Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia

12: Claire and present danger

The goblins were crowded in the museum, chanting in their goblin language. Nomura and Bular were near the glowing portal while Strickler was walking toward it with the glowing amulet. Gunmar was standing at the other side of the portal, waiting for them to open it. "Open the bridge!" He said.

Bular took the amulet from Strickler. "It is my honor, father."

"Where is the young changeling?" Nomura asked.

"he should be here," Strickler said. He looked at a goblin. "Fragwa, take your brethren and fetch that vile little beast."

The goblin nodded and ran out of the museum. Bular went to the top of the bridge. "For centuries, father, we have awaited your glorious return. Tonight, we take back the surface lands. Tonight, we feast!"

The goblins started cheering and Bular put the amulet in the eyestone. The bridge started glowing. "Finally," Gunmar said. "After centuries of being in the Darklands..."

The bridge stopped glowing. "Something is wrong!" Bular said.

The portal started closing.

"Take out the amulet!" Strickler said. "Take it out now!"

"The portal is closing!" Bular said. He tried taking the amulet out, but it knocked him back.

"My son," Gunmar said. Bular looked at him. "Father..."

Gunmar tried reaching his hand through the portal. "My son, what have you done?"

The portal closed and the amulet fell out. "Father!" Bular said.

Strickler picked up the amulet. "Daylight is his to command, Bular!" he said.

Bular grabbed him by his neck. "You said the amulet would open the bridge!"

"Bular, I know what we need."

"What?"

"The Trollhunter. The amulet won't work without him. He is the key."

"Bring the Trollhunter to me!"

Nomura nodded. "It will be my pleasure."

Bular threw Strickler against the wall. "Pray that you're right, Impure." He said. "Or Arcadia will burn in my fury."

"He still has the fake amulet," Strickler said, standing up. "Nothing will protect him now."

***

"Let's see," Toby said, searching through his bag of socks. He was below Not-Enrique's window. Not-Enrique was sitting at the window, looking at him. "What do we have here?" Toby asked. "Got some argyle, polka-dots, extra-long tube, and these have never been washed." He held up a sock. "It practically stands up on its own."

He sniffed it and gagged. "We're talking months of toe sweat and gym classes."

"Stop the trolley!" Not-Enrique said. "You want me to crawl through the Fetch into the Darklands, and rescue Claire's baby brother? For a few pairs of smelly, stinky never been washed..."

"Come on!" Toby said. "You know the Darklands. You can rescue him!"

"No! No amount of socks will get me back into the freak show."

He went back into the window and Toby walked off. Not-Enrique climbed into his crib and looked at Suzy Snooze, holding a sock magazine. "I'm tellin' you, Suzie Snooze, give 'em an inch and they want the whole roast."

He heard footsteps in the room and looked around. He looked up at a shelf to see Fragwa on top. "Fragwa," Not-Enrique said. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"