Happy Saturday all! I hope this finds you well. I have no particularly creative salutation today, so on with the show.
Chapter 5
Things Could Be Worse
The tubby human planted his hands on the table and lowered his head. His mouth was full of metal and Tagga winced. Would he be diced to pieces? Would the boy eat him? He'd never heard of humans eating goblins, but he supposed turnabout was fair play. And he'd never seen a troll that was actually a human and the Trollhunter to boot.
He'd heard whispers that the Trollhunter was odd of course. But no real detail had come this far, especially not to goblins. The hefty boy did not bite him. "All right, we know you have friends. How'd you get into New Trollmarket without a horngazel?"
The Trollhunter was a waif compared to the other boy, stringy and lean. He had lines under his eyes and looked tired behind the serious angle of his brows. Tagga spotted a woman who had the same eyes working at the next table, bandaging the brownie that had been attacked by Fama.
The blood goblin's mind had been full of bloodlust and hunger. Tagga had expected that. What he hadn't expected was the incredible willpower that came with it, nor the way it eroded his own will. He had realized upon their entry to the market that this was a bad plan, but every thought of dissuasion burnt away as if in a fever. He was getting old indeed if he couldn't feel his mind being melded into that of the hive's leader. And now he would pay for it, probably with his life. At least his group had gotten away all right.
They would fall under Fama's control as head of the hive so far from Tagga. He grunted, rattling the internal door of the cage they'd padlocked shut – not, though, without a mug of water and a candy bar in the corner – and cursed whoever had invented the cat carrier.
The truly frightening creature was the massive krubera. He lacked the graceful movements of his species, instead hulking like a beast. He stood behind the boys, glowering faintly. Tagga plopped onto his rear and gibbered fearfully. "Hey, it's okay. If you tell us how you and the others got in, we're not going to hurt you." The Trollhunter glanced at the other boy and Tagga suddenly got the idea that they didn't really want to hurt him in the first place.
Tagga made a tiny "o" with his fingers and pointed upward. "Cha-wa-chaka. Ka-doo?"
Their eyes were blank. Tagga sighed. The woman in the back brought the brownie over and Tagga wilted as the little thing keened in pain. "Walter's on his way. He can understand goblins pretty well."
Brownies were supposed to be delicious, but there was an awareness to the brownie he hadn't expected. To be very frank, Tagga didn't even care that much for cat. He was a rotten-lettuce sort of fellow. Tagga glanced at the candy bar; would they have poisoned it? Not if they wanted him to talk. He tore a small piece off and nibbled it, surprised and pleased at the thick nougat and sweetness.
A changeling swept into the room, green with pale hair and a frill of daggers around his neck. He caught sight of Tagga and ignored him in favor of the woman. "There are no others remaining," he said lowly. "They abandoned him. The other must be the lead of the hive mind now."
His stomach clenched. They weren't as strong as blood goblins. If any were left behind, it would be them. Tagga whined – there hadn't been any choice but to join minds, but it was going to be even more disastrous than he could have imagined if something attacked them.
The changeling knelt and looked into the carrier. "What are you called?"
"Tagga. Former leader of pack. Joined with blood goblins, said there were brownies. They wanted us to help get them." His yellow eyes were calculating, sharp, but they weren't malicious. "Already knew about them."
"How did you get in?"
"Tiny, tiny holes in all markets. Need air currents, even for trolls. These in places where tunnel goes close to surface. Can show you," Tagga added hopefully. The changeling didn't respond, turning to relay the information to the others instead.
The Trollhunter looked agonized. "The goblins at the school. I left enough scent that they would be warded off…but maybe they tracked it here?" Tagga shook his head. He'd never seen goblins so sensitive to smell as their blood kin, but they'd been confused at the scent of troll disappearing so suddenly.
"Blood goblins followed smell of brownies in bag of female with Trollhunter, didn't understand why troll smell went away, but then felt heartstone here. Tingles in toes. Put together, figured out this place must have brownies. Didn't realize Trollhunter was so…unusual." Tagga waited for the changeling to explain, chewing on the chunk of candy. He'd never had a real, fresh candy bar. He savored the taste. Maybe humans had the right idea making so many kinds of foods.
The Trollhunter's face reddened. "If any of them try getting at Claire-!"
"No, no. Not going after human girl. Only pay attention to brownie. Goblins bad at multitasking, get distracted."
"Do you know anything more of the leader's plans? His name is Fama, correct?" The changeling wore funny clothes for a troll, a brown suit and blue shirt. Tagga had never seen such an odd combination.
