unforgiving dusk || trollhunters

Chapter 5

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Word Count - 2082 words

A week after Vendel suggested they cure Argh of the Creeper's Sun and find Jim, the trio was just about ready to go in search of the final ingredient; a piece of stone from an old foe they hoped they would never see again. Apparently, that wish wasn't about to come true any time soon.

The village Angor Rot resided in before the battle of Killahead bridge was almost entirely wiped out, thanks to Gunmar and his armies. He raided the village and killed all he could find, but a few had escaped before they could be felled or turned into soldiers.

He traded his soul in return for magic strong enough to protect the remainder of the village and defeat Gunmar. The village disappeared along with the residents, only a single trail left behind to find them if it were truly dire times.

After Angor Rot escaped Trollmarket's dungeons, they thought that would have been the last of him.

Blinky spent day and night piecing together clues and riddles in the entire library of Trollmarket to find the village Angor Rot was protecting. It took him a few weeks, but the lead he has now is the strongest he has ever stumbled upon.

Speaking of stumbling.

Toby was panting heavily, nearly going head-first into the dry terrain below him. He was making his way through the dense bushes and tall, dry grass of the African lands. He was thankful that the sun wasn't out, it was hot enough already with trying to navigate his way in the night.

"How much farther?" he whined, exhausted.

Blinky's nose was in a large book, as usual. Walking through the grass was no trouble at all, unlike his human company, "As far as the knowledge in this book extends, we should be right on top of it."

Claire stopped and looked around. "Right on top of what exactly?"

"The home of the Phader, of course. The very reason why we came here."

"I'm assuming you don't mean Vader, as in Darth Vader?"

"What is 'Darth Vader'?"

Claire was about to give an explanation if the ground beneath them didn't begin to fall apart piece by piece. It revealed a dark pit with orange crystals lighting all the way down to the bottom. She held her staff close to her chest, ready to open a gate for them to escape out of in case they fell in.

Instead, Blinky slammed the book shut and put it back in the bag he carried with him. "A-ha! I knew we were going in the right direction. Come now, follow me." he folded his hands behind his back and started making his way into the pit, walking upon orange crystals that acted as stairs.

Almost like the ones back in Trollmarket.

Claire and Toby glanced at each other and followed after Blinky reluctantly as he yammered on about how hard it would have been to find this place if he hadn't kept this book from decades ago. As usual, Toby and Claire weren't listening to that.

Toby's thoughts were on what Jim could be doing in the Darklands now. Did Gunmar capture him? Was he hurt? He wanted to help Jim, but he can't get into the Darklands alone, or at all.

Claire's thoughts weren't much different. She kept Skathe-Hrün close to her chest, suspicious of the area. She was alert and ready for anything. Why would this place just open for them? Did they not have a magical lock on the entrance like Trollmarket? Someone must have opened the entrance for them. She's sure of it.