Chapter Thirty-Four

My arms and legs ached from dragging Grr’s stretcher. I cringed each time we went over uneven ground, jarring him. He lifted his head, whimpered, and lay back down.

“We’ve got to be getting close.” I glanced at our surroundings. But every tree looked the same as the last. It was like the woods swallowed us and we were tangled in a never-ending twist of thornbushes and gnarled oaks.

“I’m not so sure.” Pudge stopped and wiped the beads of sweat from his brow. “It feels like we’re going in circles.”

Glittering shafts of light sparkled; the trees pulsed as if they had come to life. There was magic in the air. Then I noticed the marks from the stretchers trenched into the ground as the powerful haze lifted. He was right—we’d been here before. Which meant we’d been circling for hours.

The hair on the back of my neck prickled as if we were being watched. My fingers inched closer to my sword.

A raven burst from the treetops, sending leaves fluttering to our feet. Its harsh cry jarred me.

I jumped. “Stupid birds.”

The snapping of twigs came from behind us.

“Thought I smelled the stench of goblins.” A tall, elegant elf stepped from behind an enormous white oak. His dark hair was tied back at the nape of his neck, his skin glowing bronze. Sea-colored eyes swept over me and Pudge, and the whole time the elf kept his bow and arrow trained on us.

Pudge snorted. “So that must’ve been the swish of your skirts I heard in the woods.”

He drew back his bowstring while Pudge unsheathed his blade. This wasn’t a good idea.

“I think you missed your turn off at the donkey stalls,” the elf said. “They’re back that way.” He gestured to the direction we’d just come from.

The next thing I knew, I had the Sword of Avarik in hand, ready to fight if need be.

He chuckled. “They’ll take you down before you strike.” His eyes moved to the trees.

My gaze followed. We were surrounded by elves. Some sat on branches, blades and arrows pointed at us. Others appeared in the woods and stepped from behind the bushes.

Dorian groaned.

“We need a healer.” I lowered my weapon. “That’s the reason we’re in your woods.”

The elf frowned. “We don’t help just anyone.”

“He’s not just anyone.” I pointed to my brother. “I demand an audience with Princess Sashine. She’ll understand.”

He stiffened, taking a step closer so his arrow was even with my eye. “Why do you ask for her?”

“Because he’s Prince Starshooter,” I said.

“Stand down, Roland.” A woman dropped from a tree. When she stood facing me, I recognized her almost immediately as the elf from the market. “Who are you?” she asked.

“Ivy Starshooter.”

She smiled, gesturing for the others to lower their weapons.

“You are the sister of my betrothed?” Her eyes gleamed with knowing.

“Yes. But we’ve met before,” I said.

“Did we?”

“In the market, you gave me a bow— How…how did you know I’d need it?”

“You were about to embark on a journey, young goblin. It seemed like a useful gift.”

Somehow, I believed it was more than that. But I wasn’t about to argue. I shifted my gaze to Dorian and Grr, then back to her. “Can you help us? My brother sustained injuries in the human world. I’m afraid if he’s not treated soon, he’ll die.”

Princess Sashine knelt next to Dorian, her hand caressing his face. “Come. We haven’t much time,” she said.

Pudge and I moved toward the stretchers, but the princess waved us off. “No, my people will take care of it.”

Within moments, they led us through a gateway of gnarled roots and rowan branches. My breath caught in my throat as I stared at a palace made of trees and rocks. Windowless towers in high-up branches stared across the entire woodland. Great archways were carved in the trunks of maples, with hallways made of vines and polished stones.

Leaves skittered at our feet, the wind sweetened by the scent of honeysuckle. Along the pathway, we passed marble statues and fountains gurgling with water.

Sashine guided us up a set of stairs that wound around the largest oak I’d ever seen. Half of Gob Hollow could’ve fit inside it. My mouth gaped as my gaze traveled upward to the stained glass ceiling depicting elfin warriors upon horses. Balconies overlooked a great pool of water, which ran beneath the roots of the tree. Two boats drifted by, transporting elves to other houses along the river.

When we came to an ornate door carved with roses, Sashine stopped. “We’ll take care of your brother and dog in here. Follow Roland; he’ll show you to your quarters.”

I hesitated, not wanting to leave Dorian. “Maybe I should stay with him.”

She shook her head. “No. You need to get cleaned up and rested. There’s nothing more you can do for him—you’ll only be in the way.”

