ward to compel people to leave the area when they walked across them. I wondered what other spells and traps I might come across if I continued my journey. Each sigil left a signature of their caster, and even though it was old and fading, having been cast long ago, I could easily recognize the creator.
Mother.
Covering the glowing sigil back up, my curiosity was thoroughly piqued. What had my mother done here long ago? Was this why she had returned and brought me with her? Or was there another secret as to why I was suddenly married to a horrid prince?
The farther I moved from the protection wards, the lighter my mind felt. I couldn’t believe how strong the spell was after all of these years, though it was definitely weakening. She was a powerful enchantress indeed.
I would have to ask her about this—or maybe it was the reason I was sent here, to finish her work.
Go away! The compulsion came again.
“Yes, Mother,” I murmured aloud. “I’ll leave for now, but I will be back.”
When I returned to my room, I noticed the saucer I had left out to entice a fey now lay shattered on the floor as the moonlight shone through the curtains. I had forgotten to refill the milk or biscuit tray, and someone wasn’t happy.
Muffled cussing filled the air, but to those who didn’t know better, it would sound like twigs breaking. I knew the sound of fey, however, and followed the noises back to my wardrobe.
Casting a mage light above my head, I opened the door, clearing my throat loudly.
I was expecting a gentle hob, elf, brownie, or even a pixie, despite their penchant for tricks—not the spindly green-hued goblin before me, not much bigger than a toddler, with a sharp nose and long pointy ears, wearing an overly large white silk dress and my satin slippers. He grinned at me, his mouth filled with needlelike teeth, and didn’t seem to be ashamed in the least at wearing my nightdress.
Being careless and leaving an offering of milk smeared with blood, I had accidentally indentured a goblin. Great.
“I’d much appreciate it if you would put the dress back,” I said, trying to keep a straight face at my cross-dressing goblin.
“Furfmuggin,” he said loudly in complaint, and I snorted at the foul fey word he was dropping in my presence. He did sashay out of the wardrobe and toss my dress on the floor in a fit, but he was more hesitant about giving up my slippers.
When I held out my hand, he stuck his red tongue out at me and dropped another curse. Well, now I understood why no one wanted to have an indentured fey here, if this was the only kind the land of Baist attracted. It would have to be a hearty and strong fey to survive this magic-starved land.
“Do you have a name?” I asked as he took off my slippers and proceeded to pull my new gown off the hanger and make a bed within the wardrobe. It seemed this foulmouthed goblin was here to stay.
“Gobber. Gobbersnot,” he mumbled. Before any other words came out of his mouth, he flicked his hand at me, signaling a very inappropriate gesture, and closed himself back inside the wardrobe.
I couldn’t help laughing at my newfound companion. Gritty, tough, and rough around the edges, just like me. He would do.
The two of us would find our way in this magic-barren land together.
Chapter Eight
Her fear smelled oh so sweet as she ran from me. Slipping on the grass, she fell into a puddle, the mud obscuring her face. Crying, she wiped it away and desperately scrambled to her feet, her blue shoe abandoned in the grass behind her.
Oh, little girl, why did you stray out at night into my territory? Were you looking for me? You must have known I was here. That I was waiting for you.
A grumble came from my chest, and she turned to look at me and screamed.
I fell out of my bed, a tangle of sheets and quilt wrapped around me as I hit the floor. The cool press of the stone against my cheek made me aware of where I was. I was here. Safe.
Sitting up, I tried to unwind my legs from the sheets and saw it—the mud that splattered my legs, the grass stains on my feet.
Hearing a thump from my wardrobe, I opened it and saw Gobbersnot snoring peacefully. His mouth was covered with fresh blood, and