CHAPTER 8 – Save the Troll

Mathias was waking up slowly in the semi darkness. Someone sat next to him on the bed. Mat touched his head and felt a something on it.
- Auch.
- It still hurts? – The person asked.
- Just a little.
- It's soon night.
Mathias sat up immediately and wanted to stand up, but Berwald stopped him.
- I think…. – Mathias started. – I have time.
- Too early.
- Yes! Of course, he must be still awake! Are you coming with me?
- No.
- Okay, Thanks, Berwald, you're good if you try.
- He took everything off him that Berwald took on him, while he was sleeping. He stood up and left the room. Berwald thought he will pick up some stuffs and get ready to go, but it didn't happen.
- Are you okay? – Berwald went to the table and sat next to Mathias, who were sitting there and hold his head.
I think I stood up too fast. I feel dizzy.
- You won't go?
- I will! But…. I'll try to make myself ready…. Where is Lukas?
- He left.
- At this time? It isn't too late? When will he be back?
- Never.
- What? – His voice sounded different. – Where did he go? Especially in the middle of night?
- Not now.
- What? When?
- Two days ago.
- Was I unconscious for so long?
Berwald just nodded. Mathias understood why Berwald was so worried about him.
- I saw the troll yesterday.
- How is he? – Mathias was very worried.
- Half dead.
- I have to go now.
- Sure?
- He could die. Isn't it obvious I have to go? – He stood up and got ready to leave.
Berwald didn't want to stop him, but gave him something before Mathias left the house.
- Here. – He handed Mathias a flask.
- Thanks. – He took it and left.

The night just started, the night turned all dark-blue, some clouds were swimming in the moonlit. Mathias used to walk a lot in the darkness. This was a normal night for him. He reached the village. All houses were dark, no any sign or noise. Everyone was sleeping. Mathias didn't enter the village. He took a walk around it to reach Hákon and his family's house at the other side of village.
- Hákon… - He whispered to himself. – Where do you keep him?
He checked if they were sleeping. He saw, there was nothing around the house. But it was obvious. A troll is very precious for him, he wants to keep it far from other human beings. He is greedy guy.
Mathias was one of those, who were close friend of him and he knew a secret place, where Hákon hide stuffs from others.
He run to that place and broke its door. He was not careful and it cause big noise. He Stopped, and looked back to the village. He waited a little longer, but nothing happened.
He heard something from inside. It was not a mouse or other small animal. It was something bigger moving. This was a relief for Mathias.
- Tino? – Mathias entered the small hidden store.
- Mathias? – He whispered back without any energy.
Mathias ran to him. His eyes got used to the darkness quickly.
- I am sorry I didn't come earlier. – Mathias started talking. – I couldn't….
- You here…
- Here. – Mathias took out the flask that Berwald gave to him.
Tino couldn't lift one of his hands, the other one was shaking. He couldn't hold it. Mathias helped him and placed the flask to Tino's mouth. When he saw Tino can't drink anymore, he took it away. Mathias took the flask and opened the small bag, where he places some stuffs to cut Tino's cage. Mathias got surprised.
- Berwald. – He said gently.
- Who he be? – Tino asked interested.
- My little brother. – Mathias took out the bread from the bad that Berwald sent to the Troll with a small letter: "For troll"
Mathias gave it to Tino, who took it with one hand and started to eat is slowly. Mathias sat next to the cage and lifted his hand to his head.
- What wrong? – Tino asked.
- I've got hit at home, and it still hurts. Can you stand up?
- Cage is small. I can't stand up here. I can't feel my legs for days.
- I'll help you, but I'm not sure I can carry on back.
- It okay. – He whispered back and continued eating the small bread.
Mathias started using the sew he brought with him. It took longer to cut it like he imaged. Tino eat all the bread too, and suddenly he moved and looked up with his serious face. He felt something.
- What do you feel?
- Human…
- Coming here?
- I not know. Maybe wind bring here. I feel every day. I hoped it be yours, but never…
- Do you hear something.
- No. We be near village. Maybe someone have to pee. I be sorry to interrupt your work.
- I hate to think of this, but this cage is one of my brother's best works. He was always good at making stuffs from wood. Toys, chairs, tables, selves. My mom sold them, and he still sells his stuffs. And he is a good cook too.
- He make bread I ate?
- Yes. But there is ONE food, I hate. He did it first years ago. We were fishing in the lake and all fish we've had he didn't make it well and all was rotten, but he sold them and everyone loved it. He tasted it and he liked it too. And he did it many times. I love everything he do, but that fish, I could NEVER eat. You can eat anything else he makes! – Mathias was grinning in the darkness.
Tino giggles at him and this make Mathias to laugh. Both of them tried to be not too noisy.
One of the poles in the cage was cut at one side. Mathias grabbed it and tried to break it out from its place, but everything turned black in front of him.
- So it was true. – A dark shadow said. – "A man appears and tries to save my precious prisoner." But I've never imaged it could be you, Mathy.