The callouses on Barbara's fingertips rasped against the rough wall of the canal as she used her hand to steady her descent. When she reached the bottom she crouched down and she surveyed her surroundings, squinting against the glare and heat radiating off the concrete.

This would be guesswork more than anything.

"Third time's the charm," She said to the open air.

She reached into her satchel and withdrew a hard black case. When she opened it the light glowed red through the thick liquid inside crystal vials. She held back against the urge to rub the bandage in the crook of her arm. It would be easier to control the spell, she reminded herself. It wasn't going to be a habit.

Barbara extracted one vial and a brush then returned the case. Next was the thin roll of parchment containing the spell circle.

She paused and scanned her surroundings. A few cars passed by on the bridge but they wouldn't be able to see her. Still, better safe than sorry. The last thing she needed was the police trying to fine her for defacing public property.

She snorted at the headline that appeared in her head: "Ex-doctor caught creating graffiti canal with blood. More on page A2."

Of course since she wasn't creating any lasting marks they'd probably be more concerned about her mental state. She shook her head and returned her attention to the task at hand.

Carefully she began to copy the circle of runes from the paper onto the ground. She finished after about a half-hour and then moved on to another spot and then another.

Finally she stood up and knuckled her back with a grimace. She was definitely going to take some ibuprofen tonight. She looked up and saw that the sun was drawing near the horizon.

Good. There was still time for a little rest before she had to come back.

The Arcadian night air was warm causing sweat to trickle down her neck. Barbara shifted uncomfortably, her armor clanking faintly with her movements. She smoothed the ruff of crow feathers down and readjusted the chain mail around her neck. If everything went well she wouldn't need it. If things didn't go well…

She shook her head and refocused her eyes on the dry canal before her. It was dark and nearly impossible for her to see anything. The visor on her helmet corrected her nearsightedness but nothing else. She would have to see about changing that. She spent far too much time running around in the dark these days. For the time being she whispered an incantation and channeled her magic to her eyes. Immediately things seemed brighter. Not daylight bright but everything was visible now. A faint blue glow reflected off the inside of her visor.

Below, on the floor of the canal, the dark bulky form of Bular was pacing back and forth under the bridge. There was a faint light on the horizon so he wouldn't be waiting much longer.

A flash of silver drew her eyes to the other side of the canal. She turned her head just in time to see the silver clad Trollhunter slide easily down the side of the canal. Barbara's fist clenched at the sight of the amulet. She took a breath and forced herself to relax it. It was not the time.

Barbara glanced back toward Bular and found him gone. A quick scan of the dark shadows under the bridge revealed that he was lurking on top of one of the girders.

The Trollhunter made his way toward the bridge and the hidden entrance to Trollmarket. As soon as he was under the bridge Bular let out a roar. He hurtled violently off his perch toward the troll beneath him. Kanjigar jumped back and let out a challenging snarl of his own, Daylight materializing with a flash of blue. He wasted no time in charging his opponent.

Barbara watched, barely blinking. Her nerves and chest tingled as if her skin was crawling with a thousand tiny ants, sparks of storm blue began to dance around her fingertips. She sent out the magic as nearly invisible tendrils.

Her fingers twitched when she felt one of her traps get touched but restrained herself as it was Kanjigar.

He danced out of the way of one of Bular's swords, leaving the glorified butcher's knife to carve a furrow in the concrete.

Barbara felt the beginnings of a headache. This was going to be annoying to clean up. As usual. It was really a wonder that the Janus Order didn't have to disappear more people than it did with how bad non-changeling trolls were at hiding themselves.

Another tingle raced up her nerves. Bular had stepped on one of her traps this time. Barbara twitched watching as Bular struck blow after blow upon Kanjigar. Sparks flying as he swung his twin swords in a strange sort of rhythm. Barbara suppressed a growl of frustration as he ceased contact with the trap.

There were another two triggers from Kanjigar and five from Bular when…

Kanjigar began raining powerful two-handed blows down on Bular driving him back… Back towards one of Barbara's traps! Barbara tensed like a viper. Kanjigar brought his sword down on Bular's driving them into the ground. Magic gathered thick around Barbara's fingers and…

Bular stepped on the trap just as Kanjigar put all his strength into a particularly powerful stoke.

Barbara's fingers curled and a whispered word left her lips. Bular tried to dodge but the spell held his foot fast. His eyes widened. He was unprepared when blow fell. Daylight made contact with his skull squarely in the center. There was a blinding flash of blue light and when she could see again two halves of a statue were hitting the ground.

Kanjigar stared in shock at his fallen foe.

Barbara let a small, shaky smile of victory grace her lips. She may have, for all intents and purposes, sold her soul to the devil but at least she could make the town just a little safer.

Good intentions aside, Bular was a huge black hole for the Janus Order's funds with how much time they spend cleaning up after him and covering up his existence. Eliminating him really was for the good of the Order.

Not that she was ever going to tell anyone that. No, as far as anyone would ever know, Bular was slain by the Trollhunter.

With a satisfied nod, she moved away from the edge of the canal and ready to return to her own personal hell.

Kanjigar shook himself out of his stupor and began looking around. Something wasn't right. Movement at the top of the canal caught his attention.

