Huldie explained, “The woman’s feet must touch the earth. It helps you to bear strong children. Anyway, you’ll see, it’s a trick to get any of us to wear shoes in the spring and summer.”
The ceremony was fairly simple. I walked through arches of flowers. The air smelled sweet no matter where one turned. Nyar waited for me, and he was also dressed more finely than I had ever seen him. His long coat was forest green to match my cloak, and he wore a belt of gold with his sword, tight britches and boots.
Our vows were briefly interrupted by a goat wandering into the area and letting out a loud series of utterances, until someone hauled it off. It made us all laugh.
I trembled when he slid a ring on my finger. I was, by this time, almost too happy for words. I could feel how all the goblins took happiness in our happiness.
Once again, we danced the night away, and one by one, I was getting to know my new ‘subjects’, although I could hardly think of them that way. The very idea of me, being a queen, even to a goblin clan.
But when I said this to Nyar, he said I shouldn’t be afraid to be a queen to them. “My father ruled the people with a firm but very just hand, putting the clan ahead of himself, and never playing favorites. That’s the kind of leader I aspire to be from now on, but I know you will help keep me in line, if need be. You are every bit the queen, as much as I am the king. And you have their respect.”
“You’ve never talked to me about your father before.”
“We’ll have a lot of stories to tell, and plenty of time to tell them.”
I only felt a pang of sadness when I thought of my family. I didn’t miss them, really. I felt guilty. Was I supposed to send them money? Some would say you should always put blood first, but I wondered if the person who said that, ever had their blood attempt to sell them to the goblins one day and a greedy merchant the next.
I didn’t want to give them any of Nyar’s money. His people needed it. Their fields were overgrown, their horses lost, their stores depleted, all thanks to the curse.
But Nyar had forgiven the witch. Did that mean I had to forgive Clara?
I talked to him about it, and he said, “That is a different situation. The witch will never bother me again. Of course I can forgive her. Your family is another matter.”
“So that’s how you decide whether or not to forgive someone? Whether they’ll bother you again?”
“I’d say so.” He didn’t seem to think this was strange.
A week passed by before Garor came to our room in the morning (which was really late afternoon) and said, “A human is here to see you, my lady. I believe she is your sister.”
I dressed quickly, not taking much care with my appearance. I knew it would probably be horrifying to Clara to see the disheveled state of a goblin queen. But I did put on my golden horn crown. Nyar followed behind me. I think he was interested to see the showdown.
She was standing in the main hall with her arms crossed, looking at the goblins surrounding her like she didn’t want them to touch her. But she forced a smile when she saw me. Or was that smile for the gold on my head? It didn’t match her face.
“There you are, sister,” she said, offering a small curtsey. “I see it must be true. Congratulations on your marriage. I’m sorry we exchanged those harsh words before.”
“I’m sure you are.”
“I hope you will forgive me. Or Father, at least. I mean…it’s all been such a shock to him. But family is family.”
“Mm. I suppose you would think so now. Rumors of the goblin gold are exaggerated, you know. A lot of it’s been spent buying supplies.”
“You think I’m here for gold?”
“Sister dear, how stupid do you think I am? What were you willing to have me do for the sake of gold? Well, I know you would never go that far, but I suppose this act is the equivalent of you dusting while I scrub the floors on my hands and knees.” I finally returned her smile. Suddenly, I knew what to do with her.
“You would have us lose everything?” Clara asked.
“Oh, Clara. Whatever happens, you are certainly still my sister.”
“Then, you’ll help us?”
I could tell this was killing her, simpering to me. The twins probably didn’t care as much; they wanted to get married. Clara was here because she couldn’t bear losing the life she had planned for herself.
“I don’t have gold to give you,” I said. “But I would be happy to give you a job. Our cook, Prim, is so busy in the kitchens. She’s been saying that she needs a hand. I think you’d get along so well.” I’d already known Prim long enough to know the girl could manage anything without batting an eye.
“Work in the kitchens?” Clara huffed. “Never!”
“Well, then,” I said. “It’s unfortunate you came all this way for nothing. I can offer you a meal.”
Clara sputtered, but she knew there wasn’t much she could really say to me after she had been the one to suggest I sleep with the goblin king. Of course, she accepted the meal. Nyar and I ate with her. She wouldn’t even meet his eyes. Nyar kept asking her to pass the butter and salt and jam, or trying to offer things to her, obviously just to make her cringe whenever his claws got close to her hands.
“It’s too bad you won’t stay,” he said at one point. “There are some single goblin men around here who simply love a challenge.”
That turned her red as a beet. No, an angrier red than that, even.
She put down her napkin. ”If that is quite all, I think I had better head home now. Good day to you both.”
“Perhaps we’ll see you for yule,” I said.
We saw her to the front entrance. She walked all the way there all stiff and silent, but when I said goodbye, she turned. Her face was stricken.
She really was on the brink of losing everything.
“Clara,” I said. “If you’re willing to work, for once in your life…”
Nyar took my hand. “We pay our scullery maid very well indeed.”
“Maybe…I should take a look at the kitchen,” she said. “Just to see if it might suit me after all. As a temporary measure.”
“Of course,” I said, and the goblin guard shut the doors once more.
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“These Wicked Revels” Preview
"Once you gave your mask to me, you would be allowed to venture down that path. The handmaidens of the forest would prepare you for me... Your body would be forced into submission, all control surrendered, waiting and ready for my claim. Oh, you will find it a bit dreadful, I must admit."
Princess Evaline
I should not be so intrigued by the King of the Revels’ wicked promise. I should not wish to abandon my family and remain in this faery land of song and dance forever. But it was a temptation, when in my own homeland of Torina, my pious mother forbids me from my beloved music and dancing…much less dancing with beautiful men.
But do I love the King of the Revels enough to belong to him?