The goblin kings mischie.., p.1
The Goblin King's Mischief, page 1
The Goblin King's Mischief
D. LIEBER
The Goblin King’s Mischief is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, businesses, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2024 by D. Lieber
First edition October 2024
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information and retrieval systems, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law.
Ink & Magick, LLC
Kenosha, Wisconsin
contact@inkandmagick.com
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-951239-31-2
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-951239-32-9
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-951239-33-6
Cover by Artscandare Book Cover Design
Edited by Olivia Kalb at oliviakalbediting@gmail.com
Proofread by Samantha Talarico
Special Thanks
Thank you to my beta readers: John, Megan, Amy, Trish, Aunt Debbie, and Joyce.
The Goblin King’s Mischief
Chapter
One
I inhaled the scent of evergreens and last year’s leaves underfoot. The full moon was bright overhead, illuminating the meadow before us well enough for even my human eyes to see clearly. My ears pricked at every bird call and the soft skittering of the forest animals hidden from view. I held my breath when a thumping reached my ears, hoping to distinguish it from the hammering of my own heart. But as the rhythmic drumming grew louder, I knew it was the sound I’d been waiting for—the sound of horsehoofs on the forest floor.
“I don’t think this is a good idea,” my brother Graeme whispered, crouching beside me as we looked over a tangle of bushes to the meadow.
I scowled at him. “And whose fault is it? If you’d just sent that letter, I wouldn’t need to do all this.”
“It wasn’t only my fault,” he grumbled. But when my gaze flicked to his, he lowered his sea-glass green eyes in guilt. He’d said he was sorry too many times to count, but that didn’t change my situation. He pushed one final time. “What if it doesn’t work?”
“It’ll work.” I know it will. My heart drummed as the galloping horse drew nearer, and I strained my eyes in the direction of the sound. “Now?” I asked my brother.
“Not yet,” Graeme murmured, his sharper, sidhe gaze staring out at the meadow.
I shifted my weight, readying myself for action. My legs tingled from being in the same position too long.
“Now,” he urged.
On cue, I let out the loudest scream my lungs could muster and launched myself over the bush, running away from our hiding place like my life depended on it. “Help! Somebody help me!”
I was a quarter-way across the meadow when the elf arrived on his horse. His ruddy blond hair fluttered behind him as he galloped toward me. When his dark eyes met mine across the distance, I nearly tripped.
Steeling my nerves, I looked behind me in a panic—my signal for Graeme to start his pursuit. He jumped out, his face covered with a hood.
I let out another scream as Graeme raced toward me. “Please!” I reached toward the rider. “Please, help me!”
He set his jaw and urged his horse forward.
I stumbled and fell, hissing when my knees hit the ground. My long, chocolate-brown hair flew into my face. I peeked through the waves, lowering my head in a cower.
Graeme was nearly to me now, but the rider was faster. He hopped down from his horse and drew a dagger in a smooth motion. He stepped between my brother and me, raising his weapon.
Graeme pulled up short, hesitating at the threat.
My heart squeezed as they stared each other down. Then Graeme turned and sprinted away, back into the safety of the surrounding forest.
My defender tensed as if to pursue him.
“Wait!” I cried. “Please! There are too many of them. If you follow him, they’ll overpower you.”
I watched his back as he stood firm before me, his quiver of arrows slung across his torso. I winced. Good thing he didn’t choose his bow instead.
He sighed heavily and turned, peering down at me.
My heart swelled and cracked when the elf looked at me without recognition. “Thank you, sir,” I whispered, the lump in my throat all too real. I moved as if to stand, then let my knees buckle beneath me.
He knelt to help me up, and as I met his gaze, his eyes held the same warmth I remembered. “What happened? How did you get here? This is no place for a human to be unaccompanied.”
I slipped my hands into those he offered, blinking the unbidden tears from my vision. “I was running errands for my mistress,” I said, my voice shaking as I spoke my practiced lie. I felt his arm wrap securely around my waist. His gentle warmth sent a jolt through me, and I leaned heavily against him. “I’d been there a million times before…” My voice thickened as if I were reliving an unpleasant memory. “Someone grabbed me from behind and covered my head. We rode for a long way… Where am I? I managed to escape, but I don’t know where I am.” I widened my eyes, trying to communicate panic as I pleaded for an answer.
“You’re in Goblinwood.”
I gasped, shrinking from him—slipping the ring from his finger as I did so. My heart pounded. I used my fear of discovery to color my words. “Oh, no! I can’t be.”
He shushed my hysterics. “You’re safe. Do not fret. Where do you live? I’ll be sure to get you home safely. Along the way, you can tell me what you know about the people who took you.”
I looked up at Aodh, taking in the face I used to know so very well. His features had sharpened in the last ten years. His thick hair—which had been quite messy when it was shorter—now fell in long locks that could no longer hide the pointed tips of his ears. The groove between his straight nose and wide lips had deepened, and he still had a tiny break in the hair of his left eyebrow, a scar too small to see if not for the space where the hair no longer grew.
