Chapter 43: Bumbling Ballawasks

Her hands wouldn't stop shaking.

Barbara didn't know if it was due to the shock of being ripped from sleep by the police or that she had woken up in a strange bed. It had been so hard to sleep and eat properly. Then again, it could be the fact that she was sitting on the cold road having the warmth leeched from her body as she clung to her son.

Kissing the top of Jim's head again, she whispered into her son's ear that she was here now. Barbara then tried to readjust her hold on her child as Walter walked over to her side of the car, the man quickly kneeling at her side.

His voice was full of concern as he stated softly, "The officers said an ambulance was just called. They'll be here shortly to take Jim and you to the hospital. I was given a blanket and some water for you while we wait."

Jim immediately stiffened in her arms while Strickler covered the two of them in a thermal blanket, the man continuing, "They also said the house has gone quiet, and the back door is open. Whatever was in there seems to be gone, but the police are going to do a full sweep. They are saying … it's a mess in there. It looks like bears rampaged through it."

Eyes going wide, her hand still petting Jim's head, all Barbara could state was, "Oh… Oh… my. It's a good thing … I wasn't home."

"Agreed," said Walt as he tried to readjust the blanket as it slid down, his fingers stalling when Jim jerked away from him. Immediately, he pulled his fingers away only to stare in surprise at the red stain there. Barbara took in a deep breath when she noticed the blood as well.

"J-jim. Jim?! Are you bleeding, sweety?" she asked in a panic, Strickler helping Barbara as they both searched for any wounds. It was easy enough to find the marking on his back shoulder.

The woman immediately noticed it for what it was … someone had carved into her child. She was sobbing all over again, Jim's face in her hands as she asked who had hurt him.

Walter, eyeing the wound, knew a cursed mark when he saw one. Given the freshness of the wound and his most recent command to fetch the boy, the changeling wondered if this was Angor Rot's doing. Yes, he had told the assassin to keep the boy contained, but he didn't think that he'd go far enough to carve into him?! There were lesser types of imprisonment spells, so why go so far? Then again, he couldn't identify the spell's purpose at first glance … maybe it wasn't an imprisonment spell at all. He didn't trust the assassin as far as he could throw him.

Placing a hand on Barbara's shoulder so she'd look at him, he stated calmly that he'd see if any of the officers had a medical kit before the EMTs got there. The redhead grabbed his hand and squeezed it in thanks, offering a sad smile.

Jim, seeming to notice this, finally looked at Strickler. It was a strange look for Young Atlas, like he was accusing Walt of carving the mark into him, but then again, the boy was apparently a Seer. Maybe … he did know that Walt had sent Angor Rot after him. Then again, he didn't know the magnitude or reach of the boy's magic, but even standing right here, he could see the blue flicker in the boy's eyes and taste energy in the air. There was definitely magic in the boy, but Seer magic? He didn't know. They were a rare breed even during the magic eras of the world.

Repeating that he'd be right back, the man rose to his feet, quickly scanning the shadows for any signs of trolls or changelings alike. He needed to do some quick leg work and cover up what needed to be hidden. Maybe he could even de-escalate this whole thing if … Strickler's plans immediately derailed in his head. There, a few cop cars down was a black SUV, and from the said vehicle, observing the whole mess was Roy Rockhold. He had stepped out of his vehicle and was taking in the chaos with a curious gaze before his eyes met Stricklander's.

Besides himself, Strickler's eyes glinted in rage that the other changeling was so brazenly implanting himself in Stricklander's business. Rocklander, in turn, allowed a slow yet faint smile to spread across his face. It was a smile … no human could ever pull off. He looked more like a predator, a hungry thing, than he did a person. That smile was a promise, a challenge towards Stricklander's position of power, and they both knew it. He was looking for dirt or some show of disloyalty to offer to the Bular.

And changelings didn't really acknowledge the word demotion: death was far more likely.

Deciding not to give into the taunt while also acknowledging that it would look suspicious if he didn't at least speak with Roy, Strickler made his way over to the redhead. He did not rush, he didn't lower his head, and he offered no further shows of irritation. His voice was even calm and collected as he spoke, "It is nice to know you go out on missions, Rocklander. The question is, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be … cleaning up an … information leak?"

