Trollhunters Episode 10
Working on different POVs. This was honestly hard to write because I find episode 10 EXTREMELY cringy, and I have a lot of second-hand embarrassment for Jim in this episode.
Episode 1
Episode 9
Jim’s POV
I stumbled back as my footing gave out, River swinging Midnight down towards my head as Draal observed my stance. I brought Daylight up just in time to keep her from cleaving my skull open.
Draal gave out a huff, motioning for River to swap with him as he grabbed a short double-bladed mace, quickly lunging after me before I could recover. I slipped under his arm and swung Daylight towards him. Draal was able to catch my blade with his mace, knocking my balance off. I went spinning with the momentum he had used to rip the mace away. Daylight disappeared in a cloud of bright blue light as I fell onto my back. Draal smirked, lunging the mace towards my throat though he kept it from making contact with my neck.
I groaned, staring up at the weapon in Draal’s hand, River snickering beside us as she watched, “Uh, I think I just broke my butt.”
Draal rolled his eyes, “Were this an actual battle, Trollhunter,” he lifted the mace before swinging it down again using the handle to whack me, causing me to scoot back with a grunt, “you would have just been deprived of your right leg,” he whacked my knee, “three fingers,” he poked my left hand. He pulled the mace back and jabbed it towards my crotch, I pulled Daylight out to block before the painful contact could be made as Draal smirked, “and your gronk-nuks.” He finally finished.
I sighed standing up holding Daylight out, “Sorry, I guess I’m just a little distracted tonight.” I yelled as Draal swung the mace again, stepping to the right and using Daylight to block my left shoulder, before diving under Draal’s arm, kneeling behind him as he turned to swing again.
“Bular will use your distraction as an opportunity to cleave your head from your shoulders.” He lectured, swiping my legs from under me, my back slamming into the grass.
I blinked up at him wide-eyed, trying to sit up, “Oh.” Was all I could muster at the thought of being decapitated.
Draal sighed, extending a hand out to me, “What has you distracted this night?”
I shook my head taking his hand, “You wouldn’t understand.” I could see River shake her head out of the corner of my eye as I said this.
Draal snarled out a roar throwing me over him and pinning me on my stomach with the mace against the back of my neck. “I am the son of the former Trollhunter, Trollhunter.” He ground out, irritated.
“I’m a little preoccupied about kissing Claire.” I finally yelled out against the grass.
Draal blinked for a moment as his face fell into a look of pure confusion. “I don’t understand.”
River dropped Midnight hearing what I yelled. She snorted a laugh, though I’m not sure if it was at my expense or Draal’s. “I think I’ll start warming dinner up, it’s about time we had a break.” She smirked at me before heading inside, giving Draal and I space to talk.
I sighed as Draal released me from the ground, rolling over to sit up I began to explain, “The school play, Romeo and Juliet. We’re rehearsing the kissing scene and I have to kiss her tomorrow.” I groaned flopping onto my back again as I drug my hands down my face at the thought of rehearsal.
“Kissing?” Draal asked as he picked me up from the grass and sat me on a rock, taking a seat next to me. “What is this kissing?” He huffed, unsure of why I was distressed.
“Haven’t you and River kissed?” I asked confused, glancing at the back door of the house, wondering if that’s why River was so quick to leave.
Draal stared at me blankly, waiting for an explanation.
I sighed and shook my head at the situation I was now in, having to explain the concept of kissing to a troll twice my size that happened to be courting my sister, this could not get any weirder. “Alright, when two people like each other, they put their mouths together.” I brought my hands up to demonstrate the action, making two duckbills and tapping them together. “And depending on how much you like them, the longer the kiss. Sometimes for hours.” I explained, hoping he understood.
Draal’s nose scrunched at the explanation, he grunted looking to the side, “Disgusting. Killing sounds easier.”
“Then you’ve never kissed River?” I asked, not sure if I was more relieved or shocked at the thought.
