Hello again, and I hope you're all well. Another chapter is ready – it's been a busy week so I couldn't update as quickly as I wanted to. I hope you enjoy the latest offering.

Chapter 2

Welcome to the Market

Claire entered her apartment and immediately kicked off her heels. "'Sure I can come in on Saturday to help clean the office. Oh, you also need that report? No problem!' Why do I do this to myself?" She flopped onto the sofa and felt the pressure on her feet fade into blissful nothing. "Rehearsal tonight…how long have I got?" Checking her phone, she calculated the time she had between now and when she had to arrive at the university theatre. There was enough time to swing by New Trollmarket and give Jim a crash course on his Spanish assignment.

Her phone buzzed in her hand and she dropped it on her front. She sat up and started pulling off her jacket as she answered, heading to her closet to change to something less stuffy. "Kim? What's wrong?"

"Jeff's out. No way he'll be able to play the beast." The girl's voice was miserable, and Claire's breath caught in her throat. "You know how he's been missing practice? Turns out he has mono. Like, major mono. He's going to be in bed for a month."

"Oh my gosh! Is he going to be okay?"

"Definitely, but he needs to rest. He hasn't had it long; you should be okay." Claire had not kissed Jeff – an old theatre trick of holding the face and turning slightly away from the audience made it easy to fake – and she'd have noticed by now if she had mononucleosis. "I called his understudy to see if he was available. He's fractured his leg in three different places as of yesterday morning. He fell down a flight of stairs. We don't have a beast."

Claire paused in changing, holding the phone tight to her ear, heart thumping painfully. She'd hoped so hard for a part in a play and now it was falling apart. "But the kids! They'll be so disappointed. Is there anyone you know that might be able to do the part? Maybe someone who did it before?"

"I don't know. I'm writing down all my potential contacts now. We were already on a shoestring budget without trying to find a replacement." Claire checked herself in the mirror as she listened, much more comfortable in leggings and her old skirt and Papa Skull ensemble. "I'm sorry, this isn't your problem. I will absolutely make sure the theatre instructor knows how awesome you are, I'll find you a new role if this falls through."

"Hey, that's quitter talk. I'll keep an ear out for someone that's played the beast. It's not so different from the Disney movie, if we find a real fan they might be able to make it work." Claire loved the animated version, surely they could find someone at least passable. "Come on, let's not give up yet. I've been practicing my part; if you read the beast's role tonight, we can still rehearse."

Kim sighed gratefully. "Claire, you will make Broadway with that attitude. Practice is still on, I'll see you in a couple of hours!"

Claire had met people like Kim in the high school theatre department. They desperately wanted to entertain the world but were so timid in the spotlight that they operated through other people to make a show, never really getting to be in it but happy enough being part of it. Claire respected people that wanted to make others smile like that. Even if they were really awkward.

The cast members were supportive and warm, and being around people that loved acting was infectious. Claire had wondered if maybe they would be angry at a teen getting the lead, but these people weren't doing it for money. This was a play for children, a chance for low income families to be introduced to theatre at no cost. It was the college's way of expanding the arts without spending a lot of money, banking instead on the passion of its students for theatre. Claire had heard about it via flyer and wanted to be part of it. And these actors and actresses, at least, were glad to have new blood in the group.

She did, of course, know someone who might be able to play the role, someone that had read through the play a dozen times and probably knew the beast's every line. But Jim was already busy with his schoolwork and New Trollmarket, and the last thing she wanted to do was take up what little breathing time he had by pushing him into a role in a play. Because she knew if she asked, he would do it. No hesitation. Which was super sweet, but he would stretch himself too thin if he wasn't careful.

Alberto was reading on his phone when she returned. "Same as always, Ms. Nuñez?"

"You know it. Thank you so much Alberto, I know I'm all over the place." He smiled and shook his head.

"My only business is getting my client to and from their destination safely. Anything else is above my pay grade." Claire felt a little cosseted having a chauffeur, but considering the size of Hoboken and how much traveling she had to do, it was an indulgence she was grateful her Papa had insisted on.