Rocklander, crunching down on whatever hard candy he was sucking on, smiled wickedly before tossing his head in the direction where none other than Sergeant Ben Gulager stood, the man flashing a light through one of the front windows of the Lake house.

Leaning more against the car door of his black SUV, probably still thinking he had the upper hand here, the ginger stated coolly, "The children have been properly discredited. Every single one of them is likely heading to therapy for mass hysteria. That one though, the old man, he's obviously caught on to the cover-up after all the footage from his police cruiser was destroyed. His report was pointedly vague, cryptic even, like he was blind and deaf the whole time Bular was trying to eat him and his cruiser. And, since he hasn't fallen into one of my traps yet, I'm certain that he knows something's after him. Feels like the old days … when I had to trick my food into coming out into the forest so the rest of the herd would not see."

Walt raised a brow, not the least bit surprised that Rocklander liked to play with his food. That man alone was probably why the first American Settlers were afraid to go out into the woods.

"Gulager is an old fixture in this town. I'm not surprised that he's suspicious. Either way, deal with it quietly and carefully," said Stricklander simply, glad that Roy had changed the topic to himself without Walter really trying.

Yet, right when Strickler nodded and was about to turn away, returning to his initial task, Roy asked, "So, it's obvious why I am here … but why are you here? Seems an odd location for a high school teacher?"

Titling his head just so, unwilling to move his feet, the older changeling stated simply, "Keeping an eye on my target. Same as you."

Roy hummed as if he didn't believe that for a moment, adding, "Keeping an eye, huh? Seemed like you were keeping more than your eye on her. Couldn't help but notice how your hands seemed to linger longer than they should have. You aren't getting attached, are you? They're meat, Stricklander. Pets at best."

Stricklander's fingers twitch, part of him wishing to reach for one of his blades, but he kept his composure because he knew Roy was right about that. He shouldn't form a connection … connections got you killed.

"So," continued Roy, his eyes glinting in glee as if he knew he'd gotten under the elder changeling's skin, "Is that the child? Bular's interloper? The skillet menace with flamingo battlements? The one that Kanjigar fetched right from under him?"

Walter raised an eyebrow … Roy certainly was keeping his ear to the ground over this. Then again, it had been decades since anyone besides the Trollhunter had been able to rile up Bular. So, even though Strickler wanted to lie, to get Roy off his back, he knew it was too late to deny such things. Some kind of news was getting back to Bular tonight and it best be what Strickler wanted it to be. If Roy had to be the mouthpiece, then it was what it was.

Folding his fingers into a steeple, as if in thought, Strickler turned his head as an ambulance finally pulled up, an EMT jumping out and immediately heading to the mother and son. Staring for a moment, Walter spoke carefully, "Yes, it is James Lake Jr. Bular's little bane. It seems like he was released or escaped Trollmarket. I will be sticking close to the boy and his mother while I try to uncover what the boy knows. Now, if you excuse me. Some of us actually bother to keep an eye on our targets."

Roy, smile washing away, snapped his head back to the Lake house where Gulager no longer was. Cursing softly under his breath, the FBI agent started a slow jog towards the house, likely to regain sight of his prey.

Walt, in turn, headed back towards his own targets just as the EMTs started helping Jim into the back of the ambulance. He wasn't letting either one out of his sight. Luckily, he already had a plan in mind.

"Yeah, that looks nasty, but not life-threatening. Let me throw some gauze on that and then we'll get you a hospital ride, right kiddo?" said an EMT, the woman offering a strained smile before covering Jim back up with a thermal blanket while she headed deeper into the ambulance, likely to get some gauze and tape. His mom probably would have been doing it herself, but she was standing a few feet away, speaking with some officers.

They were keeping their voices down, but Jim did keep hearing about the destruction of the house's interior, some creepy cult marks on the floor, blood on the floor, and Jim's state. They wanted to make sure Jim was stable enough to talk about what happened. They also needed to take pictures when he got to the hospital … of his back … and his wrist … and the bruises.

The only real harm was what Angor Rot had done, but that stupid band had left a mark as well as sword training with Draal. It was not painting a pretty picture if his mom's horrified expression and shaking hands were anything to go by. They probably thought he was kidnapped by a cult or something.

