CHAPTER 7 – Troll in Cage
The life in the village was really noisy today. Big crowd was appeared in the middle of market around a cage. All voices were full with hatred. Mathias went closer to the crowd.
- Die, Troll! – many of them shouted this
- Take this, Troll. – Some of them threw stones at him.
- Let's kill him.
Many different way of their hatred appeared on the scene. Mathias didn't like this, but he couldn't do anything against it. He went closer in the crowd and saw the troll, who was captured. The troll was trying to protect himself from the stones, he hid his face with hand or his leg.
- Here is a Troll! – Hákon stood on a box. – I captured him last night. He is very coward, can't fight, but here is his weapon!
He lifted the huge hammer. The crown stopped throwing stones, the troll tried to look around, he looked very scared.
- Tino. – Mathias whispered, he could not do anything.
The troll noticed him too. They saw each other. Tino hoped. He hoped he can be free now. Mathias face was not like before. He looked very serious; he looked at Tino like he is angry at him. Tino got scared of him.
- If you pay, you can throw stones at him! If you pay MORE you can kill him! But it costs a lot! It would be like 2 bags of food or more. And I will own you for all your life, because I killed a strong and huge troll last night!
- She be female and a mother. – The troll said it quietly.
Everyone around the cage stopped talking. Silence was fallen on the crowd.
- He can talk!
- He understands us!
Everyone started whispering these words. Hákon jumped off the boy and looked at the troll, who tried to move away from him, but the cage was small.
- So you can speak.
- I can. – Tino answered very scared. – I learn it. All trolls speak little human.
- Oh, yeah? Someone had to teach you all. You speak very well. I don't think you just heard humans talking and you remember those words.
Mathias tried to hide into the crowd and he was listening.
- But it is truth. All of us learn by that way. Some know more, some know less. We tell each other words. We need them to avoid violence. Mother you kill last night try to be nice to you and leave but you keep saying "die, you troll". She had no chance but fight to protect her son! Humans be most evil creature.
- How nice you can talk, Troll! – Hákon answered back in sarcastic way.
- I have name. it's not Troll.
- SHUT UP! – He shouted at him. – You'll die sooner or later… - Hákon stood up and looked at the crowd. – Okay, Folk, you can make bets how long he will be alive with any food or water!
Tino tried to find the last hope in the crowd, but Mathias was gone. He tried to not cry. He had a lot of wounds, his body was covered why dust and his own blood.
Mathias ran home. He saw Berwald cutting wood outside and he ran to him.
- I need a saw.
- What for?
- To cut wood, what did you this?
Mathias voice was very angry even thou he didn't meant to be rude with Berwald now. Both of them entered the house, and sat down at the table in the big room. Mathias started explaining the details. He was angry at Hákon and the folk for being so unkind to a troll. It was hurtful to Mathias. He holded something in his hand and nearly broke it.
- Is it true? – Berwald asked randomly.
- What?
- You love 'im.
- eh? – Mathias blushed. – W-who?
- Tino.
- What are you talking about? He is a troll! I can't love a troll!
- Lukas is male.
Mathias couldn't say a word. Berwald was right. He was already doing something unnatural that is being in love with someone from name gender. A man should choose a woman as his wife. But he didn't mind it to choose Lukas. Many people did it with goats too, he could do it with a Troll. Wait, He can't do that he wants to use a troll to make him feel better? He tried to not think of this.
- I don't care, if I love him or not, I have to save him!
- Again? – A voice said it from behind the two brothers.
- Lukas?
- You saved him once from death, he could not return it yet, but if you save him again… He could do anything for you to pay it back! Why do you think he came back? He will do anything to serve you and pay it back! He doesn't like you!
- This is ridiculous!
- This is the truth.
- Lie!
- I see now you really fell in love with him. Tell him "I love you", and he will be your lovers. I didn't become your lover because you said it. I wanted you, but now I am sure I chose wrong.
- But…
Lukas grabbed some wood and threw at Mathias, who tried to block it, but one of it hit him hard and he fell down from the chair unconscious.
- is it better? – Berwald asked then went to the body, picked it up and took the bedroom.
- Much better.