"He wants to eat brownies, get strong magic. He wants goblins to rise to power now that Gunmar is gone and the Janus order is cracked to core." The latter part could have been worded better, he thought, but the changeling merely folded his arms, thinking.
The woman leaned against him, the changeling absently resting his chin atop her head. Were they mates? Such strange people! "We should have someone stationed to watch the Hero's Forge. Just in case they return," she said.
The Trollhunter nodded. "I'll stake it out tonight."
The krubera grunted. "Aaarrrgghh watch. Jim go to sleep. Got practice tomorrow, need rest." The Trollhunter's jaw set. The large troll patted his back so gently that Tagga marveled. "Do good job in play for Claire. I watch tonight, others watch tomorrow. Humans are all tired."
"Capital idea," the changeling said, taking the woman's hand. She adjusted her glasses to rub at her eyes. "I'll inform Nomura, she can assist. Blinky is asleep last I checked. He dozed off while reading in his study."
"What about this little guy?" The heavy boy indicated the carrier and Tagga's heart thumped a steady rhythm in fear. "I don't think we can let him go."
"Not yet. Maybe once we drive off the blood goblins." The Trollhunter leveled a serious look at the goblin. "You don't seem to be too interested in eating the brownies yourself. We can't release you yet, but if you behave, we'll let you go after dealing with the blood goblins. For tonight you'll stay in the carrier." He dug into his pockets and withdrew a clean, white handkerchief. He poked it through the openings in the bars. "We'll get a little cushion for you."
Tagga cackled nervously. This was too funny! A trollish human Trollhunter, a chubby friend with a metal mouth, a nearly mute krubera, a changeling that still had his human form, and a human woman that could doctor brownies mated to the changeling? What a strange group! But he accepted the handkerchief, absurdly pleased by the clean smell of it. Very few would have wasted time on a captured goblin. But they said they planned to let him go. They could be lying of course, but trying to get on their good side was the only reasonable choice.
Maybe the goblin that lived here had the right idea.
"Okay, so it's here, pause here, turn there. Don't turn your back to the audience, it's bad theatre manners." Claire sipped at her water bottle as Kim directed Jim through the steps. There were cardboard boxes in place of the set, easy to move and unimportant if damaged. "If you can do the thing earlier where you were prowling…the rose is your curse but also your only hope. You love it but resent it. It'll be glowing and give your face a red cast."
Claire tensed slightly. Jim's movements as a troll were smooth, almost animal, but how well could he move in human form for rehearsals? If he acted too differently they might get suspicious…
Jim moved around the "table" and she was surprised by the grace. He was focused, careful, and she could easily imagine him in troll form doing the same movements. Not that Jim had ever been overtly klutzy – at least, not when he paid attention – but it was still interesting to watch.
"Perfect, your motions are just right. A little creativity in the scenes when you're alone is all right, just keep within these parameters." Kim's hair was flyaway, a sure sign of nervous energy. Claire's eyes slid back to Jim as he listened and nodded.
He shouldn't have to worry about this. Not when goblins had found the brownies and knew the kinks and crannies of New Trollmarket. Or, a slightly irritable part of her said, maybe if the other trolls offered to help more he wouldn't have to do so much. Bagdwella was stepping up and helping out, even if it was just cleaning the light crystals. The changeling children enjoyed slathering the heartstone in protective goo. Blinky and Aaarrrgghh were always helping and guiding of course, and Strickler and Nomura were excellent protectors and teachers. Even NotEnrique chipped in to help Glug and keep pub patrons happy. He had a surprising skill for mixing beverages.
It wasn't that the other trolls didn't try or anything. Claire hated to think poorly of the majority of them. But in Heartstone Trollmarket, everything had been established, the market growing with ease for hundreds of years. There had always been food and protection there, and a Trollhunter with singleminded focus on the mission. But it hadn't been fair to Kanjigar – or Draal – that the Trollhunter couldn't have some kind of life outside of duty.
Claire's fist clenched in her lap. They just needed to understand that if everyone pitched in, just a little, it would make Jim's burden less. And everyone else's too. But until Jim told someone no, the trolls would never figure it out.
Jim had a very horrible track record with saying "no" to anyone that wanted help. She watched as he studied the script and sighed. She rested her case.
"How does he look so much taller in the costume?" One of the other actors leaned over to speak in undertone. "Is it boots or something?"