Alberto always dropped her off in the same place, and it was a short hike into the woods before she reached the rocky structures and drew out her key ring. One key was orange and glowed as she approached. It was a much more portable horngazel than the rock she'd toted around before. She drew an arc and entered New Trollmarket to an immense amount of noise.

Claire hurried down the tunnel, toward the chatter and yelling. It sounded like it was coming from Blinky's alcove and she dashed for it, drawing out her staff. It had no magic to it other than what let it grow and shrink, but getting walloped with a wooden stick wasn't something any creature was fond of. When she reached the alcove, she looked inside and nearly dropped it.

A horde of furry creatures was humming a song, each of them using their tufted tails to sweep the ground. Others were climbing the walls and using their furry bodies to polish the light crystals. And others were leaping into a gap in the ceiling, running off to who knew where. Blinky was in the corner, as if afraid to move, and Jim and Carina stayed out of the way by sitting on one of his work benches. "Uh…what am I looking at here?"

"Hi Claire. You're back early." Jim had his knees to his chest, watching the brownies with a weary, bewildered expression.

"Yeah, I had some time. I figured we could work on that Spanish assignment you were…having trouble with." Claire noticed the changeling girl perk up with interest. "Hi Carina, how are you?"

"I'm well Claire, thank you." The girl's voice was cordially cool. "You have trouble with Spanish Jim?" she continued, voice instantly warmer as she looked to him. Jim shrugged a shoulder. Claire brushed this oddity off and tried to step into the room.

"Don't come in. If you try to step on the ground," Jim started, lowering one shoe toward the spotless floor. Three of the creatures broke rank and chattered irritably at him until he returned to his curled position on the bench. "I think we have to wait until they're finished."

"What are they?" Claire watched as five ran past her, into the tunnels. "Should I stop them?"

"I don't know the answer to that yet. Blinky?" Jim glanced toward the troll, who shrugged helplessly.

"As I was saying, brownies are known for helping host families with chores and keeping tidy. They're very friendly and love helping those they regard as friends. That being said, there's usually only one or two brownies to a house. And they do have a mischievous side. They adore pranks according to lore, and I believe they were the ones that gave me the mustache." He sidled along the wall. "Where on earth could they have come from?"

Carina huddled against Jim. "Do you think they'll bite me if I try to get down? I need to check on Milagro."

Jim carefully lowered his feet, avoiding any of the brownies and frowning as they protested. "Look, it's very nice of you to help sweep. But you need to let people walk. Carina needs to check on her little brother." He crouched and spoke firmly. "Why don't we see if we can find a translator and try to talk, hm?"

The brownies nodded, chattering amongst themselves. Carina climbed down with relief. "Thanks Jim." The girl glanced at Claire. Not for the first time Claire had to wonder what she'd done to make the girl's smile turned to a muted glower. Carina slipped by, running into the tunnel to freedom.

"I don't suppose we know anyone fluent in Brownie?" Claire asked, moving delicately around the tiny creatures. They parted for her, more interested by the new guest than worried about the floor. "They couldn't have just appeared out of nowhere."

Blinky opened his arms. "Please follow me in an orderly fashion!" He nodded at Jim and Claire. "Aaarrrgghh has proven excellent at deciphering Chompsky's speech. Tobias has as well, but as I understand he's not in the market right now. If anyone can help us, it will be he."

They found Aaarrrgghh carving the wall of the Hero's Forge, widening it and opening it up to veins of crystal that glowed. He hummed as he worked, and the crowd of brownies shrieked with delight, rampaging into the room and immediately digging at the wall with their little paws. Several began biting and nipping at the crystal vein, taking bites out of it and swallowing. Aaarrrgghh stopped carving, looking down with bemusement. "…Brownies?"

"Yes! Have you ever encountered them?" Blinky watched them with uneasy admiration. "Goodness, look at them go!"

"Aaarrrrgghh has seen a few brownies, but long, long ago. Before Gunmar was locked away. They did not like Gumm-Gumms." Aaarrrgghh stood peaceably as the creatures climbed up his arms, exploring his hulking frame. "Where they come from?"

