Realms of the Goblin King (The Realm Trilogy Book 3)

by Lisa Manifold

  “Like you even know what a party favor is!” I shot back, frustrated.

  “Oh, really, ladyship? I doubt you even know what a party is!” Drake leaned in. He was just as angry as I was.

  If I hadn’t been so mad at his pigheadedness, I could appreciate how alike we are. And how we both loved Brennan so very much. I was sure Drake felt as shitty as I did.

  This was about Brennan. “Drake, we need all the help we can get,” I said, all anger gone.

  “Her Majesty is not wrong, my lord,” Taranath said. “The ability to communicate with this realm will be helpful, now that we know Cian has been here.”

  Drake didn’t say anything, and I knew he was struggling with the idea that I was right. I hated to be wrong, so I understood and kept quiet.

  “Fine!” He stood up and wrenched the mirror from the pouch at his side. “But you will get me another, your Majesty!”

  I took it from him, standing as I did, and placed my hand on his. “Drake, we’ll find him.” I knew exactly how he felt. I patted his hand a couple of times, feeling like my mom, finally understanding why she did it. Maybe it would make him feel a little better, as it had when my mom did it to me.

  Then I handed it to Max. “When you want to speak to me, say my name, and just wait. If anyone other than me shows up in the mirror, turn it over immediately.”

  He looked at the mirror. At that moment, Dean came in, eating a piece of pie.

  “That’s what all the fuss was about? A mirror? Really?”

  “Depth is totally lost on you, isn’t it?” I asked.

  “What?” He said with his mouth full.

  Kirk cuffed him in the side of the head. “Go back to the kitchen, man. You’re hopeless.”

  “You want a piece?”

  This time Max gave him the stink eye, and he disappeared again. When Dean was gone, he looked at me. “This is a big deal, isn’t it?”

  I nodded. “Drake isn’t exaggerating. Only the royal family uses them. But this is for the royal family, so I think it’s a worthwhile cause.”

  “You’re pretty trusting for people you don’t know.”

  “I think I know you well enough,” I said, giving him the eyeball. “And I think you understand what it means to give your word. I have yours that you will not use your knowledge of us in any manner that will cause us harm, and I will not ask you to put your pack in danger. But you will let me know if he shows up, and Brennan and I will return when this is all done.” I stuck out my hand. I had a feeling about him. That he was worth the trust. In spite of his reticence. I got the impression he felt the same. Well, we’ll see, won’t we?

  He looked down at my hand, which, I had to admit, with the horse riding, and then the cave mishap in the Troll Realm, was looking sketchy at best. Certainly not anything like a queen ought to look. Then he looked up at me and took my hand, shaking it firmly.

  “We’ll let you know if we see or sense him again. Now that we have the scent of him, and of you, we know what to pay attention for.”

  “Will you keep the knowledge of us to yourself?”

  Kirk made a motion that indicated he didn’t like the question, and Max made a noise in his throat that startled me. Kirk looked down.

  “Normally, I might hesitate to agree to such a request. As the leader of the pack in this territory, I communicate with other pack leaders. But for the time, I will keep your existence to myself. After I talk with you and Brennan, I may not be able to keep quiet.”

  Now it was Drake’s turn to sound agitated.

  “Fair enough,” I said. “We really need to leave. I’ve delayed us long enough.”

  “Very true,” Drake muttered.

  “Is there enough room to portal from here?” I asked. “I don’t want to be outside in the open where we might be seen. Who knows if Cian has someone lurking around here?”

  Drake smiled ruefully. “I hate to admit it, ladyship, but that is sound reasoning. I think we can portal safely from here. I also think you should let one of us do it,” He added.

  “Yes, please! I’m tired of landing us in all the wrong places!”

  “And here I thought we were newfound allies, all set to hold hands and sing Kumbaya,” Max said. “I’m disappointed, crushed even.”

  I glanced at him, and realized that he was kidding. It was hard to tell since he seemed to sport a serious face all the time.

  “You’re not going to break shit up, are you?” Kirk asked.

