Chapter 30
At the docks near the fishing bait store, Enrico's father stood along with another man in front of a carriage waiting together for Enrico and Ernesto to show up by them.
„Where are they?" Asked the man looking at the father of Enrico.
„They should be at the docks coming down here," The father of Enrico responded walking behind the house to look at the road to see on the road the two boys run in his direction. „There they are," The father commented, then the friend stood beside him to see them.
„It passed midnight, they're almost half an hour delayed," The man pointed out watching the father move forward to come closer to the boys, then in the middle, the boys arrived and stopped in front of the father.
„Dad, you can't believe, what we saw!" Enrico shouted. „We saw three strange-looking animals and something like a dragon hybrid!"
„What?!" Asked the father shocked. „Ernesto, is he serious?"
„The dragon flew behind Enrico into Rollan's house and I think it hunted him,"
„What has he done to you?" The father asked looking at his son.
„She threw me around the bedroom snarling at me, while she protected those three strange cubs. They had long ears, a thick nose and I don't know how to explain it….they look like rabbits, but weirder," Enrico explained. „They're about the size of the Tomato red fox we found the other day,"
„Alright, did you two notice anything about the dragon?" The father asked earning a nod from the two boys.
„I didn't see quite much. It flew fast into the house," Ernesto commented.
„It was about a head taller than me and the wings seemed to be really wide too. I couldn't see them fully open,"
„Wow, I really hope you two are talking real about this," The friend of the father said shrieking Ernesto.
„We're saying the truth. That dragon-thing could have killed us, I have no idea how Enrico made it out of there,"
„I didn't know it either. The dragon was about to claw me with her hand, but she purposely missed me," Enrico commented earning a nod from the father.
„And whose house is that again you broke in?" The father asked, then Enrico showed the father the book.
„You know about Rollan, that guy that got one of your members arrested the other week," Enrico asked earning a nod from the man. „We found out he had a dark moment in his past, which he never told anyone about it and it's inside this book here. If we hand this out to Lieutenant Roberto and point him this out Rollan is most likely to get arrested and we have a nose less out of your business," Enrico explained opening the book to his father, then he took it to look through.
„Ernesto, how again did those brown cubs look like, which you encountered in Rollan's room?" The father asked.
„They could stay on their hind legs, they have a long, round nose and their ears are slim but long. I think it passes over their neck,"
„I think those creatures are more worth than anything else we've caught over the months," The father said turning the book to show an illustration with three similar cubs and three grown trolls standing around a burning building. „I need you two to go back to his house in the upcoming days to catch those cubs and bring them into our hideout,"
„But…..what about the dragon?" Enrico asked making the father snort.
„Don't you worry about it. Take the net launcher and when she appears again take her down," The father suggested. „If you think you need a third person, Alejandro can come with you," The father offered earning a nod from Enrico.
„Alright, father. As soon as possible?"
„Of course," The father commented. „Just warn Alejandro when you plan to go and we're good," Explained the man earning a nod from the son.
„Have you already got a plan?" Ernesto asked his friend, which saw Enrico show him the book.
„We can already use this tomorrow against Rollan. If he gets arrested, we can take the chance of his absence and take the cubs to us," Explained Enrico making Ernesto shrug his shoulder. „What's up?
„Nothing. I'm just feeling like we're ruining his life for no specific reason,"
„If we get rid of him, no one will make sure we and my dad land behind the grid. Come on, you're acting like we're planning to kill him. Be happy he at least stays alive," „Enrico commented earning a nod from Ernesto.
„Sure, I think you're right there,"
„You better not think about that boy. Come and get up on the carriage. We got work to do," The man announced watching the boys get up on the carriage, so the rest of the team got up and made their way out of there heading into the town.
The friends of Rollan were at the beach sitting on the sand together. Rollan wore his shorts only along with Kai, which wore a similar pair to his, but they were tightened on his waist with a belt due to having a smaller taille than the older boy. Alfida wore her red-white colored underclothing and Gerda wore on as well, but in white color only.