"That's what we want to know. Think you can figure out what they're saying?" Jim asked. Aaarrrgghh tilted his head thoughtfully, lowering himself so his chin just brushed the ground. He spoke lowly and one of the brownies jabbered swiftly, paws waving and tail lashing. Aaarrrgghh nodded and listened fro some time. Claire tried to pick up even a little of the conversation to no avail.

"Hm. Say they were put in box long, long ago. By powerful witch with a false hand." Ice crept up Claire's back – no prizes for guessing who that was. "Very few left when she put them in, but saved their kind by keeping them safe from predators." Aaarrrgghh lifted his head. "Someone open box, brownies were freed. Now they look for new place to work, safe home."

"Morganna locked the whole race in a single box!?" Jim slipped one hand into his pocket, feeling for the amulet. It was a nervous habit he'd developed. "And he says she saved them? Maybe even she could feel sorry for the little guys." Claire tried to imagine Morganna feeling sorry for someone and wondered if, at some point, Morganna might have been even a little nice. She recoiled from the thought; it clashed too much with the sorceress that had seeped into her mind and controlled her like a puppet.

Jim's eyes widened. "But if they were in one of Morganna's boxes, someone must have been in the locked room. That's where Merlin has been storing everything." He shot Blinky a worried look. "I'll check it now. Maybe it was gnome or something, but I need to know if the lock's intact."

He took off and Claire lifted her fingers absently to her chin. The market was already feeling cramped with their current population, though they were constantly working to expand the tunnels and homes. "Are we going to be able to house them? Obviously they'll need a safe place to stay." She held her face in one hand, frazzled as the brownies inspected her shoes and the wall, spreading like spilled coffee. "We'll have to build more homes, and fast. Maybe the gnomes can live with them for a bit."

"I'm rather more worried about how our fellow trolls will react to more unexpected guests. Especially when everyone is already on edge, and they're known for practical jokes." Blinky winced as Aaarrrgghh inspected his arm. It was covered in goo, sealing it and keeping it clean. "How is the stonescale?"

"Not bad. Applying like Barbara say." Aaarrrgghh's brow creased. "Think brownies can catch?"

"No, if gnomes are immune I think the brownies won't have a problem. They're mainly furred anyway." Blinky glanced up as Jim returned, holding a charred chunk of wood. "Was that what housed them?"

"I think so. And I think I found out who opened it." He prodded the pocket of his jacket and Gnome Chompsky poked his head out, mumbling apologetically. Jim patted the gnome's head, Chompsky perking up a little at the forgiving motion. "He was in the locked room. I can't believe there were so many brownies in this box. How did Morganna do it?"

"It was probably a doorway more than a containment. Like the cradlestone – a pocket of reality sealed off from the one we're in now. Opening the box would have expelled them." Several of the creatures sniffed at the box, prodding and poking. "The magic virtue is gone from it," Blinky continued. The brownies looked up at him, muttering excitedly. "Well Trollhunter? How shall we proceed? This is a rare species; shall I dig up what I can about them?"

"Yeah, definitely. I'll text Tobes, let him know about the brownies. Claire, want to help me make some places for them to sleep tonight?" Jim handed Chompsky to Aaarrrgghh, who held the gnome gently. "We can do the lines again after."

"What about your assignments?" He hesitated and Claire put a hand on her hip. "If you want to stay on the timeline you need to have them ready by tomorrow."

"Yeah, I forgot. I was working through the Odyssey and then all this happened." He gestured to the brownies. "Just aren't enough hours in the day I guess. I'll pull a late night."

Claire exchanged a significant look with Blinky. His five eyes were hooded, skeptical. New Trollmarket was full of distractions for a dedicated Trollhunter. "We've got spare blankets. I'm sure we can house them down here in the Hero's Forge until we can get more housing dug out. What do brownies even eat?" She stepped aside as a small group tried to untie her laces, fascinated by the looped knots.

"Your guess is as good as mine," Blinky said. "I'll start the research posthaste."

"Aaarrrgghh will remind others to take baths. And text Wingman about brownies. Barbara here yet?" Aaarrrgghh settled Chompsky on his head so the gnome could ride between his horns.

"Anytime now." Jim scanned the room and sighed. "Well, let's get started."

