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

Chapter 27: Something Rotten This Way Comes

Below the surface, deep in the bowels of Trollmarket, Strickler woke with a start as a loud clanging noise resounded in his cage.

Two guards holding spears were speaking gruffly beneath him as he hung there swaying just slightly.

"Only an impure would be stupid enough to rouse Angor Rot." one of them snarled, "Gunmar can't save him now."

The other guffawed gleefully, "Not so tough without your assassin, are ya?"

"Guilty changeling!" The other bellowed as they both began to have stones from the floor and throw them at him.

"You throw like a sloth-kin!" Strickler taunted as one of the stones whizzed just underneath the floor of his cage.

Both trolls glowered up at him, one hissed, "Let's get him down from there and really have some fun." he walked toward the cage and cruelly began to stick the tip of his spear through the bottom holes, attempting to stab Strickler with them.

His friend laughed as he approached the lever that would bring the cage down to them.

"Jim? Raelynn?!" Strickler cried out helplessly as his cage began the descent, "James Lake Junior!"

_
Vendel was fuming in his office, "She allowed Angor Rot to obtain a Horngazle. They very key past Trollmarket's defenses?!"

"It's not Claire's fault!" I vouched for her, stepping forward, "It's ours. We should've gone to the school for the incantation, we should've been the ones to face Angor Rot."

"It was in my purse." Claire whispered, clutching her arms around herself tightly, "We were dangling off of the roof...he just cut it off...and left."

Toby bowed his head, "It was a great everyday purse, it went with everything."

"We might have time." Jim announced, having been unnervingly silent throughout the entire debacle, "Angor Rot rarely attacks during the day."

"Angor Rot is unpredictable at best." Vendel remarked easily, "And if there isn't anything to stop him from wreaking havoc in Trollmarket, then you have just put more than just yourselves at risk."

"Trollhunters!" All of us froze when we heard Strickler wail out, "Help!"
Jim and I raced from the office, Claire, Toby, and Alexa following us close behind. And what we found was Arrrgh, Blinky, and Lyonna standing in front of a pair of gruff-looking trolls with Strickler suspended between them.

"Get out of our way Arrrgh." One of them snapped.

Arrrgh glared at him, pupils turning lime green, "No."

Blinky skittered toward them, holding his hands out to ease the hostile trolls, "Let us discuss this matter like reasonable trolls!" He stammered until he earned a stone to the head.

"Ugh!" Lyonna scoffed, rushing to his side, "Ruffians! Who threw that!"

"Where are Jim and Raelynn!" Strickler shouted, "They gave me their word!"
Jim and I stepped from behind our troll friends, "Put him down! He helped save my mother, he's with us!"

"He tried to release Gunmar!" One of the gathered trolls shouted.

"Get him out of here!" Another screamed.

"Changelings ain't right in Trollmarket."

"Get rid of him!"

I shouted, "Quiet down! Jesus, it's not going to make any difference. Angor Rot wants us too, and the protective barrier won't stop him!"