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

Chapter 26: A Night to Remember

All of the trolls in Troll Market were crowding around the ragtag, beaten, trembling, shaken group.

"More humans in Trollmarket?"

"What's going on?"

"Fleshbags."

"I don't trust them."

"They don't belong here."

Further mayhem broke loose when the moonlight trollhunter collapsed from exhaustion, nearly falling flat on her face. Jim lunged to catch her, gasping in alarm.

"Clear a path!" He bellowed, hoisting the girl into his arms before passing her off to her younger sister, who was still sobbing hysterically. The black-haired boy took hold of his mother in return, carrying her bridal style through the swath of trolls. The changeling staggered behind them, clutching his gaping wound.

"Where are we?" Ms. Lake rasped as she tried to take in what little she could see of the vast market around her, her vision blurring.

Jim looked down at her, his eyes pained, "Just hold on, Mom. You're somewhere safe."

Her breaths were coming in short, shallow gasps now, the wound still seeping blood and glowing a nasty green. Strickler groaned as he nearly collapsed to his knees, the blood that was oozing from his own wound leaking down his neck and around his fingers.

"It's h-hard to breathe." Ms. Lake gasped out.

Alexa panicked even more at that reveal and Jim promptly shouted, "We need Vendel! Where's Vendel?!"

The rest of their friends, both human and troll, came racing toward them, expressions of astonishment and horror flooding their faces as they saw the state of the group before them.

"Great Gronka Morka" Blinky gasped as his sister paled at the sight of the wounds, "What in the world happened?"

"Angor attacked Strickler," Jim rasped out, his chest heaving in panic, "T-the binding spell!"

Claire ran forward, Toby at her side, and joined Alexa who was hiccuping over Raelynn's limp form.

"What happened to Raelynn?" Claire breathed.

Jim pursed his lips, "She- she used her magic again... whatever it is. It drains her. Fast."

Strickler groaned, stumbling onto his knees as he hacked. More blood came dripping out of his mouth. Barbara began coughing as well which made Jim's heart rate spike even higher.

"The Changeling!" A troll roared in outrage.

"Let's crush him!" Another bellowed.

"No!" Vendel commanded, stepping out of the crowd, "Not unless you want to kill his mother too! Quickly, bring them both to the examination dwell."

Arrrgh snatched up Strickler, tossing him like a sack of flour over his shoulder as Blinky gently took Barbara from Jim's arms.

"You're going to be okay, Barbara," Lyonna whispered kindly to the woman as she stroked her hair soothingly. Her eyes fluttered open momentarily and clouded in confusion as she stared up at the greenish-blue she-troll looming above her.

"Miss Lyonna?" She stammered before passing out cold.

"Quickly," Vendel beckoned, hastily walking through the market, "This way."

Jim took the unconscious Raelynn from her sister's arms as Claire immediately moved to comfort the whimpering pre-teen.

"I closed the gate before Angor got in," Toby informed Jim as the four kids rushed behind the group of trolls ahead of them. The redhead handed Claire the horngazle that had been stashed in his pocket.