by Zoe Arden
My throat tightened. "What do you mean 'the last?' "
"I mean just what I've said. After Zulubar, there are no more of the royal line."
Trixie's face crumpled. "How sad."
"There are no cousins?" I asked. "No nieces or nephews? No long-lost relatives?"
"No one," Perx said.
Trixie was right; it was sad. To think that Zulubar was so alone in the world—he had no family to turn to for help. No wonder why Perx had come to us. "I'm sorry to hear that, but why keep that from us?"
"It's not something which is easy for my people to discuss," Perx said. His face was long. He drew in a deep breath and this time his whole body shook along with his nose. "It is not easy to talk about the death of one's own species."
Me, my dad, Trixie, and Eleanor all jumped up. My dad's head nearly hit the ceiling.
"The death of your species?" said Trixie.
"What are you talking about?" asked my dad. "How does Zulubar's death mean the death of your entire species?"
"The royal bloodline holds key elements of goblin DNA, which cannot be replicated. We have tried. That element is used to create medicines for our people. When Zulubar ceases to exist, so will our medication. Eventually, disease will overtake our people and we will be as the dust."
Trixie shook her head. "I don't understand. You need Zulubar's blood—like his actual blood?!—in order to make medicine?"
Perx nodded.
"What about people who are only part goblin?" I asked, thinking of Sheriff Knoxx. Eleanor caught my eye, and I knew she understood what I was thinking. Maybe the sheriff was aware of this and was worried about his own life. But then, wouldn't he have wanted to help find Zulubar?
"The cycle does not affect those who are only part goblin. They will be safe."
I saw Eleanor sigh with relief and I did the same.
"You should have told us all this sooner," I said.
"It is not relevant to your investigation."
"How can you say it's not relevant?" snapped Eleanor. "If someone's taken Zulubar and Kyrab, this could be the reason why."
Perx's eyes widened. "You think someone wants to destroy our species?"
Eleanor's face tightened.
"It's possible," I said.
Perx's face, already so hard, turned to stone. "If that is the case, then Zulubar is already dead, and your investigation is pointless."
"Who would want to destroy an entire species?" I asked. "Who hates goblins enough to kill each and every one in existence?"
The door to the bakery chimed just then and Sheriff Knoxx walked in. We all stared at him, our eyes going first wide and then wider.
"What?" he asked. "I just came in for some more peanut butter dream bars."
Our silence hung in the air until Eleanor finally cleared her throat.
"Nothing," she said. "I just thought I'd locked the door."
His eyes moved around the room and fell on Perx. "Oh," he said. "It's you."
He looked away from Perx and back to Eleanor. "I just remembered, I left something back at the office." He turned and pulled the door open.
"What about the peanut butter dream bars?" she called after him.
"I'll get them later," he said and hurried away.
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CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
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Eleanor, Snowball, and I entered Goblin Territory early the next morning. None of us wanted to consider the possibility that Sheriff Knoxx was the killer. We had decided to try talking to the goblins again. Whatever was going on had started in Goblin Territory, after all; the answers had to be here somewhere.
Snowball was eager to help, especially when I promised her she'd get extra tuna fish for dinner this evening. She seemed immune to the spells surrounding Beggars Forest so that when we entered it, she was able to keep me and Eleanor both in check. When we tried to return to the car because we thought we'd left the lights on, Snowball stopped us. When we tried again because we thought we'd left the bakery doors unlocked, Snowball pointed out that it was the middle of the morning and the doors should be unlocked.
We finally came to the boulder in the center of the forest.
"We need to try a different approach," Eleanor said before going in. "Something we didn't try last time."
"Yeah, but what?" I asked her.
We both bit our lips, thinking it over. Nothing came to mind.
"Maybe it will come to us once we're inside the castle walls," I said, and Eleanor nodded her agreement. We weren't really sure what we were looking for aside from Zulubar or Kyrab themselves, but whatever it was it had to be here.
"Just be careful," I told Eleanor once we were in. "The last time I saw Bisnunk, he warned me we were in danger, then he was killed."
"Maybe the danger lay with him, not with us," Eleanor said hopefully.
I didn't say anything back.
We passed by the guards easily enough—they remembered us from last time—and made our way back to the market area, which was the busiest part of the castle grounds.
Snowball was walking steadily along beside me. Every few steps, one of the goblins we passed broke into a huge grin and began giggling and pointing at Snowball. They'd nudge the nearest goblin, who also broke into giggles and pointed at Snowball.
"Hello, feline!" one goblin called, waving wildly in the air.
"Pretty kitty," called another who made kissing noises.
It would have been sweet if it wasn't so creepy. I looked at Snowball, who didn't seem to mind the attention.
"What's with them?" I asked Snowball.
"Snowy makes goblins happy," she said. "Goblins like kitties."
I looked at Eleanor with raised eyebrows. I'd heard before that some goblins had a minor obsession with cats, but I'd had no idea it was so widespread within the community. And it didn't seem so minor. It seemed as though every goblin we passed by could not take their eyes off Snowy.
