Max Hamby and the Faeryn Cross

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A light breeze rustled through the Great Oak’s archives. The fire pit at the center of the village crackled and mingled with the soft chatter of the old ones gathered around it. One leaned in with a mischievous twitch of an eyebrow and the group broke out in laughter. The cry of a hungry baby rang out, but was soon soothed by the gentle murmurs of its mother. From the deeper part of the forest, the goblins burst through the trees. Their eyes glowed and their mouths turned up revealing their razor sharp teeth. The village exploded with angry shouts and terrified screams. The scene changed and Busby Stoop disappeared. A gaping maw of a goblin took its place. The teeth drew closer. Its fowl breath grew stronger. Celadine woke with a start and smacked her head on the top of the cage. A shock of pain seared her skull and forced her to lie back. It wasn't real. A deep sadness spread through her chest. For just a moment, the smells and sounds of Busby Stoop lingered. It would’ve been so easy to remain in the dream where her home was whole and her father was alive. She choked back a sob. “Father, why did you make me go?” He shouldn't have tried to fight Oxworth without her. She peered through the bars. The movement made her head throb. She tried to lift her arm, but it wouldn’t cooperate. The hours spent in the small cage had caused a deep numbness to set in. There was no room to stretch out, but by rolling and shifting, her limbs began to wake up. A million tiny pins and needles pricked body. Home, she thought. She remembered the warmth of her bed and how she’d linger till the sun was too bright to ignore any longer. Her father would greet her with a hot cup of pine tea. A heavy sigh escaped her lips. This was no time to get lost in what used to be. The shack was quiet, but it wouldn't be for long. The goblins would return soon enough. She reached through the bars and fumbled with the lock. The cage sat in the middle of the room and there was nothing around it to break it off. She pulled her knees up to her chest and kicked out as hard as she could.

Footsteps clomped on the floorboards behind the cage. The bars had just given way as the smaller goblin walked into the room.. Celadine put her legs down. Bonedread thudded across the wooden floor and planted his clawed, dirty feet in front of her face. “I see you’re awake.” He chuckled. “And just in time, too. The auctions are about to begin.” The cage was so tight, Celadine could not meet the goblin’s eyes. The best she could do was glare at the round stomach hanging over tattered trousers. She grabbed the bars and spat at the goblin’s legs. “Such a feisty one. I wonder how your new master will enjoy your fiery spirit.” He kicked the cage and watched her wince as her back slammed against the bars. “Zeeback. Bigrot.” The large goblins filled the doorway. “Get her out of there. It’s time.” One goblin held the cage open, while the other wrenched her out. They grabbed her under the arms and squeezed. Celadine yelped as her limbs unfolded. Her legs trembled and she gritted her teeth against the full assault of pain that followed. This was her only chance to escape and tried to dig her fingernails into one goblin, then attempted to bite the other. This time, they were ready and moved behind her. What now? She glanced at the door at the back of the shack, then let her body go limp. The goblins were unprepared. “Again?” asked one. He sighed and threw his hands in the air. “We should’ve left her in the Downs for the Trith,” said the other. She rolled away from them and scrambled toward the back door.

The short goblin turned around. “Well, what are you waiting for? Grab her,” he yelled.

Celadine stood up and bolted the last few inches to freedom. The Downs were right there. The smell of pine and earth called to her. Half her body was out the door before one of the goblins crossed the room and grabbed a handful of her hair. He yanked her back in and threw her to the floor. The one called Bigrot stood over her and glared. “You’re more trouble than you’re worth. If it were up to me, you’d have been dead hours ago.” He glanced toward the front of the shack and made sure the smaller goblin wasn’t looking before giving her a hard kick to her stomach. Celadine clutched her middle and moaned.

“Leave her alone,” said the one called Zeeback. “The boss doesn’t like damaged goods.” Bigrot glared at him, but remained silent.