Pudge caught my arm, pulling me after him and Roland. “She’s right. You’ll do him no good if you’re run-down and sick.”

With a sigh, I followed our elfin guide to my room.

…

After a hot bath, meal, and a nap, I sat on the edge of the oversize bed, tugging on a pair of clean breeches. My eyes scanned the enormous room and the wooden tub near the balcony overlooking the courtyard below. A mahogany armoire with carvings of roses sat across from the door, an ornate candelabrum positioned on top of it. The bed shifted as I stood, the lilac curtains brushing against my cheek.

I adjusted the dark green tunic, admiring the golden leaves embroidered on the sleeves. My gaze fell on the suit of armor standing against the far wall, two large swords bolted in a cross pattern behind it.

“If it wasn’t for the slight tinge of green in your skin, you’d pass for an elf,” Roland said from the doorway.

“Yeah, and if I didn’t have the tinge and pointed ears I could’ve passed for a human, too, but you see how well that worked out for me.”

“Point taken.” Roland stepped inside. “Sashine wanted me to retrieve you and bring you to the Great Hall.”

Grabbing the pair of brown knee-high leather boots, I slipped them on and trailed behind Roland. When we came into the hallway, I saw Pudge waiting for us. His brown hair flopped in his eye, his biceps bulging as he uncrossed his arms.

I sucked in a lungful of air, pretending to examine the tapestries being held in place by vines. Roland glanced between us with a smile.

“Are you two betrothed?” he asked.

“No,” we both said at the same time.

“Ivy’s my friend. We’re practically brother and sister.” Pudge patted my shoulder.

My heart sank. His friend? Okay, I could accept that—but his sister? My face turned hot for a second before I realized I was being ridiculous. We were best friends. Just because I felt something for him didn’t mean he returned the sentiment. And when we got back to Gob Hollow, I knew I had to face the Choosing Ceremony. I wondered if Pudge would still choose me.

Soon we stepped into the Great Hall to find Sashine seated at a long table with her council. She stood as we approached.

“Have a seat.” She pointed to three empty chairs across from her.

Pudge pulled my chair out for me, and I plopped down, my eyes falling on the object in the middle of the table.

“This is the arrow we pulled out of your brother—it’s goblin made.”

The accusation in her voice unnerved me. Still, I met her gaze. “We were attacked by some of our own. An ambush set up at our meeting point.”

Worried looks were exchanged between the elves.

“Would you like to explain what’s going on?” Her stare pinned me in place, as if she dared me to lie—to give them a reason to take me down.

So I told them about the Mission and my brother’s capture. I even gave them details about my own time in the human world, finishing with the ambush and Captain Bushwell’s final words.

“I think it is best if Pudge and I continue to the docks—pretend Dorian’s dead so we can get back and forewarn my father of the council’s intentions.” I watched the elves closely. They’d been cordial enough to let us into their kingdom, but that didn’t mean they would let us leave.

Sashine smiled. “I agree. It’s the only way to keep him from being suspicious. Don’t mention the goblins you killed; in fact, tell him you were captured by woodland elves and questioned for trespassing.”

My lips twitched. “Is that what we are? Captives?”

“No. You’re guests. And soon you’ll be my sister.” Sashine pushed up from her chair. “In the meantime, we’ll take care of Dorian and Grr and return them to Gob Hollow once they’re strong enough for travel. Which should only be a short time now.”

My throat thickened. “Thank you. I can never repay you for the kindness you’ve shown us.”

“The only repayment I ask is that you tell my brother hello for me.”

“Your brother?”

“Thezriel. He’s working on Honour’s ship, keeping tabs on him. We noticed that not all of his cargo is legal.”

“Hag. My whole family is corrupt,” Pudge said softly. “How come I never figured it out?”

“He tricked all of us.”

Did I ever really know Honour at all? The man I’d looked up to as a big brother all these years—he was responsible for my brother being captured and his almost death, or at least partially so. But why? Especially when Pudge was his own kin. Pudge was definitely the better of the two brothers. Now he only needed to see that for himself. “I’ll be sure to relay the message.”

“Look to Thezriel for help. He’ll be ready to take up his sword if necessary.”

With that, we were excused to pack our things and head into the enemy’s lair.

…

We traveled for days before reaching the docks. The scent of salt hung in the air, the waves crashing against the shore. Honour’s ship bobbed in the harbor, and I gave Pudge a nervous glance.

“Ready for this?” I touched his arm.

His jaw tightened, his eyes blazing with vehemence. “More than ready.”