"Does Snowy like goblins, too?" Eleanor asked, curious.
Snowy looked up at us. "Snowball does not object to goblins, especially when they offer her tuna. But witches are her favorite." She ran between my legs, nearly tripping me as she rubbed against my ankles, proving her devotion to me.
We stopped beside a fruit vendor. I took a close look to make sure it was not the same one we'd encountered last time. "Excuse me," I said. "Can you tell me—"
"No," the goblin snapped.
"But I haven't even asked the question yet."
"Whatever it is you want; the answer is no."
I looked at Eleanor, who looked more irritated than anything else. "I'm Eleanor Knoxx, and this is Ava Rose Fortune. We work at the Mystic Cupcake."
"So?" the goblin asked.
Eleanor cleared her throat. "We catered your Goblin Ball last year. Perhaps you don't remember—"
"I remember," the goblin said. "So?"
Eleanor shrugged. We walked away, and she turned her head to me. "I thought we were supposed to be well-liked in this village."
"Well, no one's tried to kill us yet," I told her. "At least not today. Maybe we're more well-liked than we realize." She looked at me doubtfully.
I bent to scratch Snowy's head and noticed that a line had formed behind us. There were at least ten goblins all following us. I looked at Eleanor.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" I asked her.
"Right now, all I'm thinking is that it looks like the goblins are forming a conga line."
I bit back the laugh rising in my throat. "Look at their reaction to Snowball. Maybe there's a way to use it to our advantage. If she asked the questions instead of us..."
Eleanor's eyes widened. "We might get a better response," she finished for me. "What do you say, Snowy? Are up to the task?"
Snowy mewed loudly, indicating that she was.
We went up to another vendor, picking one at random. The goblin
opened her mouth, and I was quite certain she intended to tell us to go away. I picked up Snowy, and her whole expression changed.
"Meow," said Snowy.
"Oh, goodness," said the goblin, jumping excitedly up and down. She reached out one hand then retracted it. "May I pet you?" she asked, and Snowball nodded.
The female goblin, who was selling some sort of plant, touched the top of Snowy's head with her scaly hand. Snowy began to purr. The woman grew excited and began to stroke Snowball's fluffy white fur, her hand so large it easily could have covered Snowy's head if she'd wanted to.
"So pretty," the goblin said almost in a daze. "I am Lydah."
"This is Snowball," I said, and Snowy's purrs grew louder.
"Um," I said, drawing Lydah's attention back to me. Her eyes moved to meet mine, but her hand never left Snowy's head. The goblins lined up behind us were eying the woman enviously. "I wondered if you might be able to tell us anything about Zulubar or Kyrab."
I realized how vague that sounded and tried desperately to think of a better question.
"Do you know anyone who might have seen them the night they disappeared?" Eleanor asked, helping me out.
That made me think of Bisnunk and what he'd told me about seeing them running, being chased. The woman said nothing, but she did shake her head no. At least she'd answered us; that was a step up.
"What about Bisnunk?" I asked her. "Did you know him?"
"Everyone knew Bisnunk."
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Eleanor said.
"Bisnunk had trouble keeping his mouth shut when he should have."
"Did he have any enemies?" I asked.
"Several."
I bit my bottom lip. "Were any of his enemies also Zulubar's enemies?"
"Or Kyrab's?" Eleanor chimed in.
The goblin appeared to consider our question. "I don't know," she finally said. "It is a difficult time for us right now without our king."
"I know," I said, trying to sound sympathetic. "We're doing our best to find him, but we've hit a few roadblocks." I licked my lips. This was the most that a goblin had spoken to us aside from my meeting with Bisnunk, which hadn't ended well.
I drew in a fresh breath. The air here was actually quite lovely. It smelled of campfires and forest pine. "If Bisnunk was the last to see King Zulubar and Kyrab alive—"
"Bisnunk was not the last to see them," Lydah said.
I blinked and looked at Eleanor. "He wasn't?"
When Bisnunk had told me he'd seen them running through the forest the night of their disappearance, I'd just assumed he'd been the last to see them alive.
"Who was, then?" Eleanor asked, trying to contain her excitement.
Lydah pressed her lips together. "I cannot say."
"You mean you can't say or you don't know?"
She ignored my question. "I must return to work now," she said but was still petting Snowball. I looked at Snowy, silently pleading with her to do something. Snowy licked the goblin's hand. Lydah's eyes widened, and tears began to form.
"Thank you for your blessing," Lydah said and scratched Snowy behind her ears. I exchanged a look with Eleanor. Goblins were weird.
"Who was last to see Zulubar?" Snowy asked Lydah in a high, tinny voice.
Lydah's ears perked up. "You must speak with Tok. He is in the east end." Then she quickly turned away before she gave up any more information.
"Good job," I told Snowy as we made our way to the east end of the territory.
When we got lost, we asked a local goblin farmer for directions. They were reluctant to give them to us at first, but then Snowy asked and the directions were given with no further consternation.
