The goblins cheered as they carried the limp form of Xep through the street. Some people also raised up their arms and cheered as the small horde of hooded creatures moved in and out of them. They took the slightly heavy robot back to the large purple tent their master set up for the markets. In return, the hooded man tossed out small satchels to each one. The goblins dove down and fought over the small packets of food. Once everyone had a bag, they tore into it and started chowing down on the paste like substance inside.
The hooded figure turned away from the disgusting figures and peeled the bag off his new treasure, “Ah yes. The mechanical. A one of a kind surely… seeing that there is something trapped inside. Do not worry my little friend, ” he said as he patted the cold body of Xep, “I promise to take very, very good care of you. You have nothing to be afraid of and who knows, I just may figure out how to free you from that gilded cage you sit in.”
The cog shaped irises in Xep’s face did not make any movements. She was still frozen in place.
Paige ran through the streets of the goblin market. She called out for Tristian and Sardonios as she ran, her breath coming out in short misty bursts, “Sard. Tristian where are you. Sard! Tristian!” She continued to run around but could not spot her two friends.
“Shit, where are you guys hiding?” She panicked and ran her hand through her tousled hair. “Damn, damn, damn, this day went from lots of fun to worse. And I cannot get the image of that guy out of my head. Where are you guys.”
She spun around in a single spot and then the tears started flowing down her puffy red cheeks. She collapsed in the middle of the street; her body curling up in on itself. She heaved as the tears continued to stream down her face. Her right hand tightly gripped the soft black leather pouch that contained the broken promise of fame and fortune in it. She wanted to throw it away from her as far as she could but she felt like it was a part of her and that she would be betraying herself if she had done so. So all she could do was keep it in her hand and cling onto it.
The sound of feet running up behind her got closer and closer. She froze her body, afraid of what was coming to her. She thought that it could be the hooded man, ready to take away the pouch from her because she had decided to get Tristian and Sard to help her protect Xep. “Paige, is that you? Paige?”
It was Sard, he had founder her first. “What is wrong child? Why are you all curled up in the dirt and wet like this? Talk to me.”
Paige sat up and brushed the mud off her knees. She did not stare into the concerned eyes of her friend, waves of embarrassment ran over her. She pushed her a stray strand of hair down over her ear and allowed Sardonios to help her up.
“Sard,” she said hugging him close, “I think I have done something horribly terrible and I feel really bad about it.”
“What did you do Paige?” he said staring at her with confusion.
Paige held up the pouch as if it was supposed to explain everything she wanted to tell him and that he was supposed to understand it from the very beginning. “This pouch is filled with everything I have ever wanted for myself. I am so tired of being out by myself on the streets. Do not get me wrong, I love dancing, love performing for others and watching the crowds cheer and ooh and ahh all over the tricks I can get the fire to do. But honestly, it does not pay well at all. I do not have a permanent address, nor do I have any health care or a bank account with lots of savings inside. I am tired of that. I am young, yes. But when I get older, what will become of me. No one will be there to take care of me. I am alone. So, there was this guy and I made a deal.”
Fear washed over Sardonios, “What did you do?”
Paige dropped her head downwards to the ground again, “I made a deal. I traded something that was not mine for this. I told him that he could take Xep and he gave me exactly what I wanted. I feel horrible. We have got to get her back.”
Sardonios looked away from her and out into the crowds. He saw no sign of Xep anywhere. “I can not believe you did that. She trusted you. She trusted the rest of us. There still may be some time left. Let us go find Tristian, maybe he is still with Xep. While we walk I want you to tell me about this man, what he looked like, what he said exactly, and where you met him.”
Paige nodded and got to her feet. She slipped the pouch inside the pocket of her jeans and told Sard everything, including all the little details.
Tristian caught up to them a few minutes later, “Where is Xep? Is she with you? We got separated twenty two minutes ago and I cannot find her anywhere. There are real goblins here. Which makes this place a very dangerous place indeed.”
