Free Nemesis and the Troll King by Ashley Du Toit

access to our river, and all will be well again.”
    Yarg’s head swung around. “No … I can’t. I don’t have time to do that,” he replied.
    But Gurt wasn’t paying attention to Yarg. He and all the other Nuffins were hopping up and down in excitement, just like small children. After several attempts to make them hear him, Yarg bellowed: “I can’t take you with me!”
    The Nuffins stopped their celebrations immediately. They turned forlorn faces to Yarg.
    Bemoomba raised her woody eyebrows, “Have you forgotten why you came here, troll?” she enquired.
    â€œNo, I haven’t,” he said. “But I just don’t have time for this!”
    Bemoomba just smiled sadly and replied, “I can see that Nemesis was right about you.”
    Understanding dawned, and realising that he really had no choice, Yarg gave in, but with little grace. “Fine! I’ll take them with me! But I would like that moonray now, please.”
    Bemoomba’s smile broadened. She winked at something behind Yarg and Yarg turned in time to see a small Manukie scurry away.
    Folgoo stepped closer to Yarg. Lowering his voice, he whispered, “What are you doing now? Where are we going to find a home for this bunch?”
    Yarg was just about to answer that he had no idea, when a small orange ball came racing up to him, its small arm outstretched. Within its fluffy palm it held a handful of sparkles that bore a close resemblance to magic dust. They shimmered and glowed weirdly the closer the Manukie came to Bemoomba.
    Bemoomba reached out a branch and took the sparkling dust from her Manukie. She closed her eyes, and the dust transformed into a glowing crystal stick. Opening her eyes again, she plucked a leaf from her tree, wrapped it tightly around the crystal stick and presented it to Yarg. “Don’t open it. Give it to Nemesis as it is and he’ll know what to do with it,” she said. “Thank you for your help, Yarg, King of the Trolls. We wish you luck on your journey.”
    Yarg stared down at the package in his huge hands. “Uh, thanks Bemoomba.” He put it into his magical bag and turned to Folgoo. “That’s our first token, Folgoo,” he said.
    â€œSo what do we do now?” asked Folgoo.
    â€œWell, we take the Nuffins with us while we look for the next token on the list, and on the way we think about where we can find them a home.” Yarg replied.
    â€œWhat is the next token?” Folgoo asked.
    Yarg reached again into his bag and consulted the parchment Nemesis had given him. “Hmm, the next token is The Sand of Memory. Do you know anything about that?”
    Folgoo shook his head, but Bemoomba answered: “You will find The Sand of Memory within the Immortal Markets. A witch named Urdelyn has a stall on the far side of the market. She has your next token.”
    She smiled a deceptively innocent smile at them and Yarg was instantly suspicious. “Don’t forget to take the Nuffins when you leave,” she added sweetly.
    â€œBut the Nuffins said they were kicked out of the Immortal Markets,” Yarg protested.
    â€œYarg, you are the King of the Trolls. I’m sure you’ll find a way around that,” she replied, now making no attempt to hide her enjoyment of his predicament.
    Yarg scowled and then glared at Folgoo, who was laughing loudly at her words. Turning to Gurt he said grumpily, “Well, if you’re coming, then let’s go.”
    He walked off without a backward glance. Afraid that he might leave them behind, the Nuffins hurried after him. Yarg stopped at the edge of the clearing. “I’ve never been to the Immortal Markets. Have you?” he asked Folgoo.
    Folgoo shook his head. “No … my people don’t like crowds, and these markets don’t have anything that would interest me.”
    â€œWell, they have something that interests us now,” said Yarg.