„I assumed you all had actual swimsuits," Rollan commented making the girls shake their heads.
„I obviously have never needed one in my life," Alfida mentioned. „When I learned to swim I had clothes on like everyone else,"
„We're supposed to wear clothes. Are you thinking it would be nice to see everyone walk around here naked?" Kai asked making his girlfriend shake her head.
„Down here we wear swimsuits. Women mostly. Men usually have like me and Kai any sort of shorts on," Rollan explained. „You girls are still covered in the swimsuits, besides your legs and arms. Like most of the girls and women, you see here around us,"
„Maybe on our next trip we gather some money for them," Alfida pointed out. „I still got a bit, but I saved it up for food,"
„Same here," Kai added. „Mostly for the way back home."
„About the way home, will you go directly or will you do stops as well?" Questioned the Spaniard.
„Gerda and I have a job back there. If we got there and still have it it's a big luck for us to have such a comprehensive boss," Alfida pointed out earning a nod from the raven-haired boy.
„That's kind of cool if your boss is really like that," Rollan commented. „But what if you both lose it?"
„Then we look for a new one," Alfida commented. „I don't think I lose my job that easy. Gerda, I have no idea. So far I know not many people are interested to work in a library as she does,"
„I can always help my parents at the store until I find something else if it happens," Gerda explained. „I came with you, cause I wanted to make sure we could bring the cubs back home safely and I would as well be able to see Rollan for a bit," Gerda commented placing her hand on his arm, making him smile.
„Is anyone going to swim actually?" Kai asked looking at the trio, then Alfida shrugged and looked at Rollan and Gerda.
„I thought that was the point of our date unless you want to build sandcastles or bury yourself inside the sand," Rollan suggested. „Or we can ask to join the group up there at the other side of the beach to play beach volleyball,"
„I'm not sure, what you will pick but I'm going to take a swim," Gerda announced getting up on the sand to walk into the water and looked back at her friends. „Anyone else joining?"
„I stay here and build a sandcastle," Kai responded watching Alfida begin to dig with her hands in the sand to collect it.
„Rollan?" Gerda asked watching Rollan ran into the water and jump into it to pass beside her and swim further. Gerda followed him from the side watching him holding his pace well without getting tired fast. Gerda tried to hold up with him paddling with her feet faster and Rollan rolled his eyes back to see his girlfriend trying to get closer to him, then he smiled and stopped floating on the surface. Gerda got closer to him, then stopped in front of him holding herself up with her hands above the water.
„You swim fast," Gerda mentioned. „Is it because of the practice?"
„I think so," Rollan responded. „I haven't noticed this before. We're all at the academy about the same speed. Important was it to be able to swim well when we joined the academy," Rollan explained and lied himself up on the water of the surface closing his eyes while floating with his entire body on the shallow.
„What are you doing?" Gerda asked making the boyfriend chuckle.
„Floating over the surface. It's quite easy. You just have to remain calm and let your lungs do the work," Rollan said slowly sinking with his legs into the water and he kept his body above the shoulders out of the water. „Take a bit of breath and lie yourself up above the water," Rollan taught the girl, which slowly lied herself up on the surface and tried to remain on the surface, then slowly her arms got down under the water and Gerda got up again on the surface.
„Wait, I have to try it again," Gerda said repeating the deed, then Rollan held one of his hands under her back to assist her in holding her equilibrium over water.
„I'm holding you, stay relaxed," Rollan commanded, then Gerda closed her eyes and stretched her arms and legs, holding her breath a little. Rollan removed his hand slowly watching the girl breathe out while being on top of the shallow. Rollan smiled, then Gerda opened her eyes to see she was floating, then she began to sink again, afterward, she disappeared with her body underwater leaving her head out.
