“Ooh, we’re doing ballet!” crowed Ug, copying her. The others fell about laughing.
Sophie darted forward at lightning speed and kicked out. Ug ducked back just in time. For a split second, Sophie saw the surprise on his face, and then she was spinning round ready for her next move. She had never felt so strong! She shot her right leg up into a high kick. This time, the outer part of her foot connected firmly with Ug’s squishy chest. “Waaaaa!” the King yelled, flying backwards through the air.
Sophie was buzzing. She didn’t care that there were so many goblins. She could fight them all! She ran straight at them, planning to attack with a flying side kick. It was a very difficult move, but right then, she felt like she could do anything! She sprang into the air, turning her body to the side.
“Be careful, Sophie!” Grandpa shouted.
But Grandpa’s warning came too late. With her new power surging through her, Sophie couldn’t control her jump. She flew through the air – straight over the goblins’ heads!
CRASH! She hit a tree on the other side of the goblins, her head colliding with a branch before she fell into a heap on the ground.
Grandpa reached her in seconds and crouched down. “Sophie! Are you all right?”
Sophie sat up groggily, gasping for air. She could tell she wasn’t badly hurt, just winded from the fall and dazed from banging her head. She’d been winded once before in class and she knew it would take a few minutes before she could breathe normally again.
“Deep breaths, child,” Grandpa told her, his hand firm on her shoulder.
Ug was dusting himself down, trying to recover his composure. “Huh!” he muttered. “Well, I guess you’re not so bad – for a girl. But you’ll never get the key. Tie them up!” he ordered.
The other goblins broke off long ropes of twisting ivy from the trees and closed in on Grandpa. He yelled and struggled, but there were three of them and only one of him. Their white fingers grasped his arms, swiftly tying his hands behind him and his legs together.
Sophie struggled to her feet. “No!” she panted. What if they used their poison? Her head spun. She just needed a few minutes to get herself together. But she didn’t have a few minutes. The three goblins pushed her back down to the ground. As Sophie fell, a sudden flash of colour in a nearby tree caught her eye. What was that?
The next second, a football wrapped in bright blue paper was shooting through the clearing straight towards Ug’s head! Seeing it fall short of its target, Sophie instantly knew who had thrown it. Only one person could be such a bad shot…
“Sam!” she gasped.
“GERONIMO!” Sam yelled, sliding down the tree trunk.
The goblins swung round as Sam dropped lightly to his feet on the ground.
“Don’t worry, Sophie!” he shouted. “I’ll save you and your grandpa from those… things!” His face was pale, but his eyes were determined as he ran towards them, jumping over a tree stump in his way.
“Don’t just stand there, you numskulls!” shrieked Ug. “Get him!” All four Ink Cap Goblins ran towards Sam, their fleshy bodies wobbling.
Sophie had no idea how Sam had come to be there, but right now all that mattered was fighting the goblins. Sam’s sudden appearance had given her the time she needed. Her breath was slowly coming back and her head was clearing. She got to her feet.
Just as the goblins reached him, Sam scooted up a tree trunk. Flinging himself on to one of the lower branches, he swung away as if he was going along the monkey bars in Sophie’s garden. The goblins shook their fists and yelled. Their attention was so fixed on him that they’d forgotten Sophie for the moment.
“Geronimo!” she muttered, and the next second she was running straight towards them like an arrow fired from a bow. A few metres away from the goblins she leapt into the air again, this time controlling her speed and height. Turning sideways, she kicked out with her right foot, knocking Ug to the ground.
As he sprawled over, she landed in perfect balance. “Take that!” she yelled.
The other goblins drew back in alarm.
Rushing forward, Sophie spun round again, kicking out high with her right foot and knocking Flaky Face over with a satisfying splat. “And that!” she shouted.
The other two goblins had seen enough. They ran off into the trees, howling. Seconds later, Ug and Flaky Face had scrambled to their feet and followed them.
“You did it!” yelled Sam, dropping down from the branches. “You scared those things off!”
