The hours of night were too quick to hold down. The trolls walked about wringing their hands, and staring wide-eyed into space. The plan was ready, but each step carried a smidgeon of failure. But there was more to the consequence of increased torture, or even the fear of death, that made the trolls afraid to succeed. The trolls were a strong race. The young could consume raw animals; skin, meat, bone and all, without getting sick or hurt. The old are capable of carving mountains. They adapt to their surroundings quickly. Their skin always resembles what province they are from, which humans have always found helpful in charting the very world itself. Trolls of red tinted color could be found in hot, dry locations like Jimbardin, the nation of fire. Green hued skin meant earthy, soft ground, lush, and forested areas. Blue was a sign of cold regions, and gray, like the trolls Alexx, Virgil, Hammond, and Sheila found company with, lived underground, away from the elements and sunlight. Sickness and disease rarely afflict a troll. They can live for hundreds of years, if they get a chance to surpass the ownership of the greater troll. There are only a handful of great trolls, and they are the rulers of any troll-dwelling. Their rules are law, and they are free to do as they please. So if any greater being is upset and wants to kill his dominion, there is nothing to stop him or her. And for this reason, the trolls were frightened to challenge their master. It wasn’t just a matter of strength, but a step into breaking control.

  Sheila, however, kept them moving forward regardless of their feelings. Her resolve spread to those she spoke to, through her words of assurance. It wasn’t much help, but it kept each troll from running away. They listened to her, a human, because she talked to each one as someone who was an individual, not another gray skinned laborer, or as part of the collective. Her work attracted Virgil, who felt stirred by her unique skills. He couldn’t believe that she could lead defiant trolls against their own master in a single night while hanging upside down. Sheila’s tactics weren’t simply brute strength, nor simply sincerity, but a complex balance of both.

  “A person who is capable of leading anyone, and she leads pirates. If she wanted to, she could have the world of politics in her hands.”

  His words were heard by Hammond, who was on top of a barrel, “That’s what you get from a rebellious young woman raised by bureaucrats.”

  Hours later, their preparations were finished. All of the trolls gathered into the kitchen, awaiting to enact the plan. Meanwhile, the human trio made their way to the personal bedroom of Oz.

  “Just get him to the kitchen, Virgil. We’ll be right behind you.” said Sheila.

  Virgil gave a nod and focused back on his mission.

  Virgil moved forward, centering himself in the doorway. He pulled a glove out and equipped it to his left hand. He removed a satchel hanging around his shoulder and slowly lowered it to the ground. From it, he pulled out a triangular, glass vial with the gloved hand. It contained a bright yellow substance. He then stood up, and walked inside the darkened room. The glow from the torches only illuminated the entrance, but moving further in allowed Alexx to see the room in all of its simplicity. No bed was found, no furniture along the walls, and no treasure safely around the great Troll. The room was empty, save one loudly snoring Oz.

  Virgil snuck as fast as he was able. He approached the giant creature with large, silent steps. The closer he stepped, the slower he moved. Oz lay on his side, motionless, save for his rhythmic breathing. His breath was bearing down on Virgil. The ex-assassin held his nose and breathed through his mouth as if with arms reach.

  The back of the Troll’s throat was like a tiny cave. Oz’s tongue was huge and pink, his gums a blood red, and teeth were sharp and yellow.

  Virgil had a moment of contemplation. Here, at this very minute, he could take his daggers and stick them through his mouth and up to his brain, killing Oz and saving them all of this trouble, and adding another creature tattoo to his skin.

  There had to be a reason none of the trolls thought of that before, hadn't tried it, and why Sheila wouldn’t have already done it. Alexx thought to himself, and then it occurred to him as to why. Why can they eat harmful things and be fine? Why swords don’t work well against their skin, and sharp bones don’t hurt them throughout their systems. Their insides are nearly as tough as their outsides. Swords would take too long to completely stab through, and Oz would never sit around to get stabbed to death.

  Well that explains it. But…

  He removed the cork to the vial, a white steam rose from the lip, and he reared back.

  “Rise and shine!” he said, and threw the vial for the back of the throat.

  Upon impact, it shattered, and the bright yellow substance splashed everywhere.

