Realms of the Goblin King (The Realm Trilogy Book 3)

by Lisa Manifold

  “Regardless, I believe I can answer the question of where we are,” Taranath said in a more normal tone.

  “How?” Drake and I asked together.

  “There’s a door.” The light bobbed in front of us to the left.

  I followed the motion and could see the faint outline of the door.

  “Good,” Drake sounded gruff. “Taranath, I will open it. You be ready to stop anyone that comes through. I’ll be right next to you,” He drew his sword. “You,” He turned to me, “Stay behind us. Taranath is right, you’re doing okay with your skills, but you are not anywhere near ready for a battle. Stay behind us. Do you understand?”

  There was an apology there. I could hear it, although he’d never say the words out loud. Which meant I needed to do the same.

  “I do. I won’t get in the way,” I said.

  A moment, and then he nodded at me. I knew that this was forgiven, on both sides. We were both worried, and apparently had the same sort of temper. With something that I thought might be hysteria, I made another mental tick in the ‘just alike’ column for Drake and I. Brennan had married the girl Drake. I stopped myself at the thought of Brennan. I couldn’t afford to get all bananas.

  Brennan. Please be safe, please be alive, I thought. Drake was right. We were on a ticking clock. I only hoped we’d get to him in time.

  Drake moved quietly to the door. Taranath stood to the side, ready for…what? I couldn’t tell what he was doing as he’d moved the light to up above him—how was he making it float like that?—and dimmed it.

  That was a trick I needed to learn, stat.

  Drake pulled the door open quickly, leaping backwards as he did so.

  With a yell, they were practically on top of us.

  Chapter Ten

  Iris

  Drake yelled something in Fae, and I felt my heart try to burst out of my chest. I didn’t know what to do, because anything I did might not be helpful.

  Taranath stepped closer and I could see blue flame shooting from his hands. Whatever it was caused damage; there was yelping from the horde of whatever had come through the door.

  I took a couple of steps back trying to figure out exactly what it was that had come through the door. They were bigger, and…I covered my nose. Wow, did they smell. What the hell was that? It smelled like something had died.

  “Euwww,” I said, not able to stop myself.

  “Iris!” Taranath yelled. “Time to try again!”

  I stared, not sure what he—Oh! Time to portal again. Oh, god. Because I’d done so well before. It had to be better than these smelly giants trying to kill us. I hoped, anyway. I felt in my pockets. I didn’t have a stone! Shit! How was I supposed to steer without one? I could feel the panic rise as Drake and one of the smellies landed close to me with a thud.

  I jumped back, and then closed my eyes, taking deep breaths.

  “Concentrate, you can do this,” I muttered. I pictured Drake, Taranath and I at the place on the map that I could see in my head. “Take us there,” I said, not sure who I spoke to.

  My fists were clenched and I could feel something…sort of like ripples. “To the castle, to the castle, me, Drake, and Taranath, to the castle,” I said.

  The ripples increased. The smelly giants were yelling, in a language I couldn’t understand, and I opened my eyes.

  Taranath was next to me, although he was still sending blue flame to the whatevers that had burst in the door.

  All of a sudden, his flame died and I could see one of the giants heading right for us.

  “Iris!” Drake yelled.

  Then he threw himself in front of Taranath and I. Taranath grabbed my hand.

  “Now, please,” he said, sounding like we were talking about the weather and not about to die.

  I squeezed my eyes shut and thought about the castle on the map.

  The ripples grabbed me, and it went silent. The silence seemed louder for the noise that we’d just left. The castle, the castle, the castle, I thought. Please get us there.

  I could tell that we’d landed somewhere, but where? I didn’t want to open my eyes.

  “What were you thinking about when you directed the portal, your Majesty?” Taranath asked from beside me.

  I was back to being the queen again. I noticed when stress levels were high, they both called me Iris, but I didn’t mind. I didn’t open my eyes yet. “I kept thinking, get us to the castle, and picturing the place on the map,” I said.

