The guards arrived and so did the hawk bladesman. They began the removal of the goblin bodies. Kash grabbed my arm, his grip painful as he hauled me from the room.
Spencer cut him off, and the two silently stared at each other. Kash’s body trembled beneath the armor. Blood splattered across the front, and even his hand on my arm was coating my skin with the stinking goblin blood.
Spencer would not back down, his hand going to his rapier in challenge.
“I’ll be fine,” I snapped, fearing the darkness gathering across his eyes. I had glimpsed gold, but it was quickly being replaced by black as Kash was weakening. Losing control. I placed my hand over my nose. “You smell.”
The helm snapped toward me so fast, I could almost read how affronted he was at the possibility.
“It’s the goblin blood.” I pointed to the splatter on my skin and then gently pried his fingers off my upper arm.
I had just removed Kash’s possessive grip with King Goddrick appeared. “What happened?” He looked over my shoulder at the mass of bodies that still littered the floor. “Why would the goblins come to my hall?”
“Goblins are attracted to treasure,” I said, skirting the truth. “Maybe your newfound wealth has brought them to your doorstep.”
Goddrick’s eyes widened in fear. “I need more guards on my treasury. Seal every entrance, sewer, and water grate. Find out how they got in and barricade it. I will not have my wealth stolen by goblins.” His eyes narrowed, and he looked at Kash covered in blood. “Once again, my deadliest blade has proven useful.”
Kash shook, whether from pride or anger, I wasn’t sure.
“Don’t worry, they won’t attack here again,” the king boasted. “My blades will take care of them.”
The rest of the morning flew in a haze as I was shuffled into a clean dress and then escorted outside to where an open sleigh was waiting. I wasn’t in the mood to watch races or partake in the various celebrations. I was still wondering about the voice I’d heard in the Gilded Hall.
“I’m not going crazy,” I said out loud.
“Oh, we’re all a little crazy,” Annette cooed as she slipped into the sleigh, sliding onto the bench seat across from me. “Otherwise, we wouldn’t be out in the freezing cold.”
“I hear you,” Shannon said, shivering, pulling her green wool wrap jacket closer around her shoulders. “There’d better be some food or single men where we’re going.”
Velora seemed the most eager of the ladies and she pushed through to take the empty seat next to me and leaned over to whisper. “I will see Marco today.”
“Really,” I said. “How do you know?”
Velora rolled her eyes. “If what you say is true, that he survived the attack, then he will find me,” she said confidently. Velora smoothed out her skirt and craned her neck to search the crowds.
“We haven’t even left the palace grounds yet,” I teased.
“It doesn’t matter. He will come.”
The driver cracked his whip, and the reindeer startled; we jolted forward, and I grasped the side for support. Being in an open sleigh made me nervous. What if we were caught in another avalanche? What if a snowstorm came? I was becoming negative about being outdoors because nothing ever seemed to go right for me.
As soon as the wind whipped against my cheeks, I pulled the fur-lined hood over my face and buried my hands under my thighs for warmth. We slowed when we came to a village of colorful red and blue tents. The staff had worked hard to create a winter wonderland. Red and blue flags lined the road, marking out the path for the walkways and what would be the reindeer's race this evening. A wooden stage had been constructed and already a band was playing music. As we passed, I glanced inside the tents to see private sitting areas with chairs and settees with blankets and furs for people to seek warmth and shelter from the wind. Merchants and vendors had already claimed the smaller tents, and I could smell cinnamon, and sugary treats, popped corn, and roasted nuts.
One tent stood out, as it was the largest of the bunch. I knew from the banners flying and the number of soldiers stationed outside that this was the king’s personal tent. The hawk and lion blades were stationed at its entrance. As our sleigh passed, I couldn’t help but notice that both Damon and Spencer’s head followed our route.
Behind the tents was a well-established military outpost, and I knew we were near the guard tower that Herst had tried to describe to me. So many of these outbuildings were here year-round, including the stables, barracks, and a blacksmith forge.
My interest piqued when I saw Molneer in the back of the forge working with a smaller smelting furnace.
When we disembarked the sleigh, I wanted to head over to the forge, but knew I would have to wait to slip away from the rest of the group. But my presence didn’t go unnoticed. A dark shadow immediately appeared on my right.
I didn’t even need to look to know that Kash had joined me. I could almost feel the melancholy that hovered whenever Kash was nearby. A perpetual sadness. When the dragon blade appeared at my side, the ladies gave us a wide berth, which was fine because it gave me time to think.
As Velora was the honored guest, she was the one who was paraded around the festival, much to her chagrin. We were basically treated as her ladies-in-waiting. She looked like a petulant child who wanted to be anywhere other than here.
A royal page was our guide, and he led us on a tour of each of the vendors where we were given attention and showered with gifts. Sweet confections, sticky buns, jeweled combs, and more.
I was thankful that it was Velora and not me getting the scrutiny of the villagers. I watched her sitting on a chair on the platform, and I heard many comments about her beauty and whether she would be the next queen. Velora did not like that idea at all, and quickly shot them down. “I don’t want to marry the king. I’m going to marry Marco.”
I was about to make my escape to the forge when I was sidetracked by Shannon once again.
“Did Velora really spin straw into gold?” the woman asked me casually, while giving a side eye toward Velora. The mermaid was moving from group to group looking for Marco.
“Why are you asking me?” I said as I stared behind her at Molneer, who had caught my eye. The dwarf raised his hammer in a wave before placing a crucible back into the furnace. I knew he worked on smaller items that required finesse; adornments for shields, or inlays for swords, for the smelting furnace was used for jewelry making more so than weapons.
“She may have said something about you helping her. So I wanted to ask you if you’d help me spin straw into gold so that I can receive an honor like this?” Shannon waved at the winter festival.
“Believe me when I say she did the work.”
“But you helped.” Shannon’s eyes narrowed.
“I didn’t say that,” I countered and moved away.
Shannon wasn’t letting me off that easily. “You will help me,” she hissed, grabbing my wrist, her fingernails painfully digging into my skin.
I gasped and pulled my hand, but she wouldn’t release it. Her strength was almost inhuman, her eyes dilated. Her gold bracelet brushed against my skin, and I felt odd. Like the ground was moving sideways, and my head was going to connect with it. I pushed her away roughly, and as soon as our contact broke, my head cleared.