Heart Of The Goblin King (The Realm Trilogy Book 1)

by Lisa Manifold

  Brennan shook his head. “No, none. That is not all, my lords.”

  Now he detected some rising tension. “A troll attempted to drag Lord Drake off and kill him. Drake managed to escape, and as he rejoined me, a man—a fae—appeared and walked among the dead.” He knew they would be affected by his words.

  “He approached Drake and I and demanded my unconditional surrender as the Goblin King.”

  Loud shouts and talking burst out. Every clan head had something to say, except Horgath.

  Horgath crossed his arms and stared at Brennan. When the rest of the clan heads noticed that their spokesman waited, they stopped talking.

  “What did you tell him, Majesty?”

  “I told him that I would not surrender, would not abandon my people. He laughed and told me that this kingdom was not my people, and I challenged that assertion. He asked me to surrender again, and when I refused, he cast me from Fae and into the Human Realm.”

  More talk, but Horgath held up his hand.

  “What do you wish us to do, Majesty?”

  Brennan leaned forward. “I cannot tell why my people are upset enough to take up arms against me. I have ever encouraged anyone with a concern to come to me, regardless of how large or small the concern may be. I have heard nothing of unrest, or unhappiness. Yet some of those slain were goblins of my city, or who’d been here in the castle. I need your help, my lords.”

  “Who was the man, Majesty?”

  “Lord Horgath, he was not known to me and did not tell me his name. He had a long scar down one side of his face. He also is a sorcerer of some skill. He took Drake and I completely by surprise, and managed to send us from the clearing. He was not young, but not an elder. I need to know what the whispers are that allowed him to drag our people to their slaughter.” His voice deepened, as he saw again in his mind’s eye the field of his fallen goblins. “I will not allow my kingdom to descend into the chaos that ruled before I came to the throne. I will not allow a malcontent to sacrifice my people for his own ends! But I need your help, my lords.” He leaned in, making sure to meet the eyes of every leader around the table.

  Every one of them met his eyes. Even Horgath, in spite of his questioning. It wasn’t any of them, then. At least, he hoped not.

  Horgath stood. “Have we leave to return our kin to their clan?”

  Brennan stood as well. “Yes. Bronoor has also prepared what you will need to bury them with honors.”

  Horgath’s face darkened, a feat for a goblin who had a dark tone to begin with. Brennan could hear the slight clanking of the ornamentation on Horgath’s clothing.

  “They were traitors, Majesty.”

  Brennan held up a hand. “I am unwilling to decide that at this point, Lord Horgath. The strength of the fae I encountered leads me to think that he might have manipulated our people. Until I know differently, I want them buried with all the honors they would have had they died in another manner.”

  Horgath put his hands on his hips and took several steps away from the table. Brennan didn’t say anything. He recognized the signs of a leader trying to decide the best path.

  Finally, Horgath turned back to him. “We will do as you ask. But we will make note of them all and if a different tale emerges, we will make amends. May we take them home?”

  “Of course. I think you have made a wise choice,” Brennan said. “I agree with it. Should you need anything, I want you to come to me. Me, alone.”

  Horgath nodded and looked around at the other clan heads. “We will. This ain’t like them, Majesty. And we’ll see if there’s been a fae of your description hanging about.”

  He gave a quick bow and turned to leave the throne room. The other clan heads followed him.

  “My lords!” They all stopped as one.

  “I am sorry.”

  “As am I, Majesty,” Horgath replied. Within a moment, he had left the room.

  Brennan let out a breath and sat down on his throne. That had gone better than expected. Almost too well…he stopped himself. There may indeed be a traitor within that group of goblins, but there could be a traitor anywhere. He had no idea where the traitor was, and until he knew more, he would still any thoughts of who it might be. To continue to ponder without proof was a path to madness, delving into paranoia and poor choices.

  Exactly what Scarface wanted, he thought, sitting up. Dissention and discord, a breaking of trust and bonds that had stood for hundreds of years.

