Chapter 8 - The Foe in the Family
Block was not calm. Hagrid had pulled him back into the recesses of the caves away from the cavern and was now having trouble controlling him.
'I have to go! They need help - didn't you see? Dragons!' Block was babbling and a look of wildness and fury rested deep in his eyes. Hagrid hugged him and gave him a little time to calm down. Soon Block was calm and Hagrid sat with him on the floor of the cave wrapping his arm around Block's shoulder.
'Don't worry. We'll have 'em out of there - we just need a bit of a plan that's all. Now let me think about it for a few minutes and we'll be off. You just relax,' said Hagrid.
Hagrid pondered the situation. There had been about ten dragons in the cavern and hundreds of trolls but all the advantage appeared to be with the dragons. They were watchful and could immediately send deadly fire down on the whole floor of the cave should they wish. He needed to know more about what was going on so they would have to talk to one of the trolls down in the cavern.
'Block, do you think you could find your way through these caves down to one that opens onto the floor near the rest of your clan?' said Hagrid.
'Yes - do that. Maybe find my brother Boulder,' said Block.
'OK then, that's what we'll do,' said Hagrid 'let's get going then. Here, have a pie.'
Block and Hagrid ate the last of their pies and they drank the remains of their water. They packed their things and set off back along the tunnel.
They soon came to a junction with a downward tunnel doubling back the way they had arrived. There was an acrid smell of sulphur carried up on the warm air rising up the tunnel.
'This way,' said Block and they headed downwards.
The tunnel was steep but straight. Moving carefully so as not to make any noise they groped their way down the path and progressed steadily onwards. Soon a dim light could be seen at the end of the tunnel so they extinguished their torches and crept forwards. At the opening of the tunnel the way was barred by a heavy iron gate and they could only look out across the floor of the cavern. They could now peer up at the dragons high above and they could see the trolls much more closely. The trolls were dirty, bruised, and dreadfully tired. Some dug at the rock with hammers and pick-axes; some carried rocks away and others were occasionally seen hauling barrels that had been unearthed from the rock away to a large cave at the far side of the cavern.
'Look! There's Boulder!' whispered Block excitedly. And there, a few paces away was a young troll who resembled Block in some respects but was fully- grown, very muscular and nearly twice Block's height. Block was about to call out when a hand was clamped across his mouth.
'Wait a moment,' said Hagrid. For he had noticed that instead of carrying a pickaxe or hammer, Boulder was carrying a whip coiled in his hand. He also looked clean and strong compared to the other trolls.
One of the other trolls passed by and stumbled spilling rocks from a basket on his back. Instead of going to his aid Boulder unfurled his whip and, with a crack, lashed the ground next to the troll. The troll gave Boulder a murderous stare. Boulder raised his whip and shouted, 'get going - you know the Master is impatient. Move now or I'll use this whip. Lucky for you it isn't Cragheart here instead of me.' The other troll dropped his gaze and started to refill his basket.
Block's eyes were wide with amazement. Then a third troll appeared. It was Cragheart. He walked up to Boulder and he was also carrying a whip, 'huh? What's going on?' he grunted to Boulder.
'Nothing,' replied Boulder, 'old screebones here needed some encouragement.'
'The Master will not accept failure,' replied Cragheart, 'keep them working hard. We must find the last of the barrels.'
Hagrid and Block watched as Boulder and Cragheart moved away. Occasionally they would stop and scold someone for slacking. There would be the crack of whips and sometimes a scream or groan.
When they were out of earshot Block said with despair in his voice, 'my Brother! No. He's bad, bad, bad - oh Boulder!' and Block buried his face in his hands and began to sob. He had been ready to face any danger and fight any foe but discovering that his own brother was the enemy that he had come to fight was too much for him.
Hagrid examined the gate that blocked their way. It may have been put into place to keep the other trolls from escaping and it was solid. The only thing that they could do was try to call one of the trolls across when Cragheart and Boulder weren't about.
'I'd better go alone,' said Block, 'my people will be suspicious of anyone they don't know and trust.'
Hagrid agreed but told Block to be careful.