Sighing, running a hand through his hair, Jim wondered what he was going to say to the cops. Trolls were real? Yeah, no. That was a one-way trip to the psych ward and mental health medication for the rest of his days. He needed to think of something, fast. In his past life, he remained mostly out of the limelight when it came to public servants. Now … now he'd made a mess of things.

Maybe he should have just gone back with the trolls. They were correct. Right now, he didn't have enough magic to truly protect himself on the surface, especially if Angor Rot was after him as well as Bular. And the mark on his back? Even now he could feel something there between the throbs of pain. It made him sick and he kind of wanted to claw and scratch at it until the foreign feeling was gone.

Sighing again, his eyes tilting towards the Lake house, part of Jim wondered if he could offer an excuse so he could go fetch his amulet and other magical items. Such thoughts ended quickly though when an aging man stepped up to him.

"E-evening J-james. I'm g-glad you finally made your way ho-m-me. Your mom's been w-worried."

Sitting there, confused by the odd comment, it took him a minute to remember this man, memories of stranger danger and anti-drug lectures in the gymnasium coming to mind.

"Mr … Gulager, right?" asked the boy, reading the officer's name tag awkwardly. "Are you … going to take my statement?"

Looking over his shoulder for a moment, as if looking to see if anyone was watching, the man shook his head before stating calmly, "N-not me, Jim. A strange f-f-fellow by the name Roy Rockhold will likely be doing s-so. Do not t-trust him … I don't think he's h-human."

Jim stiffened, not liking the sound of that at all. It was even odder that Gulager knew inhuman things were about. Did all the cops know how odd Arcadia was?

"Forgive me for m-my briefness, s-s-son, but I g-gotta be quick. T-Tobias and the other t-teens were picked up by me a few-ww nights ago … they were being c-chased by a dark t-t-troll at the time," said the officer softly, his mustached lip seeming to twitch at the memory while Jim took in a sharp breath. "They're m-m-mostly fine, some br-bruising, but no one believes-s them, and I fear f-f-for their ss-safety if they continue to s-speak the t-truth."

Besides himself, Jim was glancing around, paranoia now crawling up his spine. What was going on?! What mess had he thrust himself into now? Why couldn't he just get a bloody normal teenage day?! He hadn't gotten one since he came back to the past! It was like he was stuck in an unpredictable speed run, the game's rules changing as he went along.

"Now Jim, g-generally I'd never ask s-someone to lie. I don't think-k highly of l-liars, but …," the man sighed and then clapped a hand onto Jim's good shoulder, squeezing it slightly in a supportive gesture, "lie your b-butt off, b-boy. Lie like it's g-going out of style. W-we'll talk more later, p-promise. Right now, I n-need to shake off my t-tail."

Then, almost too fast for an aging man, the officer was gone, leaving Jim sitting there. He could already feel the additional anxiety crawling up his spine. In fact, his blood pressure spiked when he noticed that Strickler had somehow teleported next to his mom in the three seconds he was speaking with Gulager! Really?! Just how bad was his luck?

Zoning in on Barbara's new location, Strickler tried to strip any of the rage he had gathered after speaking with Rocklander. He latched onto a calm expression as he carefully placed a hand on her shoulder. The woman had a hand over her mouth as she turned towards him, the officers having finished speaking with her. She all but fell into his arms, tears streaming down her face as she spoke in a shaky tone.

"W-walt, it's horrible. This is all so horrible," she whispered, her tone rambling, "S-someone cut into him, my baby. And there are cult marks on the living room floor. The whole house … is a mess. The doors are barely on the hinges from what they said. It isn't safe to stay there … especially if they want to come back. How am I supposed to protect him? It isn't safe. I-I don't know what to do."

Her thin fingers were now curled into his shirt like she was hanging from a cliff. Barbara was desperate and was looking to him for answers.

Carefully, Walter wrapped an arm around her back to keep her standing, even going so far as to kiss her on the forehead before replying, "Don't worry, Barbara. We'll figure this out together. They'll take Jim to the hospital, clean him up, and take his testimony. Then, when he's released … you and Jim can come and stay with me. It's in a safe part of town, and it will be safer there than in a hotel."