  The troll awoke with a gurgling scream that shook the cavern. Oz thrashed about while reaching inside his mouth. He made numerous retching sounds, and managed to spit some of the contents onto the floor. By this time, Virgil had reached the doorway and yelled for his attention. Oz stared at him with shock and anger, eyes bloodshot, “You did this to me!?” he shouted.

  “I’ve met stones with more brains than you!” he ran out and made a direct line for the kitchen.

  It didn’t take sight to know Oz was following. The sounds of agonizing cries, followed by furious feet and fists hitting the ground. Oz left his room and was dead set on squashing Virgil. But something happened that caused Virgil to turn around. Oz had fallen on his stomach, making another tremble throughout the caves. Behind him, a rope slithered along the ground underneath a large barrel. Little Bacoot tails were hanging from the exposed lip where the rope retracted. Oz would not know what made him fall. Virgil smiled and continued running away.

  He made it all the way to the entrance of the kitchen where he could see every troll waiting for him. The trolls were all packed toward the rear, near the cupboards and the shelves, and Virgil made it in time to stand before them.

  The greater troll arrived within the archway. His white knuckled fists were clenched tight. His teeth were showing, and his nostrils flared as he stood ready to smash something.

  “Whasth goin’ on here?” he cried with a swollen tongue , “Why’th you all noth worthin’!?”

  The trolls trembled and backed further away.

  Hammond puffed out his wooden chest, “They’re not working for you anymore. So get out before this gets worse for you!”

  “Lithle hooman won’th thell me whath tho do! Allth oth this, mine!”

  “They will no longer work for you!.”

  Oz looked around, “This thrue!?”

  All the trolls were fearing to speak up.

  “Right here is the most critical moment.” Sheila said to them, “You make your stand now, or you may never get another chance again.”

  Her speech seemed to stir them. They began a sea of murmuring inside the kitchen. Many of them appeared to stand a little taller. Oz could see their reactions, and was not pleased.

  “You wanth tho die!?” he screamed.

  But his terror wasn’t working. They didn’t cower.

  Oz suddenly heard a noise behind him. It was the toy troll leaders, with their wooden weapons at the ready.

  “You no longer leader.” said Oy-sto said boldly.

  Oy-ya, and Ot-ster stood beside her showing their support.

  There was a moment that passed, when Oz noticed something pass by his sight. He tried to follow it, but it vanished. And then a hefty force began to pull him back. His neck felt constricted. He grasped for it, while the world was flipping. Shouts and commands to pull were heard, and all the trolls were grunting or cheering. Virgil was at the head of the pack leading the surprise attack. His arms were wrapped around the rope, and his teeth were grinding each other. With a host of trolls, the great Oz was coming down, and there was no chance he could grab the rope at this point.

  And then Oz wasn’t falling anymore. Pulling on the rope felt like pulling on a castle. Everyone looked; had he somehow got his footing back?

  One glance revealed his arms stretched tightly on the archway. As he pulled himself up, the lesser trolls and Virgil were being pulled with him.

  “Pull!” Virgil yelled. They yanked on the rope, and walked backwards, yet Oz’s strength still carried them forward.

  When all the trolls had their feet planted, Oz could no longer pull them, or pull himself up. But neither could Virgil and his gang move any further. Everyone had entered a stalemate.

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  “What should we do?” Cried the trolls.

  “Keep pulling!” Virgil shouted, “If we can’t make him fall, we’ll choke him to death!”

  And they carried on, using all of the strength they had. And Oz remained still.

  Virgil had to think, what could they use to make this work? What could they do? Was there anything around? When he finished surveying the kitchen, his attention came back to the stone on his chest..

  I’ve got to get this to work, he said to himself.

  He closed his eyes, and was thinking through all of the attempts so far. He tried talking to it in his mind, straining his body, and putting his life in danger. Nothing so much as stirred the feelings from his first transformation.

  I’ve tried everything… Virgil’s muscles strained as he felt Oz regaining strength over them. The trolls behind him were panting, and uttering ‘no use’ under their breath.

  Can’t give up, Virgil shook his head. What did he not try yet, nothing? Virgil kind of smiled as he strained thinking that was something Alexx would say. But in the mix of imagining Alexx doing nothing, and Sheila’s speech about control, it occurred to him that giving up control isn’t what he tried. Not giving up control of the crystal, giving up control of himself.

  How would I do that? Do I have to lose consciousness?

