Trolled

by Bruce Coville

  The bird shrugged its ebony wings. “I came via the Enchanted Realm. The Shadow Sea that divides the continents in the Realm is not as wide as the ocean in the human world. And I’m a powerful flier. That’s how I got my name.”

  “Which is?”

  “Korkea Lentäjä. It means High Flier.”

  I tried to repeat the name. The bird laughed when I mangled it and said, “Call me Korkaya. If you don’t mind, I’ll spend the night here, then head for home in the morning. Now I’d appreciate it if you would take the message off my leg. The binding itches.”

  “Who is it from?”

  “Your grandfather.” The bird paused, then added, “He’s in a bad situation.”

  “What’s wrong?” I cried.

  “It’s all in the message. Take it out and read it.”

  I moved closer and saw a slender leather tube bound to the bird’s leg. My fingers trembled as I undid the thin laces. When I was done, the bird flexed its talons and said, “Thank you. That’s a relief!”

  I pulled the message from the tube.

  Dear Cody,

  The reason I am using a raven instead of text or email to deliver this message is simple: I am being held prisoner inside Troll Mountain and electronics do not work down here. Fortunately, Korkaya is both strong and smart, and I have every hope that he will reach you.

  The reason I am a prisoner is that I made a grave error in returning to the mountain: I underestimated how badly things have changed here, and how fierce a tyrant King Wergis has become.

  I should, I guess, have been more discreet. I was not, and word of my questions about Gustav Fredrik got back to Wergis. From what I’ve been told, he had not thought much about the prince in recent years. Once reminded, he grew angry all over again that his daughter had revealed her true self and ruined their plan to capture the prince as her husband.

  A troll can hold a grudge for a long time.

  Fortunately, he does not know where the queen has stashed the glass coffin. And Hekthema is not willing to tell him because she is afraid that if he finds it, he will smash it. What makes that particularly bad is that if the coffin is not opened properly, the prince’s sleep will end and he will die writhing in agony within the first hour.

  I do have an ally here, my old friend Aspen Markonnis. And Erkki, the tonttu who brings my meals, is a friendly little fellow. He likes to gossip, and so loves the bits of old stories I can tell him. He has told me, in turn, that word in the mountain has it that Hekthema goes to gaze at the prince on a regular basis. The tonttus think she has fallen in love with him herself! But she has seen the king’s anger and does not go now for fear of revealing where the prince is hidden. (In case it’s not clear, Troll Mountain contains a vast maze of tunnels and passages.)

  If the king does find the coffin, I fear it will be the end for the prince, and a nasty one at that.

  I will say no more, in case this letter is captured before it reaches you. That is why I have not named your friend—you know the one I mean—who might have an interest in this information.

  I suggest you read this letter to Askeladden. He may have some useful advice.

  Love,

  Grampa Raimo

  Cody’s Life Log

  10/25 (late)

  So frustrating! Mom wouldn’t let me go back to Granny Aino’s, since I had already been there once and she didn’t see any need for me to go back on a school night. Which means I can’t read Grampa Raimo’s letter to Askeladden until tomorrow.

  And Dad didn’t want me to go to the terminal with him tonight, so I can’t talk to Nettie, either.

  I think I’m going to burst!

  Wednesday, Oct. 26

  Last night I went to Mr. Takala and told him I was not feeling well and did not think I would be in tonight. I could tell he was startled. And why wouldn’t he be? This is the first sick day I have taken in all the time he has known me.

  But I was not lying, as some of my fellow guards occasionally do when they want a night off. I truly am sick at heart.

  Yet I am also alight with happiness. The prince still lives!

  It is a strange combination of feelings.

  Anyway, I need some time to be alone, because I have more emotions than I know what to do with.

  I wish that I could weep. I think it might help calm what feels like a volcano inside me.

  I fear I may erupt instead.

  Oct. 26

  Dear Grampa,

  Good grief! I can’t believe you are a captive in Troll Mountain! I feel like I need to do something…but I can’t figure out what!

  I am sending this message back with Korkaya, who is leaving to return home in just a few minutes. I hope he has a safe flight.

  This afternoon I will read your letter to Askeladden, as you suggest. And tonight I will seek out you-know-who to pass along your news.