“River’s done something similar but never on my mouth.” He tilted his head in thought, recalling when she would kiss his cheek after scenting, an action she seemed fond of.
“Oh, well it doesn’t necessarily have to be on the mouth, it can be on the hand which is an old gentleman greeting, or on the cheek, which is done by family and sometimes friends, but kissing on the mouth is for couples, or in my case rehearsing a play about a couple…” I sighed, letting the armor deactivate as I catch the amulet, “Draal, I really like Claire. If I blow our first kiss, I might not get a second or a third.”
“You’re afraid.” Draal pointed out.
“I know, I know.” I groaned, “The first rule, ‘always be afraid.’ But that’s with Trolls, not girls.” I explained, trying to think of how to get the point across, “Girls are… well they’re like the opposite of Trolls.”
Draal was smirking as I turned to face him, he hummed in thought rubbing his chin, “Now that I understand… I know of something that may help. If these ‘girls’ require you not to be afraid then you need a Grit-Shaka.” He grinned.
“Is that a protein shake?” I asked having no clue what he was going on about.
“A Grit-Shaka is a totem used by the Gumm-Gumms. If you wear it, it banishes all cowardice, makes you fierce and ready for battle.” Draal explained, making the Grit-Shaka sound like a good option.
I hummed in thought for a moment, “You wouldn’t happen to have one of these, would you?” I asked, ready to accept any help for tomorrows rehearsal.
Draal smirked, getting up and heading into the house, waving me to follow him. I waved to River as we passed her, heading down to the basement, I looked around, shocked at all the changes, “You two really made this space livable.”
Draal chuckled, going to a shelf holding different Troll artifacts and some weapons River had retrieved from Trollmarket at Draal’s request. “You haven’t been down here since we finished everything have you? Ah! Here it is!” He picked up a necklace with a glowing green stone placed in a set of sharp teeth. “This is a Grit-Shaka, wear it when you need to be fearless.”
I took the totem, turning it over before grinning up at Draal, “Thank you!”
River opened the door at the top of the stairs, peering down at us, “Are you ready to eat? Dinner’s going to get cold again if you don’t hurry up!”
Draal and I quickly returned upstairs to have dinner, I might have a totem that makes me fearless, but I’m not stupid enough to try it out on a cooking River.
River’s POV
The boys and I were heading to Strickler’s class, I groaned realizing I still needed to tell Jim that Eemeli had met Draal. “Hey, um Jim,” I grabbed his arm to pull him away from the classroom door before he could head in.
Jim looked at me confused, seeing my nervous expression, “River? You okay? Is this about training last night?” He asked, quickly thinking back to his kissing conversation with Draal, not wanting a repeat of the conversation.
“Well, I’m fine, and no it’s not about practice.” I sighed, as Toby and Jim crowded close, a worried expression on both of their faces, I decided to get it out as fast as I could, you know, like ripping a bandaid off. “EemelimetDraalandhenowknowsabouttrolls!”
Jim and Toby exchanged a confused looked. “River, that didn’t make sense,” Jim said, frowning, the only thing he could really make out was Draal’s name.
Yeah, ripping off bandaids is total crap. “I said… ‘Eemeli met Draal and he now knows about trolls.’” I winced slightly, waiting for Jim’s reaction mostly as Toby’s mouth just hung open, wide-eyed.
“He what?!” Jim almost yelled, glancing around before looking back at me, “How did that happen? Draal knew he was coming over, and that he was supposed to stay hidden!”
I chuckled, “Well, that’s kind of my fault, Eemeli wanted to spar, and I didn’t mention that might happen to Draal, so he thought Eemeli was attacking me and came running out trying to protect me.” I glanced seeing Eemeli walk into the class, giving me a small wave.
Jim turned to eye Eemeli before turning back to me, “Well, he isn’t freaked out… and he’s breathing so that’s a plus…” He sighed, “Does he know anything else?”
“Just that trolls exist and I’m not human. Nothing about Trollmarket or Trollhunting.” I explained, knowing if anyone should tell Eemeli about that, it was Jim.
