Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia

39: In the hall of the GumGum king

"Citizens of Trollmarket," Usurna said. "The Trollhunter is dead."

Jim started climbing up from the Deep. "No," he said. "I'm not."

"Where is Vendel?" A troll asked.

"Vendel is dead too," Usurna told him. "Murdered by the Trollhunter."

"Vendel never liked him!" another troll said.

"Why would he do that?" Gatto asked.

"Vendel was the heart of Trollmarket," Usurna said. "It is with a heavy heart that I take up his mantle and promise to lead Trollmarket into a new era." Jim could see everything now. He peaked over the edge of the Deep and watched and listened. "A human has led us astray." Usurna continued. "It is time that trolls lead Trollmarket once more. Trolls for trollkind!"

***

Blinky and Aaarrrgghh stood in front of Vendel's pieces while Toby and Claire sat on chairs. "First Jim," Toby said. "Now this."

"Why did you leave us?" Blinky asked. "It was not your time."

A small orange stone in one of Vendel's stones glowed and Blinky gasped. "You crafty old goat."

"What is it?" Claire asked.

Vendel picked up a vase-like object. "He was holding an Anamnesis stone."

He put the orange stone inside it and the room lit up. A yellow outline of Vendel walked over to his desk. "What do you want to show us?" Blinky asked.

An outline of Usurna appeared behind the outline of Vendel. There are only two agents of Gunmar within Trollmarket's walls. Changeling..." she pulled a dagger from her back. "And the changeling's master."

"How do you know this?" Vendel asked, turning to face her."

"Because," She walked closer to him. "I'm the master."

She stuck the dagger through him, and he slowly started turning to stone. "I'm sorry, Vendel," Usurna said. "I was hoping you'd live long enough to see Gunmar's glorious return."

"Usurna..." he coughed.

"He used his last moments to warn us," Blinky said.

Jim stepped forward. "She took control of Trollmarket."

They all looked at him and gasped. "Master Jim," Blinky said.

"Queen Usurna said I'm responsible," Jim said as Toby walked over to him. He circled him and poked him. "Jimbo! You're alive! You're not a ghost!"

"We saw you fall to your doom," Blinky said.

Claire hugged him. "How did you survive the Deep? No troll's ever come back."

"But I'm not a troll."

He went over to the pieces of Vendel. "I'm sorry." A few tears fell down his face. "This is my fault."

"No, Master Jim," Blinky said. "Vendel believed in you. He knew you'd return to make things right."

"Usurna liar," Aaarrrgghh said. "Traitor. Crush Queen now!" his eyes turned black with the small green dot as pupils.

"No," Blinky said. "We can't take her on now. She's too heavily protected."

"Blinky's right," Jim said. "There are too many of them."

"If she's working for Gunmar," Claire said. "What's to stop him from taking Trollmarket?"

"Us," Jim said. "If Gunmar thinks I'm dead, we've at least got the element of surprise."