  The more he thought about it, the more he felt certain this was someone carrying out a grudge. It would be one thing to attempt to topple Brennan from his throne, perhaps shake the power of his family, but this had the feel of something more personal.

  Drake returned. “Your father has found some leads.”

  “What?”

  “They are in the Dragon and Dwarf Realms. The old king had a wife. She fled and later married a man from the Dragon court. Her sons are still there, but her daughter married into the Dwarf Realm.”

  “These are not the heirs of the old king, surely?” The thought staggered Brennan. His father wouldn’t have barred the lawful heirs from the throne in his favor? He’d always understood that there were no heirs. He’d forgotten than when he’d been named heir, the Goblin King was married, and there was still hope for children.

  Drake frowned. “The sons are from the Dragon man she married. The daughter is the old king’s, born after he was put to death. His wife told no one she was expecting.”

  “What did Father know of the wife?”

  “Nothing. He knows nothing of them.”

  “Ailla and her father must know.” A cold hand squeezed the center of Brennan. “She is part of their court. They have known all along, Drake.”

  “Her father, perhaps. Ailla, I do not think so, Bren.”

  “We have to operate as though they both know and have kept that fact from us.” Brennan could feel the cold hand turning to ice.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Iris

  My mother. Her mother. Both of them facing the sky, and even though it sounded crazy, I swear I could see them grow, somehow. Almost like the slow motion of watching a flower unfurl in the sun. You didn’t really see it move, but suddenly, it lay open, and beautiful.

  “Mom…” I breathed. She turned, and she once more was my mom. Not the fae woman stranger.

  “You look amazing.” My dad had come over, and I could tell he saw what I did. Mom still looked like Mom, only…different. Sharper.

  Dad looked over her shoulder to Mara. “This is something you ought to have told Claire long ago, Mara.”

  My grandmother startled and spun to face him. “I should have. I am sorry that I waited until nearly the last minute. I won’t let that mistake happen again.”

  “What happens now?” I asked. As much as I enjoyed seeing Mom healthy and healed, I felt a growing fear that just as I had been forever changed, Mom would be too. I didn’t know whether the fae influence would turn out to be good or bad. Not yet. Even though the fae thing had saved her.

  “You go on to live and make the most of your lives,” Taranath spoke. He’d been so quiet that I’d forgotten he stood there.

  “Although, I think you might consider coming back with me, Iris.”

  “What? No!” Three voices nearly shouted at him.

  He didn’t even blink. I really, really wanted some of the no-flinch all these fae seemed to have bred in them.

  “Iris is of age, in both our realms. Her fae side allowed her to live where her human side would have perished while she was in Fae,” he looked to my parents and Mara. “There is something different about her, and how she reacts to her two sides. It would be interesting to have time to observe how she responds to being in Fae for more than a day.”

  “Oh, now I see!” I laughed at him. I could afford to laugh now. “You really want a chance to study me, don’t you?”

  Taranath smiled the biggest smile I’d seen from him since I’d met him. “I cannot lie, Iris. Yes, I do. So I
leave the door open to you.” He reached into a pouch along his waist and pulled a smaller pouch from it. Held it out towards me.

  I hesitated to take it.

  “It will allow you to open a portal and bring you to me. All you need do is open it and speak my name. I don’t want you wandering all over Fae should you decide to join us again. But if you wish it, I want you to be able to come at your convenience.”

  “Are you leaving?”

  “My king has need of me. As interesting as this has been, as gratifying,” He smiled over my head towards Mom, “I need to be home. Helping the king.”

  Brennan. I knew he was in some sort of battle. In my focus on myself, and my mom, and…everything, I’d not thought of him. Or his trouble. I felt my heart give a strange leap at the thought of him in some kind of struggle, or worse, hurt.

  “I hope he’s okay. Please thank him again, from all of us,” I stepped closer to Taranath, wanting to say more, not wanting to open up that part of my brain that had so much more to say.

  “I will tell him of your promise to allow the request of a favor. Should he be in need, he will ask. Fae see no weakness in seeking help. They are only careful from whom they seek it.”