„It was better than the first time," Rollan pointed out earning a nod from the blonde.
„I'm surely better in sinking down than staying above the water…..hey wait a moment, what about we two challenge each other on who holds the air the longest?" Gerda asked making her boyfriend shrug his shoulders.
„Hmm….good," Rollan responded.
„Three, two, one, dive!" Gerda counted covering her nose along with Rollan to dive under the water. Rollan came out first to gasp after breath, then seconds later Gerda came up raising her first in victory. „1 to 0!"
„Uno, dos, tres!" Rollan shouted diving down along with his girlfriend to see, who would win this time and both came out at the same time out of the water. „Wow, didn't expect this,"
„Uno, dos, tres!" Gerda counted making Rollan grin at her try, then he dived down along with the girlfriend. Several seconds later Rollan came out and wished his bangs aside and looked down to see Gerda was still inside the water making him drop his chin in surprise, then Gerda came out to gasp for breath.
„Wow that was long," Gerda said earning a nod from her boyfriend, then he took a look at her hair noticing that she had her hair ties on, while she was swimming.
„You know you don't need to wear your ties on your hair during swimming," Rollan pointed it out, then Gerda looked at them.
„Oh, I forgot to take them off. I rarely take them off you know,"
„You will look without them just as beautiful as you are with them," Rollan complimented making Gerda smile enamored with the Spaniard.
„Well with the time I'm in the water I could as well lose them by mistake," Gerda mentioned taking the ties off her hair and adjusted her hair, while Rollan observed her showing her straight hair. „And? What do you say?"
„Muy bonita," Complimented the raven-haired boy watching Gerda's hair points lie over the surface earning Rollan's attention, which swum beside her to look at their length. „You should more often have your hair open," Suggested Rollan watching Gerda smile at him amorously, seeing him get flirty with her, then she had an idea and pushed him into the water and swam away laughing amused. Rollan got out with his head and smirked at her invitation to play, then Rollan began to swim behind her and dived down underwater to pursue the girlfriend from under there and he returned to the surface and grabbed her by the feet to stop her, then she splashed with her hands against Rollan to free herself from him and made her way back towards the beach, followed by Rollan which got over the deed.
„Come and get me, if you can!" Gerda chanted making Rollan laugh, which followed her to the beach, then made it to be near her almost arriving at land, where Kai and Alfida had made a simple castle out of the sand.
„I'm getting you, Gerda," Rollan warned making Gerda chuckle, then she stopped as she felt the ground under her feet and Rollan passed beside her pointing to the sand advising her the race wasn't over making Gerda shake her head amused, then she hopped at Rollan to push him down landing with him in the water and she laughed at their fall, then looked at Rollan, which had his back out of the water and he rolled around to face Gerda, which was sitting over him gazing at his eyes.
„I'm the winner, right?" Gerda asked noticing Rollan gaze into her eyes distracted, then she shook her head knowing he was paralyzed by her deed, then she moved aside and sat down on the ground afterward Rollan copied her and looked at her.
„You won a lot today," Rollan responded watching Gerda smile and lean her cheek on his shoulder. „Most importantly, my full attention to you,"
„With you now, I am having the best time of my life,"
„That's good to know. You deserve so much more, mi amor. Much, much more," Admitted Rollan grabbing her hand to hold it tight on his chest.
„I want this time here with you to last forever," Gerda gushed leaning her forehead on her boyfriend's. „I'm enjoying every single second with you,"
„Ah so romantic!" A voice said interrupting the couple in the water, then Rollan frowned as he recognized the voice and saw behind himself and Gerda the boy Enrico come along with two guards and Gerda dropped her mouth as the police were accompanying the boy.
Rollan looked at Gerda worried, then Gerda grabbed his hand and shook her head so he would understand he should not worry.
„It really is," Gerda commented making Enrico roll his eyes and throw from his backpack out the Snow Queen book, which he stole from Rollan's bedroom.