  Drake rolled his eyes. “Really, why do you assume we’re uncivilized? Just step back, please.”

  Max and Kirk moved back towards the door.

  “All right, ladyship, pay attention. See if you can figure out what you’ve been doing wrong,” Drake said as he pulled a stone from his pouch. “I am focusing on the castle that we saw on the map.” He looked down at his hand, and I could see a glow even though the stone was covered by his fingers.

  Taranath stood closer to us, and I tucked an arm through his. He seemed startled at my familiarity, but at this point, he was family to me. I could feel the ripples moving around me, although nothing worse.

  I glanced over at Max and Kirk as Dean poked his head in the door. “Thank you,” I said.

  And then we were in a forest in the dark.

  Chapter Twelve

  Brennan

  “Who are you?” He whispered. He and Drake had talked about her, and the thought that Eilor was breeding dragons with fae, or humans or at all horrified him. They’d been captured and kept under tight control for a reason. Dragons had nearly ended all of the Realms.

  “I am myself. What do you mean?” Her voice was careful and very neutral.

  “Drake told me a bit about you. Who are your parents?”

  Her hesitation told him that Drake had gotten some of it, at least, correct. Otherwise, she’d name her parents like any other fae.

  “I don’t know my mother. She died when I was born. I’ve never met my father, either. But I’m told he was part dragon. My mother, I don’t know much about.” Her voice dropped. “I think she may have been human.”

  “Not fae, then?”

  He could see her shake her head out of the side of his view. Small flashes of the green light from the spell she’d used before flared as she healed him. He felt better, revived somewhat. Brennan paid attention to the magic she used. It had that unknown sense that Cian’s did, so she must have learned similar spells. But hers lacked the dark shadow he felt when Cian employed it against him.

  “I don’t know. Even though she died when I was born, I’m told, I can remember a woman with long blond hair leaning over me. Nanny tells me it was her, but…I don’t know.”

  While she kept her tone even, Brennan could tell that the lack of knowledge bothered her. He understood. Not knowing landed high on his list of irritations.

  “Can you tell me what you do know?”

  “Why do you ask?”

  Now he heard wariness in her words. “Because I am interested. I was interested when I heard of you before. Your existence has been kept very secret, mistress.”

  She snorted. “I am not surprised. Eilor doesn’t want anyone to know what he and Princess are up to.”

  “What are they up to?”

  “They—” she stopped as they both heard the sounds in the hall.

  The green light winked out and he heard her swear softly. He closed his eyes, frustrated that he couldn’t help her, and knowing that he needed to appear as pathetic as he did when Cian left him earlier. Which frustrated him all the more. He concentrated on letting his muscles go slack, and letting how tired he felt, in spite of the healing, come to the forefront.

  Brennan could feel the mirror dig into his leg, and it gave him strength. The mystery woman was right. They would come for him, because they loved him. He hoped she was able to hide.

  “Well, isn’t this a lovely sight,” Ailla’s voice grated across his nerves. “Time to wake up, your Majesty.”

  Iris

  “Well?” I w
hispered. “Are we here?”

  “Of course we are,” Drake took a few steps away from where we’d landed.

  I noticed that the more we traveled via portal, the less it looked like an opening. It just sort of…happened. I wondered if Brennan had made it look that way with me early on because it was easier. Something I’d need to ask about. This seemed more like we just drifted to a new place. Interesting.

  “We have arrived, your Majesty,” Taranath said.

  “Okay,” I whispered, not wanting to speak any louder. The place felt oppressive. “What now?”

  “We need to assess the castle’s defenses, and see how it is warded, and then proceed from there.” Drake sounded all business.

  “That’s it? Your grand plan is to storm the castle?”

  “You have a better idea?” Now he sounded pissed.

  “Not at the moment, but really, Drake? Storm the castle?”

  “I am open and ready to hear your suggestions,” he dropped his pack on the ground and began to dig around in it.

  I was pleased to see that my pack had made it as well, and I took the few steps towards him and picked it up, feeling oddly reassured by just holding it.