“The he has her. Oh my gods, what have I done,” Paige howled as the sinking feeling in the depths of her stomach rose and attempted to claim her.
“What are you babbling on about,” Tristian said as he attempted to keep the young girl from doubling over again, “Sardonios, what is she talking about?”
“She made a deal,” he said in an even toned voice.
“What? She made a deal… here? That is not good. You never deal with goblins. Never. Damnit. This is all going wrong. Please tell me that someone found a solution to our other problem?” His two companions shook their head in regret. “Dam damn damn. This was our only chance and now… even that is gone. Things are going to get very messy this afternoon.”
Tristian moved the three of them over to a covered tent that had food and drink. He ordered three pints of mead for them all and a few sandwiches made from sunflower bread. “Paige, you need to tell me what happened and show me what you were given in return. All is not lost just yet but I need to know exactly what went on.”
Paige took a deep breath, cleared her throat, nodded and recounted the story that she told Sardonios once more.
When she was done, Tristian was staring down at his cup and plate. They were both empty. “At this point there is only one thing left to do. We need to figure out where this hooded man is and get her back. You will need to give him back that pouch. I am sorry but he lied to you. That pouch does not show any taint of magic on it at all. I can see that. I have the feeling that our hooded figure is probably a great con artist in disguise. What he wants with Xep I do not know but if he is willing to offer magical cons in return it can not be good. Paige, take us to where you last saw this man.”
Paige stood up and they walked over to where she had been spinning. Her kit was still on the ground, it was untouched. Paige pointed to the nearby tree and gestured. “He was leaning up against that tree when he waved me over. How is knowing that going to help us track down where Xep is.”
“Faerie magic my dear,” Tristian said. “Just stand back and watch.”
He pulled off the pool cue case that had been sitting on his back and muttered something in a strange musical language to the lid. Somewhere deep down inside the case a lock triggered and the lid popped open. He reached down inside and pulled out a silver sword from the case. The sword glinted and glimmered as the light of the world hit it.
He held the sword in his left hand and muttered more words to it. The sword glowed and soon there were footprints lighting up all around them. Tristian smiled, “Like I said, faerie magic. These are the footsteps of our mystery man. They will lead us back to where ever he is standing. The brighter the path, the newer the steps. Come on, let us get going. We do not want to lose the trail.”
They nodded and Tristin hid the sword under his jacket. He did not want to be caught with the weapon and was thankful that no one saw him remove it from its case.
They wandered off in the direction the footprints led them and soon they came upon the farthest outskirts of the Marketplace grounds. The single set of footprints lead up to a single tall standing purple colored canvass tent. “That is it,” Tristian said. “I wager that she is somewhere inside that tent. And I am sure our mystery man will not give her up without a fight. Sardonios, Paige, no matter what happens inside, I want you two to get Xep safely back to the car. Do not worry about me. I will follow. There will be some fighting going on and that is forbidden in the markets.”
Paige removed the pouch from her pocket, “here you are. I do not want this anymore. I will do whatever you say, let us just get Xep and get out of this cursed place.”
Sardonios said, “I have no doubt that you have a plan. So we get in, barter or fight for Xep, get her and leave?”
“That is basically it in a nutshell,” Tristian said nodding. “Just let me do all the talking and keep close to each other and to Xep once the fighting starts. I do not want to see anyone get hurt.”
His companions looked nervous at one another but stayed silent. Tristian smiled and moved the tent’s door aside so he could get a better glimpse of what was inside. The smell of decay hit his nose and he fought the urge to retch.
“Ah, guests,” a low voice said from deep within the tent, “I should have guessed that the bargain, while withholding on it’s own, would not agree with everyone. Come in and do not worry, the mechanical has not been harmed. You can take a look for yourself.”
The three stepped into the room. The light inside the tent was dim, light only by a handful of free standing candelabras. Seated in the middle of the room on a refurbished sofa, was a man, dressed in black pants and a shirt. He wore a full bodied cloak over his clothes. His head was bowed so that no one could see his face. Low gutter growls sounded off to their right. There along the perimeter of the tent stood a small group of goblins. Their faces were messy as if they had just eaten something and their eyes were all focused and following the three humans as they made their way into the room. Xep was propped up against a box that sat just a few feet from the growling mass of green goblins.