"I have to say, they're darling." Barbara scratched beneath the chin of the nearest brownie. It cooed and let her continue her examination. The infirmary was cozy and well-lit, but it was made slightly worrisome by the occupants.

Each bed was taken up by an itchy, irritable troll. Using the soap Barbara had brought, the trolls scrubbed at their skin and rinsed with clean water drawn from the same place as the hot springs, relieving the terrible itching and reducing the stonescale's presence enough to be tolerable. Barbara turned from the brownie to help the nearest troll reach his back. Jim fetched her another bar of soap from the cardboard box she'd brought so she could spread the suds evenly before rinsing the troll off.

Blinky was tucked into the corner with a heavy tome, eyes flicking to the side each time he finished a line. "My my. No wonder brownies are spoken of so little. It says here that while they're immune to sunlight, they are common prey to goblins. Viewed as delicacies by goblins, brownies were all but driven to extinction as Gumm-Gumm numbers soared and goblins proliferated. It was shortly before the battle of Killahead Bridge that the brownies were sealed away. These may well be the only brownies in all the world." He peeped over the book, watching as they formed a ladder to climb up to the nearest light crystal, q-tips in hand, and began to polish it. Others used their tails to brush dust away, humming cheerful ditties. "What helpful little creatures. Is it possible Morganna took pity on them after all?"

Claire leaned over his shoulder. "Maybe…but look." She pointed to a new paragraph. "'Although brownies are generally benevolent, they have a nasty streak. Their sense of humor is barbed and if they perceive threats to their home or hosts, they can become fierce and utilize small magic and make thorough nuisances of themselves.'"

"Sounds like Morganna could have felt bad for the brownies, or just thought they were really annoying," Jim said. Barbara barely bit back, "Sort of like Merlin." Jim broke off another lump of soap. "If they caused trouble for Gunmar by protecting their homes, she probably wanted them out of the way until the Gumm-Gumms won the war."

Barbara watched the creatures clean, inspecting them for any angry, sour movements. "Does it mention in there how to make friends with them? What they eat?"

Blinky flipped ahead, frown increasing. "They respond well to presents but dislike extravagance, and it must be meant as a gift, not a payment. They help out because they love it, and they want people to share with them out of affection and gratitude. And it looks like they eat…crystal." He lifted his head anxiously. "Only crystal. Do you think they'll go after the heartstone if times turn lean?"

Barbara did some quick mental math – say one brownie ate an ounce of crystal a day, rough estimate, and there looked to be about five hundred…around thirty-two pounds of some kind of gemstone or quartz. She glanced at the light crystals. They grew fast, but not that fast. "How are we going to keep them fed?"

"We have some quartz saved up, it's edible to trolls. But all these brownies…that's way more than we have for a long period of time. We might have enough for a week." Jim looked to his mother, eyes anxious. "Salt crystal might work, but how can we make enough for them?"

"Well, we know one place that has a lot of broken crystal. Heartstone Trollmarket." Toby trotted into the room, looking around with bright interest. "Wow, they really are gnome-sized! Aw, they're fuzzy." He waved at the nearest ones and watched as they chattered and bounded over, one or two climbing onto his arm. Barbara fought a smile – Toby had an extra spring in his step. New Jersey suited him and Aaarrrgghh very well, as did being able to see Darci on the weekends. They traded off, him visiting one week and she visiting the next, and Barbara was glad to see they were dedicated to making a real effort.

Jim smacked himself in the forehead. "Tobes, you're a genius. Even if the magic was drained, the heartstone crystal that's left should work."

"I have my moments." Toby offered Aaarrrgghh a fist bump. "Darci says hey big guy. She's looking forward to seeing you tomorrow." Aaarrrgghh smiled, nuzzling Toby's hair. "What do you think of calling up the Creepslayerz for some help?"

Jim nodded. "Let me call my dad, see what he says." Barbara watched him fiddle with his phone a little before calling. There was still a little awkwardness between her son and ex-husband, that much she knew. That wasn't something that left for a long, long time. But she would have been lying if she said she wasn't happy to see that Jim looked a little relieved when James picked up. "Hi Dad. I'm putting you on speaker, is that okay?"