I took in the sight of him, memorizing the small changes that had taken place since the last time I’d seen him. He’d grown both taller and wider—his shoulders now the broad and strong shoulders of a man. Though, despite the added years, his eyes had changed the most. They were much darker than I remembered, not in color but in substance. He’d helped me as I knew he would, but he no longer had that carefree glint in his eyes. The lack of that little light of mischief hurt more than anything else.
“Miss?” he called. “Where do you live? What’s your name?”
I let my mouth widen in a smirk of bravado. “Me? My name is Lady Melody Píobaire, daughter of the Earl of Piskishire.” I swallowed my heart. He’s not going to like this. Raising my left hand, I displayed the ring I’d just sneaked from his finger onto mine. “I’m the goblin queen, and you can come for me at Maplecrest, my family home, whenever is convenient for you, husband.”
Chapter
Two
Aodh’s eyes widened but only for a second. Then he snatched my wrist and squeezed. “Give it back,” he growled, his expression turning dark and menacing.
My stomach clenched, but I kept the smile plastered on my face and tilted my head. “Why would I do that? I’ve followed the rules. I outsmarted the goblin king. That makes me the goblin queen and your future wife.”
His nails dug into my arm, but I didn’t wince. Even the pain of his touch seemed a relief after not feeling him for so long. “No one witnessed this. If you give it back now, I will let you go free with no repercussions.”
I raised my chin. “Despite what they say, there is honor among thieves. Even the goblin king himself, the leader of all the criminals and outcasts in Tír, has some honor.” I raised an eyebrow at him. “Or would you prove otherwise?”
His nostrils flared as he sighed through his nose. “You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into.”
I stroked his hand, which still held my wrist. “I look forward to finding out.”
As he flinched away from me, a cold hardness entered his gaze. “Suit yourself.” With a loud whistle, he called to his horse, which was happily munching on some wildflowers at the edge of the meadow. “A human as clever as you can surely find her own way home.” He mounted gracefully and pulled the reins to urge the horse away.
“I’ll be expecting you at Maplecrest shortly, Your Majesty!” I called after him.
He didn’t look back as he disappeared into the trees, but I knew he would come for me. He had to. Even if he wanted to hide the fact he’d been bested, it wouldn’t be long before someone noticed the ring, which bespoke his station, was gone. He’d have a hard time explaining that. That’s why, out of all the options I’d considered, I’d chosen that one.
I smiled to myself, a warm glow blooming in my chest, a glow I hadn’t felt in too many years. I’d known the trade would be worth it. I had to admit: giving up the lightning bird egg had smarted a little. It was a rare and valuable commodity. But the drake I’d bribed had been accurate in what she’d told me about the Goblin King’s—not so secret—secret monthly rides.
A shiver ran through me as the image of Aodh’s cold glare resurfaced in my mind. I pushed my apprehension away. I knew he wouldn’t be pleased at first. He never did like losing. But I know I can win him over again. I hesitated at the edge of the meadow, looking over my shoulder at the full
Shooing my fears with a shake of my head, I started into the forest and made my way to where I was supposed to meet Graeme. He wasn’t far away, just far enough Aodh wouldn’t know he was there.
“So”—Graeme stared down at me from the branches of a wide tree—“did it work?”
I grinned at him and showed him the ring on my finger. “You may call me ‘Your Majesty’ from now on.”
He snorted and slid lightly to the ground. Taking my hand, he analyzed the ring, then frowned. “Mum and Dad won’t be happy about this.”
My heart sank, and I sighed. “Let’s get home before them. I’m going to have a lot of explaining to do, and I’d rather talk it out before Aodh comes for me.”
Once we were through Goblinwood, it was only a matter of picking up our buggy at the nearest roadside inn. We made quick work of it. We had to get home before our parents returned, or Graeme would be drawn and quartered for sure.
Luckily for my brother, we were home before our parents. I stared past the glimmering gates of Maplecrest, glinting gold in the entrance torchlight. We hadn’t been back for very long from our over two-cycle absence. And while the cozy swath of trees leading up the hill to the elegant country mansion held many happy memories for me, I hadn’t gotten used to calling it home again after being gone for ten years.
There was no hiding the fact we’d left without permission, so we didn’t bother to try to hide our return. We didn’t ask the servants to lie for us. My parents would find out what we’d done soon enough. We only wanted to ease them in, soften the blow, and not send them into a panic if they’d arrived and we weren’t there.
No one greeted me at the door when I alighted, leaving Graeme to put the buggy away. But Eithne arrived in my bedroom before I’d even gotten my shoes off.
She stared at me from the doorway, her sharp eyes alight with apprehension above her turned-up piskie nose. “My lady?” It seemed Eithne had crawled from her bed in a hurry; her feet were bare beneath her nightgown. Her long, red hair—characteristic of all piskies—was plaited over one shoulder, and her pointed ears peeked out from the fiery waves.
I smiled softly and nodded. “Everything is all right now, Eithne.”
Eithne stepped forward to assist me in changing my clothes, worry still painted all over her face. “What happens now?”