Eyes widening, her shaking letting up slightly, Barbara stepped away slightly so she could really look Walt in the face. It was like she was looking for any signs of uncertainty as she asked, "A-are you sure? It's not that I don't appreciate the offer, but … is there space? And I haven't even spoken to Jim about … us. It's … I don't …"

Smiling at her, Strickler took her hand into his and squeezed, stating simply, "It's fine. I can empty the spare room and scare up a bed for Jim. As for us … Jim's a smart kid. He'll understand."

And yet, as he titled his gaze up and away from a thankful Barbara, he couldn't help but catch Jim's gaze. The teen looked anything but understanding.

Vendel tilted Kanjigar's face back and forth, looking at the glowing sigil there … or what there was of the sigil of Angor Rot. There were only a few glowing lines on the Trollhunter's face.

"I can't believe I'm going to say this, but thank the old gods that Blinky was there," said the elder as he released the Trollhunter's face, Kanjigar rolling his jaw in discomfort.

Blinky, currently under one of Aaarrrgghh's arms as if looking for ticks, huffed in response, "What does that mean?"

Stepping away from the Trollhunter, Vendel's milky eyes turned to the other occupants of his work area, his tone as dry and biting as ever, "It means your brief show of blundering bravery saved Kanjigar from a working sigil. This one is so incomplete I doubt Angor Rot can even sense Kanjigar with it."

Then, as if in afterthought, he added. "And you probably saved Aaarrrgghh as well. Color mere impressed, Blinkous."

Dropping Aaarrrgghh's arm, having double-checked his friend for any nicks from the sun-creeper's blade, the blue troll tapped all his fingers together almost nervously. He was obviously surprised by the compliment and could only respond with a surprise, "T-thank you, Vendel."

The older troll snorted at Blinkous's bashful tone before he headed over to a nearby table, stating coyly, "I would be careful with your bouts of bravery though Blinkous … or you might end up in my healing dwell more often like this blue blistering fool."

Kanjigar shook his head in exasperation because he wasn't injured that often. Blinky, in turn, placed a hand over his still-squinting eyes, seemingly horrified at the prospect.

"Now, let's go over the incident once again," said the elder, ignoring the eye rolls from most of the trolls there. "You got to the seer's dwelling. There was already a mess, likely from the seer trying to defend himself. The assassin, Angor Rot, was there. Kanjigar attacked and with Draal's assistance, they pushed the assassin upstairs. Blinky then tried to assist Seer Jim with his injuries before the battle made its way back downstairs. Angor Rot then stated that he had come for the boy, yes?"

There were replies of confirmation.

"And none of you were seen after making such a racket? I'm surprised the human dwelling is still standing … for that matter none of you were seen?" asked the milky-eye troll as he leaned on his staff, eyeing all of them suspiciously.

Draal, having been staring at his 'crippled' arm this whole time in a distracted manner, rubbed the back of his neck nervously while Blinky and Aaarrrgghh merely smiled nervously.

The historian, not liking the pale troll's expression, added wearily, "O-of course not. Do you take us for bumbling ballawasks?"

The dry look Vendel continued to give them all said that he thought exactly that.

"Now," continued the elder, apparently letting the accusation hang there as he turned his attention back to the table he was next to and the bloodied curtain there. "You said that there was magic in the air when you entered the human dwelling? That there were magical arches over the two of them?"

"Yes, Jim's blue magic was obvious. Then there was yellow and purple as well," said Blinky as he stepped up the table, his hands wringing together as he looked at the blood-stained curtain on the table with a pained grimace. "Do you think it was a magical backlash from something Jim did or, perhaps, from … the cursed mark?"

"Blue, you say. There weren't any red arches?" asked Vendel, ignoring Blinky's question as he flicked through the pages of a nearby book that was filled with different types of cursed mark references.

"No," said Blinky nervously, his stomachs sinking as he realized where this was going. "It was blue."

"Did you find the blood mage's blade at least?" asked Vendel, flicking through another page.

"We hadn't the time to look," said the historian, adding carefully, "Certainly there are more pressing issues than the blade, Vendel? Like what that cursed mark was? How should we get Jim back? We can't leave him up there unprotected."

