Whenthe officers trapped the goblin it went berserk.  It tore chunks of dough from its bread bunhat and hurled them at the officers as they tried to apprehend it.  Strings of melted cheese coated everyonetogether with a sweet red sauce which reeked of a rancid preserving agent.  All the while the goblin shrieked in the mostear-splitting tone.   It behaved as nogoblin has behaved since the time that was. The Queen had taken every precaution to finish those times, eradicatethem.  

Thegoblin’s behaviour once in the holding cell was stranger still.  It would not give its name nor clan reference.  Larell thought he sensed confusion when ithad been asked its clan designation, as though it had never belonged to any.  This was another in a line of disconcertingoccurrences making Larell tremble with fear for his beloved world.

Itwas clear the goblin was ill.  It nolonger shrieked.  That had stopped somewhile ago.  Now it sat hunched against afar wall, its double hooded eyes unblinking. From time to time its slim body convulsed violently.  Large folds of its green skin unpeeled incurls, beginning to clutter up the cell, not to mention the horrendous stenchthese leavings were giving off.  EvenGamden’s nose was twitching and his sense of smell was usually none existent.

Larellhad sent Presley to the outmost Island of Elisma.  There he hoped the genie could find the mostexperienced healer Faetaera had in existence. 

Pleasedo not let those awful times of sorrow return.Larell sent his thoughts out to the last of the Pattern Keepers bindingexistence. Don’t let go of the whispering life the Queen brought back to usin the early Days of Thunder. Larell did not want to feel his Queen’smournful sorrow ever again.

Gamdenbegan to emit a siren-like wail.  Thegoblin was dying and Gamden could sense it.

“Goto your cave Gamden.” 

Thetroll lumbered out of the prison cell. Larell looked over at the jellied mass in the corner of thedungeon.  He stirred himself and sent amoth mail to Curly.  Perhaps the goat’shorns could give some insight into the goblin’s state of mind, what littlethere was remaining.

ForLarell it brought back the memory of his time in the ranks of the ImperialInfantry.  Most of the enemy infantry hadconsisted of goblins.  Such ferociousfighters.  They were notorious for theirrelentlessness in battle.  And theirspeedy breeding capabilities meant a constantly supplied enemy army. Back thenhe’d killed goblins knowing within hours more would come at him and theinfantry beside him.  When he took on thetask of securing The Citadel, goblin allegiance had been re-established.  Larell was still unsure how Aurelia had doneit, but she was a most remarkable elf queen. She had proved that time and time again.

Hewas one of only six to see her redraw the continents, roll and wrap then hidethem beneath the folds of her cloak.  Ifanything, he felt she had made them more spectacular.  It was in that precise moment, with theessence of world spiralling around her slender frame that he fell deep into thewishing well of his love for her. 

WhenElumin came from beyond the ends of the oceans with his Elnight reinforcementsLarell had stepped into the well and hidden the golden sequins of his love forhis Queen beneath the soft lapping of the well’s waters.  Because Larell saw the way shooting starsgleamed in her eyes when she looked at Elumin.

***

Curly’snostrils trembled at the stench before him but he continued to examine thepuddle the goblin had become.  “He was ofus but not of us.  There is a strongtinge of them, as though he is one of their artefacts.  It’s a shame I did not get here sooner.”

Heand Larell left the cells and headed for Larell’s private quarters.  Once settled within they continued theirdiscussion.

“Areyou saying he was made by them?” Larell measured spiced 100 proof mead into ashot glass and shallow bowl which he placed before Curly.

Curlylapped before replying. “It seems so.” His eyes went a little cross-eyed.

“Howis this possible Curly?  How have theymanaged to get our essence?”  Larell wasa full 60cm above the ground, his ankle wings beating fiercely, his agitationso great.

Curlysat down on his haunches, an image he knew amused Larell.  He hoped now it would serve to calm hisfriend.  “I don’t know.  But it can’t be good.  They have this habit of taking what isbeautiful and sacred and twisting it to their will.”  The look on Curly’s face was disturbing.  It negated the humour of his rump on thefloor.

Larellknocked back the shot of mead. “If only I knew the source.  I would launch a unit into their world toinvestigate and stop it.”  Larell, nowback on the ground, hunched down before Curly. “Would you come with us?  I knowit’s a lot to ask.  You’ve only justbegun to find your place here, but your knowledge is invaluable.”

Droppinghis head low between his forelegs Curly contemplated his hooves for quite sometime.  Then he looked up at Larell.  “I can’t refuse.  You could have had me executed when you foundout but you didn’t.  You trusted mymotives were of the purest and now I trust you because I know what drives you.”

Feelingstartled Larell looked at Curly closely. “You know.”

“Ofcourse I know. I’m trained to look at everyone and everything closely.  It’s how my profession works.  The unsaid is more powerful than you couldimagine.”

“Oh.  Perhaps I should be more guarded.”  There was a wistful quality to Larell’svoice.

Curlyrose from his position on the floor and paced round the room.  “I wouldn’t bother.  It’s more or less common knowledge.”

Larellshot up clear to the ceiling of his chamber as he shouted. “What!”

“Comedown, come down.  There’s no pointstaying up there and feeling embarrassed. Nobody hates you for it.  Theythink you work harder for the Citadel because of it.  Don’t be so meek.”

SlowlyLarell descended to the floor of the room. His feelings swirled around insidehim.  Everyone knew. Did that mean She also knew?  She probably did.  She knew everything. Larell turned to seeCurly watching him. The goat shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

Sighingbut returning the smile Larell said.  “Isuppose we have a secret mission to organise.”

Atthe casement a wasp lifted off on silent wings and headed out to locate itsmaster.