  Wish I could write more, but I have to go to school.

  I don’t think I will be able to concentrate!

  Your grandson,

  Cody

  Wednesday, Oct. 26

  I pace my cave, but I can find no peace, no hope, no solace.

  The prince is trapped in a glass coffin. It is sealed by magic and he might stay there forever, neither dead nor alive, locked in an enchanted sleep created by my horrible mother.

  I have no way to reach him, to save him, to help him.

  Would he even want my help, he who fled from me? And if he did, how could I give it to him? I don’t know how to wake him. I would need to learn that from Mother.

  Mother.

  Good grief, what would it be like to see her again? I have so much anger against her in my heart! Could I speak when I saw her, or would I only roar out my long-held fury?

  And what of the prince? What would it mean to wake him? There are no more princes in Finland, after all. What could he do, what place find in this world, after his long sleep?

  Would it be better to simply let him rest in peace?

  And why do I even ask myself these questions, when I have no way to reach him?

  Cody’s Life Log

  10/26

  This afternoon the weirdness accelerator moved into overdrive. I thought it would be best to have Angus with me when I read Grampa Raimo’s letter to Askeladden, so I stopped at home to collect the little guy before I walked over to Granny Aino’s apartment.

  When we got there I made Askeladden swear he wouldn’t chase the brownie. I was a little worried about him thinking Angus would make a good cat toy. Once I was satisfied Angus was safe, I let him out of my backpack.

  After the introductions had been made, I did as Grampa Raimo had suggested and read his message to Askeladden.

  The cat closed his eyes and listened intently. When I was done he said, “This is not good. Fortunately, I know what we need to do. I watched you snooping around the other day, Cody. Oh, don’t deny it! I saw you, and you know it. So I know you’re aware of the safe hidden in the wall behind the buffet.”

  “It’s the weirdest safe I ever heard of!” I answered. “I have no idea how to get into it.”

  “I do,” replied the cat with a grin and a stretch. “At least, I hope I do. It depends on how strong Aino’s bloodline runs in you. Okay, the first thing you have to do is empty out the buffet so you can get at it.”

  Remembering my snooping, I said, “But there’s nothing on that side but a solid piece of steel.”

  The cat laughed. “That’s exactly what anyone poking around here is supposed to think. Now, empty out that buffet.”

  Grumbling to myself about bossy cats, I did as Askeladden ordered. Angus looked on with interest but had the courtesy not to comment.

  When I finally had everything cleared away, the cat said, “Press your right hand flat against that red circle on the right side.”

  I did as he commanded. My hand covered most of the circle, but the few bits still visible began to glow. “It’s getting warm,” I said.

  “Good. That means we have a chance! Now
say this: ‘By the huldra blood that flows within my veins, I, Cody Takala, order you to open to my touch.’ ”

  I repeated his words exactly, then cried, “Yow!”

  “Don’t pull your hand away!” Askeladden ordered.

  It was hard not to. The red circle had become so hot that it hurt. Gritting my teeth, I held my hand in place. Just when I thought I couldn’t stand it any longer, the heat vanished. Better yet, with a small click, the door opened by a fraction of an inch.

  I grabbed the edge of it with my fingernails, pulled it all the way open, then bent to look inside.

  All I could see was blackness. It was as if a veil of perfect dark covered the safe’s interior.

  “Reach in with your right hand and pull out what you find,” said Askeladden.

  I stretched my hand forward. When my fingertips touched the veil of darkness, a jolt of energy tingled up my arm.

  I yelped in alarm.

  “Don’t pull your hand back!” ordered Askeladden, his voice urgent.

  It took everything I had to stay in place.

  As I reached farther into the safe, the tingling grew stronger. It was weird, but not really painful. I kept reaching…and reaching! I had seen the safe from the other side, so I knew the cube was only a foot high, a foot wide, and a foot deep.

  So why could I stick my arm in all the way up to my shoulder?

  At last I felt something smooth and circular. I closed my fingers over its upper edge and pulled it toward me.

  It came out of the safe with a pop and a hiss.

  Once it was in the open I let go of it and began to massage my arm, which still tingled as if it had fallen asleep.