  “Well, we’re at a castle, of sorts.” Drake actually sounded amused.

  Which was better than mad. I opened my eyes. “Where are we? Where were we? What the hell were those smelly huge guys?”

  Taranath laughed. “Those were trolls, part of the guard, if I had to guess. They do carry a distinctive odor about them. It’s part of their culture. I believe they find it appealing.”

  “Oh, lord. Really?” I couldn’t come up with anything that wasn’t hugely insulting.

  “They do smell. But should a visit be necessary, you get used to it,” Drake laughed as well. “Which leads me to believe you sent us to the Troll Realm.”

  “I thought we were friends! Why did they attack us?”

  “I would have done the same,” Drake shrugged, and oddly, put his sword back into the scabbard. “We weren’t supposed to be there, and they didn’t know who we were. I’ll have Brenn—” He stopped.

  My heart fell. But if I let it keep falling, I’d be no good to anyone. I straightened my shoulders. “One of us will contact them once this is over,” I said with more conviction than I felt, “And explain…well, I don’t know what, but we’ll come up with something. So where are we?”

  Taranath had been looking around while Drake and I talked. Now he turned his gaze on me. “Were you panicked when you opened the portal?” He asked.

  I nodded. “Well, yes. All I could see was you and your flashy hands and Drake and lots of giants headed right for me.”

  “That explains it, then. You brought us to where you feel safe.”

  “What does that mean? I don’t feel safe anywhere.”

  “It means you’ve brought us back to the Human Realm,” Taranath said.

  “I believe this is what is called ‘taking the long way’ to get somewhere, isn’t it?” Drake asked.

  I looked around. “I have no idea where we are, although this does kind of look like a castle. A little one.”

  Taranath looked like he was holding back a smile. I didn’t see the humor in this. Wasn’t Drake just screaming about how being late would kill Brennan? What the hell?

  “You’re getting better,” Drake said. “At least you got one part right. That’s better than a cave in the Troll Realm.”

  He and Taranath looked at one another, and both started to laugh. I put my hands on my hips. “What is going on? We’re wasting time! Isn’t that what you were just saying? Or is it we still have enough time to make fun of Iris?”

  Drake laughed harder, although Taranath calmed down. He watched Drake for a moment, then turned to me. “Your learning curve, I believe that’s what you call it, is funny, your Majesty. But you are getting better. How do you feel?”

  “Mad, and tired,” I said.

  “As you should. Two portals in such a short amount of time is wearing on anyone, especially one just learning.”

  “Is that supposed to make me feel better? Because this one,” I gestured at Drake, “Is ruining it.”

  Drake stood up, his laughter dying. “I am sorry, but Taranath is right. You’ll laugh at this at a later date, ladyship.”

  “I think you’re cracking under stress, and you—” I stopped as I saw Drake draw his sword and place himself in front of me. Taranath moved behind me, and I could feel his back as he faced away from me.

  I don’t know when they managed it, but three men had come up and basically surrounded us. They were crouched low, almost like animals. The tension was so heavy I could cut it with a knife.

  “You wanna tell me how you just
dropped into my front yard?” The words were quiet, but even I could hear the menace in them. “You have about sixty seconds.”

  I looked at the man who spoke. He was young, although he was older than me. His arms were crossed, and he had dark hair, and dark eyes that suggested we’d better answer fast.

  Although I thought Drake could take him. But the other two, who were younger, one blond, one sandy-haired, I wasn’t sure. They were itching for a fight. All it would take was the speaker to say the word, and they’d be on us like white on rice.

  I held up a hand, for both Drake and the two young guys, and took one step towards Crossed Arms. “My name is Iris, and I am here by mistake. But speaking of that, can you tell me where here is?”

  Whatever he’d expected, that wasn’t it. I could tell by the lone eyebrow that raised.

  “Where do you think you are?”