"Yeah, specially designed." Please don't ask anymore. Thankfully he didn't, looking down at his script. Claire glanced toward the ceiling, wondering if the goblins might have returned in spite of Jim's marking the balcony.
Jim turned and spotted her, smiling. She returned it and gave him a thumbs up. It was going better than she could have hoped. She liked acting with him, heck, spending time with him period. But acting together was magical. He wasn't the same nice, awkward guy that had tried out for Romeo and Juliet. Sure he was still sweet, and a little awkward too, but almost a year had passed. He'd gotten a little taller, shoulders a little broader. And his hair looked really good shorter.
Claire blinked at this thought and she looked back down at her script, cheeks flushing. Now was not the time to start thinking about how her already-cute boyfriend was growing up and getting even cuter. She herself had changed a bit in the year; she was finding "girly" clothes more appealing than before, and her form had shifted ever so slightly toward what might be an hourglass. If she didn't gave her mom's genes and tended toward rail thin.
"Okay Claire, want to try the dance scene? I've got markers for the choreography, the lighting will make it look fancier than it really is when we go on." Jim blanched as she rose and Claire took the steps quickly. Kim ushered her over, bringing her over to Jim and settling their hands in the proper places. "Beast's right hand on her waist, Belle's left hand on his shoulder. Take it slow, get a feel for the movements." Kim guided them from place to place, indicating the places they should stop and start again.
"You're doing great," Claire whispered, hoping to ease the stiffness in his motions. "Maybe we should watch the movie for inspiration."
"Sounds like you're trying to rope me into watching a Disney movie with you," he whispered back. She grinned. "Which I don't object to."
Hours passed and practice went on. Kim was a hawk watching them, gently directing or adjusting the actors as needed. When five 'o' clock finally came, Claire's stomach was growling. Kim provided sandwiches for everyone, and then they were back to practice. When at last they were truly finished – nine at night – Claire's feet ached. "Everyone is doing so, so awesome! Thank you for all your patience! Take a break tomorrow and we'll do another run through Wednesday." Kim's eyes flashed with excitement. "Those kids are going to be blown away!"
Alberto was already at the curb outside the university, reading a battered book. "Ms. Nuñez, Mr. Lake. Rehearsals going all right?"
"All things considered, yeah. We're meeting our LARP group same place. You belong among the saints for being so awesome Alberto," Claire told him. He grinned and didn't answer, putting up the privacy screen. Claire leaned on Jim, head on his shoulder. Jim rested his head on hers. "I'm going to sleep well tonight," she said.
He turned his head to kiss her hair. "Have you been helping me with my Spanish homework without telling me? Like, doing part of it?"
She blinked. "No. I mean, there's an idea, but I haven't been. Why?"
"I think someone is doing parts of it. I'm not sure, but unless my subconscious is writing good Spanish when I'm passing out, there's no way it's me." Jim sighed into her hair, ruffling her bangs. "The brownies don't stop spitting no matter what we say. Claire, we have to get them to understand. The trolls are so fed up with everything. And all the bickering going on is about to drive me up the wall." She took his hand and squeezed it reassuringly.
"Just think of the trolls as big toddlers. That eat rock and can punch through walls. They're just fussy right now." He snorted amusedly.
They said nothing else for some time, appreciating the simple quiet. Claire checked her phone for messages, finding one from Darci. "Claire Bear, prom is coming up. Toby and I are going, but we can each get an extra ticket. You and Jim should come with!"
Claire paused, tucking her phone down to hide the screen. Had Jim seen? She peeped up and realized he had fallen asleep, his head atop hers. His eyes were shut, breath even. She flipped her phone back over. "When is it?"
The date was for the day after the play, a little less than two weeks. The play was Friday, and prom was Saturday…she'd asked off Friday and she never went into the office on Saturday except on special occasions. Her schedule was clear. Maybe she could look for a dress tomorrow after work, and then get to New Trollmarket after that. If Jim could make it, that is…
"Have to see what the next week looks like. It's pretty busy, but you are both so sweet to think of that."
There was little delay in the reply. "Toby thought of it. And nice way of saying, 'I'll see if my boyfriend can drag himself out of the market for a couple hours for some fun.'" Claire cringed.
"That obvious, huh? Sorry, I just don't want to pack anything else into his schedule. He's already playing the beast for me, and I'm sure Toby's told you about how crazy the market it."
"Yeah, but it's no crime to take a night off. For him or you. When was the last time you guys had a date? A real one, not going into town to get ingredients, or for the play, or doing homework together."
Claire bit her tongue and rounded down. "A couple weeks."