They waited and watched from the hiding place and the two trolls carrying whips tended to wander in a random fashion going wherever they thought those slaving away needed additional encouragement. When they were both well away from where Block and Hagrid lay hidden, Block spotted one of the passing trolls who was labouring under a huge basket of rocks on his back. It was Dolomic the village quarry master. Block called out to him and the troll looked around first with a look of fear on his face then amazement as he spotted Block.
The troll changed course and plodded towards Block. He stopped by the gate and asked, 'is that you Block? What are you doing here? We thought you'd escaped the rounding up.'
Block pressed his face to the gate and asked, 'where's my mother and father?'
Dolomic answered, 'they're over working on the far side of the cavern - they're OK although your mother is very down. Her own son...' the troll paused and looked down at Block, 'your brother! He has betrayed the clan along with that evil brute Cragheart. Your mother has taken it very badly. I can't stay here - they're watching and their punishments are harsh. We should get a short rest break soon and I'll come back then.'
'No!' said Block, 'get word to my mother and father. I want to see them more than anything right now.'
Dolomic nodded and said, 'I'll do what I can. Take care Block. This is a terrible place but it's good to see you. Make sure you don't get caught,' with those words the troll turned and tramped away.
Block crawled back into the shadows and explained things to Hagrid. All they could do now was wait until the rest break.
Some time later a voice boomed out, 'five minutes to rest and drink. Use it well - there will be no more rest 'til the work is finished.'
Block peered out of the cave and all of the trolls were downing tools and gathering at a trough. Some had buckets and they scooped and drank thirstily. Two of the throng separated away and idled across towards him. It was his mother, Hardfist, and his father, Bonecracker.
A choked cry rose in Block's voice as he recognised his mother and father coming towards him.
'Mother.Father!' he cried as he saw them bruised and ragged. His mother shushed him looking for signs that someone should be watching and then her eyes filled with tears. His father was also biting his lip and tears welled in his eyes. Block's parents sat against the rails apparently resting. Hardfist immediately started firing questions at Block, 'what are you doing here you foolish young troll? How did you get here? Who is looking after you?' then Bonecracker joined in, 'how did you find us? You OK? You seen that no-good goblin of a brother of yours?'
'Will you two shut up!' said Block in exasperation - his mother and father stared in shocked silence. This wasn't the same young Block that they had left behind on the mountain just a few weeks earlier. Block had changed during the time that he had been on his own. He had learned to be independent, resourceful and not to take nonsense from wittering parents when there was serious work to be done.
'Tell me what has been going on..quickly, there isn't much time,' Block said to his stunned parents.
Hardfist explained that after they had been captured, they had been taken from the clan village to the mountain that they were now under. They had made the terrible discovery regarding their treacherous son and Cragheart who had been working all along for the one in the cloak. Their task was to hollow out the cavern that they were now standing in and collect 120 barrels that had been buried deep in the rock. They only had a few barrels left to find and they didn't know what would happen after that. The dragons watched over them and the man in the cloak would visit occasionally to check on the progress. They also explained that there was a boy and a dwarf locked in a cave leading off the far side of the cavern. Cragheart had caught the dwarf when they first arrived but the boy had only come recently. At this news, Hagrid came forward from the shadows in the tunnel.
'Block lookout! There's a giant! He's sneaking up behind you,' his mother said in alarm.
'He's with me,' said Block
Hagrid introduced himself. He was of course most interested in the boy who had been captured and after the two fully grown trolls had described what they could from the brief glimpse they'd got when they were putting the barrels into the store Hagrid was satisfied that he had found Harry.
Trolls were beginning to stir from their brief rest and get back to work. So intent had Block's parents been on their brief conversation that they had not noticed Cragheart arrive.
Whap! The whip lashed across Hardfist's shoulders and face leaving a bloody scar on her cheek.
Bonecracker stood up to face Cragheart but immediately one of the Dragons swooped from its perch and landed behind them. Block's parents got up slowly with their backs to the small cave entrance to conceal Hagrid and Block as they scrambled back into the shadows.
'Damn you Cragheart!' said Bonecracker and Cragheart's eyes blazed with fury as whap another whiplash was hurled, this time at Bonecracker, hitting him about the waist. Boulder looked on uncomfortably a short distance away as his father took hold of the end of the whip and gave it a furious yank ripping it from Cragheart's hands.
Suddenly the work in the cavern ceased. The trolls turned to watch.
