by Victor Kloss
“Well, that could have gone better,” Charlie said, as they left Tonbell’s shop, and continued down the road.
“He was refreshingly honest, wasn’t he,” Natalie admitted. “I never thought I’d say this, but I hope our next goblin is slightly less scrupulous.”
However, they soon learned that it wasn’t ethics or scruples that were the problem – it was simply that they didn’t want to get caught. It was clear the Institute came down hard on any goblins trading void spells of any nature. Other shops weren’t as polite as Tonbell, but just as clear that they did not deal in illegal spells. Twenty minutes and five shops later, they were halfway down Goblin Avenue with nothing to show for it. Ben was getting increasingly frustrated.
“The Institute really doesn’t want people going to the void, do they,” Natalie said. “Maybe we should change our strategy. I could try talking. I know I’m not as good as you, Ben, but it’s worth a go.”
Ben was about to agree when he noticed a goblin child coming their way. There was something about him that caught Ben’s eye. He was by himself, without any sign of parents, yet he didn’t look awkward or alone. He wore a bright red shirt and his hands were buried deep in his jeans pockets. He was whistling cheerfully, and heading right towards them. The moment he locked eyes with Ben, he gave a knuckled salute.
“Afternoon, mister,” the goblin said in a working-class London accent. “Fine day for walking, innit?”
“It is a nice day,” Ben said.
The goblin stopped directly in front of Ben, making him stop. Ben was about to go round him, when the goblin gave a knowing smile and leaned forwards.
“Word on the street is that there are some humans looking for void spells.”
Ben was careful not to react, and silently cursed Charlie for his sudden intake of breath.
“We might be. Do you know someone who might be interested in selling?”
“Course I do,” the goblin said, slapping his chest. “I know everyone on Goblin Avenue. I know the exact goblin you need, and he’ll give you the best price. I can vouch for him.”
“And who might that be?”
The goblin grinned, showing some surprisingly white teeth. “My services aren’t free, you know.” He held out a hand. “My going rate is twenty pounds per piece of information. Five pound extra for a personal escort to your destination.”
“That’s outrageous,” Charlie said, stepping up beside Ben, and looking down on the goblin like a scolding adult. “How do we know you’re telling the truth?”
Ben, however, was smiling. He had taken an immediate liking to the young goblin. He dipped into his pocket and pulled out a few notes. “Deal. Here’s twenty-five pounds. Lead on.”
Charlie gave him an incredulous look. “Are you serious?”
“We haven’t exactly been lucky so far. I don’t want to spend all day trying every shop,” Ben said. “Let’s give the kid a chance.”
The goblin tucked the money in his pocket with an impudent grin, and then waved at them to follow. He walked with a jaunty swing, clearly delighted with his recent acquisition. If he was trying to fool them, he was doing a good job of not caring about it.
“Where are your parents?” Natalie asked.
The goblin’s jovial walk faltered, but only a little. “They are at work. I’m just bringing in some extra cash – pocket money, if you will.”
Ben knew a lie when he heard one. Natalie also appeared to detect the falsehood, and she gave Ben a concerned look. Ben wouldn’t have been surprised if the goblin had no parents, and possibly no home. But he looked like a survivor, and he certainly didn’t seem to be doing too bad for himself. He wondered how many other young goblins were similarly hard up.
They walked to the very end of Goblin Avenue, before the goblin finally stopped, and pointed with a flourish and a bow at the shop at the end.
“Here we go,” the goblin said. “Magical Mayhem Ltd. They’ll sort you out, guaranteed. There’s no finer shop in Goblin Avenue.”
— Chapter Twenty-One —
Magical Mayhem Ltd
The shop certainly looked impressive from the outside. It had large display windows that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Oxford Street, with sale signs announcing ten percent off all air-based spells.
“What happens if they can’t help us?” Charlie asked with an accusing glance at the little goblin. “Do we get our money back?”
“Absolutely,” the goblin replied. “You know what? I’m going to wait here until you come out just to make sure you’re happy. How does that sound?”
“It sounds like we won’t see you again,” Charlie muttered under his breath.
The goblin looked genuinely affronted.
Ben stepped in and extended his hand. “It’s a deal. We’ll see you soon.”
Ben had a good feeling about Magical Mayhem the moment he stepped through the entrance. It was light and airy, and there was a variety of magic wares he’d not seen since his last visit to the “W” store. As well as spells, there was an array of weaponry and armour, plus various artefacts and trinkets of all kinds. Among the items that caught his eye were a necklace of enhanced vision and a spell-absorber vest.
“Eight hundred pounds,” he noted, examining a label. “Slightly outside my five-pound budget.”
“Should we look around or just ask to see someone?” Charlie asked.
The shop was busy, and Ben counted at least a dozen other customers perusing the shop, both human and goblin.
“Let’s look around a bit first,” Ben said. “Maybe we’ll find something that can help us.”
It was easy to get distracted, looking at all the magic on offer, but Ben concentrated on looking for spells or items that might be related to the void. They methodically worked their way through the shop, up and down the shelves. Though there were many strange and wonderful spells, none of them were in the same field of what they were looking for. Ben was starting to get that familiar sinking feeling, when Natalie gave an excited intake of breath.