  Oz got a foot underneath him. He was beginning to stand back up, but was straining with everything he had. He cried out in defiance. It seemed choking him to death wasn’t going to work. He had to fall so they could get him in position. There was no troll left cheering, every hand and foot was on a rope trying to pull. Sheila was shouting, inspiring them all not to quit. The rope slid between Virgil’s fingers.

  Let go, Virgil didn’t know if that was him or a memory of something. But he felt faint, and he accepted this feeling. Everything slowly faded to dark. The noises got quiet, and an eerie peace was left. Virgil sighed, this was nice.

  Virgil took a stronger grip on the rope. A hiss escaped his teeth, he yanked the rope, and it sent a wave of motion forward and back. The lesser trolls lost their footing, but got back on and began again, feeling rejuvenated to have to pull less. Oz stumbled again, gagging. Everyone hollered at the show of strength Virgil displayed. But he wasn’t done. He yanked again, this time he took one step back, and held his place.

  “Human is changing color!” said a troll standing near him. Sheila and Hammond were shocked. They looked and could see spots of black appearing all over the skin Virgil had exposed. His height changed as well.

  “I think he found out how to control it!” Hammond said excitedly.

  Virgil put the rope in his mouth, and dug his hands into the ground. This gave him a much better advantage than before.His height grew again, and scales continued to form. His joints bent unnaturally, but he wasn’t bothered by it. Every change gave him more strength to keep pulling. He transformed from a human with bent knees to a miniature black dragon. His size kept growing. Some of the trolls had to get out of his way.

  Oz stumbled, his fingers slipped a little, and a gurgle escaped his mouth.

  This brought a new wave of hope with the trolls. The cheers were getting louder, and those pulling became frantic.

  Virgil yanked again. Oz gurgled louder, and coughed, and he adjusted his hands to try getting a better grip. But to no avail could grab any harder.

  This is it, Sheila told herself. Virgil gave it everything he had and yanked one final time. He fell back- all of the trolls fell back, and the rope collapsed on the ground. Hammond cried out in defeat as the snap of the rope kept ringing in his ears.

  But all was not as it seemed to him. Oz threw up his hands, noticeably bleeding with large swords and knives embedded. Bacoots were climbing off the wall, and Silas was with them, cheering on the great troll's fall. He continued his descent to the ground. There was a tremor unlike any other as the colossal troll made his impact. Many kitchen things came flying off of the shelf. The trolls themselves couldn’t maintain their spots on the wall and came falling as well. But the most crucial trolls stationed on the highest shelf were fine. They were moving a large boulder to drop directly on Oz’s face.

  Sheila looked at them and shouted, “Do it now!”

  They pushed, and it moved closer to the edge. Part of it hovered in the air while the rest teetered. After one final struggle the boulder left its shelf on high, plummeting to the bottom where it met with the greater troll's face.

  No one looked as the large rock made contact. They only heard what sounded like a muffled thud, bone cracking, and splatter of liquids.

  But after a moment of silence, and making sure Oz didn’t move, the room erupted in cheers and victorious wails. Hammond sighed with relief and rejoined Sheila, sharing pleased looks.

  It was cold. Every sense from head to toe, numb. The numbing turned to pain, tingling, and then warmth. Aches followed, and Alexx moved his arms and massaged the sore appendage. He then realized what had happened, and looked around for his friends. He found Silas there, waiting in front of him, smiling.

  “Oh,” Alexx said, caught unaware, “Hey Silas.”

  “Howdy,” Silas said, drawing out the word.

  “What happened?”

  “Yeh was frozin lak a statue.”

  Alexx was stunned. He had so many questions that he didn’t know what to ask first.”

  “Lookin like yer head mite still be thawin’” Silas chuckled.

  “You missed it,” Hammond approached Alexx, patting his back, “We had a whole adventure without you.”

  “What?” Alexx finally said.

  “Hammond was a toy,” Sheila said, joining Silas’ side, “I was floaty. Virgil finally turned back into a dragon, and we killed Oz.”

  “What?” Alexx said, aggravated. Everyone shared a laugh.

  Alexx looked around and watched the trolls busily working, but intentionally. He could notice the difference by the looks on their faces. They were smiling and huffing with purpose. The largest project they were sharing was hauling Oz’s headless body away on logs of wood.

  “So now what?” Alexx asked.

  “We get on with finding the Moon’s Heart.” Hammond replied.