Sighing, head bowing slightly, Vendel softly admitted, "There are many, many concerns on my mind lately, Blinky. I knew seers brought chaos, but to think … the bridge, a fetch, changelings, the assassin's return, a cursed mark, and a blood mage's blade? I worry that in taking on the seer, I have welcomed darkness into Trollmarket. I fear that the mageling might be going dark on us. I do not know if we should even try to bring the boy back. Technically, he did free himself, and I said he could leave once he learned how. In fact, I wonder if I should ban any further entry for the boy?"

The surprised and horrified looks on all the trolls' faces were almost deafening, but their plethora of disagreements soon fell over the aged troll like a wave.

"Please, Vendel, be reasonable," started Kanjigar as he stepped closer to the elder. "Bular is out there and now Angor Rot. We cannot just leave him to fend for himself. He will perish."

"Jim. Good kid. He's not dark," stated Aaarrrgghh, frowning deeply as he shifted on his arms.

"Yes, old friend, please listen to the others. Jim's always been well-meaning. He's been rash and scared, but he is not dark," almost begged Blinky, recalling how trust-filled Jim's eyes had been when the boy had warned him of the sigil and the sun-creeper's blade. "Furthermore, we, as the most stable of magical beings in the area, have a responsibility to at least teach him how to magically protect himself. Please don't deny him entry from Trollmarket."

A few such arguments followed after. Draal even tried to remind the elder that Jim had saved the Trollhunter, thus gaining his father's gaze. Something he had been trying to ignore since they had gotten back. The youngest troll knew he was running on borrowed time. Soon, his father would corner him and know what a failure he was destined to be.

Draal feared it might break him.

Vendel, meanwhile, was rubbing his forehead with a large paw as the argument continued. Looking up at the Hearthstone above him, he prayed for strength.

Bowing his horns, as if in temporary defeat, the elder stated simply, "Please understand, Trollmarket's safety will always be my number one concern. A mageling can be a great blessing, bringing new magic and life to an area, especially for magical creatures like ourselves."

Blinky, smile returning, thinking that the pale troll had been easily convinced, didn't even get another word out before Vendel spoke again, "But, recall, such beings can bring great darkness as well. For now, I will withhold my judgment on Seer Jim. I pray to the old gods that I am just being wary, for I as well would hate to abandon the whelp, but Trollmarket will always be my first concern."

With that, Vendel left the area, his staff clinking softly like some kind of ominous warning, leaving the other four trolls with heavy thoughts of a Seer named Jim.

...

"But, nana! I have to go and check on Jim's house! It could be the changelings or the trolls!" cried Toby as he and the bat he was holding were kept from the door by the elder woman, police lights flickering outside next to the Lake house.

"No, you will not be going out their Toby-kins. We don't need any more group hysteria affecting you," she stated, standing in front of the door with her arms folded. "Besides, if there were monsters out there, a bat won't do. You'd need something with more power. Like nana's Glock 19."

She then hiked up her robe a little bit to show that there was a gun strapped to her lower leg.

The teen, finger raised as if in protest, stalled, scratching his chin before asking, "Nana, do you always wear a gun to bed?"

She giggled slightly, stating simply, "Oh sweety, I take my concealed carry everywhere. Even to bingo night."

Letting the baseball bat hang, brow-raising, Toby continued, "And you said 'if there are monsters out there'. So … you might actually believe me?"

The old woman offered a sly smile before leaning in, stating in a mysterious whisper, "I saw some weird stuff during the war, Toby-kins. Humans don't know everything in the heaven and earth. Plus, I didn't trust that FBI fellow as far as I could throw him. He was acting like a weasel in a chicken coop. He's up to something."

Besides himself, Toby smiled at his grandmother, stating warmly, "Thanks for not thinking I'm crazy, nana."

"Of course, sweety … but you still can't go out."

"What, come on?!" wailed the ginger, the teen throwing his hands up in the air in surrender. He totally should have stayed with Jim. It would have been much cooler than being trapped in the house with nana.

XXX

Paw07: I don't much care for this chapter. It's been done for three days. So, I just proofread it and kicked it out of the writing nest because I'm sick of staring at it. Not all chapters can be suspense-filled troll battles, I guess. (¬、¬)

Also, Strickler is a sly fox, inviting the Lakes to stay at his house.

And poor Vendel. He's probably going to get hate for that scene. I pity anyone with such responsibilities. That's why I'll never run for mayor.

Furthermore, Nana is an old-school badass. No one can change my mind on that. XD