Troll Hunting
#4 of Welcome To Asgard
After last nights massacre all festivities in the city had been banned until the troll Grendel had been captured, all the asgardians were silent in fear but Zeng didn't understand it at all as he tried asking around but got nothing except the silent treatment until Angel summoned him back to her chambers.
"Sorry to call on you like this."
"Is this about that Grendel character?"
"SHHH!!!"
"Sorry!"
Angel then locked the door to her chambers and pulled back the curtains so that nobody could spy on them as she brought out what looked like an asgardian history book.
"So is this troll all that bad?"
"Worse. you see Zeng before you and I were born Grendel ruled the night of the mortal world with fear and blood. Whenever mortals would feast and drink Grendel would come in the dead of night to feed until one night a hero named Beowulf defeated him and took his arm as his prize of the battle and Grendel bled to death in the cold of the night when Hela claimed him."
"So what's he doing out of her place?"
"That I don't know, All I do know is that he has to bee killed before the Odin Sleep is over, our troops can't afford another night attack."
A guard then came knocking on Angels door calling her to the main hall where a war council had been assembled, many of the captains were at a loss since no asgardian had faced Grendel since the days of Beowulf and because the city was already under constant siege they could not afford to send troops to hunt him down.
"Maybe we can offer a reward?"
"Are you daft?!? there isn't a hunter in all of Asgard that would take on THAT beast!"
"What about a hunter not of Asgard?"
The crowd then turned to Zeng who was sharpening Armads by the fire place and were interested in hearing his proposal as he brought Armads back into its sheath and walked towards the map laid in the center of the hall.
"Now I've only been in asgard for a short while but I know well enough that trolls dwell alone in caves where they feed on their kill, much like wolves and bears. I will hunt for Grendel and anyone brave enough is welcomed to join me."
A tiger/panther hybrid wearing a black vest stepped forth with two short swords tied to his back but noone else would step forth, Zeng only nodded in agreement and he and his partner were headed out the door. The hybrid that Zeng had just met was called Zach, he seemed like the strong silent type but to his surprise he was quite friendly.
"You ever been troll hunting before?"
"Not since I was 14 but that was back in Gaia."
"I've heard of that place. Lots of dragons flying about, people living off the land?"
"That's the one."
The conversation was cut short as the horses suddenly reared up and both hunters caught a foul stench in the air. Grendel was close as Zach hid the horses while Zeng examined the small blood trail found leading to a bunch of bushes hiding a cave as Zach lit a pair of torches he packed.
"Stay close."
Both held a torch and weapon in their hands as they neared the end of the cave, the moment they moved in for an attack they found themselves staring at the rotting carcass of a bear that had been ripped by bare hands and around them were corpses of other hunters before they heard what sounded like stomping as they put out the torches and hid themselves.
Instead of the troll they found themselves in the lair of an ogre who had just come out of the woods with a dead deer and began munching on its head. Both Zach and Zeng sneaked out of the cave and made their way away from the lair until Zach caught something jumping above the tree line and heading for the city, it was Grendel.
Meanwhile Angel was in her study, catching up on the latest spells and enchantments while the soldiers prepared another feast after repelling another siege even though it was just the fourth day of the odin sleep and as usual the famous warriors three would be the center of attention at the party especially when Volstagg would get drunk.
In hours the feast was in full swing with every soldier and valkyrie laughing or making out in public as the music played throughout valhala until the flames suddenly went out and the main door bursted open. Angel grew suspicious of the situation as did Tanya while the soldiers kept an eye on the door waiting for an ambush.
"RRRAGH!!!"
"IT'S GRENDEL!!!"
The troll bursted in from above smashing two of the soldiers while the warriors three and Tanya attacked from all sides as Angel stunned him with a lightning blast but none of their attacks had effect as Grendel managed to pin Angel to the wall and looked at her body licking his lips.
"Mmmmm wolf meat."
Grendel opened his jaws wide ready to chomp off her head until Armads was suddenly thrown in his side and Zeng tackled him to the ground and began pounding his face right into the hard stone floor with Zach behind him.
"GRRRAGH!!!"
"Come on!!"
Grendel threw Zeng off him with ease only to have Zach slash at his legs then giving him a roundhouse kick sending him right out of the mead hall allowing them to take the fight on the city streets but as the dust settled the troll had vanished with only a small puddle of blood left and Armads lying on the ground.
While they cleaned up the mess at valhala and this time with no dead Grendel retreated to an area known as the forest of thorns where two foxes awaited him as he kneeled before them bruised and bleeding.
"You dare show your face to me?"
"Forgive me Loki...I had the sorceress in my hands until this mortal-"
"Mortal?!? you have the strength of one hundred men and can crush their skulls with one hand! what difference could this mortal make?"
The End.