„I've shown the guards here your book, Rollan," Enrico spoke. „You have two choices. You admit it or you lie to everyone as you did before,"
„What are you talking about?" Gerda started. „It's just a book,"
„Yes and this book here describes a certain man with the exact name and looks as your novio perfecto attempting to commit murder on an entire species and a few humans in order to rule the kingdom there. The funny thing, this happened during the time you were absent from Spain," Enrico commented making Gerda shake her head.
„It could be a coincidence," Gerda lied, then Enrico opened the book to show her a page, where Rollan looked like himself, then swiped to another page, where he transformed into a fire-themed character and moved to the last pages to show him trapping Gerda in the tombs. „Oh, you look just like this girl here in the illustration," Enrico commented. „Guards, she's also lying you see," Enrico warned watching both guards take out their swords to aim at the two, shrieking the couple at the water.
„Hey, hey, hey! Hold the horses. This happened a long time ago. He was pardoned by the king," Alfida commented getting up from the ground, then took out from the ground her chevrons to show it to the guards, so they would know she's a member of King Harald's palace's guards. „King Harald cleaned his reputation after he risked his life to save…..his son's life," Alfida made up earning a nod from Gerda and Rollan, which played along.
„Guards, I'm Gerda, the girl, that defeated the Snow Queen seven years ago. On this day here Rollan and I were possessed by the demons of the Snow Queen and the Fire Demon, the only difference was, that Rollan couldn't manage in time to free himself from the demon and was used as a slave to fight people. The real Rollan wasn't even aware of what was going on,"
„Rollan assumed his responsibility for what happened, his penalty just didn't get fulfilled to 100% because this situation occurred with the king and he got reunited with Gerda to solve this situation," Alfida made up.
„And that's why he's free, cause he saved someone and…...he was forgiven and all," Kai added earning a nod from the girlfriend.
„They're friends. They're lying!" Enrico warned watching the guards ponder.
„Alright, look as long as I haven't heard it personally from the king or in any way, but I received a complaint from Enrico and an anonymous person and I need to at least take him with me and keep him locked out as long as we manage to obtain any information from your king," The first guard explained. „If I find out you're all lying to save your friend, you're going into the same location as your friend here,"
„If you need his address, look it up behind the chevrons I've got," Alfida mentioned showing him the backside of the textile earning a nod from the guard.
„But King Harald doesn't know anything about that," Rollan whispered to Gerda.
„Don't worry, we find a way out to help you, I promise," Gerda said getting up along with Rollan, then Rollan walked towards the guard, which grabbed Rollan's arms and placed them behind his back, then placed around his hands handcuffs and looked at his friends.
„You three can visit your friend one hour each day. As long as he doesn't come into ideas," The guard said earning a nod from the trio.
„Will you tell my mom about it?" Rollan asked Gerda, which nodded. „Will you also make sure that the boys are safe?"
„Orm is there, don't worry," Gerda assured earning a nod from Rollan, then the guard placed his hand behind Rollan's neck and moved forward along with the other guard, then Enrico closed the book and threw it on the sand.
„I won't need this anymore," Enrico said walking away behind the guards, making Gerda frown and look at her friends.
„Rollan just got taken. We need to figure out how to get him out of there," Gerda mentioned earning a nod from her brother.
„Why didn't they just buy our lie or more important. Why do they believe in a silly book?" Kai asked making Gerda shrug her shoulders.
„My issue here is on how they just arrest Rollan when the crime happened on the outside of Spain. Usually, he's supposed to get punished back in the troll kingdom,"
„Yeah, I think so. Look I don't know if you're going to stay here, but I'm going to look for Rollan's mother and tell her what happened," Gerda said picking up a towel Rollan borrowed her, so she could dry herself.
„Gerda wait up, we're coming with you, „Kai mentioned earning a nod from his sister, and began to put on his shirt to get ready to leave with the girls.