‘It really is you!’ Cinders cried, accidentally elbowing Hansel in the head in all the excitement. ‘You’ve got to help us! This goblin tricked me into coming inside his house to wish up gold for him and said he would only let us out if we guessed his name, but we know his name and he still won’t let us out.’

‘Is that right?’ Brian said, staring at the goblin with her arms folded and a very stern look on her face.

‘Long time no see,’ Rumpelstiltskin said, combing down his eyebrows and winking at the fairy. ‘Nice to see you, Brian.’

‘Wish I could say the same,’ she replied. ‘I see you’ve been up to your old tricks again? Lying to fairies and breaking your word.’

‘I don’t know what you mean,’ he said, edging in front of the door to block Cinders’s view. ‘I didn’t trick them – they came inside of their own accord.’

‘And now you’re going to let them out of your own accord.’ Brian spoke with a warning in her voice. ‘Unless you’d like to explain yourself to the king and queen of Fairyland.’

‘Ooh, I say,’ Hansel muttered.

‘I know, right?’ Cinders agreed with an impressed whistle. ‘My fairy godmother is the best.’

The goblin began to turn red. He knew when he was beaten, but it didn’t mean he had to be happy about it. He stamped his foot and shook his head.

‘No!’ he shouted. ‘I’m not going to let them out. I still haven’t bought all the things I want. She’s not going anywhere!’

Brian fluttered her wings and sighed. He always had been a giant pain in the bum.

‘Fine,’ she said through gritted teeth. ‘I’ll let them out myself. Zimzamzoom!’

‘Go and open the door, Noderick,’ she ordered as Rumpelstiltskin stood and watched with his mouth hanging open in shock.

‘Noderick?’ Cinders gasped as a blue-skinned boy with gold and silver hair walked carefully past the sulking goblin and opened the door. ‘Jodders, is that you?’

‘It most certainly is,’ he replied. ‘Prince Joderick Jorenson Picklebottom at your service.’

‘I still prefer Noderick,’ Brian muttered to Mouse who nodded in agreement as Cinders rushed at her friend and gave him the biggest hug he’d ever received in his life.

‘Jodders!’ Cinders cried as Brian’s spell disappeared, returning Joderick to his normal (and slightly more boring now that he came to think about it) colours. ‘What on earth are you doing here?’

‘I came to get my trousers back,’ he said, nodding at Cinders’s outfit. She laughed and stuck her hands in the pockets. Quite funny, she thought, but he wasn’t having them. They were the best pair of trousers she’d ever worn in her life.

‘Enjoy yourselves while you can,’ Rumpelstiltskin said, still stamping his feet in a strop. ‘But I called the palace earlier today and they’re sending someone with the reward. One hundred gold pieces all for me!’

Sparks barked in disgust. ‘Magic gold wasn’t enough for you?’

‘This is what happens when you’re greedy,’ Brian said. ‘It turns you bitter and mean. Nothing is ever enough.’

‘Doesn’t matter what you think,’ the goblin said with a gleeful laugh. ‘I spoke to a very lovely lady called Margery and she said she would send someone out to see me right away. I should imagine they’ll be here any minute.’

‘Margery?’ Cinders asked with a gulp. ‘You’re sure you spoke to someone called Margery?’

‘Oh, yes,’ he confirmed. ‘I wrote it down so I’d know who to complain about if the money didn’t show up.’

‘Classic Rumpy,’ groaned Brian. ‘All right, everyone, I think we should get out of here. I’ll deal with him later. If the palace knows where you are, there’s every chance they’ve sent a very specific someone to find you.’

‘My dad?’ Cinders said hopefully.

Joderick shook his head.

‘My stepmother?’ she asked, considerably less hopeful.

‘I’m afraid not.’ Joderick gulped. ‘My dad was so mad when I came to find you, he sent …’

But, before he could finish his sentence, a BIG, booming voice interrupted.

‘HE SENT ME.’