The Two Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia Book One: Just the Beginning

Chapter 22: Party Monster

"Okay," Jim whispered as our group was planning our heist of the Inferna Copula, "We wait until he's asleep..."

"I use my shadow staff to get us in," Claire added.

"And I ever so gently remove the ring from his finger," I continued.

But Toby was the one to stop our scheming, surprisingly, "Hold up there, Storytellers... do Changelings even sleep?"

Jim paused, his mouth open for a second before he conceded, "Good point Tobes,"

I continued, coming up with a new plan, "New plan, guys. We spike his coffee with extra-strength cold medicine."

"I use the shadow staff." Claire nodded, keeping our plan going.

This time Toby spoke up to add, "And I bring my Warhammer, in case that doesn't knock him out."

Jim also continued the scheme, "And then I ever so gently-"

"Wait." Claire cut in, making Jim groan and I let out a huff of a sigh in frustration, we'd been going at this for what seemed like hours, "What if he's not alone, his office was guarded last time, right?"

"Okay, fine..." Jim sighed, his forehead resting on the tabletop, "We spike the coffee..."

"Shadow staff," Claire finished simply.

Toby smirked, "I use my Warhammer, to take out his goons."

"Then again, I'll ever so gently remove the ring..." I finished before Toby had another grand idea that could screw over our plan.

"But what if it doesn't come off?" He asked and I gave him an exasperated glance.

"Why the hell would it not come off?" I scoffed, throwing my hands above my head.

Toby looked at me incredulously, "I don't know! Maybe, it's glued on or something, or maybe he added on a few pounds!"

"Why would it be glued on you, dingus," Claire exclaimed in exasperation.

Toby glared at her harshly, "You said we had to be prepared for every precaution!"

"He's waking up!" Claire suddenly shouted as I stared at her with wide eyes.

"How is he waking up?" I scoffed, "This isn't even actually happening!"

She ignored my statement and ordered, "Cut off his hand!"

"What?!" Both Jim and I shouted in disbelief.

Claire nodded urgently, "Use your sword, one of you! Hurry! Do it!"

"Are you insane-" I sputtered as Jim was rambling.

"No! Are you crazy? I'm not gonna-"

Then Toby joined in, pressuring us to make a decision, "Do it! Before it's too late!"

But I yelled to stop the quickly elevating situation, "Wait! Guys! If one of us chops off his hand, we chop off Ms. Lake's hand too! Remember?!"

Jim deflated immediately, "I forgot... Angor Rot's spell, we're not ready... there's too much risk."

"But Angor Rot said if you two don't get the ring, he's coming back for you," Claire said matter-of-factly.

"And you don't think we know that?" I snapped at her, "Claire, there's a lot at risk right now, it's not just about us."

She looked a bit taken aback, and I cringed, knowing I'd just blown up out of stress. Guilt shrouded deep in my gut for a moment and I gritted my teeth.