Sophie ran to the edge of the clearing where the goblins were running away through the trees. “Ha!” she yelled, triumph beating through her. “So I’m just a girl, am I? Well, you’ll never find any of those hidden gems that make the key open the gateway. Never!”
Ug stopped and stared at her just as Grandpa shouted, “NO!”
“Gems!” The King’s eyes lit up with understanding. “That explains why the gateway wouldn’t open! We need to find a shadow gem and when we have one, the key will work…” He gave a delighted laugh and rubbed his hands. “Ug’ll be seeing you around, little girl.” And with that, he disappeared into the shadows after the others.
Sophie clapped her hands to her mouth. How could she have told them about the gems?
“SOPHIE!” Grandpa roared.
She turned slowly.
Sam had untied Grandpa, who now came marching across the clearing. “You harebrained, muddle-headed child! Do you know what you’ve done? Those goblins will stop at nothing to find one of the six hidden gems now!”
“I–I’m sorry!” Sophie gasped.
Grandpa buried his head in his hands. “I knew the Guardian should have been Anthony. First you lose the key, and now this. And it’s only day one!”
“I’ll sort it, Grandpa,” Sophie said desperately. “I’ll get the key back from them and I won’t let them find the gem. I will be a good Guardian – I will!”
Grandpa groaned despairingly.
Behind them, Sam cleared his throat.
“Um… would someone please tell me what’s going on?”
Chapter 6
A Secret Mission
Over Grandpa’s protestations,
Sophie quickly told Sam everything about the goblins, the gateway, the key and the six hidden gems.
Sam’s eyes widened to the size of soup plates. “Oh, wow! Well, if you’re this Guardian person, I’m going to help. We’ll be like Batman and Robin!”
“No, no, no!” Grandpa looked about as keen on that idea as having a goblin come round for supper. “The Guardian always works alone, Sophie,” he said. “The only person that helps him – I mean her – is the old Guardian.”
Sophie pursed her lips. “Well, not any longer. Sam’s in, Grandpa, or I’m not going to be Guardian.”
Their eyes clashed. Sophie still had the lingering feelings of power from when the goblins had been there and she was determined not to back down.
Grandpa’s frown deepened. “Oh, very well,” he snapped. “But on your own heads be it!”
“What were you thinking of, going on a nature ramble when the poor child’s not well?” Mrs Benton hurried out of the house as she saw them coming back through the garden.
“I’m OK now, Mrs B,” called Sophie. The faint and dizzy feelings had long gone.
“Look at the state of you all!” the housekeeper exclaimed, catching sight of a tear in Sophie’s jeans and a rip in Sam’s jumper. “What have you been doing?”
“Just playing,” said Grandpa swiftly. “Children will be children.”
“You know, I’m ever so hungry, Mrs B,” said Sam. “Do you have any biscuits?”
His distraction worked perfectly. “Of course I do, Sam,” Mrs B smiled. “Fresh out of the oven. Come inside.”
She led the way into the kitchen. Grandpa caught Sophie’s arm. “Sophie, can I have The Shadow Files?” he hissed. “I must check something.”
She nodded and quickly handed it over.
“Good girl. I will see you in a fe
w minutes.”
Wondering what he wanted The Shadow Files for, Sophie followed Mrs B and Sam. Anthony was at the table playing on his DS. He groaned when he saw Sam. “Oh, no, not him. Does he have to be here on my birthday?”
Sam and Anthony didn’t get on at all. In fact, Anthony and his gang of cool friends often picked on Sam at school.
“Now, Anthony, don’t be unfriendly,” Mrs Benton said.
As she turned away to get the biscuits, Anthony flicked an old, dried-up pea across the table at Sam. Sam scowled and ignored him.
Sophie saw her presents and went over.
“I wouldn’t bother,” Anthony smirked. “Most of them are rubbish!”
Sophie realised that her brother had pulled up a flap of wrapping paper on each of her gifts to see what was inside. “You looked at them!” she said indignantly.
“Sorry.” He didn’t sound anything of the sort.