"Toby says four."
"Nosy Nancy." Claire fiddled with her phone. "It sounds like fun. I'll see if he can't make room."
There was a longer pause before the response came. "You know it's okay to go to prom with a group of friends, right? If he can't make it." Claire immediately recoiled from the thought. Go to prom without her Jim? That was like…like…studying acting without ever reading any Shakespeare. Or listening to Papa Skull without dancing like a maniac. It missed eighty-five percent of the beauty. "You can go together for senior prom next year."
Claire wondered how Darci would like to go to prom without Toby. And there really were things in Trollmarket that needed attention, like the brownies being threatened. But she held her fingers still before sending, "I'll think about it."
She had been away from Mary and Darci for a while. She missed their girl nights, the evenings with pajamas and makeovers and triple-meat pizza where they gushed over their favorite shows. And prom was supposed to be fun when you went as a group. But going without Jim…it felt wrong to even consider.
The car slowed and she gently nudged Jim. He sat up, eyes wide. "Did I doze off?"
"Yeah. Just for a little bit." He climbed out of the car and held the door for her, rubbing his eyes with the heel of his hand. "Thanks Alberto! We'll see you later." He nodded at her, waiting until they'd started into the trees before making a u-turn and heading back toward the city. Claire had picked her way through the trees so often that it was automatic to find the slight path she'd formed. It was a few places the grass grew differently, a couple spots on tree trunks where the branches were gone.
Jim did have a grace she hadn't noticed. Perhaps it was left over from his movements as a troll, or maybe his training was continuing to impact him, but he moved fluidly between the trees and over brambles. "Darci texted me a bit ago," Claire said at last. "Apparently prom is coming up."
"Really? Wow…I guess it is about that time of year." Jim offered her a hand as they made it to a fallen tree. It smelled of sap and bare wood, and the splinters where it had tumbled from its roots were fresh. "I'll move this at night. She and Toby are going, right?"
"Yeah. It's the Saturday after next," she probed carefully.
Jim's expression grew troubled. "Oh. Dang. That's the day the exams are due." She cocked her head. "You know, for my online classes."
Claire could have kicked herself. She'd forgotten the tests. His quarterly exams fell that week, and they could be taken either Friday or Saturday night. But with the play, that only left Saturday. "Of course! I didn't remember that. Well, it's just prom. Maybe we can go next year. They were thinking they could get tickets for us," she explained.
Jim paused. "Wait, why don't you go?" Claire stopped. "They could get a ticket for you and you can all go as a group."
"Well, yeah…but are you okay with that?" He nodded. She tucked her hair back, self conscious. "Are you sure? I don't want you to miss out..."
"That's super sweet Claire, and I appreciate the thought. But you've been running all over for other people for so long. You deserve to hang out with Mary and Darci and do the girlfriend stuff this year." They came to the rock entrance of New Trollmarket, a plain mass of boulders that no one would have ever glanced twice at. "Claire Nuñez, I have a birthday wish now. I want you to go dress shopping with your friends, go to your junior prom, and have fun. That would make me really happy. Okay?"
She smiled slightly, even though the sadness of going to prom without her boyfriend still lingered. He took her hand gently, scrutinizing her face. "Okay?"
"Okay." She embraced him suddenly, arms tight around his shoulders. "You're a sweetheart. You know that?" He laughed in response, breath warm in her ear. "I'm sure things will get better. Give it a few days. I'm sure we'll get those goblins at some point as well. I mean, they're not the most dangerous creatures we've ever faced."
Claire was not often wrong. She prided herself on being pretty sensible. But when she was wrong, boy, she was wrong.
She sidled around the herd of brownies running past, ignoring the fact that they were carrying whoopie cushions. Deftly she grabbed a few permanent markers from their paws, the tiny creatures so irritated they barely noticed. All along the wall were rude markings and angry faces scrawled in ink.
One week and the brownies had descended into infuriated paranoia save for a scant few. And one or two cases of stonescale showed signs of improvement – according to Minor Maladies and Ailments for Trolls, a three week incubation period was common – but several more promised weeks of scratchy, rashy madness. There was no end in sight for the constant work to help the ill and miserable trolls, and Claire was glad to go to work during the day because it meant sunlight and being around people that weren't scratching themselves in obscene places.
There had been one or two small skirmishes of goblins invading, but with patrols in place no one had been harmed. Aaarrrgghh continued carving out small caves for the brownies to live in, Blinky addressed complaints and problems day after day, Toby went to school and helped patrol in the evening, and Barbara was the much-loved source of relief in the mess of stonescale. And of course, unable to rest when others worked, Jim helped with all of it. All the time.