Jim nods, “Alright, let's go before the bell rings.” We all headed in, taking our usual seats. I gave Eemeli a thumbs up once he nodded towards Jim with a questioning expression. Jim turned to whisper to Eemeli when Coach Lawrence started up Gun Robot 3. “So, trolls…” He tried to start, not sure what to say.
Eemeli chuckled, shugging his shoulder a bit, “Kind of cool, freaky when one twice your size is charging at you, but I kind of caused that.” He scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.
Jim smiled slightly, relieved that Eemeli is taking the news calmly. “Well, I guess this means you’ll be able to come around more often since you know now.”
Toby grinned at this, turning to face us, “Awesome sauce! Trollparty is gaining members fast!” He whisper-cheered, throwing his hands up a bit.
“Trollparty?” Eemeli asked, glancing at me.
I shrugged, “It’s the first I’m hearing about it.”
Mary stood up abruptly from her seat next to Claire, gaining our attention as she marched over to our group, stopping next to Jim with a smirk. “Coach Lawrence! Jim took my seat!”
Without looking up from the newspaper he was reading over Coach sighed, “Lake, give her seat back.”
Jim looked at Mary confused as he got up, tripping over his feet as he made his way to Mary’s old seat next to Claire. I narrowed my eyes as she sat next to Toby, “What are you playing at Wang?” I asked, not really trusting her, even if she had apologized for her teasing remarks in the locker room.
Mary turned back to me with a mischievous grin, “Just a little chemistry lesson,” she emphasized with a wink.
I peered over to where Jim and Claire kept exchanging glances, “Interesting, I knew she liked him, but for you to do this…”
Mary shrugged, eyeing Eemeli next to me, “What can I say, I’m a natural matchmaker. I already my next pair in mind too.”
Eemeli chuckled as I looked back at Mary confused, “You going to set Toby up with someone?” I asked.
“Tch, sorry, he’s not close to the top of my list.” She admitted with a glance to Darci, “But I think our new exchanged student could use a date or two.” She grinned.
I nodded to Mary as a green glow caught my eye. I watched Jim pull something from his bag. Eemeli, stiffened next to me, eyeing the object when I turned to check on him. “You okay?”
He nodded, glancing at the object again before smiling at me, “That just doesn’t look good. From the American movies I’ve seen, green is always a bad color. Well in your Dis-Knee movies.” He spoke.
I snorted a laugh, trying to keep quiet, I nod in agreement before turning back to keep an eye on Jim, tuning Mary out as she spoke to Eemeli.
Once Jim placed the glowing necklce around his neck his entire posture shifted. He cracked his neck seeming to shake off whatever nerves that had previously plagued him as he began to talk to Claire, cracking a few jokes it seemed from the way they began to laugh. I smiled slightly, happy to see Jim was finally able to talk with Claire easily.
After Strickler’s class we all headed to the lockers, Toby was struggling to open his locker as Jim came up and hit his own locker three times, causing it to open up. “Woah,” Toby watched, amazed as he continued to struggle with his own locker. “You opened it on the first try.”
“It’s all the Grit-Shaka Tobes,” Jim grinned, gesturing to the necklace.
“A Grit-what?” I asked, staring at the obvious troll totem, “Where’d you even get it?”
Toby looked at it in awe, “That thing has a name?” He asked confused.
“Grit-Shaka, it’s a courage totem. Draal gave it to me for the kissing scene today.” He grinned, “Man, you should’ve heard me in class with her, I was killing it!”
Toby shook his head, brow furrowed, “Wait, wait, wait. Time out.” He made a ‘T’ with his hands tapping them as eyed the totem wearily, “Draal, our Draal, River’s Draal, is helping you with chicks?” He gave Jim a disbelieving look as he gestured to you then out towards the crowd of students around the lockers.
“Why wouldn’t Draal be able to help him?” I asked confused, though I wasn’t entirely sure of the totem.