  Oh, he was crafty. But I didn’t have time for this macho back-and-forth who has more info dance. “I think we’re in the Human Realm—I mean, I think we’re on Earth. Beyond that, I don’t know. I’m from Florida, and this looks nothing like it.”

  “What do you mean, the Human Realm?” Blonde guy asked.

  Shit. I didn’t mean to say that, but it had slipped out. “It’s nothing. Just the way we speak, so if you could—” I stopped as Crossed Arms took a step towards me, causing Drake to stick his sword in between us.

  Crossed Arms gave Drake the side eye, and with one hand, pushed the sword away. He leaned in closer, and sniffed.

  Okay, what the hell?

  “What are you?” He asked. He leaned towards Drake, and sniffed again. “You’re not the same as she is—what are you?”

  Now it was my turn to be surprised. “Uh, we’re like you, only dressed differently,” I started. Well, I wasn’t. I was still sporting my jeans and sweater. But Drake and Taranath looked…off. The long coat/robes probably didn’t help.

  “Uh, uh. You may look human, and you’re part human, but this is something more. I can smell it.”

  “What are you, a dog?” Drake asked contemptuously.

  Only a growl—a growl!—from Crossed Arms stopped the other two from leaping on Drake. He wasn’t bothered at all.

  “What, that offend you, little boys? Come on, I’m ready!” Drake swung his sword, crouching low as they had before.

  I’d never understood what ‘the light of battle in their eyes’ meant, but I did now. I was surrounded by the fight club and they were all raring to go.

  “Stop!” I shouted. Everyone turned to look at me. I didn’t figure we were supposed to blow our cover, but if this guy was sniffing things out, what the hell? He wasn’t normal either.

  “You’re right. We’re not human. I’m part human, part fae. My companions, Drake and Taranath, are both fae. We’re here—I’d love it if you would tell me where here is, as I asked earlier—because I took a wrong turn. If you could just forget you saw us, we’ll get out of your way.”

  “Nope,” said Crossed Arms. “Not how it works. You’re some sort of otherworldly type—you should know better than to just land into the territory of others without letting them know.”

  “We’re kind of on the type of journey where we’d rather people not know,” I snapped. “What is your name, by the way? I’m Iris.” I held out a hand.

  He looked at me, and then my hand, and back at me as he slowly reached out and shook it. He had a firm grip, and I could feel some sort of really strong power, almost like an electric force, running through him. That must be the fae in me, because I’d never noticed that about people before.

  “I’m Max.”

  “Where are we?”

  “Idaho Springs.”

  “Which is in what state?” I asked. God, this was painful!

  “Colorado. Where is the fae territory?”

  “What are you and how did you know we were here?”

  “We’re shifters, and I saw you drop into the front yard. Where do the fae claim?”

  “We are not from your world,” Taranath finally spoke. “There are worlds other than the human one, and that is where the fae claim. We are from the Fae Realm. You can only access it via portal travel. As her Majesty said—”

  “Her majesty?” Sandy-hair laughed. “She doesn’t look majestic at all!” His laugh ended abruptly as Max gave him the shut up look.

  “Is that true?” He asked me.

  I wasn’t comfortable with my new role, or advertising it. But this wasn’t a normal human, and I guessed he could handle something that anyone else would toss me into an asylum over. “Yes. I married the King of the Goblin Realm two days ago—” a sob caught in my throat as I realized it had only been two days! It seemed so much longer! Oh god, we were wasting time!

  “She is in fact the Goblin Queen. We are in search of someone important in our Realm, and as she is still new to the art of magic, we have not quite made it where we wished to be.”

  I was so thankful for Taranath’s calm interruption.

  “Come inside,” Max said. “This is probably better discussed indoors. Kirk,” he looked at the blond, “You two do a quick check for anyone else, and get back here.”

  The other two nodded and took off in a run. Max looked at all three of us. “Come inside,” he said again. “The sooner we talk, the sooner you are on your way.”

  “There is no reason for us to tarry here, Iris,” said Drake. “These shifters, whatever they are, have nothing to do with our business.”

