Brothers by Blood, Brothers in Arms

Nobody's Sons

"Dude!" Toby crowed as they biked down the street. "That was amazing! You were amazing! I'm amazed at how amazing you were!"

"I can't believe that just happened." Jim said, squeezing between two construction barriers.

Toby grinned. "And did you see how the chiquita was looking at you? Your armor totally did you a favor!"

"I dunno," Jim sighed, watching the shadows move on the buildings as the sun set. "I'm still getting the hang of it."

"The multi-eye guy said it reacts to your emotional state," Toby reminded him, and then immediately almost fell over riding over a bunch of loose wood planks. "The armor turns on when you're in distress!"

"But I wasn't in distress back at school," Jim said, remembering the way the armor's magic had reached for him, almost desperate to protect him.

They rounded a corner and screeched to a halt. A big black hulking troll standing in the shadows of the setting sun roared at them.

Jim felt his heart leap into his throat. "But I am now!"

"Trollhunter!" The brute called. "Merlin's creation! Gunmar's bane!"

"I think he's talking to you!" Toby said through grit teeth, terror clear in his eyes.

"Bular..." Jim breathed. The name came back to him. This was who Blinky and Archie had warned him about.

Bular roared and took a single step into the sunlight. He recoiled, his stone skin burning and cracking. He snarled. "Give me the amulet, and I will tell you where your brother is."

Jim's blood turned to ice. So they did have Douxie. His hands tightened on the handles of his bike. Anger replaced the terror rising in his chest. "If you hurt him, I'm going to kill you."

Bular laughed. "How amusing! Almost as amusing as his screams."

Jim grit his teeth. "Where is he?"

Bular eyed him, then the increasingly rapid retreat of the sun's light as it disappeared over the horizon. "Perhaps you will learn soon enough."

Jim leaned over to Toby. "He's afraid of the sun," he said, pointing at how the troll was avoiding the light.

Toby shook his shoulder frantically. "Not for long!"

"The amulet!" Bular demanded. "Surrender it and I will cease your brother's suffering!" He grinned cruelly. "All three of you will receive a speedy death."

"He doesn't know how to negotiate, this guy!" Toby exclaimed hysterically. The sun dipped quickly behind the buildings, leaving them in darkness. "Go, go, go!"

They took off on their bikes, trying to stay ahead of the troll. They got far enough ahead of him to dive behind a large truck. Jim pressed himself to the vehicle, trying to steady his breathing.

"What's going to happen to Douxie if we don't give this guy what he wants!?" Jim whisper-yelled.

"I don't know, but I know what's going to happen to us!" Toby hissed back. "Armor up! Please! Now!"

"Okay!" Jim snatched the amulet from his pocket and held it between his hands. "For the glory of Merlin, Daylight is mine to command!"

Nothing happened. Jim couldn't feel the magic reaching for him the way it had done at school. The amulet was annoyingly silent. Nothing.

"It's not working!" Jim exclaimed, shaking the damn thing like it would wake it up.

"Eee!" Toby shoved him around the side of the truck as Bular stomped towards them. "Try it again!"