He emerged into the half-light to see a grim scene. Four of the Fellthorn Trolls, all that remained of the once mighty band, had encircled poor Lora. Though they were few, the fact that they endured was testament to the cunning and nastiness of their gang. These four were the ugliest, most ruthless and battle-scarred trolls in these fell woods, and there was nothing they liked more than easy prey.
Sticky saw no sign of Gnorr in the shadowy glade. The trolls were closing in on Lora, and he had to do something - fast. He picked up a stone and flung it at one of the trolls, hitting it in the back of the head. Thanks to a bird's-nest of cushioning hair, the impact had no more effect than the bite of a gnat. The troll turned, training large frenzied eyes on Sticky.
"Wha's dis? An imp!" said the troll. "Our luck improves by the second, Brothers!"
"Grab it!" said another. "It's good luck!"
The trolls surrounding Lora were reduced to three as the fourth bounded towards Sticky with a limping gait. Sticky took flight and perched himself in a nearby tree. The troll, small by troll standards, was a mass of matted hair and broken teeth. It hopped up and down furiously in an attempt to reach him.
Lora fended off the reaching arms and scarred hands of the remaining trolls with her club. Her reflexes proved superior, but the trolls only became angrier at each swat. One got hold of her cloak and pulled her backwards. She swung her club in vain, and another troll caught it.
"Let go, you filthy beasts!" she cried.
"Hang in there, Lora!" Sticky called. "I'll think of something! I hope ..."
Sticky's own pursuer was climbing up after him. He crawled out to the farthest end of the leafless branch as a sinewy arm lashed out.
Suddenly the tree swayed, upsetting Sticky's balance. He turned to see the stone troll uprooting it with his mighty hands. He blinked, and realised it was Gnorr; half-hidden in the shadow of the petrified archway.
Sticky fluttered to Lora's aid. She still struggled in the grasp of three very puzzled trolls, who were watching their comrade and his tree lift high into the air. Much as it sickened him, Sticky bit at the horrid hands with his razor-sharp teeth. The trolls let go, and he and Lora tumbled free - only to have the fourth troll drop to the ground in front of them.
"Hold dem," said Gnorr.
"Are you friend?" said the leader of the trolls, who had apparently earned the position by being uglier than the others.
"Yass," said Gnorr. "Gnorr was humiliated by this elfling and her imp. Now he claims his revenge!"
Lora gasped. "You traitor!" she said with a scowl. She struggled in the troll's grip.
"Then have your revenge, Brother!" cackled the leader.
Sticky shut his eyes as the great uprooted tree came swinging down towards him and Lora. Air whooshed above their heads, and the thud of impact was both heard and felt. Confused squealing and yelling followed in its wake.
Sticky opened an eye. Gnorr stood there in front of them, minus the tree. He and Lora were both alive and well, but still in the clutches of the fourth troll - who gazed dumbstruck at his comrades lying sprawled in a tangle beneath the tree-trunk.
"What is dis?" the troll said at last, rounding on Gnorr. "Who are you?"
Gnorr creased his brow. A troll should know better than to ask another troll so many questions at once.
"Gnorr is brother to Fnorr, who was betrayed by those he trusted. Betrayed by you!" Gnorr picked up the horrified troll, which let go of Sticky and Lora in order to lash out at him.
"So the statue was once your brother?" said Lora.
"Yass," said Gnorr, "and the Fellthorn Trolls will pay for what they did to him. The sun's coming up ..." He went over to the tree, where the other trolls were freeing their leader from beneath it. He picked them up, one by one. Struggle though they might, they were no match for his size and strength. The sun's first rays filtered into the clearing, and Gnorr stood straight and still to await their full force. Little wisps of smoke began swirling up, and the Fellthorn Trolls shrieked with pain as their skin began to crack and harden.
"What's he doing?" said Lora. "He's crazy - he'll turn himself to stone as well!"
"I think that's what he wants," said Sticky.
"He can't very well do it until he's shifted that treasure for us."
Before Sticky could say another word, Lora was off again; trying to shout above the din.
"You want to live, trolls?"
"Yes!" was the unanimous reply.
"Sticky, give me a boost, will you?"
"I was afraid of that." Sticky braced himself, clung onto Lora's cloak, and fluttered upwards with the child.
"Sorry, Gnorr," said Lora, and she knocked him out cold with one well-aimed blow to the back of the head. The giant fell to the ground, and the Fellthorn Trolls were freed from his concrete grip. "Easier the second time. Now, push him into the cave, you lot, or I'll make sure you stay out of it!"
Lora hopped onto Gnorr's chest, and the trolls did as they were bid. Together they pushed, and Gnorr was propelled caveward at great speed. The agonized trolls still cracked and hardened, and by the time they reached the cave's mouth they'd slowed to a crawl.
Sticky and Lora passed through the ivy curtain, and then the movement stopped.
"Come on, put your backs into- Oh."
Gnorr was safely in the shade, but the Fellthorn Trolls were only halfway through the curtain - petrified.
"Poor things."
"Wait a minute, I thought you wanted them dead? They did kill your parents, after all."
Lora sighed. "I don't think I'm really cut out for killing trolls. I do hope Gnorr is okay."
"Uurrgh," came a gravelly voice. Gnorr stirred, and opened his stiff but still serviceable eyelids. Sticky and Lora beamed down at him.
"I feel …"
"Yes?"
"Heavier."
Lora hopped off his chest.
"That's better," he said with a smile.