  Max, who had turned, obviously expecting us to follow, stopped, and took four steps so that he stood right in Drake’s space. “If someone entered your place, would you let them leave without finding out what was going on with them? Or would you invite them in to share your hospitality, and keep your realm safe?” He crossed his arms again, waiting for Drake to answer.

  Drake sheathed his sword and rolled his eyes. “You have a point, shifter, but we are in a hurry. So let’s move this along so that we may be on our way. Time is not our friend.”

  Max turned his back and walked into the castle. Once inside, it was a cozy study, with wood-paneled walls and green above the picture rail where various prints resided. It reminded me of an English country castle, or what I thought it should look like.

  “Please sit,” Max said. As we did so, he asked, “Would you care for a drink?”

  “Water, please,” I said immediately. Food and drink didn’t seem important until I thought about how long it had been since I had any.

  He stepped to the door of the room, and I heard him speak, but I couldn’t understand what he said.

  “What are we going to tell him?” I hissed at the other two. “I thought we weren’t advertising what was really going on!” I stopped as Max came back.

  He sat, and steepled his fingers. He looked a lot older when he did that.

  The door burst open and the sandy-haired guy came in with a tray that had a pitcher of water and a number of glasses. Kirk followed behind him. Sandy hair poured each of us a glass, and then Max. Then he went and stood behind Max’s chair.

  It made me think of a king.

  Like my king. I took a deep breath to keep the tears from falling. Dammit, why couldn’t I be more like the fae at times like this? I pulled myself together. I’d been outed as a queen; I needed to behave like one. I’d be able to break down and sob later sometime. Next year, maybe.

  I looked around, realizing that everyone was staring at me, obviously waiting for me to say something.

  “I’m sorry, I was thinking about something else. Did you ask me a question?”

  Sandy Hair and Kirk both snickered, and Max’s brows gathered together, indicating he wasn’t pleased with my answer.

  “I did. Who are you looking for, and why do you suspect they are here?”

  Jeez. How much to tell, here? I took a deep breath, and looked him in the eyes. “We are looking for, as Drake said, someone important to the Realm. It’s better to keep the who part of this quiet. We didn’t come here on purpose. I am
not all that skilled at portal travel—that’s how we travel—” I saw Kirk roll his eyes but continued, “And since I am from the Human Realm, I must have steered us here by accident.”

  Then I waited.

  “This person you’re looking for,” Max said finally, “Man or woman?”

  “Man,” I said promptly.

  “Does he travel alone?”

  That wasn’t what I expected, and it must have struck Drake as odd, too.

  “Why do you ask?” He interrupted.

  Sandy Hair started to speak when Max held up his hand. Sandy Hair stopped as quickly as he’d begun.

  “Our companion probably would not be alone,” Taranath said, “But as he is with the people he’s with under duress, I doubt he’d be moving about freely.”

  “What have you seen?” Drake asked.

  I could hear the rising anger in his voice. I wondered if the shifters could—yep, they could. The two behind Max tensed. I put a hand on his arm, trying to tell him to shut the hell up with the attitude. With a pretty please. While I’d landed us here by mistake, it sounded like Max might have some information that could help us.

  Unless I was wrong about why he was being all cagey.

  “Three days ago, we picked up the scent of those who smell like you,” Max pointed at Taranath and Drake. “It is not one we’re familiar with, and as you might have noticed, we take visitors to our territory seriously. We followed them into the town. They moved as though they were totally unaware of those around them.”

  “Almost like everyone else was invisible,” Kirk added.

  Max nodded. “They were strange. We didn’t get close to them, because unlike you, they didn’t land in my front yard,” he smiled, and I could see more of the normal guy versus the scary shifter guy. “Then they disappeared, and although the scent was still around, I had no idea where they went to.”

  “Why would anyone be in the Human Realm?” I asked Taranath.

  “What did they look like? How many were there?” Drake asked.