A horn sounded in the distance. Bonedread peered out the door. “We do not have time for this,” he hissed. “Drag her, if you have to.” The goblins hooked her under the arms again and lifted her up and dragged her out into the open. Celadine clutched her stomach, as bile rose in her throat. The market was crammed with buyers. She licked her dry lips. A large lump of fear rose up and met the bile caught in her throat. “Please, don’t do this,” she begged. Her voice was scratchy and hoarse. It sounded strange to her own ears. The goblins ignored her and dragged her into the heart of Grimhold market. Men, women and creatures alike stared at her in fascination. They closed in tight. Hands poked and prodded, until the short goblin pushed through the crowd and smacked them away. She swung her legs forward and dug her heels into the dirt t and used the weight of her body to get her arms free. It didn’t slow them down one bit. They tightened their grip and pulled her toward an open stall with an empty viewing box. The stage was high enough for the crowd to get a good look at what they were bidding on. In seconds, she would be up there and any chance of escape would be lost.

Bonedread unlocked the gate and opened it with a slight push. Celadine kicked out, but the large goblins held on tight and pulled her forward. Before they could get through the gate, it was blocked by an old woman. Her large, watery eyes bulged out of their sockets. She sniffed loudly and wiped a line of snot on her sleeve, which caused the wart on her face to pucker. She pushed a clump of greasy, gray hair to the side and opened her mouth to reveal a lone tooth in a cavern of darkness. “I’ll give ya ten boars’ notes for the lass.” Her voice was deep and phlegmy.

Bonedread raised an eyebrow. “I do not think so, witch. She is worth far more than ten.”

The old woman smirked and tilted her head to one side, then grazed Celadine’s cheek with a jagged, yellow nail. “Then perhaps a small sample of your merchandise,” she said. “You want to come with me, don’t you, doveling?” Celadine didn't want to, but she nodded anyway. Her eyes widened, as the sensation to move closer to the old woman grew.

The short goblin slapped the witch’s hand away. “No sampling the product. Get out of here.” And just like that, the spell was broken. Celadine blinked and watched the witch disappear into the crowd. Bonedread widened the space between the gate and the viewing box, but the gate was wrenched out of his grasp from behind and slammed shut. The goblin whipped around and came face to snout with a minotaur. It snorted through its wide nostrils and ruffled the tufts of hair on top of the goblin’s head. It cracked its knuckles and flexed its bulging muscles. “Bonedread, I give you seventy-five boars’ notes and she is mine.” It leaned in and studied Celadine. Its yellow eyes twitched. “I like the eyes. They will come in handy.” It reached out and grabbed her hair. “Soft.” Celadine tried to pull away. This time, the large goblins moved with her. The minotaur shoved its snout into the small goblin’s face. Bonedread stepped back. His eyes shifted nervously to the Minotaur’s horns. He cleared his throat and opened his mouth, but before he could utter a sound, the Minotaur shoved the money at the goblin with one hand and grabbed Celadine with the other. The large goblins tightened their grip and growled.

“Y-You’ll have to bid like everyone else,” said Bonedread. He pushed the Minotaur’s hand away and opened the gate.

“I pay. She’s mine,” said the Minotaur. He held on and snorted.

The smaller goblin sighed, but did not turn around. “Take care of this.” Zeeback and Bigrot leaned forward and breathed into the Minotaur’s face. He coughed and stumbled back. Bonedread and the Minotaur eyed one another before the large beast took his place in front of the viewing box. The small goblin waved the other two on, then quickly locked the gate. There would be no more delays. He climbed up onto the stage within the viewing box and put his hands up. “Ladies and gentlemen.” He paused and scanned the crowd. “And others. I have, for one day only, a one of a kind jewel.” He made sure his voice carried to the back of the crowd by cupping his hands around his mouth. “She is strong and beautiful. She will make a fine servant or...” He glanced back and winked. “A wife.” Celadine gasped and struggled to break free. She kicked out at the goblins again. The crowd oohed and ahhed. “Bring her up here so our fine customers may have a look.” Zeeback and Bigrot lifted her onto the stage and pushed her toward the center. The crowd pushed and jabbed to get a better view. Celadine stared out at all the faces. One of them was about to become her new master. The goblins blocked the only way out. There was no escape. She would be sold and taken away. The possibility of seeing Busby Stoop again was slim. Bonedread stepped up beside her and clapped his hands. “We will start the bidding at five hundred boars’ notes for the elder dwarf’s daughter.