Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia

26: Something rotten this way comes

Strickler woke up in his cell, only to hear two trolls talking beneath him.

"Only an Impure would be stupid enough to raise Angor Rot," one of them said. "Gunmar can't save him now."

"Not so tough without your assassin, are ye?"

"Guilty changeling!"

They started throwing rash at him.

"You throw like a sloth-kin," Strickler said.

"Let's get him down from there and really have some fun," One of the trolls said, walking over to the cage.

"Jim? Jim!" Strickler called. "James Lake Junior!"

***

"She allowed Angor Rot to obtain a Horngazel," Vendel said. "The very key past Trollmarket's defenses?"

"It's not Claire's fault," Jim said. "It's mine. I should've gone to the school for the incantation. I should've faced Angor Rot. Not them."

"It was in my purse," Claire said. "Toby and I were dangling off the roof. He cut it off and left."

"It was a great everyday purse," Toby said. "It went with everything."

"We might have time," Jim said. "Angor Rot rarely attacks during the day."

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

"Trollhunter!" They heard Strickler call. "Help!"

Jim, Claire, and Toby ran out of the room to see Blinky and Aaarrrgghh standing in front of two trolls, who held Strickler by the feet. "Get out of our way, Aaarrrgghh," One of the trolls said.

"No," Aaarrrgghh said.

Blinky ran over to the two trolls. "Let us discuss this matter like reasonable trolls." He got hit in the head with a stone. "Ruffians!" he said. "Who threw that?"

"Where's Jim?" Strickler asked. "He gave me his word!"

"Put him down!" Jim said, stepping forward. "He helped save my mother. He's with me."

"He tried to release Gunmar!" a troll said.

"Get him out of here!" another shouted.

"Changelings ain't right in Trollmarket!"

"Get rid of him!"

"It's not going to make a difference," Jim said. "Angor Rot wants me too, and the protective barrier won't stop him."

"What do you mean?" Blinky asked.

"He has a horngazel," Jim said. The trolls around them started shouting and booing. "Look, you all have the right to know!" Jim said.

"Let's throw them both out!"

"It's time the amulet calls for another Trollhunter!"

"It's not his fault!" Claire said.

They picked up Jim while holding Strickler also. "When you finish throwing them out," Vendel said. "Come back and throw me out too. Yes, this boy has made grave errors, but he's come through for us more times than I give him credit for. Trollmarket is in danger and our greatest defense has always been our Trollhunter. He's earned my trust. He should have earned yours."

"You can throw me out too!" Blinky said.

"And me," Aaarrrgghh said.

"Us too," Toby said. "Though, technically, we don't live here. I'm just saying."