  With a last, intense look at me, he stood back, nodding at my parents and grandmother. “I am glad you are well, Claire. Imara, you are welcome home at any time.”

  Without warning, a flash sparked in front of him, and then as suddenly as it appeared, he disappeared.

  I looked at my parents. My mom looked intrigued. Dad held his hands up to shade his eyes. “They’re all pretty dramatic. Is that really necessary?”

  “Everyone opens portals differently. Even Iris,” said Mara. “In order to get here from Fae, Iris had to direct the portal. I’m assuming she is the only one who knew the location of your home?”

  “That would explain why we all fell on the floor in a pile,” I said, scowling at the memory.

  Mara didn’t look bothered. “Who came through with you?”

  “Nerida and Taranath.”

  “Nerida fell into a heap on the floor? I would have paid money to see that!” Mara hooted with laughter. It changed her entire face, her demeanor, everything—to see her laugh so freely.

  “That might have explained her mood,” I allowed.

  Still chuckling, Mara put her arm through Mom’s. To the surprise of all of us, she did the same with Dad.

  “Let’s go in, have a lunch that has nothing to do with Fae, and catch me up on what my stupid pride has allowed me to miss.”

  She gave me a glance that had only warmth as she passed by me, arm and arm with my parents. My dad seemed to hesitate as she dragged him along.

  I watched them walk back into the house.

  Part of me had never been so full of joy. I would lose my mom someday, but it wouldn’t be today. Or even tomorrow. I’d been given a lot more tomorrows with her.

  So why did I feel so sad? So forlorn?

  Brennan. The name came to mind unbidden, so swiftly, it must have been waiting to spring forward.

  How? Why? I’d met the guy like…yesterday! This couldn’t continue. I would not see him again, and I needed to put him out of my head.

  Suddenly, blond guys like Heath didn’t seem all that attractive anymore. I sighed and followed my now larger family into the house.

  Brennan

  He and Drake crouched low, eying the modest abode in front of them. They were perched on a hill above the house, and Brennan felt sure they’d be spotted any minute. That was if the imaginary gong that seemed to announce him everywhere that Drake joked about didn’t go off.

  But their luck held. No activity other than a lazy curl of smoke came from the little house.

  “Are we certain this is the right place? It won’t do for us to burst in on an innocent member of another realm,” Brennan muttered to Drake.

  “I am sure,” Drake didn’t take his eyes off the house. The old king’s daughter, Dhasyrha, lives there with her husband. He is a fae with dwarf ties. There are no children from the match.”

  “Where did you discover all this?”

  “Father. I’ve no idea where he got the information from, but he told me this while you were talking to the clan lords.”

  Brennan nodded. The fact that the information came from Father eased some of his concern. Not all of it, but some.

  “Did Father happen to know anything of Scarface?”

  Drake laughed softly. “You’re still calling him that? She named him well, didn’t she? Brings him down to size.”

  Brennan only nodded, eyes still on the cottage. Once Drake had imparted that the old king’s widow still lived, and her daughter lived in the Dwarf Realm, they had traveled there immediately. Brennan didn’t care for the basic lack of planning that this move highlighted, but he agreed that taking action towards the daughter was better than approaching the Dragon King. Or perhaps he just didn’t want to face Ailla and her father. He couldn’t stop the feeling of betrayal. The widow had been there all along. The court would have known of the marriage of the daughter. All these things were known, and no one in that court had bothered to let Jharak or Brennan know.

  The failure to share that knowledge made him very suspicious.

  “According to Father, the Dwarf lord she married was not the daughter’s first choice. There was a fae whom the old king promised her to before she was even born.” He looked at Brennan. “I would be willing to offer a strong bet that is our,” Drake swallowed a laugh, “Scarry McScarface.” He didn’t say anything for a moment, and then burst into silent laughter.

  Brennan slid his gaze from the cottage to glare at Drake. “We are trying to be discreet.”

  “I’m sorry,” Drake managed, once he stopped laughing. “Brennan, even you have to admit it’s funny.”

