By Deborah Bainbridge
Ivy climbed the massive oak hovering over the forest trail, ascending quickly to her favorite lookout spot. She rested in the crook of a branch where vines of her namesake constricted like snakes, causing the bark to fade beneath them. Clutching the tip of her long braid, she watched as her hair and skin blended into the vibrant green.
After retrieving a book from her brown satchel, Ivy opened the cover. Folium in ventum. “Oh, to ride a leaf on the wind,” she whispered, sniffing the page. “Fresh ink. Musty parchment.” She sighed. “If only leaves were books. Then spotting would be a dream job.”
Her remarkable sense of smell made Ivy uniquely suited to serve as a scout for the Reston Trolls, who had been retrievers for over a hundred years. Regaining possession of stolen items from the humans was her clan’s primary objective, since all shiny things belonged to trolls.
Ivy’s position afforded her a bird’s-eye view of the most popular path to the Metro Silver Line. It was frequented by visitors to Washington, D.C. as well as commuters from the bedroom community of Reston.
People with shiny objects begging to be reclaimed.
“Shouldn’t you be working?” A familiar voice drifted upward.
“Morning, Moss.” Ivy continued reading. “Rather early for the humans. Besides, I can smell them long before they hit the trailhead.”
“How’d you know it was me?”
“You’re my twin. I’ve known your smell since birth.”
“Right.” Moss raked his fingers through his flattop. “I’m coming up to help you scout.”
Ivy turned the page. “Good. You can watch the trail while I read.”
Grunts escaped Moss as he scaled the thick trunk.
Ivy held up a finger, sniffing the air. “Lemon cake and”—she tapped her cheek—“musky bergamot.” Her lips puckered, producing a low-pitched warbling sound, mimicking an Eastern Bluebird.
The forest shifted beneath them. Four of Ivy’s clansmen, two on each side, surrounded the distracted pair of humans. The trolls’ height barely reached their knees.
The man had a bushy moustache and wore a pinstriped suit. He was in a deep conversation with a woman in a navy dress. They didn’t react when a couple of stealthy trolls plucked his watch and her bracelet from their persons.
“…shelving books all day, but I love my job.” Ivy overheard the woman in blue’s response to Moustache Man. “Did you know the Library of Congress is the largest library in the country?”
“I did, actually,” he stated. “I work near…” The man’s voice trailed off as the pair turned a corner.
Ivy’s head swiveled toward Moss.
“Your eyes are bugging out of your head.” Moss’s eyebrows furrowed.
Ivy bit her lip. “Our chameleon powers will protect us. The humans won’t even know we’re there. If we’re careful, those rotten D.C. Trolls won’t, either.”
“I’ll never understand your fascination with books.” Moss shook his head. “Fine. We’ll go at dark, after closing. Just to be safe.” He wrung his hands. “I am not looking forward to entering enemy territory.”
That evening, the twins chose a bench seat in an unoccupied Metro car. One train ride and a sneaky maneuver around the security guard later, they ascended the stairs of the Library of Congress.
Beaux-Arts architecture, mosaics, and giant Corinthian columns welcomed them.
Moss gasped. “Wow!”
They explored the halls before reaching the Main Reading Room of the Thomas Jefferson Building, a domed area adorned with murals and statues.
“This is the most beautiful place in the world.” Ivy circled slowly, taking in its beauty.
“Shiny!” Moss pointed to a golden pen next to an inkwell on display. “Be right back.”
“Be. Careful. I’m heading into that alcove.” She pointed to a two-story area with bookshelves lining the room.
Ivy perused the shelves. The very air held comforting notes of almond, vanilla, and old leather. Was she dreaming? Inhaling deeply, she looked over just in time to see Moss being lifted by four trolls, each grabbing one of his limbs. “D.C. Trolls,” she muttered.
“I wasn’t stealing!” Moss struggled. “I was retrieving! There’s a difference.”
“Really?” a raspy voice grumbled.
Ivy sprinted toward the group. “Put. Him. Down!” She stretched out her arms to block them.
“We caught him in the act.” The voice belonged to an elderly troll, whose cascading white beard scraped the floor.
“I was just doin’ my job,” Moss pleaded.
Ivy held out her hand. “All shiny things belong to trolls. Our clan, we just retrieve them.”
“Reston Retrievers, eh? Always tryin’ to make theft sound honorable.” A hulking troll with massive biceps chuckled. “Well, our clan works in security, guarding against thievery.”
“Thievery?” Ivy huffed. “Prove it.”
“Follow us.” The elderly troll gestured with his cane.
The D.C. Trolls continued into the hallway and Ivy trailed behind them, not letting Moss leave her sight.
The group halted before a large book preserved in a glass case. The sign above it read Gutenberg Bible. Something was different about this book.
Ivy moved in close. Light cast onto the ink letters as she read, her extensive love for books making her familiar with the language. Something moved inside her, as if that light were peering deep within her.
“There.” A wrinkled finger tapped the glass.
As she translated the passage in her head, the words themselves spoke to her. “You shall not steal.” At once, conviction entered her heart, and she knew they spoke the truth.
Ivy turned and swallowed. “Please. Let my brother go. We didn’t know.”
The elder troll waved a hand, and they released him. Moss stared at the book, eyes wide.
“I don’t understand.” Ivy glanced up.
The troll grimaced. “Long ago, a silver-tongued troll chose to live by his own set of rules, splitting our clans in two. He manipulated many trolls.”
Moss turned, his lips twisted. “Our entire clan was deceived?”
The senior troll nodded.
Ivy tensed. “They deserve to know. This truth could reunite the clans.”
The wise one stroked his majestic beard. “It is time.”
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