by Zoe Arden
For some reason, everyone was looking at me now, as if this was my decision alone. "The last time I went to Goblin Territory without an escort, I was nearly killed," I told him. "Your people are quite handy with a bow and arrow." Too handy.
Perx rose from his seat. He pulled something from his pocket and handed it to me. It was a white handkerchief. Wrapped inside it was a long, golden key. The type of skeleton key I used to see in old horror movies back in New York when I was growing up.
"What is this?" I asked.
"This key will get you inside Goblin Territory and anywhere else you wish to go. It opens the castle gates and will prevent anything from happening to you. If you're questioned at any time by any goblin, simply show them this key and they will leave you alone."
The key was fascinating to look at. It was shiny and glittery all at once and felt warm in my hand.
"All right," I said. "We'll look into it."
"I'll be back in five days for your report," Perx said.
Just then, a rather large skunk came scurrying into our back room. He jumped on the table and began doing a type of jig. He merely glanced at the goblin, much more interested in what we thought of his dance.
"Happy birthday, Tadpole," I said.
He bowed to us, and we all clapped. Perx looked confused.
"It's his birthday today," Eleanor explained. Her eyes suddenly widened. "Oh, my goodness, the cake!"
Tadpole shot her a worried look as Mayor Otis Winken stepped into the room, a big smile on his face as usual. "Tadpole says he's hungry."
The skunk scurried up Otis' arm and sat perched on his shoulder. He whispered something into Otis's ear.
"Oh, dear," said Otis. "Tadpole thinks there's something wrong with his cake."
"No, no, not at all," Eleanor said, excitedly darting around the room. "We were just finishing up." She looked at us, silently pleading for help, but we had no idea how to help her just now. Suddenly, her eyes brightened.
She took a mushy part of the fallen cake and spooned it into a parfait glass. She layered the chocolate-covered potato chips over it, then added another layer of cake. She had another layer of caramel-covered chips, another layer of cake, and topped it all off with the fudge sandwich chips. She handed it to Tadpole.
"It was Ava's idea," she said. "Birthday cake potato chip parfait. This way everyone gets their own individual cake."
Tadpole squinted at it, dipping one paw into the mixture and withdrawing it. He tasted the concoction Eleanor had just created and his eyes widened. He smiled at us and began to scoop out the rest of it as fast as he could.
"Tadpole likes it," Otis said.
We all breathed a sigh of relief. I turned back to Perx, but he was gone. I sighed. Five days wasn't much time, I only hoped it was enough.
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CHAPTER
THREE
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Eleanor and I left Eli and Trixie to manage the bakery while we went to the sheriff's station. If Perx expected us to find Zulubar within the next five days, we'd better get moving.
"Now when we get there," said Eleanor, "let me do the talking."
"You go right ahead," I told her. I had no desire to be the one to break the news about King Zulubar to Sheriff Knoxx. His feelings on his goblin heritage were already messy; I had no intention of adding to the mess.
"What should I say exactly, do you think?" Eleanor asked, biting her bottom lip like a twelve-year-old witch.
I looked at her. "I thought you had that figured out already."
"What would make you think that?"
"You told me to let you do the talking."
"Yes, but that doesn't mean I know what to say. I only meant that I'm the one married to him—he can't kill me. You, on the other hand..." Her voice trailed off.
I knew she was joking, but it was difficult to envision a way in which telling Sheriff Knoxx didn't make him mad. One thing that goblins were known for was blowing their tops. They liked to shoot first and ask questions later—something which I had experienced firsthand in Beggars Forest.
They also had a tendency to act arrogant and make crude jokes. The latter was not something I'd ever experienced with Sheriff Knoxx, however. He tended to ignore jokes in all their forms. In fact, until he and Eleanor had started dating, I'd thought he was devoid of every emotion except irritation. Since Eleanor, though... well. I wouldn't say that he'd turned into a pussycat, but he had come quite a long way. Now he smiled at people, at least.
"Just tell him that Perx asked for his help specifically," I told her. "That he's in over his head and needs the sheriff to help bail him out."
Eleanor looked at me sideways. "That's not exactly how Perx stated things."
I shrugged. "The sheriff doesn't have to know that. Besides, you know how men are—they're a lot like goblins even when they're not actually goblins. Stroking their egos a little will go a long way."
Eleanor smiled. "You're wise beyond your years, you know that?"
We opened the doors to the sheriff's station and were greeted by Deputy Elwin Muster. He'd replaced Otis Winken as head deputy when Otis had become mayor. He smiled genially at us.
Elwin was kind of skinny, but I wouldn't have called him a string bean. He was fair-skinned with light brown hair and dark brown eyes, which made for a lovely contrast. If I'd had to have guessed, I'd have placed him somewhere between nineteen and twenty-one years old, but I was pretty sure his youthful appearance was a deception. Sheriff Knoxx would never have made a teenager his head deputy. I figured he was closer to twenty-three, just a year older than me.
"Hello, Eleanor," Elwin said happily. "Hi, Ava."
"Hi, Elwin." I offered him a smile. Elwin reminded me a lot of Otis. They both had this sort of Barney Fife-ish quality that few people could appreciate.