We moved down the dock. The wooden planks creaked beneath our feet. At the end of the pier, Honour was talking with two dwarves. As if sensing our approach, he spun around, a look of surprise on his face.

“Ivy? Pudge?” He hurried toward us.

Biting my lip, I forced myself to run to him, crying.

“Oh Honour, it was horrible.” I sobbed, pressing myself against him. “The humans killed Dorian. And we lost Grr to the dwarves. We—we waited in the clearing for you, but you weren’t there, and the elves took us in for questioning.” My words ran together, and I hoped I sounded distraught and not like I’d fabricated a story.

“What do you mean, the elves took you in for questioning?” he demanded.

I sniffled. “As soon as we crossed the border between the human lands and ours, the elves captured us. They wanted to know what we were doing in their woods.”

He seemed to relax. “Those bloody elves are always causing trouble. I’m sorry I wasn’t there, Ivy.” He stroked my hair. “I got stuck here, trying to patch a leak in the ship. Did you have any trouble along the border?” he asked. “Did you see Vane or Barthe or any of the others?”

“No. No one was there.”

Pudge met my gaze over his brother’s arms. His fingers toyed with the sword belted to his side.

“We’ve had a rough journey. Ivy sustained some wounds and needs her rest,” Pudge said at last.

Honour touched my face. “I’ll take care of you, little sister. I promise. Let’s get you two on the ship.”

His arm circled my waist, and he guided me toward a small boat tethered to the dock. Hatred bubbled in my gut like Cook’s spicy chili. I wanted nothing more than to hurt Honour.

The way he stood there, feigning compassion, when he’d set us up to die. The way he so easily betrayed our people sickened me. We’d lost good goblins because of him.

We climbed into the boat, and Honour glanced at Pudge with a grin. “Looks like you lost some weight. Maybe Father should’ve petitioned to send you on a Mission sooner.”

“Then you might have lost the title of best-looking brother,” Pudge said in an even voice.

Honour turned to me. “I see his disposition hasn’t changed much. I hope his attitude was better on the journey.”

“He made it bearable,” I said. “If it wasn’t for him, I never would’ve escaped the human world. He’s a hero.”

Pudge gave him a cocky grin, then took the paddles and started rowing.

When we reached the ship, the crew helped us aboard. The chains groaned, lifting the anchor while Honour stood at the helm, ship’s wheel in hand.

I stood on the deck, watching as we sailed from the harbor. We’d started our journey on foot here. My memories seemed distant—the excitement, the danger. And none of it had prepared me for what I found.

“Sorry to hear about Prince Dorian.” Thezriel joined me, leaning against the railing next to me.

“Thank you.” I glanced over my shoulder to see Honour watching me. I gave him a smile and turned back to Thezriel.

He gazed at my tunic with interest. “I hope the elves were good to you.”

“Very. In fact, Sashine is like a sister to me. And if I had a brother, I’d encourage him to marry her.”

He smiled. “And did she send any messages for me?”

“She sends her love and warm wishes your way,” I said.

Thezriel leaned closer, his arm brushing mine. “The elves are kind to those in need.”

“Especially those who’ve been injured.”

“And have they managed to mend everyone?”

“Indeed,” I answered. “They will be traveling soon.”

Honour shouted orders to deckhands to raise the sails. Goblins bustled around us, taking their positions, tugging on ropes that hung from the masts.

“He’s got the ship headed for the Route of Skulls, not Gob Harbor,” Thezriel said.

I gave an internal groan. Of course he’d pick the one place in Gob Hollow filled with more murderers than all the dungeons in the five surrounding kingdoms. But also a place where he’d be less noticed coming into harbor.

“Then we better make this quick. Are you with us, Thezriel?” I nodded toward Pudge, who’d just come on deck. He looked piqued again, and I hoped he wasn’t about to have a bout of motion sickness.

“Yes,” Thezriel said. “But we should wait until some of the men have retired for the night. Less of a fight then.”

My hand squeezed his arm. “I’ll let Pudge know. Thank you.”

Thezriel nodded, then moved toward the hull of the ship and disappeared.

Pudge smiled, then came to stand with me, and I leaned my head against his shoulder.

“Tonight, then?” He pulled me closer until his chin rested on my head.

My heart thudded in my chest. Hag, I hoped we survived this. Because there were a lot of things I needed to tell Pudge. For now, though, I had to concentrate on our mission at hand. Taking down Honour and his men.

“Tonight.”