“No offense River, but you’re still not like human girls. You turned down ‘Tight Jeans’ Hank and started dating a Troll, how many other girls here would do that?” Toby asked with a deadpan stare.
Eemeli chuckled next to me, “He has a point, besides, Draal isn’t technically dating a human either,” he added quickly, causing me to puff my cheeks out slightly in irritation.
“Don’t worry River, all the Grit-Shaka does is make you brave. Man am I feeling good!” Jim exclaimed with a face splitting grin, “I feel like I can do anything.” Jim hit Toby’s locker as he began to struggle with it again, opening it instantly.
Toby’s jaw dropped, looking up at Jim, “Wow. It made you cool.”
I rolled my eyes at this, “A totem can’t make someone cool unless it had freezing capabilities.” Eemeli chuckled, though once he saw that I was being serious it turned to a cough.
“Maybe this is good for him, he seemed really nervous about rehearsal today, this might be what he needs to get through it, then he can put the totem away. No harm done?” He reasoned.
Jim smirked down at the amulet, turning to us again, “I’m just cool, I’m crispy.” He pointed finger guns at us then turned to greet Darci and Mary as he walked off towards the cafeteria.
My eye twitched in annoyance, “This is not going to end well.” I spat threw clenched teeth.
Eemeli gave me a sympathetic smile, “Maybe it works differently on trolls? I don’t think Draal would give it to him if he knew this would happen.”
Toby shrugged as we followed Jim, “Actually, this is how Draal used to act when he still hated Jim. Not the ‘crispy’ part, but the overconfident and cocky part.” He winced, watching as Jim asked for the chicken surprise, gasping in horror, “No one order that. It’s like a death sentence!”
Jim laughed, leaning against the counter, “Bring on the surprise!” He took his tray to a table where he began to scarf his food down. Toby ordered the same, still in shock.
Eemeli nudged me toward the counter, “Are you going to order?”
“I’ve lost my appetite. Draal did not act like this.” I glared at the table Jim and Toby were sitting.
Eemeli smiled, “Why don’t I walk you to class then? You don’t seem too pleased about hanging around this.”
I sighed with a nod, giving him a grateful smile. “I’d appreciate that.” We headed off to Ms. Janice’s class since I had math with her next and Eemeli’s class wasn’t too far.
“So what was he like?” Eemeli asked, giving me a curious look.
“What was who like?” I gave a confused look before my eyes lit with recognition, “Oh! You mean Draal, before Draal.” I laughed tilting my head in thought, “Well, it’s not so much that he was cocky, he was just… angry?” I frowned trying to think of how to explain it.
“So you like angry guys?” Eemeli smirked, knowing I wasn’t finished.
I huffed, giving him a crooked smile, “Not really, no. The situation is a little hard to explain to a human.” I sighed leaning against the lockers by Ms. Janice’s door. “He lost his father a day before we showed up in his… home town, so to speak. The reason we were even there was that Jim ended up being the one to receive his old job. Now the trolls didn’t take too kindly to us, well the boys, being there, since humans had never stepped foot in their home before.” I paused to see if Eemeli was keeping up. He smiled, nodding for me to continue, “Well, this job, Draal had spent his entire life training in order to be worthy of it, and a day after he lost his father, some human comes into his home and two trolls are claiming that it now belongs to him. I think you can imagine how upset he was. He lost his only family and his life’s purpose in one go.”
Eemeli’s eyes widen as he took in everything I said, “That’s… I can understand why Toby said he hated Jim then…”
I shook my head, “He didn’t actually hate him at first. Yeah, he was upset, but when I got to know him I realized the way he was acting was his form of teasing, trying to see how Jim worked.” I huffed, “Blinky’s actually the reason he almost killed Jim, he inadvertently insulted him for Jim, and well, when a Troll is challenged and their honor questioned, it ends up in a fight to the death. The reason he lives with Jim and I now was because Jim won the fight and refused to kill him, so he was cast out of his home…” I frowned at the memory.