“Now? We wait.”
Eithne frowned. “But you’ve waited so long already, my lady.”
I smiled at her. She was such a loyal and caring fae; she’d even kept my scheme a secret from my parents. But I knew she wanted what was best for me, and she didn’t believe that was the Goblin King. I wondered if she’d want to accompany me despite not agreeing with my decision. “Yes, but this time, he has no choice but to come for me.”
She pressed her lips together in an expression I recognized as disapproval.
“Do you have something more to say, Eithne?” I thought she’d long since said her piece.
She bit her lip, then sighed. “I just don’t think you can force someone’s love. Giving him no choice… It doesn’t seem like it will work out if you go about it this way.”
Dread momentarily clenched my heart. Will Aodh forgive me when he finds out? Ordinarily, I would agree with Eithne. People didn’t take kindly to being forced into things. I didn’t either. But this was an extenuating circumstance, surely. I’d made a promise I intended to keep. But I knew Aodh hadn’t been given a fair shot at making the choice on his own, so if—when all was said and done—I couldn’t win his heart again, I would return his ring and set him free.
“I’m sorry, my lady. I spoke out of turn.”
I shook my head. “You’re fine, Eithne. I appreciate your wisdom. And I’ve told you many times you can speak openly to me.” I gave the piskie a reassuring smile, then slipped my robe on over my nightgown. “I’ve heard what you said, I promise.”
And though Eithne returned my smile, the apprehension in her eyes didn’t wane. “Get some rest, my lady.”
“Thanks, Eithne. Sweet dreams.”
Chapter
Three
After Eithne left my room, I doused the light and went out onto my balcony. Sitting with my back to the wall, I gazed up at the sky.
The full moon hung close to the treetops in the west, and I knew it wouldn’t be long before the sun started to lighten the eastern sky.
The night seemed chilly now that I didn’t have adrenaline pumping through me. I pulled my robe tighter. I should try to get a little sleep before Mum and Dad come home.
But even as my mind urged me to crawl into bed, I didn’t move.
A sudden presence, like a tickle on the back of my neck, made me turn toward my open balcony door just as Tadhg slipped out of it. The spunkie’s luminescent blue glowed brightly, and I smiled because that meant he was happy to see me.
Tadhg’s default orb flowed into that of a cat, the form he always took when he wanted a cuddle.
“Aw, come here,” I cooed, lowering my knees from my chest to give him space to crawl into my lap.
Tadhg settled in, purring loudly.
Despite his ethereal body, he felt very much like a real cat. Even as my hand passed through the lines of his shape, my brain told me I was stroking the soft fur of a glowing, blue feline.
I sighed contentedly as my mind drifted. “He’s so much the same as before, Tadhg. I would have recognized him anywhere.”
Tadhg blinked his big eyes at me, and I smiled as I cast my mind back to the first time Aodh and I had met.
“I know where you’re going,” I said to Graeme, casually leaning against the side of the carriage house in the dark.
My brother jumped, his head snapping toward my voice.
As I stepped into the dim light, he squinted to see me. “What do you want?” he asked uncertainly.
I smiled an easy smile. “You’re sneaking off to Goblintown again. I want to go with you.”
“You can’t be serious,” he said and huffed a laugh. “You’re fifteen. What could you possibly want in Goblintown?”
I pursed my lips. “I’m not a baby anymore. And you know what I want: ingredients. I’ve heard you can get stuff they don’t sell anywhere else. I want to try some advanced potions. I’m tired of this kid stuff.”
My brother shook his head. “They don’t sell them anywhere else because they’re illegal. What if you get caught with them? You’ll be able to do proper magic once you become the Crown Prince’s royal mistress, once you become a banshee by coupling with him. Can’t you just wait until then?”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “That’s five years away. And what are you saying? Would you turn in your own sister?”
Graeme rolled his eyes. I wasn’t getting anywhere. Sighing, I tried another approach, puffing my lips into a pout. “Come on, big brother. Please? I won’t be a bother. I promise.”
His hard expression started to waver. “I can’t stay with you the whole time. I’m going to be too busy to watch you.”
“You don’t have to watch me. Look, I put on my simplest dress, and I’ll wear a hood. I’ll stay right where you leave me. I won’t wander. I’m only going to buy ingredients. Surely, that isn’t dangerous. It’s like going to the market.” I reached out and tugged Graeme’s hand. “Hmm?”
His face crumbled. “Fine. But a hood won’t be enough. You’ll have to glamour your appearance. It’s risky enough with you being so young, but no one can find out you’re human.”
My heart soared, and I flung my arms around my brother. “Really? Thank you!”
But as I pulled away, he met my eyes gravely. “I’m serious. None of your usual mischievous antics. I will take you to a shop I know, and you have to stay there until I pick you up. And don’t remove your hood either.”
I held up my hand solemnly. “I won’t.”
Graeme watched me for another moment, then nodded. His apprehension eased from his gaze. “Go get your glamour potion. I’ll meet you at the front gate.”