  The Fae Realm was making me weirder and weirder. I felt overwhelmed with strong feelings, what my dad would call gut instinct. It was all over the place. I’d been listening to it since we’d left the Goblin Castle, and it hadn’t steered me wrong yet. Maybe this was part of the becoming more fae?

  As Drake went through his things looking for who knows what, I sat down next to Taranath, who’d found a rock. Still holding my pack, I made myself as comfortable as I could.

  “Can I ask you something while we’re waiting for the plan?”

  “Of course.”

  “I’m noticing my, well, what I’d call gut instinct getting stronger and louder. Like with Dhysara, I knew it would be best for me to talk to her, or that I just know it was a good idea to leave the mirror with Max. Is that part of being here?”

  Taranath turned to look at me. “I can’t say for sure, my lady. I am going to give it my best guess and say, probably. You’re an anomaly as far as my knowledge goes. I can’t be sure of anything for you going forward. But if you’ve never noticed something before, this or anything else, yes. It’s probably a result of being in Fae longer.”

  “Do you think I’m going to die?” This still bothered me, outside of Brennan’s dreams of the Eidolan.

  “No, I do not.”

  “You sound pretty sure.”

  His face dropped. “I have tended children wished to the Goblin king, my lady. I know the signs of a human who is failing.”

  “Oh. I’m sorry,” I offered.

  Taranath smiled a very sad smile that made him look old.

  “How old are you?” I asked.

  “I am five hundred and twenty-seven.”

  “You’ve seen a lot of children, haven’t you?”

  He nodded slowly. “Not as many as you might think, although I will confess, more than I care for. Sometimes, the children do survive, and when they do, they are adopted by fae.”

  “Which is a good thing, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “So why is there a lot of crap about Drake being the Fae King?”

  Taranath sighed. “That’s different, Iris. There would be outcry if Brennan was chosen to succeed his father, with you as his wife. The nobles of the Realms won’t care as they see him as only the Goblin King. And Brennen will never be anything else.”

  “Doesn’t someone have to be chosen for it?”

  He nodded again. “There is no one who has shown the aptitude, and Drake isn’t interested, even if he had it. Although most feel Drake is the unofficial heir, and everyone involved is content for that belief to stand. It will be interesting,” He looked away, tapping his chin, “To see what happens when there is a royal birth. I know so little of what is to come for you that this may be the time when a child will succeed their father to this particular throne.” He lapsed into silence.

  I let him sit and then said, “Okay but where does that leave me, at this moment? You think following my gut is a good idea?”

  “It hasn’t led you wrong yet, has it?”

  “No.”

  He leaned over and patted my hand. “Then keep going with it until it does. Best advice I can give.” He stood. “My lord, have you devised our next moves? May I be of help?”

  What? What the hell? I remembered that when I most wanted to strangle Taranath was in the middle of some lesson. He was the easily the most irritating teacher I’d ever had. But he’d given me the reassurance that I wanted, that I needed. I could trust this.

  What I hadn’t said, and honestly, what I was afraid to say, was that I might be under some sort of spell that made me choose the wrong thing, make bad decisions. It sounded stupid even when I thought it, but I remembered how crazy I felt while under Ailla’s spell. Nothing made sense, everything made me pissed off, and I didn’t trust anyone close to me at all. I didn’t want to end up there again.

  It was a possibility since we were walking into the lion’s den. But Brennan was there, and that made it worth the risk. I knew that he’d move all the Realms to get to me. Could I do any less?

  Well, to hell with Ailla. I wasn’t going to let her scare me, or make me afraid. I mean, I had a healthy dose of fear. I’m not stupid. But I wasn’t going to let the fear rule me. One of the good things about having to do this with Drake and Taranath was that it left me little time to sit and doubt, or worry. Didn’t have time for it.

  I got up and went to where they had their heads together.

  “What can I do to help?”

  They both turned to look at me, Drake speaking as he did so.