Cragheart turned to Boulder and shouted, 'throw me your whip - quickly!' Boulder hesitated and then threw his whip across to Cragheart.
The tension was electric as the two trolls faced one another.
The expression on Bonecracker's face was one of grim satisfaction that the time had come to settle matters with Cragheart. Cragheart on the other hand looked less keen on a fair fight. He turned and snapped his fingers at the huge dragon stood behind him. The dragon roared and charged forwards.
Bonecracker turned to run but with the speed and power of the great dragon had no chance of escape. The dragon opened its great jaws wide and screeched as it sprang forward pinning the troll to the ground with its front feet. Hardfist screamed as the dragon spread its great wings and took off up towards the roof of cavern with her husband clutched in its talons.
Bonecracker could be seen kicking and struggling in vain in the huge claws of the dragon. When the dragon was several hundred feet up it opened its claws releasing Bonecracker.
For a moment he flew through the air and, to a gasp of relief from the trolls watching, he landed heavily at the top of a tall pinnacle of rock that rose sheer and vertical from the floor of the cavern. Bonecracker almost rolled straight over the side of the small platform but just managed to halt himself. He then pulled himself to the middle of the platform which was barely large enough for him to lie flat on. He was completely stranded, as the only way down would be to fly.
The dragon flew back to a vantagepoint on a nearby perch and blasted a great torrent of fire down towards the floor of the cavern. The message was clear - get back to work at once.
All of the dragons suddenly turned towards the wooden stairway that led up through the hole in the roof. They crouched down on their perches and twisted their tails back and forth in a nervous fashion. The figure in the cloak appeared from above and made his way down the stairs towards the cavern floor. When he reached the rocky outcrop at the base of the steps he stood for a moment surveying the scene around him.
Cragheart and Boulder soon arrived in front of him and although they were towering above him they stood with the demeanor of servants cringing and fawning before their master. Hardfist however headed across to where Hagrid and Block remained hidden. She held a brief discussion with them and after Hagrid had passed his coil of rope through the bars, they headed back up through the caves.
The wizard Harbaxen drew the hood of his cloak back to reveal white hair and eyes that glowed red reflecting the fires that raged around him.
Block was not calm. Hagrid had pulled him back into the recesses of the caves away from the cavern and was now having trouble controlling him.
'I have to go! They need help - didn't you see? Dragons!' Block was babbling and a look of wildness and fury rested deep in his eyes. Hagrid hugged him and gave him a little time to calm down. Soon Block was calm and Hagrid sat with him on the floor of the cave wrapping his arm around Block's shoulder.
'Don't worry. We'll have 'em out of there - we just need a bit of a plan that's all. Now let me think about it for a few minutes and we'll be off. You just relax,' said Hagrid.
Hagrid pondered the situation. There had been about ten dragons in the cavern and hundreds of trolls but all the advantage appeared to be with the dragons. They were watchful and could immediately send deadly fire down on the whole floor of the cave should they wish. He needed to know more about what was going on so they would have to talk to one of the trolls down in the cavern.
'Block, do you think you could find your way through these caves down to one that opens onto the floor near the rest of your clan?' said Hagrid.
'Yes - do that. Maybe find my brother Boulder,' said Block.
'OK then, that's what we'll do,' said Hagrid 'let's get going then. Here, have a pie.'
Block and Hagrid ate the last of their pies and they drank the remains of their water. They packed their things and set off back along the tunnel.
They soon came to a junction with a downward tunnel doubling back the way they had arrived. There was an acrid smell of sulphur carried up on the warm air rising up the tunnel.
'This way,' said Block and they headed downwards.
The tunnel was steep but straight. Moving carefully so as not to make any noise they groped their way down the path and progressed steadily onwards. Soon a dim light could be seen at the end of the tunnel so they extinguished their torches and crept forwards. At the opening of the tunnel the way was barred by a heavy iron gate and they could only look out across the floor of the cavern. They could now peer up at the dragons high above and they could see the trolls much more closely. The trolls were dirty, bruised, and dreadfully tired. Some dug at the rock with hammers and pick-axes; some carried rocks away and others were occasionally seen hauling barrels that had been unearthed from the rock away to a large cave at the far side of the cavern.
