ARRRGH!!! jerked the arm as if shooing away a pest but paid me little mind as she cornered Blinky. For me the ride was like being churned up and down on some vomitous carnival attraction. I pulled my face from the carpet of gamy hair, took two handfuls of pelt, and began surmounting the shoulder. The Eye of Malevolence slurped outward to cover ever more of the troll’s face, digging a couple of stems so far into her nose that they reemerged from her mouth, looking as if they’d made a wrong turn.

A troll door opened from the concrete and knocked Blinky to the ground in a spill of tentacles. ARRRGH!!! bellowed and took advantage of the moment, placing a giant foot on either side of the Lizzgump scholar and raising a fist for the killing blow. I aimed Cat #6 but was too far from the Eye to strike.

Seconds before Blinky was to be crushed I became aware of a song.

The sun slides into darkness,

At midwinter stands it still

And out the trolls of Christmas come from the hollow cave and hill.

Since Saturn penned the Titans

Imprisoned in the earth

The children of the gods return to walk the winter earth.

Shrieking and capering down they whirl

When the veil is thinned to the underworld.

The melody was fragile and inexpert, but it was this very roughness that brought poignancy to the wistful tune. I took a handful of fur and leaned to the side to find Jack coming closer, his mask and astrolabe dangling from either hand, his swords stashed across his back. The kid warrior, unbelievably, was singing.

Shouting and galloping down the sky

Comes Odin’s band, the Jolerei.

’Tis Death to see them, thunder rolls

O’er this poor lost band of hungry souls

The veil is thinned to the underworld.

ARRRGH!!!’s right arm shot out like an out-of-control garbage truck. It passed inches in front of Jack’s face, whipping the astrolabe from his hand and sending it clattering into the gutter among the broken bottles. Jack took a single swallow of fear before continuing the song.

Crockery shattered and feasts spoiled sorry.

This must be the work of the callicantzari!

From down the Greek mountains these winter trolls scurry

To carry off children born of winter’s hurry.

ARRRGH!!!’s infested snout twitched with a distant memory of this lilting melody. She lowered her fanged head to get a better look at this curious little being, and then her hairy forehead peaked in surprise as Blinky’s voice, a distinguished tenor, joined in on harmony.

If you’d ward off their mischief, build your Christmas fire big

And hang upon your mantel the jawbone of a pig.