Sophie glared at him and started unwrapping her presents as Mrs B brought the biscuits and juice over to the table. The best thing by far was the new skateboard her mum and dad had given her. She grinned as she examined it.
Just then, Grandpa appeared in the doorway. His clothes were tidy once more and his grey hair smoothed down.
“Hey, Grandpa, can you show me how to work my watch now?” Anthony asked.
But Grandpa shook his head. “Sorry, Anthony, but I have to go out to the shops. I need to get something for Sophie.”
“For Sophie!” Anthony exclaimed. “Why?”
Grandpa didn’t answer. “Can I have a quick word with you, Sophie?”
She nodded. As Grandpa led her out of the kitchen, Sophie saw Anthony’s stunned face and Sam’s interested one. “I’ll be right back, Sam,” she said over her shoulder as Grandpa shut the door firmly behind them.
Grandpa lowered his voice. “I need to tell you more about the six gems.”
Sophie nodded eagerly.
“When the first Guardian was forging the key,” Grandpa told her, “he brought six different-coloured gems out of the Shadow Realm into this world, unsure which of the six would be the best to use in the key. Then, when the key was finished, he discovered that any of the six gems would work if placed in the hole in the handle. Once he knew this, he used magic to hide them all.”
“But why?” said Sophie.
Grandpa rolled his eyes. “In order to protect against exactly the type of situation that has happened today, of course, child! The goblins may have managed to steal the key, but they can’t open the gateway because they don’t have a gem to fit into the handle – and because the gate is shut they can’t get into the Shadow Realm to get one. We must protect the six hidden gems at all costs.”
“Where are they?” Sophie asked.
“I don’t know. I’ve never needed to find them. This is the first time the key has fallen into the wrong hands.” He gave her a hard look, and Sophie gulped. She was never going to hear the end of that! “In any event, I was told by my grandfather that there are clues as to their whereabouts scattered on pages throughout The Shadow Files,” Grandpa went on. “Like this one.”
He pushed The Shadow Files into her hand, open at the page on the Boulder Gnomes. He pointed at four lines of writing at the bottom of the page. Sophie read them to herself:
In a rose-covered cottage
The green gem will be found
Hidden in a cellar
Deep under the ground.
“Rose-covered cottage?” Sophie breathed. “Could that be Mrs B’s cottage? It has roses all over it. And it’s got a cellar!”
Grandpa nodded. “I think it does sound as if the green gem may be there. While I’m out, I want you to watch Mrs B’s cottage in case any Ink Cap Goblins come snooping around. We can think about a safer hiding place when I get back.”
Sophie nodded.
“Guard the gem with your life,” Grandpa told her.
Sophie felt solemn with the seriousness of it all. “I will,” she promised.
“Good.” Grandpa fixed her with a penetrating stare. “And try not to make any mistakes this time, Sophie. You’ve made enough already today.” He left, shutting the front door with a bang.
Sophie wondered what to do with The Shadow Files. It was too big to go in her pocket, but she didn’t want to leave it lying around. Fetching a small denim backpack she slipped the book inside and put it on her back.
“What’s up with Grandpa this morning?” Anthony looked disgruntled as Sophie went back into the kitchen. “Taking you out for a walk, telling you private things in the hall. What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” Sophie picked up her skateboard and glanced at Sam. “Should we go outside?”
“Sure,” Sam said, jumping to his feet. They went out through the front door. “What did your grandpa want to talk to you about?” he hissed the moment it had shut behind them.
“He told me about the six gems! They’re different colours and hidden all over the place, and there are riddles in The Shadow Files that tell us where they are. Grandpa found one and we worked it out. It’s—” Sophie broke off as Anthony came out too. She and Sam waited as he got his bike.
“What are you two looking at?” he asked suspiciously.
“Nothing,” said Sophie quickly, eager for him to go. “Have a nice time, wherever you’re going. Bye!”
Anthony frowned. “You’re acting so weird today. Even weirder than normal, and that’s saying something.” Giving her a thoughtful look, he cycled off down the driveway.
Sophie spun back towards Sam. “Right. This clue Grandpa found. It’s a green gem, and we think it’s in the cellar of Mrs B’s cottage!”