  “Really, that’s it?” Alexx said surprised and excitedly.

  “We came here to rescue Silas. Mission accomplished.” Sheila said.

  Alexx looked back to Silas still with them.

  “And I ended up getting stuck in ice.” he sighed.

  “Buh’ ya still came,” Silas replied, “Shay-la don tol me wut yer doin. Ah see why ya woulda lied ta me that nite. I woulda shot ya fer sher. Ya don’t seem like a evil feller, just mebbe a bit seffish. Buh ya are tryin ta do tha rite thang. So’s ya nots awl bad. An’ ah knows ma fair shares of tryin’ to do better.”

  The Bacoot stuck out his hand. Filled with forgiveness, Alexx returned the shake, smiling. In this moment, he remembered why it wasn’t worth being completely unforgivable. Doing right was harder, but worth it.

  The elders from the night before joined them and presented refurbished bags of food and equipment. There were so many to carry, Alexx was amazed.

  “These are filled with supplies for a long journey. Please take them and whatever else you found of Oz you want.” said Oy-fem.

  “Thank you, we will surely use these.” Sheila replied.

  “You have nothing to thank us for, but we have all the thanks. We are free, and without you we wouldn’t be.”

  “We all had a mutual goal of getting out. We also needed your help.”

  “This is also true.”

  “Where will you go now?”

  “We will stay here for now time. But we will move south when time is right. To the place for all non-humans.”

  “Wait!” there was a call from behind the elders. It was their troll champion, Tinda.

  “Tinda wishes to leave with you,” said Oy-fem.

  Alexx, Sheila, and Hammond were surprised. They never had a chance like this before. Sheila stepped forward, “May we ask why?”

  “Tinda heard you going to Zaal temple. Tinda religious. Wants to become temple member.”

  They all understood, except for Alexx who was a little disappointed she didn’t want to follow them for good.

  “We would be happy to travel with her.” Sheila said, flashing a smile towards Tinda.

  “I have, my, bags packed.” Tinda said straining between her words to make them fit more commonly as humans do.

  “You don’t have to try and sound like us, Tinda,” Sheila said, “You’re fine as you are.”

  “Okay,” Tinda said, feeling embarrassed. Alexx didn’t know if he ever met a troll that felt embarrassment, or showed it as willingly as Tinda did. Tinda helped carry most of the bags for them. They tried to help her, but she refused, insisting she do it. Reluctantly, they agreed and prepared to leave.

  “Wait, where’s Virgil?” Alexx asked on their way out.

  Hammond explained that after the fight, Virgil acted more dragon-like in behavior, but he left the cave, and hasn’t come back.

  “He’s gone?” Alexx echoed with a touch of dread.

  “Afraid so,” Hammond replied, “This is conjecture but I believe the dragon took control of him, and so now Virgil is no longer the one acting. It makes sense given his behavior, but how he did it, or if he can gain consciousness is beyond me.”

  Down the cave with no torches they walked, until they reached the rope ladder, and finally the cave to a bright light in the distance.

  The dawn of a new day entered their eyes and burned the familiarity of caves and shadows away. Atop the mountain they could see a clear sky, and to the south, a fair distance.

  In silence they retraced their path down the mountain, as best they could remember, until they had successfully reached the ground.

  “I can’t believe Sheila was tied to a rope most of the time,” Alexx remarked.

  “It was definitely a new experience,” She replied, “An experience I don’t want to try again.”

  They walked north silently for a time. Their feelings of excitement matched the sun and bright blue sky, but a depth of exhaustion was swelling, waiting to rise. The group of five had a pleasant time setting up camp, making food, singing, and then sleeping. Night fell, clouds were thick and forming overhead, and they continued on. They happened upon the familiar divide where their detour began.

  The night gave the gift of rain to their travels. It was a good rain, and they had cloaks to cover themselves thanks to Oz’s hoarding. The wildlife appeared more active during the rain, but nothing harmed them or became a threat. They moved with the intent of covering as much ground as possible, whether the rain stopped or not. Alexx was close. He had the knowledge, and the mask. Somehow, he was going to get it, the way to the Moon’s Heart.

  Their clothes sloshed as they moved, harmonizing with the sound of rainfall on the grass. A few hours passed and the dead of night still covered the party. The rain slowly passed on, and so the need for hoods.