  “Stay behind us, and try not to get hurt. Brennan will kill me if you do.”

  I glared.

  “I think you need to focus on doing protection overall,” Taranath said. “I will be working with Lord Drake to get to the king, so it will be hard for me to shield us both. You’re good with that particular spell, and I trust your judgement.” He smiled.

  I returned it, thinking on what we’d just talked about.

  None of this went over well with Drake, of course. God, he was such a wet blanket.

  “You think she is up to this, Taranath? It’s our lives you’re betting on it.”

  “You know I can do this,” I said. “Start treating me like something other than an unwanted accessory.”

  He frowned, even as Taranath spoke.

  “I think she is very good with this spell. More of the fighting spells, no, she’s not up to par with you and I. But she has several that she can use should she need them, and you are an advocate of learning as you go, correct?”

  The expression on Drake’s face was priceless. Maybe he shouldn’t spout his opinion so much. I tried not to snicker.

  “Please stay behind us, Iris. I want to keep you safe.”

  Such a statement was restrained from Drake. And he was sincere.

  “I won’t put myself in danger,” I began, and stopped when I saw the frown come back. “Well, not more than I’m already in, how about that? I promise.”

  “I’ll hold you to that,” he muttered. “Get yourself ready. Do you want a stone? That helps with focus in fights.”

  “Um, yeah.” I wasn’t used to him treating me as an equal, and all of a sudden, this got real. Real real. I knew that Ailla would kill me. I didn’t know about Cian, but that was only because he’d want to hold capturing me over Brennan’s head. I felt my stomach lurch, and my palms began to sweat.

  “It will be fine, your Majesty,” Taranath murmured.

  I couldn’t speak. The worry, the self-doubt, the reality of this was all hitting like a ton of bricks. This must be what that felt like. He patted my shoulder, and then let me be.

  It was what I needed. Drake reached across to me, and handed me two stones. “Just in case,” he said, his normal grin back in place.

  That’s one thing you
could say for Drake. He didn’t hold grudges—well, not for too long. I took them, wrapping my hand around them, feeling the warmth of them. Which was odd. I looked down at them—they didn’t look any different, but they were warm. I slid one into a pocket, and kept the other one in hand.

  I had to take a deep breath. I could feel my heart start to race a little, and I was holding the stone so tightly that my fingernails were digging into my palm. I stretched out my neck, and then my arms, breathing deeply as I did so.

  I could do this.

  “All right, we’re going to go in through the northwest door on the outside of the castle, the one that—” Drake began.

  “The back door,” I said. “Got it. How far to where we think Brennan is?”

  Drake shook his head. “I’m not sure. I haven’t been here, so it’s a best guess. I would suppose that they don’t want the Goblin King hanging about the dinner table, so he’s going to be somewhere private, a small room hidden away somewhere. We’re going to have to sneak in.”

  “All this magic, and we’re sneaking in,” I shook my head. “If you’ve never been here before, where are we going to sneak into? How do you know where the back door is?”

  “We follow the smell.”

  “What?” This didn’t make sense.

  “The smell. The back door, as you put it, is where all the garbage and waste from the castle is sent.”

  “The…waste?” I was getting a bad feeling about this.

  THEY GET TO THE CASTLE SOMEHOW, AND END UP IN A HALLWAY LOOKING FOR WHERE BRENNAN IS. YOU WILL COME BACK TO THIS AND MAKE THIS TRANSITION MORE DETAILED AND FLESH IT OUT BUT FOR NOW, YOU ARE GETTING THEIR DITHERING ASSES UP THERE SO THIS F’N BOOK CAN MOVE ON.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Brennan

  He looked at Ailla. She didn’t look as polished as she normally did. Her eyes were wide, and her smile seemed too wide somehow. It made her look a little crazed. Perhaps spending so much uninterrupted time with Cian did that.

  Or maybe she was in fact crazed. Maybe she’d merely hidden it from him the few times he saw her before and after their betrothal. Whatever the truth was, he felt he saw the true Ailla before him, and she was rather scary.