can be replaced," he explained. With that Aaarrrgghh had no more logical complaints and he turned to the controls, entered his desired coordinates, and winced.
"Hate gyre." With that and an incredible wave of speed they were hurtling into the deep dark tunnels beneath the earth.
Claire found Jim and Blinky with Merlin near the brightest point of New Trollmarket, the heartstone.
Her knapsack was full of books and papers, and a couple of goodies. "It's getting so much brighter," she marveled. Merlin's smiled at her and bowed at the waist. "I brought some new books and articles Blinky. And I have a couple of treats too." She pulled out a tiny model car and handed it to Blinky. "A model of a 1964 Impala." She grimaced at the paper wrapped bag as she drew it out. "A butcher in town that made the closest equivalent to haggis one can get in Hoboken." Merlin beamed and conjured a flower in thanks, setting it in her hair. "And the latest Gun Robot manga." She handed this to Jim, whose blue cheeks flushed purple.
"Fair Claire, you are a shining beacon in our difficult days," Blinky said sincerely. "And your timing is excellent! I received word from Tobias and Aaarrrgghh saying that they are visiting this very hour!"
Claire grinned. "That's so great! I wish I'd known, I would have gotten something for them too." She turned to the stone, running a hand over the large, chunky facets. "How big will it need to be to power the whole market?"
"About twice this size, and more growth beyond that for a bigger city. But it's a very good start. At least the gyre can run. It'll be much easier now that we can trade supplies with our Arcadia friends." Merlin patted the stone. "It's hard to rush these. They're finicky."
"Thanks Claire. It'll be great with Tobes and Aaarrrgghh here." Jim's smile was genuine and it relieved her. The five of them together again would surely cheer him. And she'd missed Aaarrrgghh's big smile and Toby's horrible humor. She wrapped an arm around Jim, who returned the gesture.
Blinky cleared his throat. "However, Tobias did mention they have a…questionable person traveling with them." Claire cocked her head. Blinky nodded. "Yes…he sent me a message." He waggled one hand at her, a phone in it. It was one with buttons, not a touch screen, as the stony texture of troll fingers was not conducive to the glass. "He says 'Arg and I coming 2 c u. B there in 1 hr. Weird guy w/ us, says he's worried abt Jim. Knows abt TH and Merlin. Seems OK, got him blindfolded. Didn't kno what 2 do."
Merlin's brows furrowed. "How could you decipher that code with all those odd spellings?"
Claire frowned. "Why would this guy be worried about Jim? Who would know you that Toby wouldn't know too?"
Jim scratched the back of his head thoughtfully. "Not sure. I mean, I have some uncles I only ever saw around Christmas. But none of them know anything about this. And who would know Merlin?"
Merlin stroked his beard. "Well, I've no shortage of enemies and allies from back in my day, but it seems they would mostly be dead by this point. Though I suppose Morganna's sealing away might have had some teeny-tiny side effects."
Blinky scowled, folding one pair of arms. "What kind of side effects?"
"Oh, well, just saying that she let a lot of evil magic into the world. It got sucked back in once she was banished and my power restored, but it might have…well, interested a few darker creatures that exist in our world. Some of which I might have encountered." Merlin twiddled his thumbs. "Perhaps this fellow is one of them and is pretending to be a friend in order to get to me?"
Jim sighed. "Why can't you ever tell us things before it's a life or death situation? What should we do?"
"Well, Merlin should stay out of sight until he's had a chance to figure out who this is. We can meet them at the gyre and get Toby and Aaarrrgghh away from him, they can handle themselves if he tries anything." Claire took out her staff and elongated it, carved wood knocking heavily against the ground. "Maybe he's a friend to trollkind. They have to exist, right?"
"That's quite possible as well." Merlin's green armor shone like snakeskin as he passed the heartstone. "I will conceal myself outside the gyre station and intervene if he appears dangerous."
"Very well, we will greet our friends and this unknown." Blinky turned back to Jim. "Master Jim, shall we away?"
Jim was looking at him. He was staring back toward one of the tunnels, ears pricked forward. "Ah…Master Jim?" He started. "Did you hear something?"
"No. No, I…I guess not. Just a troll or something." Jim walked beside him with Claire hanging back slightly to peer into the tunnel he'd been looking at. She saw nothing, and heard nothing as well. And yet the coldness of it seemed to reach past her sweater dress and into her bones.
Jim's heart was in his throat when the gyre hit the station and whined during its cool down. "Hate gyre," Aaarrrgghh panted, hauling himself and Toby out of the device. His crossed, dizzy eyes became happy even as he stumbled. "Jim, Blinky, Claire!"
"Where!?" Toby yelled, spinning in a circle before lifting his helmet off his head. When he spotted them he threw himself over Aaarrrgghh's arm and onto Jim, who laughed and hugged his friend. "Jimbo!"
"Tobes!" Aaarrrgghh's crushing embrace enveloped the two and Jim felt so light he could fly. "It's been too long."
"Rebuilding gyre hard." Aaarrrgghh rubbed his head against Claire's side like a great cat and drew Blinky in for a hug. "Friends!"
