The Horns of Kern

They soon found themselves at the main steps to the castle. Up the stairs they went, through the grand door and into the hall. The sight that met them froze them in place. Two trolls and a human were bound and sitting in chairs. The oldest troll was glaring at Octavius. The younger troll appeared to be quite frightened. The man had his head hanging down as if he were asleep.

  Octavius saw his daughter and his two new friends. “Daughter, where have you been? Your mother went looking for you, and found out from a page that you had left early this morning. We were concerned for your safety.” Octavius’ voice sounded stern, but mellowed quickly. “Where have you been?”

  “Father, I have been with Gertrude and Winifred. We have found out some information that may be quite helpful. We see that you have had some success last night.” Norman eyed the mangy-looking trolls and the man slouched in his chair.

  Octavius glanced at his three undesirable guests. “Andre’s men captured them as they made their way out of the tunnels at the other side of the kingdom. They refuse to speak. Winifred and Gertrude, do you recognize these two trolls? Are they citizens of your village?”

  Winifred and Gertrude walked over in front of the scruffy pair. The oldest troll sneered at them through bloodshot eyes. The younger troll seemed to cower lower in his chair.

  Winifred shook her head. “These two do not look familiar to me at all. Being a member of our governing committee, I know almost everyone in our village.” She looked at Gertrude. “Have you had any dealings with either of these fine, upstanding trolls?”

  With one hand under his chin, he set his gaze upon the oldest one, who had tried to turn his face away. “You, sir, do look familiar to me. I have seen you trading with Quinella of the Clouds in front of her hovel, exchanging mushrooms for her aromatic tallow. ‘Smirch’ is your name, as we were introduced as I passed by.”

  The old troll glared at Gertrude and spat at him. “You filthy human-lovers! You will rue the day that you ever cast your eyes upon old Smirch. May all of your ancestors be ashamed of you! May all of your remaining days on the face of this land be cursed!”

  “Your words do not affect me, Smirch. I do not set fires and flee into the safety of the night like a coward. I believe in standing face to face with my foes. You call my mother and me ‘human-lovers’. So be it then. Any troll or human that is willing to live in peace and treats me with dignity and respect earns my friendship and love. You, Smirch, are the one who will be cursed, for your soul will walk the ends of the earth searching for something you will never attain. That, sir, is the love from a troll or a human.” Gertrude’s voice was strong and did not falter.

  Winifred gave a disgusted grunt toward the old troll. Her eyes were averted to the younger troll who appeared to have tears welling up in his eyes. “You do not agree with your fellow troll here, do you?” Winifred talked almost in a whisper. “Would you answer some questions for me?” The troll looked at her and nodded. “What name do you go by?”

  The troll looked at Winifred through moist eyes. “I am Twiggs of High Mount, of the kingdom of Wellscot.” He cleared his throat a little, and sat a little taller in his chair.

  “That means that your father Is Gafton of High Mount and your mother is Lark of High Mount.” Winifred studied the young troll’s face. She could feel the icy stare of the older troll. Winifred turned to Octavius. “Octavius, would you please have your guards remove the older troll and the human to the dungeons where they belong? I would like to talk to Twiggs, alone, by himself.”

  The king looked at Winifred questioningly. “Guards, remove the old troll and the human. Place them below in separate cells.”

  The old troll screamed at the top of his lungs and started fighting his restraints. “One word, Twiggs...one word about anything and anybody, and you will never see your family alive again! You also will perish, a thousand curses upon your sniveling hide!” One of the guards stuffed the old troll’s mouth with a piece of cloth. The troll’s eyes bulged with anger. He fought against the grasps of the two guards, but he was no match for their combined strength. Soon the guards and their prisoners were out of sight. Everything was quiet.

  Winifred sat down next to Twiggs. “Son, you come from an honorable family. Your father fought alongside my husband, Sebastian of Tinker Hollow, in the Great War. If I remove your bindings, do you give your solemn promise on your family’s honor that you will not attempt to escape?”

  The young troll looked nervously at Winifred and the others. “Yes...” His voice quivered. “I give my solemn promise.”

  Winifred reached over and untied the rope that bound Twiggs’ hands. She looked over at Gertrude who was about to reach for his sword. She shook her head ‘no’ and waved her arm to the side. “Does that feel better, Twiggs?”

  Twiggs rubbed his wrists where the ropes had been cutting into his greenish-hued skin. He looked at everyone in the room, then back to Winifred. “Thank you for untying me...”

  Winifred looked at Twiggs. “Does your mother still make all of her pickled delicacies? I distinctly remember her pickled eggs. They were well worth the trip to your village even if she only had one crock left of them.” She smiled at the young troll. Winifred was trying to make him feel more at ease.

  “Yes, she still makes all of her pickled goods. She still uses the same recipe that has been handed down through the generations. My sister, Meadow, helps her with all of the daily orders now. She will inherit the recipe to hand down to one of her children.” Twiggs sat more upright in the chair.

  “I have to ask you some other questions - some of which may be difficult for you to answer. The first question: Who is the human or troll that is in charge?” Winifred furrowed her brow and looked into Twiggs’ eyes.

