Nomura retreated to New Trollmarket as daylight approached.
The refuge, hidden deep in the heart of New Jersey, was a place humans would have gaped at if they knew about it. The troll city – though "city" was a generous term – was the only place Nomura had to go now. Every morning, she grudgingly returned.
The former Trollmarket, in Arcadia Oaks, California, was destroyed, and her kin were forced to journey to the other side of the country to find a new Heartstone to sustain them. Only a week ago, the entire band arrived here.
Little houses and shops dotted the vast underground cavern.
Nomura snorted. It looked pathetic. Half-made structures creaked and groaned, threatening to collapse in on themselves. Heaps of garbage piled up near the subterranean river.
The only redeeming quality of the place was her little cave, far enough removed from the rest of Trollmarket that she didn't have to worry about bumping into the other trolls too often.
Nomura's home was… simplistic. A naturally-formed cave with bare, gray walls and ceiling housed nothing more than a few personal possessions. The carved-out sleeping alcove in the back was just as austere as the rest of the dwelling.
She stepped inside and tossed her matched swords on the floor. She settled down in her tiny bedroom, laying on her back, staring up at the ceiling.
The faint din of trolls working filtered in through the cave entrance, but Nomura felt no compunction to lend them her help.
"Ahem." The sound broke the long stretch of silence.
Nomura didn't acknowledge the intruder.
"Ahem!" The sound came again, more obnoxious this time.
With a groan, Nomura glanced at the door. "What is it, Bagdwella?"
A green, female troll, boasting an air of self-entitlement, stared back at her, her baggy dress just as gaudy as Nomura remembered.
Bagdwella snorted. "I carry a message from Blinkous; you have yet to deliver a report."
Nomura groaned again and looked away. "I didn't see anything. If I had, I would have said so. Why report when there's nothing to see?"
"Don't ask me!" Bagdwella replied, looking offended. "But Blinkous was rather insistent that you needed to go see him! And then he drafted me to hike all the way up here. Can you believe the nerve of that troll? As if I don't have better things to do."
"You and me both." Nomura muttered.
Bagdwella raised an eyebrow. "Are you doing something? Looks to me like you're just laying around being lazy," she humphed. "And here the rest of us are breaking our backs to build this place. Well, I guess that's all you can expect from an impure. Why Blinkous insisted you should stay, I'll never know."
Nomura's anger flared. She sat up straight and bared her fangs at the other troll.
Bagdwella didn't even flinch. "So, what should I tell Blinkous?" she prodded. "That you're too busy? Looking at the ceiling?"
With a hiss, Nomura stood. "Fine!" she growled. "I'll go talk to Blinky. Not that it matters," she grumbled, shoving past Bagdwella on her way out.
Nomura stomped down to New Trollmarket. She stifled a groan at the trolls she dodged along the way. Thankfully, most of them ignored her, just like she wanted, but there were still those who sent steely glares her way.
The cruel label she'd endured her whole life still lingered, even here – "Impure."
Nomura fought back her anger, trying to ignore every gawking eye as she approached Blinkous Galadrigal's keep.
As the leader of Trollmarket, Blinky had the privilege of choosing his dwelling first. He'd elected to take one of the other natural caves lining the walls of the cavern, but Blinky's keep was far closer to the city than Nomura's, positioned right beside the Heartstone.
Nomura stepped into the keep.
Blinky was always better at choosing furnishings than she was. "Too efficient" was the term that came to mind.
Nomura shook her head. It looked like Blinky was collecting garbage. Small piles of trash and other discarded objects cluttered the cave.
Even though Blinky left his books back in Arcadia, he'd built a bookshelf. It stood along the back wall, filled with… more trash. Despite the clutter, Blinky had managed to fit a table in the center of the room, and there he sat, bent over a piece of parchment, writing.
Nomura sighed. "You called."
Blinky met her gaze. "Yes. You didn't report on your scouting."
Nomura groaned. "There was nothing to report."
Blinky frowned.
"Can I go now?" Nomura asked.
Blinky pushed his parchment to the side. "Nomura, would you mind… sitting down for a moment?"
Nomura rolled her eyes. "What? Am I in trouble?"
"No." Blinky shook he head. "I just think we should talk." He got up and headed over to a cauldron hanging in the fireplace.
Nomura sat, watching as Blinky took two mismatched cups, one chipped, and filled them with grog before returning to the table. He slid one cup over to her.
She stared at the green liquid. Great… this meant a long conversation.
Blinky took a sip of his grog. "I would very much appreciate it if you would report every time you go out – just so I can be sure you're not hurt."
Nomura crossed her arms and looked away.
Blinky looked at her with concerned eyes. "Surely, at the Janus Order you always had to leave a report."
Nomura snorted. "In the Janus Order it was every troll for themselves."
"I see." Blinky glanced down at his cup, then back up at Nomura. "But this isn't the Janus Order. Here, it is all for one, and one for all." He gave her a light smile. "We look out for each other."
Nomura tapped her hoof impatiently. "Just tell me what you're trying to say, Blinky."
Blinky took another drink. "Look… I know this isn't easy for you."
Nomura snorted again.
"It's not easy for any of us. Every troll here lost their home and many of them watched their loved ones slain by Gunmar." Blinky stared into his grog. "And… I know some still think of you as Gunmar's servant."
Nomura swallowed hard. Why was Blinky bringing this up now?
"I'm afraid only time will remedy that," Blinky said with a sigh. "When AAARRRGGHH! became part of Trollmarket, it took decades for the other trolls to forgive him for what he'd done. AAARRRGGHH! had to prove his loyalty. It does… go both ways, you know. You're a part of Trollmarket now, and… you need to at least try and act like it."
"You want me to go make friends with all your little subjects?" Nomura sneered.
"No." Blinky shook his head. "Just… erhm…" He hesitated. "I want you to be part of Trollmarket – part of this tribe, but… to be frank, it doesn't always seem like you want that."
"How perceptive of you," Nomura quipped.
Blinky groaned, holding his head with his two upper arms. "Please, make an effort."
"Why?"
"Because –" Blinky sighed. "The other trolls ask me about you constantly. They're uneasy. All I can do is ask them to give you more time, but you have to work with me."
With a pout, Nomura looked away.
"You have to give Trollmarket a chance," Blinky encouraged, his eyes begging her to do what he asked.
With a sigh, Nomura stood. "I'm not into all that goodie-two-shoes stuff. I won't just go out and become best buddies with a random troll or be part of your little group because someone feels like I should."
"Nomura –"
"Look." She held up a hand. "I'll just keep to myself and the other trolls can keep to themselves. I don't bother them, they don't bother me. I pay my rent by protecting this place from intruders. Our arrangement is mutually beneficial. Am I wrong?"
"No, but –"
"Good." Nomura gave Blinky a curt nod. "Glad we got that sorted."
"But that's not –"
"Bye." Nomura waved over her shoulder. "I'll see you when there's actually a reason to do so." She stepped outside, leaving behind a bewildered Blinky.
Nomura's cup of grog still sat on the table, untouched.
Editted by dtill359