"Is Zane in?" Eleanor asked.
Elwin nodded. "I'll go get him for you. I'm sure he'll want to see you."
He strolled away as if he was off in search of an ice cream parlor instead of the sheriff.
Eleanor began to pace the room.
"Is there any chance we don't have to tell him any of this?"
I tilted my head to the side and tried to envision a scenario where we were helping the goblins without Sheriff Knoxx's aide. I pictured three goblins sneaking up behind us, all three looking like one-ton toads. In my head, they sat on us and we suffocated. I shook my head. No matter how I pictured it, it didn't work.
"Sorry," I said with a shrug.
A minute later, Sheriff Knoxx appeared. Elwin was not with him.
"Hi," he said to Eleanor when he saw her. He started toward her as if he meant to give her a kiss, then spotted me and shook her hand instead. I tried to suppress a laugh.
"Hello, Ava, I didn't see you there." He coughed, embarrassed, and his cheeks colored slightly.
He looked from me to Eleanor as if he knew we were there for more than just a friendly visit. I lifted my eyebrows, looking at Eleanor, and nudged my head in the sheriff's direction.
Eleanor sighed.
"A goblin came into our shop this morning."
I was surprised to see she'd decided on the direct approach. I'd thought she was going to butter him up a little first.
Knoxx raised his own thick, dark eyebrows. He was tall—about six feet—a trait he'd gotten from his witch side, no doubt. He had the width of a goblin though. His chest was broad, and you could tell even under the clothing that he was in good shape. He reminded me of a wrestler.
"So, what did he want?" he asked when Eleanor didn't continue.
She cleared her throat, looking away from him for a second and back toward the doors as if planning her escape if things went south.
"The goblins are in a big mess," she said, and I nodded approvingly. That was a good way to start. "King Zulubar is missing," she added quickly. "They have no idea what's become of him, but they think it's so
mething bad."
Good. she'd gotten straight to the meat of it without him interrupting her.
Sheriff Knoxx's brow tightened. "Is it foul play?" he said, all serious business now.
Eleanor nodded. "The head guard on Zulubar's staff came to us and asked for our help."
"Your help? Why would he ask you?"
She paused, looking at me. I mouthed the words, go on.
"Well, it's not just our help he asked for. It's yours as well."
Dark clouds covered the sheriff's eyes. "No," he said and turned around.
"Zane," Eleanor said, placing her hand on his shoulder.
"Not interested," Sheriff Knoxx said.
"Come on, Sheriff," I said, trying to help Eleanor. "It's not just some random goblin who's missing, it's their king."
"All the more reason not to get involved," he said.
"What does that mean?" I asked him, confused. Although he wasn't fond of goblins, he'd met King Zulubar several times and had never shown any open disdain for him.
"Nothing," he muttered. "I just think the goblins should handle their own affairs. They don't need me for everything."
"This isn't everything," I said. "This is just—"
"I said no," he yelled.
"Don't talk that way to my niece," Eleanor shouted, and I cringed. The last thing I wanted to do was come between them.
"Maybe I should just go," I said.
"You should both go," said Sheriff Knoxx. "I have work to do."
"You're being unreasonable," Eleanor said.
"I love you, but goodbye," he said to Eleanor, gently urging her toward the door.
Eleanor sighed and followed me out.
"He's being stubborn for no reason," she said once we were headed away from the station.
"He just doesn't like goblins." I shrugged.
She shook her head. "It's not that he doesn't like them, it's that he blames them for some of the bad luck he's had growing up. Always getting teased, picked last for soccer, those sorts of things. When people know you're part goblin, it can make life difficult, especially when you're a kid."
"Yeah, but everyone in Sweetland likes Sheriff Knoxx."
"Not everyone."
"All right, most people."
She sighed. "I suppose. But it doesn't matter. The damage was done so long ago that it's ingrained in him." We walked on in silence for a while. "What do we do now?" she finally asked.
"Go on without him, I guess."
"I hate to do that."
"Me, too, but what other choice do we have? We gave Perx our word that we'd help."
"All right," Eleanor sighed. "Let's start by making a list of everyone we need to talk to."
"Good idea," I said. "Someone had to have been the last to see Zulubar. Let's find out who that someone was."
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CHAPTER
FOUR
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I stood alone at the edge of Beggars Forest. Goblin Territory was just beyond. Eleanor was supposed to meet me here this morning, but she hadn't shown up yet. I checked the time again. It was already half past the hour.
I sighed and stepped into the forest alone. I had the key Perx had given us tucked safely into my pocket. I readied my mind for what I knew was coming; it was inevitable. Goblin magic was too powerful and the spell they'd placed around the forest to ward off anyone from entering never failed to work. No matter how much a person tried to withstand it, they couldn't.
The first few feet into the forest was no problem. The grass was soft, the trees were tall, and there was a soft, cool wind flying against my face. I closed my blue eyes and relaxed slightly as I made my way deeper inside. I tried to focus on the task at hand.
Find Zulubar, figure out what happened to him, and bring him home.
I realized that was too long. When trying to fend off the goblin's magic, it was best to think in short, clipped sentences.