"Sure thing kiddo." The man's voice was sunny, energetic. "Keeping busy?"

"Extremely." Jim smiled and a few brownies climbed up his pant leg to examine the phone. "How is Arcadia? Draig and Mordred doing all right?"

"Arcadia is beautiful right now, spring's creeping in. And Draig and Mordred are doing really well. You wouldn't recognize Mordred, he spends so much time outside." The easy manner was so soothing. Barbara shook her head slightly – whatever one could say about King Arthur, aka James Lake Sr, he was a smooth operator. He put people at ease. "What's going on? You sound peaked."

Jim paced a little, scratching his head sheepishly. "Have you ever heard of creatures called 'brownies'? Because we suddenly got about five hundred of them." James was silent as Jim explained the situation, letting him talk. Barbara turned her attention to several more trolls coming in, the former patients relieved and removing themselves from the room with soap and itch-relief gel in tow. Several of them offered her real, quiet thanks, and she caught Blinky drawing himself up in pride at their reactions. His paternal nature was strongest with Jim, but he was a team Dad if Barbara had ever seen one.

"So you need a bunch of crystal to feed the little guys, huh? I think we can help with that. The Nuñezes have more litter to send too." Barbara started – she could have sworn she heard a goat bleating from the phone. Jim blinked. "Sorry, Nibbles lives up to his name. No Nibbles, leave my jeans alone. Go find your mama. Anyway, we can pull some supplies together. Why don't you come back with Darci on Sunday night? You and Claire can help get the crystal loaded up…and maybe we can do something for your birthday."

Barbara smiled slightly. Sneaky. Jim frowned. "Dad, maybe in a couple months we can do something as far as birthdays. But things are pretty hectic right now. I just…"

"Right, totally. Understood." Barbara caught the wistfulness. She sighed – Jim took his responsibilities seriously. Which was a very good thing until it wasn't. "No worries, there'll be another time. I'll get Draig to start digging up crystals, and Mordred and I will get the litter together."

"Thanks Dad. It means a lot." There was relief in Jim's voice, as if he'd been holding his breath and could finally release it. "We'll come by tomorrow evening. See you then."

"Looking forward to it," James said warmly. Jim hung up and took out the amulet, rolling it between his fingers.

"Now we can house the brownies for a time at least." Blinky was staring thoughtfully at Jim. "Master Jim, now that James mentions it, you do seem a little tired. Have you been getting enough sleep?" They all knew the answer to that, but Blinky swept his eyes over Jim. "You know you only need to ask if you need assistance."

"No, I'm fine. Everyone's doing great at working together. It's just a busy time, y'know?" Jim gently tugged one brownie off his arm, as it was trying to figure out how to get rid of a loose thread. "I might have been a little ambitious about the school curriculum. That's all."

That was not all, but Barbara knew that getting her son to admit he needed a little time out of New Trollmarket was about as easy as performing an appendectomy on a football player on steroids and hallucinogens at the same time. True story. She met Blinky's five eyes and the troll nodded slightly. "We're almost out of ginger root. I need to make more soap soon, but the shop is so far out of the way of the hospital it's hard for me to get to, and it makes it so much more potent." She turned to Claire. "It's not too far from the college though – think you can pick some up after your rehearsal today?"

Claire took the hint and nodded. "Of course. It'll probably be late before I get back though. And I'd hate to have Alberto have to walk with me to pick up the herbs and roots."

Blinky made a sound of disapproval. "A young lady in the city alone at night? That sounds worrisome. If only there were someone who would accompany her."

Jim's expression was completely flat. "You guys are the opposite of subtle."

Toby shook his head. "Nah, dude, that was pretty subtle. Here's the opposite of subtle." He grabbed Jim's shoulders and shook him gently. "Go with Claire! Breathe the spring air and get some sun before you turn into a zombie! Get out before we drag you out!" Jim wriggled free, Claire laughing as Toby followed him. "Out! I cast you out clean spirit! Go visit the sun kissed lands from whence you came!"

Jim chewed his lip, gazing at Claire. "I don't want you out late alone in the city. But we have a whole new species in New Trollmarket. Even if they are small and adorable." Several brownies giggled at the description. "I should be here in case something happens, shouldn't I?"