“I bid you welcome to my humble home. Do not worry, my assistants will not hurt you, unless I give them the command to do so,” he pulled down his hood to expose his face and head. He was mostly bald and wore thin rimmed metal glasses over his eyes, “My name is Edward Blackhand and I am a collector of unique items. And your metal friend over there is quite possible the most unique of them all.”
“She is not for sale,” Tristian said stepping forward. He removed the black pouch from his pocket and tossed it unceremoniously onto the sofa next to Edward. “I believe this is yours. Take it back and release Xep. She is not for sale, she is not what you think she is.”
Edward tossed his head back and laughed a deep throaty cackle, “Oh my, you are priceless. Of course I know what she is. I would not have taken her if I did not. She is a real find and perhaps one day, given the right implements and time, I will be able to release what was trapped within. Now that would be an exciting prospect no? The bartering was done, she is still mine. I suggest that you and your friends leave before I send the hordes to rip you to shreds.”
“I dare you to try it,” Tristian said nodding to the others. They left his sides and made their way slowly around the tent to Xep. ” Actually, I would relish the opportunity to go a few rounds with your boys over there. It has been a long time since I have gotten to play.”
And with that, Tristian pulled out his short sword from his coat and brandished it at Edward.
Edward rolled his eyes and pointed to the goblins, “Enough of this banter. Tear them all up.”
The goblins howled with glee and moved in toward Tristian. Their mouths foamed and their eyes turned red. Tristian stood his ground and waited for the goblins to come right at him. Once the were upon him he swung his sword and started slashing at the foul critters.
One tried to hit him over the head with a club but Tristian felt the wind move and deftly side stepped it. He then hopped over the goblins in front of him, swinging the sword high over his head, as he leapt. One of the goblins fell under the crushing blow of the sword. Tristian kicked a few other goblins from him and moved towards Edward.
While Tristian provided a distraction, the other two ran to Xep’s side. Sardonios looked her over and realized that she needed one of his elixirs. He pulled one from her belt pocket and dumped the powdered concoction into her lips. A minute later, Xep’s eyes refocused and caught sight of her friends.
“Thank the maker you are here. Where is here?” she said sounding tired and confused.
“Do not worry,” Sardonios said, “we have got to get you out of here. Tristian will be following very shortly.”
Xep nodded and looked over his shoulder. There stood Tristian, sword in hand, next to a crumpled form in a cloak. His sword glimmered a bright red and Tristian had a look in his eyes that disturbed her. A pool of blood started flowing outwards around him. Five smaller forms sat crumpled nearby where more puddles of blood pooled outwards. Xep frowned but said nothing as they quickly ran out from the tent and back into the light.
They ran as fast as they could to where the car had been parked. No one said anything as they ran. The moment they got to the car a loud buzzer started sounding deep within the Market. Tristian caught up to them, his sword having been packed back in its case and slung over his shoulder. He yelled, “They know about Edward. I got spotted with my weapon coming out of the tent. Get in the car. I think it is time for us to leave.”
The Nissan Sentra pulled out of the parking lot and away from the Goblin Market, kicking up dirt as the tires sped away from the location. Tristian looked over his shoulder and spoke, “Hot damn. We did it. We pulled it off. That went as well as I expected it to be. No one is following us. But I suggest that we do not head back to Portland anytime soon. Someone may be following us just yet.”
“They will not follow us where we are going,” Xep said under her breath. “Sard, take me to the location of the nearest fissure. You know where it is, I believe. It is time. We do what we came to do now, or we watch the world get destroyed.”
Sardonios looked at the mechanical companion, he opened his mouth to say something but the words did not come out. Instead he pulled the car onto the highway heading northbound, towards the strange dancing lights that could be seen off in the distance.