So it was no surprise that Jim was going crazy. Well, maybe not "crazy" so much as "exhausted," but the effects were about the same.
She'd started getting really concerned when Jim seemed to have lost the ability to go for longer than ten minute stretches without dozing off. She'd managed to hold him together for rehearsal the prior day – there was less than a week to showtime, her nausea told her – with a few shots of espresso, but the second they'd returned to New Trollmarket, he'd taken to troll form to attend to other matters. Claire spent her time reading through her lines again and then making sure the brownies had enough to eat. Then she went to find Jim.
She found him four hours later in human form, dead to the world and tucked snugly inside a large cupboard. She'd looked to the nearest trolls, the Mahjong team at the pub, and one had explained, "He was asleep over by the chopped ginger. Figured he might get some peace and quiet in there."
Well, there was method to their madness. A large quantity of ginger had been diced and was ready to be added to a batch of soap. She'd pulled him out and the first thing he said when he opened his eyes was, "Guillermo's going to kill me. I lost the ferrets."
Claire stared at him. "Who's Guillermo?"
"The merciless master of my destiny." Claire slowly patted his hair and Jim passed out again in her arms.
So yeah. A little bit crazy.
" – Never able to get in! Those bigger trolls are hogging the hot springs!" Claire slipped into Blinky's alcove to hear a voice bellowing.
"My goods are all ruined! They're covered in that sticky, disgusting brownie spit! I can't get my shop clean no matter what!" Bagdwella scratched her shoulders. "And they've started spitting on me too!"
NotEnrique had his arms crossed, sitting on Blinky's workbench. "I hate to be that guy, but our supplies are getting low too. We're all too itchy and tired to go foraging." He kicked at his back furiously. "I'm starting to clear up, but it'll be a couple days yet."
"We've got a load coming in two days from Arcadia. Mom organized another litter sweep of the city." Claire spotted Blinky sitting at the work bench, his five good eyes bleary. "Everyone, could you take five? I need to discuss some things with Blinky." The small group nodded and mumbled, squeezing out of the room. Claire waited until they were gone before speaking. "You looked like you needed a few seconds of peace."
Blinky dropped his head into his hands. "There is one consolation in them pestering me, and that is that they're not pestering Master Jim." He rubbed at his patch. "Where is Master Jim, actually? Tobias is helping with the soap I think…"
"I was hoping you knew." Claire hadn't seen him in nearly two days between work and the surprising errands one had to run when one lived on their own – grocery shopping, laundry, and shudder to think, filing taxes – and Mary's delighted rampage through the malls of New Jersey.
Mary and Darci had arrived at her apartment door, armed with envelopes of cash. Their parents had allowed them a decent sum apiece to get dresses and accessories. Shopping with them was crazy and fun, and though Claire's bank account was a little lower than she liked, the dress in her closet was worth it.
"You might check his room. He might be studying. His tests are coming up, and it's Aaarrrgghh's turn to watch the brownies." Blinky smacked himself carefully. "I need to address the trolls again. I thank you Claire for you diversion." She gave him a quick hug before slipping out the door. The chatter of complain rose as she left and Claire darted through the tunnel to Jim's alcove.
The scribble of a pencil made her relax. He'd found time to do schoolwork after all. She peeked into the room and paused. Jim wasn't at the desk. In fact, he wasn't in the room at all.
Carina was sitting at the desk, pencil in hand. She had her chin perched atop one fist and scrawled carefully on loose leaf paper. "Let's see, what's a better word? 'Complejo,' no…'complicado.' Yeah, that's better. Hm." The girl erased a word and continued on.
Claire slowly entered the room, uncertain of what to do. Why was Carina in here? Glancing around, she realized that the room had been neatened slightly – textbooks put back on the shelf, waste basket emptied – and no matter how much she loved Jim, Claire had never seen his clothes hung so precisely.
"Carina?" The changeling girl shot into the air and landed on the back of the chair with impeccable grace, bristling as she spotted Claire. "Sorry! I didn't mean to scare you…"
"Well don't sneak up on people then!" Carina's bark was chilly as she climbed down. Claire bit back a retort – she was just a kid. "I was, um…looking for Jim. But he's not here. So I'll be going." Carina tried to step past her but Claire put up her hands.