"You should get out for a bit Master Jim. You haven't left New Trollmarket in nearly two weeks." Blinky folded his arms. "As elder of Trollmarket, I insist you leave for a time. Aaarrrgghh, myself, and Tobias will handle things until you return with Claire and the ingredients." And more vitamin D, Barbara thought.

Claire took Jim's arm. "C'mon, we can get more ingredients if we have two people carrying them, and if we help the trolls feel better they'll be much more receptive to the brownies. I'll help you with your Spanish this evening, I'll just stay in Trollmarket tonight." She put her head on his shoulder. "Unless you don't mind me walking in the street in the dark of night alone."

Jim wrapped his free arm around her. "Oh, yeah, I can say 'no' to that. I guess it couldn't hurt…and I'd like to see how the play is going." Claire hesitated and he frowned. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, we're just looking to replace a role that's all. We'll make it work," Claire said firmly. Barbara noticed a few brownies climbing into one of the medical bags and extracted them with careful hands. They sure were wiggly little things, climbing into pockets and onto everything.

"Okay, okay. I know when I'm beat. It might be a good idea to pick up some more books for the changeling kids too, they're burning through what they've got." Claire led Jim from the infirmary and everyone watched them go.

Barbara finally let out a breath. "So birthday plans. Are we thinking a party? Because Jim does not like birthday parties. And unless the stonescale clears up faster than anticipated, it's probably not the best idea."

"I think we should all pitch in for a present. Think you can find the parts for a new Vespa, Blinky? I still feel guilty when I put on my armor." Toby stepped away from the door as a miserable goblin stepped through, back covered in the the itchy rash.

The effect was immediate – the brownies screamed and pelted for the corner and the goblin yammered in alarm, and for a moment the sound and blur of hundreds of small creatures was a mess. Barbara found a dozen jumping into her arms and yelped, the few trolls still in the room roaring in response to the clamor. "Everyone stop!" Aaarrrgghh barked, voice booming.

The brownies had the goblin surrounding, petrified and furious, ears and noses quivering. The goblin showed them his teeth and Toby moved to pick him up. "Whoa, whoa! Hang on guys, this is a good goblin? He's not gonna eat you. Right Kwagga?" The goblin glanced at him and jabbered. "He's been a part of Trollmarket for a long time. He's nice!"

Barbara had only seen a few goblins in Trollmarket – they operated in a hive mind and tended toward Gumm-Gumm service because of it – and none of them had ever been anything but quiet and peaceable. "Sorry Kwagga, our guests were surprised." The brownies slowly approached on their little paws, sniffing at the place where Kwagga had been. Barbara set him gently in what was serving as the wash basin for smaller creatures, a plastic kiddie pool. "Ready for a wash?"

The goblin grumbled but allowed her to use the soap to scrub him. His brows lifted and he settled on the floor of the pool as she washed off the itchiest places, resting like a lazy cat. "There, that's better, huh? See guys, the goblins here are nice!" Kwagga perked up and from somewhere on his person – Barbara was certain goblins had pouches somewhere but she could for the life of her get one to tell her – drew a dog biscuit and put it on the table as if he'd given her a gourmet cupcake. "And generous too." Barbara slipped it into her pocket. It joined a rubber bouncy ball, a set of jacks, two dice, and something she had decided was a Roman penny.

Were they terribly grand gifts? No. But they were given with gratitude, and that was what mattered.

Blinky drummed his fingers uneasily against the nearest table. "We need to gather the trolls and inform them of our guests. They might not recognize such a species. It's still a chore to get them to tolerate gnomes some days!"

Toby patted Aaarrrgghh's arm. "Well, let's call a meeting to update the others. We can handle that without Jimbo or Claire. I mean, it's not like people are going to lose their heads over these cute little fellas, right-?"

A high-pitched scream echoed from the tunnel. "Vermin! Vermin in the market!" The sound of a rush of a hundred little feet and chitters of fury sent Toby flying into the tunnel, Blinky and Aaarrrgghh hot on his tracks. Barbara remained behind with Kwagga and the rest of the brownies, arms still covered in suds.