'Look! There's Boulder!' whispered Block excitedly. And there, a few paces away was a young troll who resembled Block in some respects but was fully- grown, very muscular and nearly twice Block's height. Block was about to call out when a hand was clamped across his mouth.
'Wait a moment,' said Hagrid. For he had noticed that instead of carrying a pickaxe or hammer, Boulder was carrying a whip coiled in his hand. He also looked clean and strong compared to the other trolls.
One of the other trolls passed by and stumbled spilling rocks from a basket on his back. Instead of going to his aid Boulder unfurled his whip and, with a crack, lashed the ground next to the troll. The troll gave Boulder a murderous stare. Boulder raised his whip and shouted, 'get going - you know the Master is impatient. Move now or I'll use this whip. Lucky for you it isn't Cragheart here instead of me.' The other troll dropped his gaze and started to refill his basket.
Block's eyes were wide with amazement. Then a third troll appeared. It was Cragheart. He walked up to Boulder and he was also carrying a whip, 'huh? What's going on?' he grunted to Boulder.
'Nothing,' replied Boulder, 'old screebones here needed some encouragement.'
'The Master will not accept failure,' replied Cragheart, 'keep them working hard. We must find the last of the barrels.'
Hagrid and Block watched as Boulder and Cragheart moved away. Occasionally they would stop and scold someone for slacking. There would be the crack of whips and sometimes a scream or groan.
When they were out of earshot Block said with despair in his voice, 'my Brother! No. He's bad, bad, bad - oh Boulder!' and Block buried his face in his hands and began to sob. He had been ready to face any danger and fight any foe but discovering that his own brother was the enemy that he had come to fight was too much for him.
Hagrid examined the gate that blocked their way. It may have been put into place to keep the other trolls from escaping and it was solid. The only thing that they could do was try to call one of the trolls across when Cragheart and Boulder weren't about.
'I'd better go alone,' said Block, 'my people will be suspicious of anyone they don't know and trust.'
Hagrid agreed but told Block to be careful.
They waited and watched from the hiding place and the two trolls carrying whips tended to wander in a random fashion going wherever they thought those slaving away needed additional encouragement. When they were both well away from where Block and Hagrid lay hidden, Block spotted one of the passing trolls who was labouring under a huge basket of rocks on his back. It was Dolomic the village quarry master. Block called out to him and the troll looked around first with a look of fear on his face then amazement as he spotted Block.
The troll changed course and plodded towards Block. He stopped by the gate and asked, 'is that you Block? What are you doing here? We thought you'd escaped the rounding up.'
Block pressed his face to the gate and asked, 'where's my mother and father?'
Dolomic answered, 'they're over working on the far side of the cavern - they're OK although your mother is very down. Her own son...' the troll paused and looked down at Block, 'your brother! He has betrayed the clan along with that evil brute Cragheart. Your mother has taken it very badly. I can't stay here - they're watching and their punishments are harsh. We should get a short rest break soon and I'll come back then.'
'No!' said Block, 'get word to my mother and father. I want to see them more than anything right now.'
Dolomic nodded and said, 'I'll do what I can. Take care Block. This is a terrible place but it's good to see you. Make sure you don't get caught,' with those words the troll turned and tramped away.
Block crawled back into the shadows and explained things to Hagrid. All they could do now was wait until the rest break.
Some time later a voice boomed out, 'five minutes to rest and drink. Use it well - there will be no more rest 'til the work is finished.'
Block peered out of the cave and all of the trolls were downing tools and gathering at a trough. Some had buckets and they scooped and drank thirstily. Two of the throng separated away and idled across towards him. It was his mother, Hardfist, and his father, Bonecracker.
A choked cry rose in Block's voice as he recognised his mother and father coming towards him.
'Mother.Father!' he cried as he saw them bruised and ragged. His mother shushed him looking for signs that someone should be watching and then her eyes filled with tears. His father was also biting his lip and tears welled in his eyes. Block's parents sat against the rails apparently resting. Hardfist immediately started firing questions at Block, 'what are you doing here you foolish young troll? How did you get here? Who is looking after you?' then Bonecracker joined in, 'how did you find us? You OK? You seen that no-good goblin of a brother of yours?'