We found Tok's house. It was a small stone and brick house with a chimney and a surprisingly large front door. Most goblin's homes had doors that I would've hit my head passing through, but this one must've been at least ten feet tall. It reminded me of something I'd have seen in a rich New York neighborhood with overgrown mansions and lawns the size of football fields. Except that the rest of the home was small in comparison.
No, not small, I realized. Just narrow. The home itself was tall. The height matched the door, it just didn't look as if it took up a lot of space width-wise.
I didn't see a doorbell so balled my hand up and went to knock. Snowy stopped me.
"Snowball should speak with Tok alone," she said, her voice more forceful than usual.
I looked at Eleanor. "I don't know, Snowy. You're so little, goblins are so... not little. What if he gets mad when you're questioning him? He could squish you."
"Snowy is a familiar. Familiars are strong."
"Yes, but so are goblins," I told her. I looked to Eleanor for guidance, but she only shrugged. "Let's just try talking to Tok together," I said. "If that doesn't work, then we'll consider other options."
I picked Snowy up before she could protest again and knocked on the door.
* * *
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
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The door opened, and a giant goblin stood before us. This one was not the typical height I'd gotten used to seeing on goblins, he was at least seven or eight feet tall and had deep green skin. His ears were the size of cantaloupes.
"What?" he barked at us in a low, deep voice. His nose was not so long as Perx's, but it was just as pointy. Maybe even pointier.
Eleanor took a step back, her face paling. I tried not to scream.
"Meow," said Snowball.
The goblin looked down at her, and his mouth opened in surprise.
"A cat!" he said excitedly, his face changing from irritation to delight. He looked like a kid at Christmas... a very large kid.
"Er, yes," I said. "A cat." I held her up higher so that he could get a better look. Snowy didn't seem to mind; she was usually pretty mellow. It was one of the things I liked about her. I could be a little high-strung; we balanced each other out.
"Meow," said Snowy again.
"May I pet it?" he asked me, hope lighting in his eyes.
"Only if you answer my questions first," I said. "Are you Tok?"
He looked surprised that I knew his name. Snowy began to purr so loudly that she sounded like the engine of a Ferrari.
"Yes," Tok said and reached for her.
I pulled her back.
"That wasn't my question."
"What is your question then?" he asked impatiently.
"Someone told me that you were the last to see Zulubar and Kyrab alive. I need to know—"
"I have nothing to say about King Zulubar or his mistress."
Mistress? That was the first time I'd heard Kyrab referred to like that. It sounded sort of derogatory. Whenever her name was mentioned in the kingdom, it seemed like people didn't particularly care for her. I wished I understood why.
I decided to ignore Tok and ask my question anyway. "Someone told me you were the last person to see the king and... his mistress. Is that true?"
He looked longingly at Snowball then slammed the door in my face.
Snowball looked up at me, her green eyes saying, "I told you so."
"Snowy must speak to him alone," she said again.
I sighed. "I understand, but I don't want to take any chances that something might happen to you. Last time I was here, a goblin was murdered right in front of me."
"Tok will not murder Snowball. Tok only wants to pet Snowball and give her tuna."
Eleanor laughed. "He wants to give you tuna? How do you know he even has any tuna to give?"
Snowy shrugged. "I just know."
I looked at her skeptically but sighed, knowing she was right. "Five minutes," I told her. "If you're not back out here in five minutes, I'm breaking down his door."
Snowy nodded. "Five minutes," she repeated. She skipped the door and went straight to an open window. She jumped in, and I held my breath.
"Do you think sh
e'll be okay?" I asked Eleanor.
"Sure. Snowy's a lot tougher than you're giving her credit for. All familiars are."
I paced the front lawn of Tok's house, glad that we'd at least lost the conga line of goblins who'd gathered up behind us when we'd first walked into town.
A few minutes later, the front door opened and Tok walked out. He was holding Snowball in his arms, cradling her like a baby. She was purring contentedly away. She looked over at me, and my worries vanished. She'd been right, after all. There was no way this goblin would ever have hurt her.
"Tok told Snowy that he was not last to see King Zulubar."
"You weren't?" I asked Tok. He ignored me and continued to gaze at Snowball, who sat up and began to climb all over him like he was a jungle gym. Tok laughed with delight. I smiled but let out a sigh. It wasn't easy getting answers to my questions.
"So, who was the last to see Zulubar?" Eleanor asked.
Snowy answered. "Dr. Dunne."
I blinked and looked at Eleanor. "Dr. Dunne? At Sweetland Hospital?"
Snowy nodded.
"How... why...?" I was completely flummoxed. I didn't know what to make of this new information.
"Let's go talk to Dr. Dunne," said Eleanor. "At least we can be sure he'll answer our questions."
I nodded and reached for Snowy. Tok reluctantly gave her up to me. I could smell tuna on her breath. I thanked him, but he ignored me.
"Come back anytime you wish," he said, addressing Snowball directly. Then he turned around without a word to me or Eleanor and went back inside.
* * *
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
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