Sam gasped. “That doesn’t sound a very safe hiding place!”
“I know. Grandpa said we have to keep it safe until he gets back. We’ve got to keep an eye out for—” She heard the sound of a bike and looked round. Anthony had come back. He stopped at the bottom of the drive.
“OK, what’s going on?”
“Going on?” Sophie echoed innocently.
“Yeah. All that stuff with Grandpa, and now look at you – whispering together. What’s the big secret?”
“No big secret, we’re just playing a game,” said Sam.
Anthony’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t look convinced.
“Oh, just go away!” Sophie told him, losing patience.
With a shrug, her twin brother cycled off.
“Phew!” said Sophie, pretending to wipe off her forehead. She was a bit surprised, though, that Anthony had given up so easily. “Come on, we’d better get started watching the cottage,” she said to Sam.
Getting on their skateboards they skated down the lane. Sophie’s street was a very quiet one, with trees lining one side of it. Her house was the last one where the lane finished, and Sam’s was at the other end near the main road. Mrs Benton lived halfway between them.
“I can’t believe it’s hidden in Mrs B’s cellar!” said Sam as they glided along. “Sssh!” said Sophie quickly as the bushes nearby rustled. But it couldn’t be a shadow creature or her superstrength would have kicked in. It must have just been a bird or a squirrel, she thought in relief. “We’d better keep our voices down,” she warned Sam. He nodded.
As they swooped into Mrs Benton’s drive, her cottage looked just as it always did, with tubs full of bright flowers outside the door, and a small shed where Mrs B kept her lawnmower.
“I can’t see any goblins,” Sam whispered.
“And I don’t feel all strange and tingly,” said Sophie, letting out a thankful breath. “There mustn’t be any here.”
They hung around for a bit, but it was quite boring so they decided to play on their skateboards back on Sophie’s driveway, where there was a small skateboard ramp.
“We can keep coming back here and checking,” said Sophie. They skated back and started to practise some jumps called ollies.
“Right, I’m going to do a kick flip now!” said Sophie. But as she pushed her weight down so that she cou
ld jump and spin the board beneath her, she suddenly felt a tingling, rushing sensation. Instead of jumping slightly above the board, she flew two metres into the air! Her arms flailed as she came crashing down with a surprised yell.
“Are you OK?” Sam raced over. “What happened? You shot up like a rocket!”
“Shadow creatures!” gasped Sophie, springing to her feet. “There must be shadow creatures around right now!”
Chapter 7
Danger!
Sam glanced round. “Goblins? Where?”
Horror rushed through Sophie. “Mrs B’s cottage!” She sprinted off down the drive.
“Wait for me!” Sam shouted. But even on his skateboard he could barely keep up. Sophie tore down the lane, the feeling of power growing stronger inside her. She couldn’t see any goblins yet, but she did spot something propped against Mrs B’s gateway – a bike.
“That’s Anthony’s!” she said as they raced along. “He must be here!”
A horrible thought came to her as she remembered the rustling in the bushes. Anthony had been spying on them! He must have heard them say something was hidden in Mrs B’s cellar. Now he’d come here to find out what it was. And there were shadow creatures nearby!
Sophie swung into the driveway. Sure enough, Anthony was there. The shed, where Mrs B kept her spare key, was open – and Anthony’s back was to them as he unlocked the front door.
Sophie caught her breath as she saw the four Ink Cap Goblins creeping out from the bushes on either side of the garden. Their beady eyes were fixed on Anthony and the door. Remembering Grandpa’s warning, one thought filled Sophie’s mind – she couldn’t let Anthony see the goblins!
She pounded up the drive just as Anthony swung open the front door. Her twin spun round, looking cross. “What are you doing he—”
The ‘here’ was drowned out as Sophie launched herself at him in a rugby tackle, sending him crashing to the ground and knocking the key from his hand.
“What are you doing, you idiot? Get off me!” He thrashed around, trying to kick and punch her, but with her superstrength she held him down easily.
The Goblin King Page 3
