Chapter 12

Artemis was sitting in his room when a rumble shook the floor. He was up immediately, heading for the door. "Butler, she's done it. We must go now while the guards are distracted."

Butler knew the drill and wasn't happy about it. "Artemis, I wish you could think of less dangerous ways to save the world," he said, starting in on the door lock.

"Really, Butler, a bodyguard of your calibre shouldn't be afraid of danger," Artemis said, unable to resist a gibe. "There's nothing out there more dangerous than you."

"You know what I mean." Butler jiggled the lock. Something clicked and he turned the doorknob. "And for your information, trolls are a lot more dangerous than me."

"Two years ago no one would have argued." Artemis followed the huge man out the door. "After the Fowl Manor siege, however..."

"It's not happening, Artemis. I refuse to tackle another troll. It had me killed, you know."

"And Holly revived you," Artemis said, grinning. "As long as we keep a tank of magic on hand you should be fine. But remember, trolls are not in the plan."

Butler swore privately. "Artemis, you mentioned taking out Rich. Any idea where we might find him?"

"Of course. Where the action is. He's no coward. So lead on to the site of the explosion, my friend."

Butler groaned but did as Artemis ordered, heading down the stairs to the main level. Artemis followed closely, nervous despite his light-hearted words. What would he find there? He couldn't believe he was actually concerned about Corporal Plank. She was annoying, certainly, but not stupid. More cautious than Holly, but more naive and therefore more easily influenced. That made him responsible for her safety. Oh, the blessings of doing good.

They were drawing near to the lab when there was another wall-shaking boom. Butler automatically held out his arm to cover Artemis. If his Sig Sauer hadn't been confiscated it would have been cocked and ready. "Wait, Artemis. I don't like this."

"No doubt. But we must proceed, Butler. Our friends may be in danger. I did not plan for a second explosion."

A roar echoed down the hall. A roar that they both knew too well. Butler could practically feel the nonexistent wounds from his first encounter aching. He shoved Artemis back. "That was no explosion. Go. Back to the room. Now."

Artemis was about to reply testily when the wall separating them from the hallway collapsed. Part of the ceiling came with it. Out of the debris stuck two massive, razor-sharp tusks.

It was too late to run. Artemis felt himself get stashed behind a tall vase. "Stay there," Butler instructed, grabbing a heavy piece of plaster than had fallen at his feet. Woefully inadequate, but better than nothing. "It looks like your troll-free plan just got hijacked."

Humans were scattering everywhere, ignoring Butler in favour of their lives. A small figure ran out from the wreckage, coughing and stumbling. "Holly!" Butler exclaimed, reaching to pull her back. "Where are the commander and corporal?"

Holly fell to one knee. There was a deep gash from her shoulder to her hip, Butler saw, and no magic forthcoming. It looked like the spine was injured. She needed magic, and fast. "Back...there..." she said weakly, grinning slightly. The anaesthetic in the troll's venom was starting to work. "Plank...Gland..."

She collapsed.

Anger burned in Butler's mind. He didn't try to suppress it. That troll was murdering his friends and only a crazed man could stop it. There were no better candidates for the job than him, so crazed he must be.

He strode stealthily forward, hugging what was left of the wall. There was a shriek, high-pitched and long, and then it was cut short. Another victim. The scream wasn't from Commander Root's deep lungs; the voice was too high. Possibly Gland or Plank.

Butler curled himself around the corner and took in the scene. Three humans lay still and silent; there was nothing he could do for them by the looks of it. A small bulky figure sat against the wall. The troll was rooting intently for something in the rubble fifteen feet away. Butler took advantage of the animal's distraction to steal up to Commander Root's side.

The elf's eyes were closed. He sported a ragged eight-inch hole clear through his torso. Butler lay a hand on the wound. Fatal. Root wouldn't make it unless Plank had some magic left in her. Unless Plank was still alive.

Root shuddered and cracked his eyes open. "Who...Holly..." he muttered, wincing as he tried to move.

Butler kept his hand over the wound, holding the wounded elf down gently. "Commander, it's Butler. Where's the corporal?"

Root looked at Butler with pain in his dark eyes. "Gland," he managed to whisper. "Find her. She has...the bomb...troll."

Butler wasn't sure he understood. "I made a smaller bomb for her as well as the big one. She hasn't detonated yet?"

Root shook his head. "Troll," he whispered, head slumping. "Go..."

Butler knew then. Get Plank to use the bomb on the troll. "Understood, Commander," Butler said, laying him on the floor. "I'll be back."

Everything in him revolted against leaving Holly and Root to die. His first instinct was to help them. But he was a man trained to prioritize, and he knew that killing the troll was first priority.

He snuck away from Root's side. The troll still nosed around in the rubble. Was Plank under there? He hoped not. He slunk back out to where Holly had collapsed. Still breathing but probably paralysed.

It didn't take him long to find Plank. She suddenly burst into the room very un-stealthily, holding the bomb in her hand. "Lost him!" she cried upon seeing Butler. "I had that creep!"

Then she saw Holly lying on the floor and her face turned white. "What happened?" she managed to say.

Butler placed a finger on his lips, then pointed at the rubble. If Plank had been closer he would have grabbed her, clamped a hand over her mouth, and stuck her face in the debris to make a point about silence. But he didn't want to spook her or make her sulky. This was a time for cooperation.

Plank gripped the bomb in her hand as she stared at the troll. It was so absorbed in whatever it was doing that it didn't raise its head. After all, the two of them didn't constitute much threat. "Gods," Plank whispered.

Butler took her shoulder and guided her closer. "Detonate," he said almost inaudibly. "Detonate and kill it. Commander Root and Captain Short are dying. Kill it and then save them."

If Plank had demonstrated the usual fairy reticence to killing animals, Butler would have gone straight into threatening mode, much as he might have liked the young corporal under any other circumstances. But she didn't display any hesitation. She knelt on the floor and crawled up to the troll. She laid the makeshift bomb on the floor and established a magical connection.

That was when the troll raised its shaggy head.

Their eyes met and held. Plank froze where she knelt. Suddenly the troll reared its head and gave a roar. Plank's magic fizzled as her concentration broke.

She had to get it back. Butler rushed forward, waving his piece of plaster at the troll. "Hey! Hey, you monster! Remember me? I'm the one who dismantled your cousin."

The magic sparked again and Plank backed away, trailing a blue tendril as if she were unrolling a spool of thread. "Get back, Butler," she said, panicky. "Hurry!"

"Detonate now!" Butler ordered, scooping up Holly and running for Artemis. "Just do it!"