Eemeli clasped my shoulder, giving me a small smile, “He’s lucky he had you and Jim, I’m surprised though. You’re dating someone that tried to kill your brother. How did he even ask after that?”
I laughed, shrugging slightly, “I actually asked him on accident before the fight.”
Eemeli stared at me with a confused face, “How do you date someone on accident?”
“Well… You know how he didn’t let you hug me the night you two met? Trolls court by scenting, something you seem to be able to do, which is what he was irritated by after things calmed down. I accidentally scented him one night, and after he explained what I did, it kind of grew from there.”
Eemeli laughed, waving off my disgruntled reaction to his laugh, “It is sweet, that something like that was an accident but grew.”
I smiled as the bell rang, “Alright, I’ll see you after classes.” I shook my head, still smiling at Eemeli’s reaction. I walked into class, taking my seat by Claire.
She smiled having seen me and Eemeli talking by the classroom during lunch. “He seems nice.” She began, as we waited for the final bell.
“Eemeli?” I asked, trying to gauge what she was talking about.
She nodded quickly, “You two seem close, didn’t he just transfer here?”
I nod, shrugging it off slightly, “Yeah, from Finnland. I’ve been helping him out with school and we’ve been hanging out quite a bit.” I paused to grab my textbook as Ms. Janice walked in.
While Ms. Janice began writing an equation on the whiteboard Jim came strolling into the class, took the marker from her and began writing all over the board.
Claire’s mouth dropped as she leaned over to me confused, “What is he doing here?”
I grit my teeth seeing the glow of the Grit-Shaka reflect off of the whiteboard. “I don’t know, but Draal better have a good explanation later.”
“Draal?” Claire asked, shaking her head as Jim flops in Ms. Janice’s chair.
“And that is how you solve for ‘X’!” Jim announced, setting the marker in Ms. Janice’s hand, smirking back at Claire and me.
I rolled my eyes, leaning over to Claire, “I’ll explain after class.”
Ms. Janice cleared her throat to get Jim’s attention, “Well, I admire your gusto, Mr. Lake but that is not remotely correct.” She adjusted her glasses, pointing out the door of the classroom. “And this isn’t your class.”
Jim shrugged and ran off out the door, not before pausing to give Claire and I finger guns.
I groaned, setting my head on the desk till the end of class. Claire nudged my shoulder after the bell rang. “So, what does a ‘Draal’ have to do to with Jim acting weird?” She asked me, packing her notes away.
I sighed, remembering my slip earlier, “Jim asked my boyfriend, Draal, for advice last night. Apparently, he’s taking it to heart.” I shoved my textbook in my bag before standing.
“Oh… Wait, boyfriend? What advice? Why?” Claire asked confused, not sure what to ask about first as different parts of my explanation caught her off guard.
I shrugged, “Jim’s nervous about practice today, the kissing scene specifically, and when Draal overheard he decided to give Jim some advice, not sure what he told him exactly but he’s been getting worse all day.” I ground out, as the loudspeaker blares and Jim’s voice sounds over the intercom, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“He’s really making a spectacle of himself.” Claire rolled her eyes.
“Just a quick reminder for everybody to keep it crispy. Also, I taught myself bass guitar in the band room-“ Jim began announced, the thrum of a bass guitar shaking the lockers as Claire and I both covered our ears, trying to block out the horrible sound of Jim’s off-key singing.
We heard Jim yelp as the loudspeaker was cut off, “Oh thank Deya” I spoke, rubbing my ears. “Remind me to cut his tongue out if he tries out for a musical.”
Claire laughed, “It was pretty bad. What kind of advice would make him do that?” she asked, putting her bag away in the locker, getting ready for rehearsal.
I sighed leaning against the lockers, waiting for Toby, “I’m going to find out, and I might just whack Draal with my Trig textbook depending on how terrible it was.”