She glanced down at the goblin. "This is going to be a mess, isn't it?"

He nodded. "Waka chaka."

Jim balanced the crate against his side, phone braced against his shoulder. "Merlin, please repeat that. Because it sounds like you said you stole a snowy owl from a zoo."

"I didn't steal it. I left currency in the pen." Jim stared at the wall, Claire holding a bag of books as she patted his shoulder sympathetically. They'd procured two boxes of fresh ginger root – the shop owner had given them a funny look but made no complaint – and ten new books for the kids. The sun had felt good on his skin, the last chill breezes of February faltering as March swept in. Jim felt for Claire's hand absently as he listened, twining his fingers with hers.

"You can't take something and leave money for it, trade has to be willful to be legal."

"No one was using it! He was just sitting there, bored as can be, with a bunch of dirty-fingered children poking at the enclosure window! Owls make excellent familiars, and as much as trolls like eating cats it seemed a better option." Jim's irritation softened – it sounded like Merlin might actually have pitied the animal. The past few months had seen a subtle shift in him. He was still a cantankerous, generally selfish old man, but there were glimmers of something warmer when they least expected it. Jim had heard him struggling with the cell phone they'd gotten him, but he knew for a fact the wizard texted Mordred every day.

"Did anyone tell you that they wanted to engage in trade?" The sour muttering was answer enough. Jim wondered if this was what it felt like to raise a willful child just a tad too smart for its own good. "Then you shouldn't have taken the owl. How did you even get it out of the cage without anyone noticing?"

"I swapped it magically with a plush toy from the gift shop. They moved about as much stuck in there! He's quite excited to be traveling with me, he just brought back a mouse. I'm going to name him Cato. Unless you're going to tell me I have to take him back?"

Jim stopped on the sidewalk, leaning against the building. The university had a sprawling, beautiful campus and the brick buildings were solid and dark, and as the sun set it was nearly empty on a Saturday evening. It was so massive compared to a high school. Jim felt small in the shadows of it. "Well you can't take him back now, you'll be arrested. Snowy owls are protected by law. Just…no more taking things without asking. Even if you leave money. Where's he going to stay? We can't box him up underground!"

"Of course not, he'll live in the woods above the market. I'm training him to come when I call." Merlin sounded matter of fact. Jim shook his head at Claire, who couldn't stifle a smile. "But I'll ask from now on. If it's so important."

"Okay. Thank you. Are you staying safe?"

"Quite. It's actually refreshing to be out on my own a little. Has anything happened at the market I should know about?" Merlin grunted. "Cato does not like my eyebrows."

Jim privately wondered if the owl might think they looked like caterpillars. "Well, actually, yes. We've got some new inhabitants that just arrived, and I was wondering if you'd heard of them. They're called –"

"Oh dear. I'll have to call you back. I think someone phoned the police. Talk to you shortly, Trollhunter." Before he could protest Merlin hung up, leaving Jim and Claire standing on the school sidewalk.

Claire chewed her lip. "He'll be fine, right?" Jim slipped his phone back into his pocket, stomach churning. "He knows to keep his magic hidden. And he can take care of himself." She led the way to the theatre building. "We've unleashed Merlin on the world without adult supervision. I don't know that the world is ready for this."

Jim followed her, stepping ahead to get the door for her. It creaked slightly, as if the closer hadn't been replaced in a long while. "What was the alternative? One of us going with him to watch his every move? I'm a little impressed a case of arguable animal rescue is the only thing we've heard about."

"Fair enough." The theatre was quiet for now, save for the sound of conversation from the stage. Jim looked around, fascinated by the size of the room. The seats went back for dozens of rows, and the whole place smelled like velvet. The rafters were metal and high, high above. Claire found a spot to set her box. "Okay, we're going to start in a few minutes. Nobody will mind you being here. Hopefully Kim is ready and we'll start rehearsal quickly." Jim set his box and bag beside hers, drawing up short. Claire's purse had moved. She saw in and carefully opened the top. "What the-? How did you get in here? Have you been there the past couple hours!?"