  Brennan shrugged, He could see Iris, feeling the effects of Drake’s calming spell, giggling to herself as she said the name. Drake was right. It did bring him down to size. He allowed a smile, and then got back to the matter at hand.”

  “Why is it you didn’t tell me of this before we left?”

  Drake shrugged. “I thought it better to get you here. This is where we need to be. The daughter, Dhasyrha, is the key. Father seemed to think the widow wanted nothing to do with what happened, and that could be why we weren’t told of her, or how her life moved on.”

  “Or she was kept hidden as a bargaining tool.” Brennan couldn’t completely disguise his bitterness.

  “I hate to encourage your line of thinking, but it’s a possibility. The question is, why hasn’t Eilor brought it up before now? He didn’t, even when you were dragging your feet with the betrothal and Father had to dance around stalling things a bit. That sort of information is usually something that ought to be shared between leaders.”

  “I don’t know. I don’t like the direction of these thoughts, but I can’t dismiss them. They sit, whispering in my ear, creating conspiracies out of everything.” He glared at the small cottage, willing something to happen.

  Drake leaned in, peering at him. “That’s not a good place for your thoughts to reside, Bren. You have to put them aside. You don’t want to say something you will have to work around later.”

  “I know, I know! I want to head to Eilor and demand the truth, but I can’t see where that would help anything other than my anger at this point. It wouldn’t allow us to gather our own answers as I think we need to.”

  “Look!” Drake nudged his arm with an elbow. “The door!”

  The door to the cottage opened. A woman’s head peeked around the edge of the door. Clearly, she exercised care before coming outside. Of course, maybe this was just life in the Dwarf Realm. Brennan didn’t think he’d get that lucky. This woman, who ducked back inside quickly, had something to hide. But what? What is she, if it is Dhasyrha, hiding? Or who? Or from whom? The questions frustrated him.

  Now the door opened wider. The woman who’d peeked out came outside, scanning the area outside and around the cottag
e. She even cast her gaze up into the hills where Drake and Brennan lay hidden. Brennan resisted the urge to duck down further.

  She turned to speak over her shoulder, and a man came out, taking the woman’s hand as he came to stand next to her. He had on a long cloak with the hood up. In spite of not being able to see the man’s face, Brennan knew, knew in his bones, that he saw the fae who’d started all of this and caused the death of his people. He felt all of his muscles tighten, anger bunching them, and his lips curled over his teeth. The fae sorcerer would pay for what he’d done.

  The woman turned to the hooded man, and they embraced. He leaned down and kissed her, partially obscuring her face within the depth of the hood. She broke the kiss and buried her face in his shoulder. Brennan could tell she gripped him, held him close. He felt a momentary burst of empathy, and then reminded himself that the man, if not the woman, had led his goblins to be slaughtered for their own gain. That removed all empathy.

  “Ready?” He whispered to Drake. They’d hurried from the castle but lying in wait had given them a little time to discuss what would happen should the cottage be occupied. Brennan realized that he hadn’t really thought they’d find anyone here. Or maybe, he hadn’t wanted to.

  “Ready.” Drake’s voice sounded tight.

  Brennan reached into the pouch at his waist and drew out one of the stones they had brought with them. It would allow their magic to expand its reach, and hopefully help to repel any magic from those they captured.

  “Now!” He whispered.

  He and Drake stood up and held the stones high over their heads. Together they shouted the spell, and a spark appeared over the couple below.

  At the sound of their shouted incantation, the hooded man drew back from the woman. As she turned to see what had caused him to move, Brennan could tell the man saw the danger before she did. The man yanked her hand, pulling her back towards the cottage.

  The spark exploded, casting a net of light over the woman. She crouched down with a cry as the net fell over her. Then she dropped to the ground, and with what Brennan could only describe as a wail, her hand still gripped by the man. The man kept hold of her hand for a moment longer, and then kissed it. He let go of her, ignoring her cries, and, threw back his hood, and Brennan stiffened at the hate he could feel pouring from the man, even at this distance.