“Look! That’s got to be it,” she said with suppressed excitement.
She was pointing to a black door at the back corner of the shop. On it, in white writing, were the words “Dark Magic”. Ben couldn’t believe they hadn’t noticed it before. They had been so fixated on the shelves that they hadn’t thought to check for any other rooms the shop might have to offer.
Ben approached the door cautiously, as if it might have some sort of in-built defensive magic, but it opened easily enough.
Ben had to squint the moment he entered the new room. It was dimly lit, and his eyes took a moment to adjust. The room reflected the nature of the magic. The walls were painted black, decorated with silver, Gothic-like symbols that seemed to pulse every time Ben looked at them. The magical wares on the shelves were all contained in small, silver boxes, under lock and key. Ben heard several of them humming, and a couple were vibrating.
“This room isn’t for little children,” a harsh, throaty voice said. “Leave before I call security.”
The voice came from the back of the room. Sitting on a large, ornately decorated desk was a tall goblin, wearing a hooded green cloak the colour of his skin. His eyes were yellow, and his skin heavily pocked. There was a presence about the goblin that made Charlie and Natalie falter. He was a shaman, Ben realised. The bits of his body that were visible were tattooed, and he had a staff leaning against his desk.
“Go ahead,” Ben said, stepping forwards with a nonchalant air. “This place is a disappointment. You came highly recommended, but it’s clear that you don’t have the spells we need. Is there a shop you can recommend that sells real dark magic?”
The reverse psychology trading tactic was favoured when dealing with goblins – they were quick to anger and easily baited, but Ben had never dealt with a shaman before. He knew he’d hit the mark the moment he saw those yellow eyes narrow.
“What are you look
ing for?” the goblin shaman asked, his croaky voice dangerously soft.
Ben locked eyes with the shaman. “I need a way in and a way out of the void.”
The surprise in the shaman’s face was obvious. “Who is it for?”
“Does it matter?” Ben asked.
The shaman sneered. “Of course, you idiot. Different body types require different spells. Choose a void spell designed for a dwarf and use it on a human, and he would explode into a thousand pieces.”
Ben cursed inwardly. Why hadn’t he thought of that?
“It’s for us,” he said.
To Ben’s surprise, the shaman broke into a huge, extremely unpleasant grin. “You? How ironic, the Institute’s own apprentices violating their laws stopping people entering the void.”
Ben was speechless. He glanced at his shoulder, but there was nothing there.
“Just because you can’t see the diamonds, doesn’t mean I can’t,” the shaman said.
Ben thought furiously. He decided to go for honesty.
“Yes, we are apprentices. But we are here on our own volition. The Institute don’t know anything about this, nor will they.”
“Unless you go missing and it gets traced back to me,” the shaman said. “Which is quite likely, if you enter the void.”
“So what?” Ben said. “If we go missing, they won’t have a clue what happened, and certainly wouldn’t think of looking in the void. The Institute shuns the void like the plague.”
For the first time, Ben saw the shaman hesitate. Ben pushed home his advantage. He stepped forwards and pulled out a large wad of cash.
“What is the cost of getting in and out of the void?” he asked, waving the cash about. The shaman’s yellow eyes followed the money back and forth.
“Two hundred pounds to get in; three hundred to get out,” the shaman said.
Ben knew he was in no position to negotiate. He counted out the money and handed it over. The Shaman took one glance at it, and shook his head.
“That was per person, not total,” he said.
Ben had performed many dramatic acts of outrage when trading before, but this time it was genuine. Both Charlie and Natalie chimed in with angry voices.
The shaman waited calmly for them to finish. “That’s the price. Take it or leave it.”
Ben choked back several choice retorts.
“You changed the price, didn’t you?” he said, when he had finally composed himself. “It was going to be five hundred pounds.”
The shaman gave a shrug. “It doesn’t matter. That is my price.”
“I can’t take it,” Ben said, crunching the bills in anger. “We only have a thousand pounds.”
“That is unfortunate.” The shaman seemed to be enjoying himself now. “It seems like only two of you can afford to go.”
Ben wanted to tell the shaman to go to hell, but he was caught between a rock and a hard place. This was their one chance to get into the void. He gave the shaman a withering look, and then turned away, calling Charlie and Natalie to him for a timeout.
“I hate to admit it, but we have a decision to make,” Ben said. “Only one of you can come with me.”
Natalie was looking at Ben with a determined glint in her eye. “I’ll go.”
Ben turned to Charlie, who had a resigned expression on his face. He rubbed his forehead, and gave a sigh, puffing his little pot-belly out. “No, I should go.”
To Ben’s surprise, Natalie turned on Charlie with a flash of annoyance. “Why should you go? You were the one who protested violently about this whole thing in the first place.”
Charlie was taken aback by the intensity of Natalie’s reply. “It wouldn’t be right,” he said, going slightly red.
“Why?” Natalie narrowed her eyes, and Charlie took a little shuffle backwards. “Is it because I’m a girl?”
“No,” Charlie said, trying but failing to sound convincing. “Well, maybe. I don’t know – it just seems wrong. I don’t want you risking your life.”