Claire smiled as she shut her locker, “I don’t know, it’s sweet he even offered to give him advice in the first place. Not a lot of guys around here would take it seriously if a friend of their’s told them they were nervous about kissing someone.”
I nod, smiling, “Yeah, those two idiots are more like brothers honestly.”
Toby was running straight for Claire and I, “River! It’s getting worse!” He all but screamed as he faltered to a stop next to me. “He won’t stop saying crispy!”
“Sorry, Claire looks like you’ll be dealing with that mess in rehearsal.” I sighed, giving her an apologetic smile.
She waved me off with a smile, “Don’t worry about it, I hope you figure out what’s gotten into him.” She took off for the theater quickly, not wanting to be late.
“Alright Tobes,” I grabbed him by the arm, almost dragging him as we left the school grounds. “You’re going to Blinky and Aaarrrgghh, ask them how to get a Grit-Shaka off of Jim.”
“What about you?” Toby asked, running to keep up with my pace.
“I’m going to talk to Draal, if he’s the one who gave Jim the item, then he might know the best was to get it off of him.” I sighed, as we approached the canals. “I’ll call you if I get anything.” I took off for home before Toby could reply, worried at how far Jim’s ‘bravery’ would take him. I paused at the front door long enough to unlock it before ripping through the house and down into the basement. “Draal?” I called, almost tripping down the steps as I ran.
“River?” Draal’s arm came out to balance me before I could fall, “Why are you distressed?” He asked worried, checking me over for any visible wounds.
“That thing you gave Jim, the Grit-Shaka. What is it supposed to do?” I asked quickly.
“The Grit-Shaka? It’s supposed to erase fear. Make one brave and ready for battle. Why?” He asked confusion etched over his face.
“It’s made Jim into an impulsive wreak that won’t stop saying ‘crispy’!” I huffed, pulling at my hair in irritation, “He’s trying to flirt with all the girls at school, he went to every class but his own, he mocked the teachers, broke into the teachers’ lounge, stole Ms. Janice's marker and butchered a simple trig equation, and then he took over the intercom system and sang, off-key, while strangling a bass guitar.” I began to pace during my recount of the day, “I don’t understand how any of that has to do with Jim no longer having fear.”
“Well, he is a human, maybe he’s reacting to it differently. It’s also a Gumm-Gumm totem…” He suggested, rubbing his chin in thought. “From what Jim told me, ‘girls’ are the opposite of trolls and they require you to be unafraid. So I thought a totem that banishes cowardice would be the best option.” Draal explained as he watched me pace around the basement.
I sighed as I walked up to him, completely leaning against his chest with my head tucked under his chin, “Thank you for trying to help him Draal. Do you know how I can get it off of him?” I asked looking up at his face.
Draal ran his hand over the back of my head and he hummed in thought, “ He would have to take it off willingly, or one would have to break the totem.” He sighed, “With how you described his actions, breaking the Grit-Shaka sounds like the best course of action.”
I nodded and kissed his cheek, “Thank you Draal, I’m going to call Toby and let him know. Jim’s supposed to head over to Trollmarket for training after his rehearsal.”
Draal smiled, releasing me so I could lean back. I quickly pulled my phone out and dialed Toby, waiting for him to pick up.
“River! I’m so glad to hear from you! Have you seen Jim?” Toby asked as soon as he answered the call, sounding out of breath.
“He’s supposed to be in Trollmarekt for training. Draal said Jim has to take it off or we have to break it.” I answered quickly, glancing at the time on my phone. “He should be there already Tobes.”
“He was, then he got upset when we asked him to take the Grit-Shaka off and he took off. Blinky and Aaarrrgghh are running through the sewers looking for him and I’m on the surface. He said something about Bular.” Toby relayed quickly, yelling for Jim as he paused.
“I’m on my way. Where are you?” I asked, the hair on the back of my neck standing as I grew anxious and terrified for Jim in the state he’s in.
“By Alex’s game shop.” Toby paused, catching his breath, “I hear him!” The call cut out.