'Will you two shut up!' said Block in exasperation - his mother and father stared in shocked silence. This wasn't the same young Block that they had left behind on the mountain just a few weeks earlier. Block had changed during the time that he had been on his own. He had learned to be independent, resourceful and not to take nonsense from wittering parents when there was serious work to be done.
'Tell me what has been going on..quickly, there isn't much time,' Block said to his stunned parents.
Hardfist explained that after they had been captured, they had been taken from the clan village to the mountain that they were now under. They had made the terrible discovery regarding their treacherous son and Cragheart who had been working all along for the one in the cloak. Their task was to hollow out the cavern that they were now standing in and collect 120 barrels that had been buried deep in the rock. They only had a few barrels left to find and they didn't know what would happen after that. The dragons watched over them and the man in the cloak would visit occasionally to check on the progress. They also explained that there was a boy and a dwarf locked in a cave leading off the far side of the cavern. Cragheart had caught the dwarf when they first arrived but the boy had only come recently. At this news, Hagrid came forward from the shadows in the tunnel.
'Block lookout! There's a giant! He's sneaking up behind you,' his mother said in alarm.
'He's with me,' said Block
Hagrid introduced himself. He was of course most interested in the boy who had been captured and after the two fully grown trolls had described what they could from the brief glimpse they'd got when they were putting the barrels into the store Hagrid was satisfied that he had found Harry.
Trolls were beginning to stir from their brief rest and get back to work. So intent had Block's parents been on their brief conversation that they had not noticed Cragheart arrive.
Whap! The whip lashed across Hardfist's shoulders and face leaving a bloody scar on her cheek.
Bonecracker stood up to face Cragheart but immediately one of the Dragons swooped from its perch and landed behind them. Block's parents got up slowly with their backs to the small cave entrance to conceal Hagrid and Block as they scrambled back into the shadows.
'Damn you Cragheart!' said Bonecracker and Cragheart's eyes blazed with fury as whap another whiplash was hurled, this time at Bonecracker, hitting him about the waist. Boulder looked on uncomfortably a short distance away as his father took hold of the end of the whip and gave it a furious yank ripping it from Cragheart's hands.
Suddenly the work in the cavern ceased. The trolls turned to watch.
Cragheart turned to Boulder and shouted, 'throw me your whip - quickly!' Boulder hesitated and then threw his whip across to Cragheart.
The tension was electric as the two trolls faced one another.
The expression on Bonecracker's face was one of grim satisfaction that the time had come to settle matters with Cragheart. Cragheart on the other hand looked less keen on a fair fight. He turned and snapped his fingers at the huge dragon stood behind him. The dragon roared and charged forwards.
Bonecracker turned to run but with the speed and power of the great dragon had no chance of escape. The dragon opened its great jaws wide and screeched as it sprang forward pinning the troll to the ground with its front feet. Hardfist screamed as the dragon spread its great wings and took off up towards the roof of cavern with her husband clutched in its talons.
Bonecracker could be seen kicking and struggling in vain in the huge claws of the dragon. When the dragon was several hundred feet up it opened its claws releasing Bonecracker.
For a moment he flew through the air and, to a gasp of relief from the trolls watching, he landed heavily at the top of a tall pinnacle of rock that rose sheer and vertical from the floor of the cavern. Bonecracker almost rolled straight over the side of the small platform but just managed to halt himself. He then pulled himself to the middle of the platform which was barely large enough for him to lie flat on. He was completely stranded, as the only way down would be to fly.
The dragon flew back to a vantagepoint on a nearby perch and blasted a great torrent of fire down towards the floor of the cavern. The message was clear - get back to work at once.
All of the dragons suddenly turned towards the wooden stairway that led up through the hole in the roof. They crouched down on their perches and twisted their tails back and forth in a nervous fashion. The figure in the cloak appeared from above and made his way down the stairs towards the cavern floor. When he reached the rocky outcrop at the base of the steps he stood for a moment surveying the scene around him.
Cragheart and Boulder soon arrived in front of him and although they were towering above him they stood with the demeanor of servants cringing and fawning before their master. Hardfist however headed across to where Hagrid and Block remained hidden. She held a brief discussion with them and after Hagrid had passed his coil of rope through the bars, they headed back up through the caves.
The wizard Harbaxen drew the hood of his cloak back to reveal white hair and eyes that glowed red reflecting the fires that raged around him.