If Charlie was hoping that would mollify Natalie, he couldn’t have been more wrong. Her eyes flashed, and she rammed a finger into his chest. “I can’t risk my life, but you can risk yours? I’m the one who decides what I do, not you.”
This was getting out of hand. Ben was about to step in, when the shaman intervened by clearing his throat. The three of them turned back to the shaman with contrasting emotions. Natalie was still furious, Ben annoyed, and Charlie clearly relieved.
“As enjoyable as it is watching you decide who gets to die in the void, I have business to attend to. So I’m going to have to ask you to pay up or leave.”
Ben was almost glad for the shaman’s intervention, as it silenced Charlie and Natalie. He paid the thousand pounds, slapping the money into the shaman’s hand with more force than necessary. The shaman counted the money, and then slipped it into one of his desk drawers, under lock and key. Once he was satisfied the money was safe, he stood up and walked over to one of the shelves. He unlocked a couple of boxes, and returned with two spell pellets and a couple of silver brooches, engraved quite delicately with a goblin’s head.
“These spells will get you in,” the shaman said. “They are level-four spells, and you will have only one chance to cast them. I do not issue refunds if you fail.”
“Fine. And how do we get out?”
The shaman held up the brooches. “These will travel with you to the void. If you cover them with a hand and focus on your body at home, you will return. But be warned, they only work for twenty-four hours. After that, you’re on your own.”
“Twenty-four hours? Is that it?”
“I could have given you ones that last a week,” the shaman said with a smile. “But you were two thousand pounds short.”
Ben had to resist the urge to throttle the shaman. He took a calming breath, and muttered quietly, “Twenty-four hours isn’t enough time.”
The shaman’s ears were sharp. “Twenty-four hours is plenty in the void. I doubt you will last more than thirty minutes, so it’s really not an issue.”
The shaman laughed at his own joke. Ben decided now was a good time to leave the shop, before he lost his temper and did something he might regret.
It was a relief to get back outside and feel the wind on their skin, after the stuffy feel of the dark magic room.
“Well, did you get what you were after?”
To Ben’s surprise, the young goblin was still waiting for them, as good as his word.
“Yes, thanks,” Ben said with a smile.
The goblin gave a knuckled salute, and bounded off, looking for his next hustle. Ben watched him go, a smile on his face. It was only then that he realised Charlie and Natalie were staring at him expectantly.
“What is it?”
“The void,” Natalie said. “We agreed that you should decide who goes with you. Which of us do you choose?”
Ben cursed silently. He thought it might come down to this, and he knew someone was going to get hurt. Ben was silent, and considered both friends carefully. Natalie’s strong points were obvious – she was a glass half-full type of person; whereas Charlie was the opposite. She was determined, never gave up, smart and brave. She also had far more experience in the Unseen Kingdoms. But Ben had already decided who he should take the moment the shaman said only one of them could join him.
“Charlie will come with me,” Ben said.
Charlie, wisely, showed no sign of elation. Natalie opened her mouth to protest, but emotion came over her. She nodded, and spun on her heel, stalking off down Goblin Avenue.
Charlie made to follow, but Ben grabbed him.
“Let her go,” he said. “She needs to cool down.”
Charlie watched her until she disappeared out of sight, and then turned glumly back to Ben. “I wish you hadn’t chosen me, but I knew you would.”
“Of course you knew. We started this together, and we’ll finish it toget
her.”
— Chapter Twenty-Two —
An Awkward Make-up
When they arrived back at the Institute, Natalie was nowhere to be found. They asked around, and discovered that William had seen her, but only briefly.
“She checked into the Spellsword Department,” he said. He had cast a weight spell on his spellshooter and was using it to work out his biceps. “I think she was looking for someone. She didn’t look too happy. Is everything okay with you guys?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. If you see her again, can you tell her we’re in the library?”
William gave a little smile. “You like that place, don’t you? I never figured you for a bookworm.”
Ben smiled. “It’s not that – there are some great places to nap, if you know where to go.”
William smiled. “Ah, I see. That makes more sense. Well, have a nice siesta.”
Charlie gave Ben a disapproving look as they headed back down the grand staircase.
“Why did you lie to him? There’s nothing wrong with being a bookworm.”
Ben shrugged, feeling awkward. “I don’t know. I’m just not used to people thinking of me like that.”
Charlie didn’t reply, but Ben could tell he wasn’t happy. Ben didn’t feel good about the lie either. Charlie was right – what was wrong with being a bookworm? He had never cared about his reputation at school – why should he now? Ben shook the thought from his head. He had more important things to worry about. Now that they had a way into the void, Ben was eager to get going. Time was critical, with the dwarf mage stuck in such a perilous place. But Charlie wasn’t ready.
“I want to do more research,” he explained, as they entered the library. Ben hadn’t realised it, but he was starting to get a familiar, almost comforting feeling whenever he entered the library, with its spacious reading room, long tables and rows of books. What was going on with him?
“What further research is there to do?” Ben asked, trying to hold back his exasperation. “We don’t have much time, especially if we want to find the dwarf mage alive.”
