"War is constant chaos," Strickler spoke during history class, "The winner will be the one who controls the chaos. Both his or her own and his or her enemy's. Napoleon's words show an unquenchable need for conquest. A man who could not be stopped. So what was the French general's downfall?" He looked expectantly over the classroom. But the class stayed silent.
"Did he die from the deafening silence of a classroom?" He raised an eyebrow and the class snickered at his joke. But Jim and I just glared stoically at him from the back of the classroom.
"Look at that.." Jim scoffed, "He's got the whole class eating out of his hand."
I snorted in agreement, "Yeah..."
"His creepy troll hand," Toby added with a grimace.
"I trusted him, he betrayed me. And worst of all, he hit on my mother..." Jim growled angrily, "I should end him right now."
"Or you could ask him to divulge the whereabouts of the bridge that could release unspeakable evil." Toby suggested and I gave him a foul look, "I don't know. Do you think Strickler knows you two are the Trollhunters?"
I shrugged, "It's probable if he's working with Bular. Besides, that first day we had them I think he recognized Jim's armor and my amulet on the bench."
"Raelynn has a point. Besides, Bular called me Young Atlas, and Strickler is the only one that calls me that. Of course, he knows." Jim pointed out.
I nodded, "But, I don't think he knows we're onto him."
"Malaria." Strickler continued the lesson at the front of the classroom, "The world's most powerful army, felled by the bite of an insignificant insect." The bell rang and all of us packed up our things to leave.
"One last lesson," Strickler called as everyone was leaving, "Who could tell me where Napoleon kept his armies? Up his sleevies." All of the students groaned as they walked out of the door, but as we went to leave, Strickler walked over to us.
"Young Atlas, could I have a word with you and Miss Stone?" He asked politely, "Alone?"
I flashed Jim a subtle look of concern as Toby leaned in and discreetly whispered to us both, "Not until he divulges where the bridge is." He then walked out, leaving Jim and me alone with Strickler.
Claire walked out with Darcy and Mary trailing behind her. But she looked behind herself towards Jim and me.
Darcy raised a brow at her, "You really still have a thing for Jim? You know he and Linnie are together now..."
Claire shook her head, "No, it's not that. Remember that letter I was telling you about?"
"Uh, the one about them fighting monsters? You don't think he's crazy do you?" She asked.
"I don't know. But I'm gonna find out." Claire vowed as she and the other two walked out of the classroom.
"Is everything okay, Mr Strickler?" I piped up.
Strickler's face fell, "Actually no... due to recent developments, I don't want anything strange between us. Jim, your mother has invited me over for dinner. And Miss Stone I understand that you and your sister are staying in the house for the time being. I graciously accepted the offer, but I do hope that this won't make things awkward."
"Awkward? No, no, no, no. It's just dinner right?" Jim shrugged.
"I agree, you won't bother us." I agreed though I was still untrusting of this idea.
"Splendid." Strickler smiled, "Then I shall be seeing you both this evening."
_
"He's coming over for dinner?" Toby said in disbelief as all of us were in the boy's locker room. Claire was eavesdropping on us from nearby.
YOU ARE READING
The Two Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia Book One: Just the Beginning
FantasiJim and his best friends have been dragged headfirst into a world that is not their own. He and Raelynn have been chosen as this other world's protectors. But Raelynn and her sister have secrets, secrets that will have to be revealed if the team is...