“I have to get town now, Jim’s running after Bular in the sewers.” I grabbed Midnight as I turned to Draal.
Draal nodded, “You go on the surface, I’ll try to intercept him from underground.” He took off through the door to the sewers, rolling as fast as possible to find Jim.
I took off up the stairs and out the front door, running as fast as I could to Alex’s game shop. I prayed to Deya that Jim wouldn’t be able to find Bular in the sewers, at least not until we could get to him. As I ran passed the game shop I spot Toby struggling to pul up a manhole cover. I reached him as he finally pried the cover from the ground. “Toby!” I slid next to him, my eyes widened in fear as I saw Bular circling a confused Jim. “Jim!” I yelled, gaining both of their attention.
Toby leaned into the manhole, I grabbed his belt to keep him steady. “Jim, grab my hand!” He yelled, trying to reach him.
Jim tried to jump, the armor weighing him down so much that he could only manage to get a couple feet off the ground. “I can’t reach! The armor! It’s too heavy” He yelled up at us before dodging Bular’s sword as he swiped for his feet.
Bular chuckled, a sickening grin splitting his face. “Pathetic that you meet your end in a sewer, Young Atlas.” He drew out the name as Jim stared up at him in shock.
I nearly dropped Toby into the sewer as I heard the name, “No…”
“Master Jim! You must get out of there!” I could hear Blinky yelling from further down the sewer tunnel, snapping me out of my shock.
Toby yelled as I tightened my grip again, keeping him steady again. “Jim! Grab my hand! NOW!” Toby screamed into the sewers.
Bular swung his blade vertically, hoping to cleave Jim in half only to have his blade lodge into the concrete floor of the sewer. He snarled trying to pry it out.
Jim deactivated the armor, coming back to his senses. “I lost the Grit-Shaka. But I can still be brave.” He glared at Bular, stepping onto his blade as Bular finally wrenched it free from the ground causing Jim to catapult up into the air, high enough to grab Toby’s arm.
Toby and I quickly pulled Jim out of the manhole as Bular tried to grab his ankle. Once I could let go of Toby’s belt I grabbed the manhole cover and slammed it over the opening, hitting Bular’s hand in the process.
Jim sat up, gasping for breath. “Strickler’s a changeling!” He yelled, eyes wide, still in a panic over the news.
I could hear a deep chuckle from the cover. I peered into the small hole to see Bular lock eyes with me, a satisfied sneer splitting his face as he turned to leave.
Toby groaned, sitting up next to Jim. “I never trusted him.” He glared, whacking Jim on the shoulder, “You’ve been a real turd today.”
Jim scoffed, pulling at his blue jacket, “And I smell like one, too.” He wrinkled his nose before looking over at Toby and me. “Thanks for saving my neck. I owe you one.”
“Yeah, great.” Toby huffed out, flopping onto his back as the adrenaline wears off.
“Don’t you ever say ‘crispy’ again.” I snarled out before giving him a smile.
He chuckled sheepishly, standing up as the cars began to honk. “Deal.”
Eemeli’s POV
The Changelings were called back to the museum in order to speak with Bular and Gunmar again. I shook off my human form, finally able to stretch as Not-Enrique and I entered the museum, heading for the bridge.
“Woah,” Not-Enrique smirked seeing me. “Didn’t think they’d be calling you in. What’re you here for anyway?” He asked as he climbed up onto my shoulder.
I smirked letting him perch for now. “Witch-hunting.” I answered, “Well, tracking is more like it. Strickler wants her alive.”
“Draal’s mate, huh?” He tilted his head in thought. “Doesn’t know much for being Merlin’s blood. Though she seems to be developing a soft spot for us Changelings. Doesn’t like that the Trolls look down on us. Tried to tell Mr. Trollmarket off.” He snickered.
“That could be useful,” I smirked at the very idea, a sorceress that actually cares? She was raised with humans for far too long.