Three brownies poked their heads out and murmured, looking around excitedly. "No, no. Back in the purse." Claire nudged them back into the bag, glancing at the stage nervously. "Fudge knuckle. What do we do?"

Jim's heart pounded and he held the amulet in his pocket, soothing energies oozing out of it. "I'll keep an eye on the purse. You worry about the rehearsal, I'll worry about…"

He paused and slowly lifted his head. The faintest skitter up above made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. "Claire. I'm…gonna check on something." Claire followed his gaze and nodded, holding the purse to her chest. Jim paced away from her, to the back of the theatre, into the deepest shadow where he could hide in the seats. "To burn bright in darkness, Moonlight is mine to command," he whispered. As if sensing his discretion, the amulet chimed softly and in a single uncomfortable moment he was in troll form, head aching where his horns had sprouted. He sniffed and his suspicions were confirmed.

Goblins. Unfriendly goblins. He had been in the city of Hoboken before to deal with goblin threats, but always small numbers. Fear and stress drew them like trash drew flies, and dispatching them kept the humans and Trollmarket safe. But this smelled heavier, thicker. There were several goblins in the theatre. Not enough for a gang – if there were the humans would already have been consumed – but at least four were creeping in the rafters above.

Claire crept up beside him, purse on her knees as she knelt. "We need to get people out of here. There are goblins nesting above us," Jim whispered. "Think you could convince everyone to step outside for ten minutes?"

"I don't know. Maybe." Claire put a hand atop his head and pushed it down slightly. "Sorry, you're so freaking tall this way. Switch back for now, I'll figure out a way to-"

One of the brownies sat up ramrod straight and screeched; it had caught the scent of a goblin. Jim reached for it hastily, trying to soothe it, but the creature leaped from the purse and sprinted for the door of the building, the other two springing after it. Claire managed to snag the tail of one and stuffed it back into her purse. "No!" Jim hissed. "What's wrong with them?"

"Goblins are their natural predators, remember?" She jumped over the back of the theatre seat, bolting for the door. "Switch back, hurry!"

Jim nearly obeyed, but the odor of absolute terror made his nose twitch. It was a sudden cold sweat, followed by a shriek. "A rat! Oh my gosh, rat!" One of the theatre students had spotted a brownie across the room, and she jumped into the nearest chair. Several more exclaimed, climbing down from the stage.

Bad, bad, very bad. Jim looked from one side of the room to the other – Claire had just grabbed one of the brownies and pushed it safely into her purse, but the other one, where was it?

"Waka…"

Jim jerked his head up, spotting one of the goblins at last. It looked gray in the shadow, but its red eyes were burning, hungry dots in the rafters. The soft croon was nearly lost over the chatter but he followed its gaze to the corner, where the last brownie had run to try to pry open a vent. Did anyone see it there?

"So sorry, I was supposed to watch the pet rats for a kid I'm babysitting! There was a problem with their cage!" Claire's lie was shaky but it distracted them – the students all looked toward the front of the building, alarm lessened, and Jim saw the goblin gather itself for a leap down into the corner. The brownie didn't see it –

Jim bolted for the corner as the goblin pounced. Its mouth was open, sharp teeth bared, and the brownie spotted it just as the bony limbs reached out to grab its tiny throat. Jim grabbed the furry creature just in time, scooping it to his chest as he hit the wall and baring his teeth silently at the blood goblin. The creature squeaked in terror and flung itself back up the wall, climbing the sheer surface with insect speed. Jim glared up the wall after the goblin, feeling the brownie quiver in his arms. The poor thing was terrified.

"Dude." The awed word made him freeze and Jim slowly turned his head, keeping the brownie hidden as best he could. The theatre students stood in the center aisle, a few feet from Claire, who stared in petrified silence.

Jim had saved the brownie, but no fewer than eight college students were looking straight at him. And in the rush to protect the creature, he hadn't swapped back to his human form. The woman who had spoken had frizzy brown hair and big eyes behind her glasses, clutching a tablet in her hands. Jim tried to speak and found his mouth too dry.

The woman's stunned face broke into a wide grin. "That…is the freaking coolest costume ever!"

End of Chapter 2