  “I do not understand your question. Smirch is the one who always orders me around. I was told by my parents to do his bidding.”

  “Why?” Winifred queried, the furrow above her brow getting deeper.

  “A bunch of trolls came to our hovel late one evening, just barged through our door. Smirch was the leader of that group. They took my sister, Meadow, hostage. My father and I tried to stop them, but we were overpowered by the other trolls. My mother tried to help, too….She swings a wicked broom.” Twiggs sighed deeply and looked up at the ceiling, wishing to hide the tears welling up once again in his eyes.

  Winifred put a hand on his shoulder to try and give him comfort.

  Gertrude could not remain quiet. “Have you ever heard of the name ‘Toggart’ before?”

  Twiggs looked down to his hands folded in his lap. He appeared to be concentrating. “No, I can not recollect ever hearing that name before. My father and mother are members of our council and I know everyone in our village. They like to have different trolls over to play ‘Bones and Gizzards’. They love to play that game.” A smile crossed his face momentarily, and then faded like the dying embers in a hearth.

  Norman was the next one to ask a question. She had been standing there listening intently with her arms folded across her chest. “This troll, Smirch, did you know him before he burst through the door to your hovel?”

  “Yes, of course. He had been our Grand Troll until about a year ago. He was voted out of office after he was caught stealing from another troll. They almost banished him, but my father took pity upon him and let him remain. He is in servitude to the troll he was stealing from. He is an invisible person in our society. After he was removed as head troll, my uncle….”

  “Your uncle?” Everyone gasped.

  “Yes, he is my mother’s brother. As I was saying, after he was removed as head troll, he took to drink. He always carries a flask of boo-boo juice with him.”

  “My men found this upon his person.” Octavius held up a golden flask and opened it. He took a whiff and shook his head in disbelief. “This stuff I believe could be used to clean and polish silver! Twiggs, why was your father the one who made the decision to do what he did to your uncle?”

  Winifred looked towards Octavius. “Because,
Twiggs’ father was the most senior member of their governing committee. He then became temporary Grand Troll until elections were held.”

  “My father is Grand Troll.” Twiggs quipped proudly. “He was doing such a good job that no one wanted to run against him. He is well respected in or village.”

  Norman walked closer to Twiggs. “Who is the human that was caught with you?”

  Twiggs laughed. “I do not know who he is. We were walking through the tunnels and my uncle had to refill his flask. We stopped in a small cavern where he had some of the juice hidden. The human was passed out on the ground next to one of the casks. I had never seen him before our encounter in the tunnel.”

  Octavius turned to a guard that was standing in the main doorway. “Go and fetch that man that was brought in with the trolls. Make sure that he is somewhat lucid to answer some questions.”

  “Why did Smirch take your sister hostage, Twiggs?” Gertrude addressed the young troll with more understanding in his voice.

  “To have leverage with my father. Since Smirch has my sister hidden away someplace, he has power. He always seems to abuse any power or authority that is given to him. I believe that if my grandmother were still alive, he would sell her into slavery just to obtain power. Look what he is doing to his own family. My mother must be cursing him with every breath she takes. Smirch has my father doing his bidding. Smirch knows that all of the trolls in our village will do anything my father asks.”

  Octavius looked at Twiggs, but was distracted by the guard bringing in the drunken man. “Sit him down here in this chair, guard.”

  The drunk belched loudly and weaved toward the chair, with the guard assisting him. The guard looked at the king. “I do not know how much help he will be. Whatever he drank is still having a powerful effect on him.”

  “Thank you, guard. You can retake your post.” The king was the closest to a small table that had a teapot and cups on it. He poured a cup of tea and handed it over to the man. “What name do you go by, peasant?” Octavius looked at him with disgust. “Sir, your odor is indeed foul.” Octavius waved his hand in front of his face to gain fresher air.

  “My name? My name…” The human closed his eyes.

  Octavius’ patience was growing thin. “Man, I will ask you one more time, what is your name?”

  “My name is... He paused for a few seconds. My name is Fredrick Styles of Glennmorley.” He picked up his hand and waved.

  “I have had enough of you already, sir!” Octavius picked up a pitcher of cold water and dumped it over the drunk’s head. “Maybe this will clear some of that boo whatever juice out of your head!”

  Fredrick stood straight up with a start. “Glory be! Why did you have to do that?” He sputtered water and peered at Octavius through squinted eyes. You remind me of my king, Octavius. Jolly good king is he. I think I need more to drink.”

  Everyone was smiling at Fredrick’s lack of demeanor. Norman giggled because she knew her father was about to lose his calm.

  Octavius placed his hands on Fredrick’s shoulders and sat him down in his chair. “I am your King, you drunken swine! Start answering some questions or I will have the guard throw you in the dungeon again and let you rot!”

  Fredrick was quiet as if his he were trying to comprehend what Octavius was saying to him. He gazed upward at the candle-lit chandelier and then at the group of people and trolls that were watching him. Suddenly, a spark of intelligence seemed to enter his overly intoxicated brain. “Where am I?”

  Winifred looked at Fredrick. “How much of that brew did you have when you found the kegs in the tunnel?”