We entered the room as Bular made a snide remark about calling Jim ‘Young Atlas’.
“But I call him that. Me, alone!” Strickler yelled at Bular.
Bular chuckled, sneering down at Strickler, “You should have seen their faces. His and the little witch.”
“They’ll know I’m working with you. They’ll know I’m a Changeling. Of all the idiotic things you’ve done, you imbecile!” Strickler began to rant, eyes glowing yellow.
“I gave the order.” A deep voice called out, Gunmar’s silhouette towering over bother Strickler and Bular. His single glowing eye trained on Strickler.
“Call it… a test.” Bular grinned, turning so he was next to his father.
Stricker immediately cowered, eyes no longer glowing. “A test?” He asked timidly.
“So that when the time comes, you will kill the boy and free me with his Amulet,” Gunmar growled out, eye shifting to me as he noticed Not-Enrique and me finally. “What are you doing here impure?”
Bular glanced to me, turning to face his father, “I had Stricklander bring him here. We found Merlin’s blood.”
Gunmar’s eye widens, shifting his focus back to Bular. “That doesn’t explain the impure presence.”
“The heir is female, and currently courting Kanjigar’s son, Draal. We brought Eemeli in to disrupt the courting and to keep the witch distracted.” He explained, taking credit for Strickler’s plan easily. I kept my mouth shut as I glanced at Strickler, seeing his glare focused on Bular’s back.
Gunmar was silent in thought at this new information. “How do you believe this will affect our plans?” He turned his eye on me, wanting my answer this time.
I cleared my throat, “From what I’ve seen she’s almost completely untrained, though she could handle her own against myself or someone of Draal’s skill in a fight. She’s able to channel her magic into a lance, as Nomura was unlucky to experience, and she can enhance her own strength doing this as well. Though I believe we Changelings will have an easier time manipulating her. She seems to have a soft-spot, so to speak, for our kind. She’s even gone so far as to talk back to Vendel when speaking ill of Changelings.” I explained, giving most of my information on River to Gunmar.
Gunmar’s eye narrowed as I spoke of her soft-spot for Changelings, snarling at the mention of Vendel. “You’ve been found?” He roared.
“No sire,” I quickly state. “The group still believes I’m human, though I had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting Draal. He was willing to expose Troll kind in order to protect the witch from someone he thought was attacking her. I was assessing her ability in a fight and he came barreling out of their home. However, she now seems to trust me enough that she’s told me about their adventures and her studies.” I covered quickly, refusing to tell him about Not-Enrique, who had gone stiff thinking he’d be eaten by Bular tonight.
“The group?” Gunmar asked, thinking over everything.
“She’s related to the human Trollhunter.” Bular explained.
Gunmar went rigid, growling in thought. “If we can sway her to our side, we would have a tactical advantage over the Trollhunter. Eemeli, keep close to the heir. If you can’t convince her by the night the bridge opens, you will kill her.” Gunmar ordered, fading into the blue glow under the bridge.
Strickler had gone stiff at the mention of killing River, and I had as well. This was an easy job. Not the first time I’ve had to get rid of someone. So why do I feel sick?
I turned, leaving the museum quickly. Not-Enrique sighed, hanging on my shoulder as I shifted into my human form. “This sucks.” He growled out, glancing back at the museum. “Think you can convince her to join the Gumm-gumms?” He asked, keeping an eye out for the others as we spoke.
“Not really,” I sighed, feeling the pit in my stomach coil again. “Think you can play up the ‘woe is me’ role?” I asked, glancing at him, seeing an expression I couldn’t place take over his face.
“I sure hope so… she’s too bright though.” He sighed, hopping off my shoulder as we passed the Nunez household. “You feel it too? In your gut?” He asked, looking at me over his shoulder.
I nod silently, not sure how to respond.
“Yeah, this isn’t going to be easy.” He climbed up to the nursery window, disappearing inside.
I wonder why he said that. This is a routine mission, why would feeling sick get in the way?