He snorted and tapped his amulet. With a flicker of white light his armor stopped clinking. He dismissed his sword crept silently up the side of the canal. At the top of the bank he found a depression in the foliage. He leaned forward and inhaled.

Human. It was a fresh scent too.

Whoever it was they had likely been watching him and Bular fight. There was a clanking sound. Kanjigar's head shot up and Daylight materialized in his hand. He took a step forward, but stopped short as a beam of sunlight materialized in front of him.

A growl of frustration slipped from behind his fangs. Keeping his eyes in the direction he had heard the sound, he leaned down an inhaled the smell again, committing it to memory before retreated back into the canal.

Once at the bottom he made his way to Bular's remains. He paused for a moment in front of them. He pressed his fist to his chest and dipped his head slightly before moving forward. Taking care to disturb the remains as little as possible he began investigating the ground under and around them.

At first he found nothing. Then…

Kanjigar's nostril's flared and he leaned forward smelling again. Yes… It was faint but… -He sniffed- He could smell the same human scent he had picked up at the top of the canal.

There was no way that was a coincidence.

Kanjigar gingerly dropped to all fours and began to track the smell. Honestly he would rather call for Aaarrrgghh to do it for him as the Krubera had a far better sense of smell than he did but day was soon and whoever did this might try to remove any of their traces. That aside it was dangerous to involve others in his job.

Eventually he found another spot where the smell was stronger again. He shifted back onto his haunches and ran his hand across the concrete brushing aside the dirt and leaves.

There was a faint tingle against his fingertips.

It was as he expected.

It was faint and its brown color made it hard to seem but there was a small magic circle inscribed on the ground before him. He mentally commanded his armor to open a small hole so he could reach his pouch. He fished around for a moment before finding a familiar shape. He pulled out the yellow crystal and held it before him. A pulse of magic traveled down his arm from the amulet activating it to record the magic circle before him.

He tucked it away and glanced back at the top of the canal. He didn't see anything but the sunlight was starting to creep down the sides so he made his way back to the bridge.

It was time to go home. Hopefully Blinky or Vendal could shed some light on its purpose.

He paused for a moment and then snorted. Scratch that. He wasn't asking Blinky. The Conundrum was a dear friend but he would draw some sort of crazy conspiracy out of this.

No. It was better to show it to the level headed elder of Trollmarket. If he didn't know what it was he would see if Merlin did. The wizard would probably just give him some sort of vague comment as an answer so he wasn't too keen on it.

Yes… Vendal really was the best choice.

Barabara stepped slowly out from behind the tree she was using as cover. Her heart was beating rapidly as she watched the Trollhunter disappear under the bridge.

This was bad. This was really bad. If Kanjigar started investigating and the changelings noticed, they might find out about her involvement in Bular's death. If the Janus Order… If Gunmar found out…

Her fists shook as she clenched them. She couldn't let that happen.

She had to stop him. Whatever it took.

But how could she stop the Trollhunter?

Barbara started pacing. Her blood roared in her ears. She rested her hand the pommel of her dao, twining her fingers in the black silk adorning it.

She was quickly becoming more and more skilled at swordplay but he had centuries on her, not to mention his size, strength, and durability…

She raised her hand from her dao and ran in along the sheath hidden on the underside of her forearm. She found herself thinking again of the glass vials in her bag.

That could certainly work…

Barbara's stomach clenched and bile rose in her throat.

Even if she didn't like the Trollhunter, he did keep the town safe. He protected humans despite the fact trolls tended not to like them. Getting Bular killed was one thing, but Kanjigar hadn't done her any harm. He was basically just a glorified sheriff.

The morning light finally made it to the bottom of the canal illuminating Bular's remains.

If Kanjigar revealed that someone else was involve in Bular's death. If the Order…

Barbara's pacing sped up. Her armor clanked with every movement. It was unbearably hot.

She thought of the amulet on his chest. The amulet made by Merlin from the hand of his apprentice. A very powerful apprentice who wanted it back. Who would be pleased with whoever brought it to her. So pleased she might be willing to offer a reward…

Barbara paused looking down at the entrance of Trollmarket.

The Janus Order was going to kill Kanjigar eventually anyway. It was only a matter of time. Especially now that they didn't need him to entertain Bular. If she did this she would gain more power too. More power meant she had more resources at her disposal. More resources meant higher chances of finding Merlin.

Barbara inhaled through her nose and the roughly exhaled. In. Out. In. Out.

The Trollhunter was Merlin's Champion anyway, just as she was now Morgana's. They were doomed to clash. Morgana would see to it and if that was the case…

Well…

What was one more sacrifice? She might as well get something out of it.

Barbara nodded to herself. If facing the Trollhunter was in her future she needed to prepare.

"Everyone and everything is a tool to get what I want," She murmured quietly.

And she wanted Jim back.

She twined her fingers together to stop her hands from shaking as she began to make her way to the Janus Travel Agency.

Author Notes:

Barbara has spent enough time with changelings at this point that she's beginning to internalize their beliefs. Not really a good thing.

I'm trying to flesh out my descriptions a bit and do more show than tell. Please let me know how I did.