  “I really can’t remember…OOOOhhhhhhh my head is really starting to hurt.” Fredrick held his head with both hands.

  “Did you have anything to do with the raids?” Octavius gave him a suspicious look.

  “No…no! My farm was one of the first ones raided. I lost my entire crop. I have no idea where my wife and children are. I was out looking for them when the ground gave beneath me, and I found myself in a tunnel. I couldn’t climb out so I had to feel my way. I walked into something on the floor. I found a small cask, pulled the cork and took a whiff. The stuff smelled good so I drank fully. I do not remember anything until now.”

  “I think he is telling the truth.” Gertrude looked at Octavius and then at the others.

  “Very well, guard, take this man to the apothecary and see that he gets treated. Then tell the commander that I wish to have a guard go with this man to help him find his family. Oh, and take him to the kitchen and see that he is fed.”

  Fredrick got up on unsteady feet. “Thank you, Your Highness.” Fredrick and the guard made their leave.

  Once again attention was turned to Twiggs. Winifred turned toward him. “Twiggs, Do you know why the raids are taking place?”

  “All I know is what I heard from conversations within earshot of where I was standing. One thing in particular stood out. I do not know if I heard it correctly.” Twiggs looked at Octavius. “They said something about combining the two kingdoms into one. Once again, I do not know if I overheard them correctly.”

  Octavius looked at Twiggs. His face tightened and you could see his jaw muscles twitching. “What two kingdoms would be joined?”

  “I am sorry, your Majesty, but I do not know.” Twiggs squirmed a little in his chair and turned to Winifred. “I will help in any way possible. The trolls of my village are not bad people.”

  Octavius had turned away from the group, apparently deep in thought. “Sir Twiggs, are you a troll of your word?”

  Twiggs looked at Octavius, stood up in front of the chair and put both hands over his heart.” I am a troll of my word. I swear it on my family’s honor.”

  Winifred nodded and smiled.

  “Good. Then I have a pact that I would like to make with you. I would like you to go back to your village and act as if nothing has changed. Keep doing the job you have been given by Smirch. If anyone asks where he is, you do not know. I will contrive of a way of communicating with you. In return for your help, I promise to extract from Smirch the whereabouts of your sister, Meadow. Do we have a pact, Sir Twiggs?”

  Twiggs walked over to Octavius and bowed, extended his right hand and shook Octavius’ hand. “We have a pact, your Highness.”

  “You are free to leave, my good troll. I shall have someone contact you. My guards shall see you out of the kingdom.”

  “Thank you, your Highness, but I do not wish to be seen with one of your guards. It would appear suspicious.” Twiggs did not wait for a reply. He bowed towards the rest of the group in the room. “By your leave.” He walked out of the grand hall and the great door closed with a loud thud.

  Norman looked at her father. “We have some news for you, Father. We have found a traitor in our kingdom. Modak is helping the raiders in some manner.”

  “How do you know that Modak is a traitor?” Octavius looked questioningly at Norman.

  “Gertrude, Winifred and I were on our way to explore the tunnels when we had a chance encounter with Modak. He was accompanying Winifred’s sister and her sister’s husband through the tunnels. They spoke of their son and of a person or troll named Lemerich.”

  Octavius shook his head as in disbelief. “I did not think Modak was capable of betrayal. After I banished him from the castle, I made sure his wife and children had food and clothing and a place of shelter. I will go to Modak myself and find out whom his loyalties lie with.”

  Gertrude, who had been standing quietly next to Norman, shook his head in disagreement. “Octavius, would it not be better to have this rat followed to see where he leads us? We know that he is helping these perpetrators in some manner.”

  “You might be right, Gertrude. It is very hard for me to think of a former confidant to be a traitor.”

  “Whoever is behind all of this is pretty sneaky. He seems to know what is going on in both kingdoms. He has managed to stir up trouble with the humans, making them more suspicious of the
trolls. He has also raised questions amongst the trolls whether the humans can be trusted. This Lemerich is just a ‘link in a rusty chain’. We have to find out who is the ‘anchor’ at the end of the chain. We also must be prudent not to divulge any actions we want to take to anyone else other than the people here in this room with two exceptions: The Queen and Andre.”

  “I must take my leave; I have lost a whole day of my baking.” Winifred stood up and moaned. “These old bones are really talking to me tonight. I believe that we are in for some nasty weather.”

  “I will be home after I talk to Aunt Phoebe and Uncle Farkle. I want to know why they were with this human, Modak.” Gertrude looked at his mother.

  “Well, if you are going to do that, I will have to let my baking go until later. I have some questions for my dear sister.” Winifred put on her coat and hat. “What are you waiting for, son? The night is getting shorter.”

  “I have some questions for my daughter.” Octavius looked at Norman with a stern expression. “I would like to know why she considers exploring tunnels safe.” Norman did not look at her father. She averted her gaze to Gertrude and winked.

  “Well, we should go then.” Gertrude donned his hat and cloak. “Good night, Norman and Octavius.”

  “Goodnight, Octavius, Princess.” Winifred nodded to both, turned and walked towards the main door with Gertrude walking behind her.

  Chapter Five