"TP!" Claire hugged Toby and elbowed his side. "I hope you're not slacking off without us as training partners!"
"Psh, no way Nuñez. Warhammer and I grow more powerful every day." Toby paused. "Oh yeah, the guy. Hey dude, you alive?"
"Barely. Sheesh…who came up with this thing?" Jim followed the sound of the voice. The man stumbled to his feet, eyes covered in what looked like one of Toby's Nana's nighttime eye masks. He wavered and fell out of the gyre, onto the the other side. A faint whine emanated from the floor of the gyre and a red dog crawled out, tongue hanging out. "I'm okay. I'm fine." The man stood up and came around the side, feeling his way along the sphere. "O-kay. I've officially found a method of travel worse than planes."
"Sorry about this guys, he followed me around. I didn't know what to do since he knew about Troll Hunter business." Toby shrugged apologetically and Jim patted his shoulder.
"No worries Tobes, we'll figure it out." He stepped away from his friends with an effort, toward the man. "Hi. You were looking for Jim Lake?"
"Yes! That's you I assume?" The man was slightly familiar for some reason, but the eye mask made him look goofy. Jim slid it off his eyes and the man blinked hard several times. "I was so hoping to talk to you, I have to ask if you…"
His mouth stopped and Jim felt his gaze drifting down his feral face. His eyes were a startling blue, and the hair he could see was jet black. Jim wondered for the first time what he must look like to a human that hadn't seen many trolls, and had likely been expecting a teenage boy. "I'd heard about the fight with Morganna. And that you'd been changed…but I hoped…"
The man's face became agonized. "Oh, Jim. That sarding wizard. What did he do to you?" He lifted his bound hands and Jim jumped back before the man could touch his face. "Pardon. You…don't know who I am. And you shouldn't, really. I meant it to be that way. But this…"
The man straightened and his eyes grew bright with rage. The dog had ceased whining and bounded to him, closing its teeth on his manacles. They broke like candy in its jaws and Aaarrrgghh growled lowly, moving himself in front of Jim and the others. But the man paid them no attention. "Myrddin Wyllt! Where are you!? Come out and face me, or I'll find you myself and ploughing run you through!"
Toby glanced at Jim. "Uh, y'know, he didn't say anything about stabbing earlier. Just so you know."
"It's all right children." Merlin stepped from a small caveat in the wall, staff in hand, the emerald glowing softly. "Well this is a surprise. That magic never wore off?"
The man turned and his eyes glowed blue, hot like coals. "No…it didn't. And you're up to the same old tricks, aren't you?"
Merlin lowered his head. "Arthur, I am sorry about what happened. It was the only way to keep the armies back without loss of soldier life. I knew there would be consequences…"
"Like I give a sard about that! What did you do to Jim!?" He paced forward and Merlin tapped his staff against the ground, a shield rising around him in green light. "I left twelve years ago to make sure he and Barbara wouldn't be wrapped up in any of this and I come back to find him transformed into a troll!? What – did – you – do!?"
Jim stared as the man threw off his ball cap, revealing black hair and a long, lean face that was familiar under the short beard on his jaw. High cheekbones accented his handsome features, and though he couldn't remember seeing it so livid, Jim knew that face. He'd last seen it when he was five, smiling as he left and walked out of his life.
James Lake Sr. pounded his fists against Merlin's shield and with the blows it glowed brighter with cracks, as if the magic couldn't bear the rage. The dog began barking and bared its teeth. "What – did – you – do – to – my – son!?"
End of Chapter 1
Preview of Chapter 2
"Dad!"
His grip loosened and Merlin dropped to his feet, gasping and clutching his throat. James's hands fell to his sides and Toby and Claire released him, looking to Jim uncertainly. His heart was in throat, and his eyes burned, but he stared at the man that he'd lost so many years ago, that had walked out of his life. James turned to face him, expressionless but for a twitch in his jaw. "It's been twelve years since you've called me that." He shifted. "No…you called me 'Daddy.' You were five."
"Spare me. Just…you can't show up after all these years and drop the nuclear bombshell that you're the King Arthur. And that you left me and Mom because of some evil son that's apparently out for your blood." He ran his fingers through his hair, thick and dirty. His horns made combing a pain. "You left me. You left her. Do you have any idea how many nights she cried after you left?" He blew a gust of breath out, hot, like an ox. "You probably don't remember that day. What's one day in a thousand years?"
James slowly closed his eyes. "Your mother was wearing black dress slacks and a purple blouse because she'd met with one of the hospital directors for a position in the future. She was set to graduate in two years with her MD. You were in your Gun Robot pajamas and had been eating graham crackers. There were crumbs on your fingers. I remember you had this little bruise on your forehead because you banged it on the doorframe when you were pretending to be the robot." He raised his fingers to his chin. "I showed you the bike kit and you were so excited. Barb thought I was crazy because it was a big kid's bike but I knew it the closest thing to a Vespa a kid could have. And we could it build it together once you got just a little bigger." He smiled faintly. "Did you ever get a Vespa? You were crazy about them when you were little."