Find Zulubar.
There. Perfect.
I focused on those two words over and over again as I stepped past a large oak tree. I looked up and saw it rising what looked like a hundred feet or more into the sky. Suddenly, I remembered a time when Colt and I had come into this forest together. We were sort of exploring and had stopped beside this very tree. He'd kissed me and told me how much he loved me.
It had been months since I'd spoken to him. The undercover assignment he was on kept him from communicating regularly. He'd promised to write and for a while he had, but the letters had eventually stopped coming. I didn't know if it was because he regretted proposing to me before he'd left, or if something had happened to him. Maybe it was both.
This was all Dean Lampton's fault. If he would only tell me what was going on I wouldn't have to worry. I should go to COMHA's headquarters on Florida's mainland and give him a piece of my mind. I'd do whatever I had to in order to find out what had happened to Colt. This was more than unfair; it was a scandal. Dean was hiding things from me. I just knew he was. When I got down there, I was going to cram his mouth full of sour berries and soak his socks in saltwater.
I was already back at my car, opening the door and getting the keys out, when Eleanor's voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Ava? Where are you going?"
I looked blankly at her for a minute then suddenly realized what was happening. "Darn it!" I shouted, slamming my hand on the hood of the car.
"Hey, don't take it out on my car."
"Sorry," I said.
Even though Eleanor lived with Sheriff Knoxx, she left her car with me, Trixie, and my dad at the house we shared. She hardly ever used it. Heavenly Haven as a whole was small; Sweetland Cove was that much smaller. It made up one of two towns on the island. The other, Mistmoor Point, lay on the opposite side of the island from us. From time to time, people crossed over to one side of the island or the other, but usually our two sides liked to maintain their separateness.
"I'm the one who's sorry," Eleanor said. "I ended up walking. I really thought that Zane would give me a ride this morning, but the second I mentioned the goblins, he got into a mood." She grimaced. "I don't know what's wrong with him lately."
"He doesn't like this business we've gotten into with Zulubar."
She shook her head. "It's more than that. He hasn't seemed like himself in a couple of weeks now. He's always grumpy."
"And that's unusual, you say?" I asked, trying not to show my disbelief.
Eleanor pressed her lips tighter together.
"Ha. Funny. You know very well that Zane has really come out of his shell in the last year or so."
"I know," I told her and quickly changed the subject. "Let's go. Now that you're here we can check each other if we start to wander back to the car."
She linked her arm in mine, and we started off. About fifty yards in, Eleanor began to mutter something about leaving the ovens on at the bakery.
"They're supposed to be on at the bakery. Dad and Aunt Trixie are probably baking something in them."
"Oh. Right."
We continued on our way. We made it to the large boulder in the middle of the forest which marked the place where I was usually greeted by the goblins when seeking them out. This time, however, there were no goblins to greet us, probably because they weren't expecting us.
"What do we do?" I asked Eleanor.
"Neither of us asked Perx how to get into the kingdom," she said. "He gave us the key to get in, but he didn't tell us what to do with it once we were here."
I bit my bottom lip and realized she was biting hers as well. I pulled the key from my pocket and looked at it. A door suddenly appeared in the boulder. Eleanor and I looked at each other.
"Oh, my roses," mumbled Eleanor.
"Who would've thought that was there?" I said, completing her thought.
I looked at the key. It was glowing. "Here we go," I said and put the key into the lock.
The do
or opened inward. It was the oddest thing—like watching something in a video game. We stepped through it, and the door snapped shut behind us. We were in a thicket of trees. We looked around and the door was still visible behind us; the trees looked just like the ones we'd left behind.
"Right or left?" Eleanor asked.
"Right," I guessed. We walked about twenty feet before coming to a clearing. We walked through it and saw a giant castle, like something out of the Medieval ages, standing in the open space.
"Oh, wow," I said. We'd been here only once before, for the goblin ball, but our eyes had been covered so we wouldn't be able to return on our own, and we'd only ever gotten to see the castle from the inside. In fact, all we'd been allowed to see was the ballroom and the rooms immediately surrounding it.
"It's amazing," I breathed.
"Come on," Eleanor said, tugging at my sleeve. "We have to find Kyrab. If anyone knows where Zulubar is, it's her."
We made our way toward the main gate, thinking we'd be stopped by a guard. We'd thought right.
"Halt!" he yelled, his gray-green body shaking violently as he brandished a bow and arrow at us. "What business do you have here?"
I held up the key Perx had given us, and the guard silenced almost immediately. He bowed deeply. I returned the bow.
"Forgive me," he said. "This way."
He showed us to a side door that led onto the castle grounds. We went through it and were greeted with cobblestone streets and brick buildings. Behind the castle walls was not just a castle, but an entire village.
Eleanor and I wandered around, looking at everything and receiving looks back. It wasn't often that witches were allowed to wander freely through Goblin Territory. We walked down the street in the middle of some sort of market. It reminded me of the Farmer's Markets back in New York.
I stopped and asked a fruit vendor where I might find Kyrab. She was Zulubar's girlfriend, and they were nearly inseparable.
