The Kingdom - Clare B Dunkle - Hollow Kingdom 01 - The Hollow Kingdom

“Maybe they’re just gentlemen,” Kate suggested calmly. “They certainly look like gentlemen to me.” The sorcerer stared at her in astonishment and turned to study the two phantoms. He had been sure she would scream at the sight of the one without a nose, but she gazed at the freakish creature as serenely as if she saw it every day. He hesitated, taken aback, trying to think what to do. Then he snapped his fingers in sudden inspiration.

“I know which one will kill you,” he said gleefully, turning to leave. “He’s the best one, the very best, and he’s not afraid of anything.”

Unlike you, thought Kate in disgust. You can take on helpless things without a qualm, but you’re afraid of one mysterious girl. She glanced up scornfully as he returned, his plain, comfortable face wreathed in smiles. Then she gasped. Right behind him was Marak, eyes on the ground, curved sword in his six-fingered hand.

“Oh, so you’re afraid of this one, eh?” The sorcerer turned to look at the silent goblin. “That’s funny, I don’t think he’s so bad. A little grotesque, but nothing compared to those nose holes, I would have said.”

Kate stepped forward quickly. “Marak,” she called out in goblin, “look at me. I’ve come to help you escape. Can’t you work any magic at all?” The goblin King didn’t even move. His face was shielded by his impossible hair as he leaned on the curved sword.

“No working spells on him!” barked the sorcerer. “I don’t want you damaging him! Now, kill her,” he commanded the goblin. Marak swung the sword up and stepped toward Kate without hesitation. She reflected bitterly that the sorcerer had been right to pick him out. The goblin King had nothing to fear from the King’s Wife Charm. He would never be bitten, no matter what he did. If only he would look at her!

“I wasn’t enchanting him, I was talking to him!” Kate said indignantly, stepping away from her husband’s advance. “I just said hello. Why didn’t he answer?”

“What, you know him?” shouted the man in disbelief. “Wait a minute,” he ordered, and Marak stopped at once, staring at the ground. “He only hears and knows what I hear and know. If I were out of the room, he’d hear nothing at all. What language was that? How do you know about goblins? Why are they afraid of you?”

“His name is Marak, and he is the King of the goblins,” she said, ignoring the questions. “He is a great magician, much greater than you will ever be, and he protects his people with his magic. He doesn’t need to carry around candles like you do. He lights the entire kingdom with his spells. And I asked him why he had a sword in his hands. He doesn’t need a sword. He kills with magic.”

The sorcerer looked excitedly at the motionless goblin King. “What a shame he can’t speak or remember! Have you watched the spells? Do you know the words?” Kate’s heart gave a leap. As the sorcerer talked, she saw Marak make a movement of his own. He was fingering the sword thoughtfully as if he were thinking about her last statement.

“The goblin King’s magic wouldn’t work for you,” said Kate coldly. “No human could work it. No human can ever work magic. They talk the demons into working it for them.”

The sorcerer flinched, and his pupils glowed bright red. “Kill her!” he roared angrily. Marak raised the sword again, but this time he didn’t step forward.

“Marak,” cried Kate desperately, “I know you won’t hurt me. You never did, unless it was very important,” and she held out her scarred hands. “I know you won’t kill me because the lines say a long life. A long life for both of us.”

“Stop! Where did those come from?” The sorcerer studied the magical lines with interest, and Marak put down the sword. This time Kate thought he was looking at her, but she couldn’t be sure because his hair was still in his face.

“They’re from the wedding ceremony,” she explained. “From the magic worked to protect the King’s Wife. Nothing matters to the King as much as his wife and his son. Remember, Marak? Your wife and son!”

The sorcerer stared at her, amazed. “You’re his wife?” he demanded. “You’re married to that monster? A pretty girl like you and a freak like that!” He bellowed out a laugh. Behind him, the goblin dropped his head once more.

“He’s not a freak!” cried Kate in indignation. “Goblins are strong, not pretty, and he’s worth a hundred of you! Marak, you have to come home,” she begged. “You’re asleep right now in your own palace, and you have to wake up!”

The sorcerer turned to look at his servant, and the goblin turned to look at his master. Marak hesitantly reached a hand up to push the striped hair out of his face.

“Stop that!” cried the sorcerer. “You know you can’t move on your own! That’s enough of your magic!” he snarled at Kate. “You came here to kill me, but you’ll be killed instead by your own precious freak.” He whirled back to the goblin. “Kill her right now, and be quick about it!”

At the command, Marak advanced decisively, sword up. When he looked at Kate, she saw the same distant expression he had worn when he cut her hands open. She didn’t think he knew her at all.

“Fight for us, Marak!” she begged. He raised the sword in his right hand and brought it slashing down, but at the same moment he shoved her as hard as he could with his left hand. Kate sprawled onto her back in a filthy puddle as the blade flashed past.

“Stop trying not to kill her!” the sorcerer screamed. “Kill her, and this time really do it!”

Kate tried to scramble away, but the goblin stepped on her arm, pinning her to the ground. His impassive gaze showed only the faintest flicker of unease, the faintest hint of puzzled recognition. He swung the sword up to chop off her head, and she couldn’t get away.

“Marak,” Kate whispered in goblin, “I’m going to have a baby.” Then she closed her eyes tightly as the sword came slashing down again. She felt a burning pain and reached up to touch her face. A shallow cut stretched across her cheekbone, but the weapon clattered to the ground.

“My wife and son!” Marak cried. “Kate, our baby! Do you mean it?” He looked around in surprise. “What are we doing here? Where are we?” And he reached down to help her up out of the puddle. The sorcerer glared at them both, beside himself with fear and horror. A dog started howling somewhere below them.

“The watchdogs!” the sorcerer spat at Kate. “This is all your fault. Sixty monster servants, and I have to kill you myself!” He snatched up the sword and raised it, but Marak wrapped his arms around the furious man. Kate stepped back from the struggling pair, unsure what to do. “Let me go!” howled the sorcerer, his eyes like red lamps. Marak was wreathed in flames now, his face twisted in agony, but he held the sorcerer in a tight grip. An unearthly keening came from below, joining the howling dog.

“The wizards! The wizards!” shouted the frenzied sorcerer. “Let me go!” As the stricken Kate watched, Marak glowed brightly all over like molten metal. He collapsed onto the floor, still glowing, and the sorcerer broke free, charging straight at Kate and swinging the sword wildly. One second she was staring at his livid face, mouth open, spit flying, weapon swung back to kill her. The next instant she was staring at the dim room beyond as the sword toppled onto the ground. She seized it and looked around frantically, but there was nothing to see. The room was completely empty.

Holding the sword, Kate moved to the center of the room, gazing around in bewilderment. She reached a hand up to her cut cheek and wiped away the blood, staring at the silent, dingy space and listening to the water drip from the rafters. She remembered the howling and the keening. Now there was no sound at all. A golden flash caught her dazed attention, and in another second Charm twined rapidly around her arm until its head reared up before her face. As she blinked at the snake, it bared fangs in an exultant grin.