"Carina, have you been doing some of the Spanish assignments for Jim?" She froze, guilt crossing her face. "That's…I mean, it's technically cheating, but…it's kind of sweet." Claire looked around. "And you tidied up? What's going on?"
"The Trollhunter is busy. I want to help out. He has trouble with Spanish," Carina said sharply. "And I don't think anything else is your business!" She stomped past Claire, who was surprised at how much the tone stung. The girl was gone before Claire could say another word.
What had she done to make Carina hate her so much? The girl was so friendly to most people, but she'd marked Claire with a dislike usually reserved for individuals that talked on their cellphones in the climax of a horror movie. She looked around Jim's room, still confused, before leaving and continuing down the tunnel.
"There has to be a reason they're doing this. Has to be." Toby watched the brownies as they meticulously spat on the crystal beds of the heartstone. He'd gotten tired of trying to herd them away and decided that it really didn't hurt anything. "What do you think Wingman?"
Aaarrrgghh rubbed his arm. "Don't know. Arm still itches – maybe they think spitting helps itch?" He groaned and sat on the ground, the scaling looking awful in the light. "Not helping."
Toby turned to his backpack and drew out a box of the itch balm. "Dictatious is still doing fine, so I think this would be better used on you." He popped open the lid and scooped some out, slathering Aaarrrgghh's arm with it. The troll sighed at the relief. "It can't go on much longer."
The brownies hummed as they worked, spitting and working the substance into the crystal. It made it look grimy and foggy, like a dirty windshield. Toby drew close and measured a sliver with his finger. "No bigger than yesterday. I looked at it." He sat down beside the brownies. They really were cute little guys when they weren't mad, or setting the pub on fire. "Guys, why do you do that? There has to be a reason."
The nearest one blinked at him and chattered. Aaarrrgghh sighed. "Still don't understand. Just getting 'do good things.' Maybe saying more but too hard to understand."
Toby rubbed his chin absently, pulling out a textbook. He had math to do. "Nomura's watching the forge, right?"
"Yes. For three more hours. They like her. She gave one handkerchief. They like presents." Toby absorbed this thoughtfully. He looked into his pencil bag and rummaged around.
"Okay. Let's try to make friends." Toby tapped gently on the shoulder of the nearest brownie. When it turned to look at him, he opened his hand and revealed a Gun Robot Sally eraser. He'd never had the heart to use it and erase the features. "A token of friendship."
The brownie trilled and accepted, showing it happily to the others. They looked Toby over and he froze, wondering if he was about to be showered in spit. They swarmed around his feet as if in thanks before rushing to Aaarrrgghh, climbing up his side, and spitting on his arm with gusto. Aaarrrgghh let them, giving Toby a confused look. "You're sure it's not helping at all?"
"Aaarrrgghh sure. It washing off itch medicine." They finished their task and ran back to the heartstone, humming happily again. "Aaarrrgghh wish he understood. They sound like squirrels."
"Yeah. Too bad we can't speak…Brownese, I guess?" Toby paused. "Wait, they sound like little animals, don't they? Even more than gnomes?"
"Yes. Very much like animals." Aaarrrgghh reopened the box and smeared more relief on over the saliva, ignoring the slime.
"Dude, I just had an idea. I bet Mordred could-"
"Oh, bloody stones!" A pair of trolls had entered and their expressions were thunderous. "We're putting up with enough! You ain't getting the heartstone filthy!" The brownies began to chitter in anger and Toby did some quick math – there were a hundred of them, enough to make a big mess if provoked.
"Come on guys, they're not hurting it. Don't fight." Toby stood up but a little too late – one of the trolls whisked a pair of brownies out of the way of the stone. When a few shouted and shook their little fists, the other troll made to do the same thing. One ducked not quite enough and he accidentally whacked it in the head. The little creature rolled head over feet into the wall and lay still. Toby's heart stopped and he ran to the brownie, turning it over gently. "C'mon little dude, say something!"
The trolls lumbered over, irritation gone. "Crikey, I didn't mean to hurt the little blighter. They're just making a mess everywhere! Is the doc in?" Toby felt a pulse and the brownie stirred, and he let out a breath of relief.
"Wingman. Something wrong with others." Aaarrrgghh drew close, wary. Toby turned and did not like what he saw.
The other brownies were all sitting ramrod straight, whiskers out, eyes gleaming with rage. Their fur stiffened and slowly darkened to jet black as if they'd been thrown in tar, and wide, wicked grins spread across their little faces.
Then they charged and Toby wished he'd taken forge duty.
End of Chapter 5