  I stared at what I had retrieved. It was some kind of metal pot, about half the size of a volleyball. As I studied it, I realized it was like a tiny version of a witch’s cauldron.

  “Why is Granny Aino keeping this in a safe?” I asked.

  “Gosh, I don’t know,” Askeladden replied. “Do you suppose it might be because it’s valuable?”

  Great. I now had two magical helpers—a brownie and a talking cat—and both were masters of sarcasm.

  “Is there anything inside it?”

  “Why don’t you find out?” replied the cat, sounding amused.

  I sighed and rolled my eyes, then reached into the miniature cauldron.

  At the bottom I felt some folded-up papers.

  I pulled them out.

  The first sheet contained a set of instructions, carefully printed by hand.

  The second, also handwritten, but in cursive, not printing, was from Granny Aino herself.

  INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

  THIS CAULDRON IS THE PROPERTY OF THE TAKALA FAMILY. ONLY SOMEONE OF OUR BLOODLINE CAN WAKE ITS POWER. TO PROVE YOUR RIGHT TO USE IT, MAKE A CUT IN THE TIP OF YOUR INDEX FINGER, THEN RUB IT AGAINST THE CAULDRON’S RIM.

  IF THE CAULDRON ACCEPTS YOUR BLOOD AS TRUE, IT WILL GROW WARM AND HUM A DEEP WELCOME. HOWEVER, IF THE BLOOD IS REJECTED, THE IRON WILL GROW COLD. THE FINGER WILL BE FROSTBITTEN AND POSSIBLY FALL OFF.

  SO BEWARE, YE OF FALSE BLOOD, AND TAMPER NOT WITH THIS CAULDRON!

  ONCE WOKEN TO THE TRUEBLOOD‚S TOUCH, THE CAULDRON WILL BE A TRUSTY VEHICLE TO CARRY YOU OVER LAND AND SEA. SIMPLY GRASP ITS RIM AND SAY, “CAULDRON, I WISH TO TRAVEL!” AT ONCE IT WILL BEGIN TO GROW. IT CAN EXPAND TO ACCOMMODATE AS MANY AS SIX PASSENGERS.

  WHEN THE CAULDRON HAS REACHED THE SIZE YOU DESIRE, RELEASE THE RIM AND IT WILL STOP GROWING.

  CLIMB IN AND INSERT THE KEY. WHEN IT BEGINS TO GLOW, NAME YOUR DESTINATION, THEN SPIT THREE TIMES OVER THE EDGE.

  THE CAULDRON WILL RISE.

  IF YOU ARE IN THE ENCHANTED REALM, IT WILL BEGIN TO FLY AT ONCE.

  IF YOU ARE IN THE HUMAN WORLD, THE CAULDRON WILL TRANSPORT YOU TO THE ENCHANTED REALM BEFORE IT CARRIES YOU TO THE CHOSEN LOCATION. IF YOU SEEK A PLACE IN THE REALM, THE FLIGHT WILL END THERE. IF YOUR DESTINATION IS IN THE HUMAN WORLD, THE CAULDRON WILL AGAIN CROSS THE MAGICAL BORDER WHEN THE FLIGHT IS COMPLETE.

  This cauldron is mine as Bride Gift.

  This is true, though it was not actually given to me. I took it…as was my right!

  Huldra tradition says the firstborn daughter is owed one treasure from the family stores, and this was the treasure I chose when I decided to marry Harald Takala.

  By this cauldron my beloved and I escaped the wrath of my kin after we were wed. In its safe and warm embrace we flew to America, where we made our new home.

  It is ours, and will pass to our descendants, now and forevermore.

  —Aino Takala

  Cody’s Life Log

  10/26 (continued)

  When I finished reading, my heart was pounding. Looking at Askeladden, I said, “Does this mean we could take Nettie home…not to mention try to rescue my grandfather?”

  “Sounds like it to me,” said the cat, swishing his bushy tail.

  “We could, but it would be a terrible idea!” said Angus.

  In my excitement, I hadn’t really thought about what this meant. Angus was right. The idea of going to Troll Mountain was terrifying.

  “Maybe my dad could do it?” I said.

  “He’d likely lose his finger to frostbite if you could even get him to try waking the cauldron,” said Askeladden. “He’s never shown any sign of his huldra heritage. No, I’m afraid it will have to be you, bucko.”

  Partly to change the subject, I said, “Well, what’s this about a key?”

  “Oh, think, Cody!” the cat snapped.

  I remembered the metal rod in the strongbox.

  Part of me wanted to jump up and shout “YES!”

  Part of me wanted to go curl up in a corner and pretend none of this was happening.

  Only I couldn’t do that. Because it wasn’t only Nettie Thump who was needed at Troll Mountain. If I had the way to do it, and I did, I had to try to rescue my grandfather.

  Then I realized another problem. “I can’t just head off to the Enchanted Realm! My parents will be worried sick when I don’t show up at home.”

  “No problem on that front, lad,” said Angus. “Fearing it might come to this, I brought along my time peg.”

  “You have a time peg?” Askeladden said, sounding astonished.

  At the same time, I said, “What the heck is a time peg?”

  “’Tis a marvelous device,” said Angus. “You’ll remember I brought the peg with me when I volunteered to go home with you.”

  “Yes, but you were very mysterious about it.”

  “It is not to be spoken of lightly. I was given it by Granny Squannit, who is of the Enchanted Realm in this part of the world. She’s an Old One, you know…so fiercely powerful it makes my toes curl even to think of her. The peg is why your cousin Alex and her brother and sister were able to travel to the Enchanted Realm with me to break the family curse.”

  “Alex and Bennett and Destiny have been to the Enchanted Realm and she never told me? I am so gonna clobber her for that!”

  “No clobbering,” said Angus solemnly. “She was sworn to secrecy…as will you be, though I suppose you can tell her, since you both will have been there.”

  “So what, exactly, does this time peg do?”

  “It locks us to a moment here in the human world while we travel in the Enchanted Realm. All we need do is pound the peg into the ground at the spot where we intend to enter the Realm. The peg will tie us to that instant, so when we return we will reenter the human world at the exact time that we left.”

  “As long as no one moves the peg,” muttered Askeladden.

  Which made me a little less enthusiastic about the situation.

  Still, I couldn’t wait to tell Nettie!

  Cody’s Life Log

  10/27 (evening)

  At the worst of all possible times, Nettie has gone missing!

  Dad told me she (well, actually, Dad still thinks Nettie is a HE) stayed home sick last night and sent a message that “he” would be out tonight as well.

  It is desperately impo
rtant that I tell Nettie there’s a chance we can do something about the prince…especially since her father is even now looking for that glass coffin to shatter it!

  It took me a while to figure out how to ask Dad where she lives without making him suspicious. Finally, I came up with the idea of saying I wanted to send a get-well card. Dad knows I’ve been talking to “Ned,” so I guess that didn’t seem too unusual. He said he didn’t know the address offhand but would text it to me from his office.

  It was a post office box! They send her paychecks to a P.O. box!

  So where does she actually live?

  I’ve been racking my brains, and I have come to a wild conclusion.

  Nettie is a troll.

  She is comfortable underground.

  She told me she lives close to work.

  It’s a scary thought, but something inside tells me I’m right.

  I’m at Granny Aino’s right now. Supposedly I came over to watch a movie—a reward for having my homework done early and acing a tough math test. The real reason I came over is that I need to include Askeladden in any conversation about Nettie.

  When I had finished explaining the current situation, Askeladden said, “So where do you think the she-troll is holed up?”

  I took a deep breath, then said, “I believe she’s been living right under Grand Central. There are all kinds of levels and tunnels and forgotten spaces down there. It would be perfect for a troll.”

  “Then we must go there and try to find her,” said Angus.

  “You don’t understand,” I said.

  “I certainly do,” huffed Angus. “The she-troll is missing. We need to give her information. Therefore, we must look for her.”

  “I mean you don’t understand about Grand Central. You haven’t been there, except in my backpack when we came back from Destiny’s birthday party. The place is enormous…and the area underneath is even bigger. Some of the tunnels stretch out for miles. No one even seems to be sure how many underground levels there are! There’s no way we could track Nettie down under there.”