Read Online Goblin Secrets by William Alexander - Free Book Online

and stood before the girl. The rain picked up, and water poured down all sides of his hat.
    “Cob,” he repeated. “That is an easy syllable for agearworked raven to remember and croak at him. What brings you out in the rain, Cob’s daughter?”
    “I’m just sorry he tossed you out,” the girl said. “You should have some payment for the show, so I brought you some bread.” She lifted the basket she held. “It’s fresh. It doesn’t have maggots in it, not unless your curses work very fast.” She gave him the basket.
    “I withdraw my curses on your household,” the old goblin said. He hummed a tune, making his words into a song and a charm, stronger than just a saying. “I may yet carve a grotesque mask in your father’s likeness, but I withdraw each curse. May the flood pass your doorstep and leave dry your boots.”
    “Thank you,” the girl said. “The dancers were all perfect. Please tell them.”
    “I will,” he said. “But to whom should I attribute this critique? I have not yet caught your name, young lady.”
    “I’m Kaile,” she said.
    Thomas took off his hat and bowed. “Thank you, Kaile, for the tribute of your compliments and the bounty of your family’s bakery.” Then he rummaged around in his hat and produced a small, gray flute. “This token is yours, I think.”
    Kaile took the flute. Then someone bellowed at her from the alehouse door, and the girl hurried back inside. The door slammed behind her.
    Thomas seemed to diminish where he stood. He returned to the wagon with his head down, and almost bumped hat-first into Rownie.
    Rownie meant to say something like, Excuse me, sir, but one of the other players dropped this. I saved it from getting very muddy and probably stepped on. Instead he just said, “Here,” and handed over the bird mask.
    The goblin took it from him and dropped it in the basket with the bread. “Much obliged,” he said gruffly. He did not sound obliged, not even a little. He sounded disgruntled and tired. Then he looked more closely at Rownie. “I know you,” he said. “You played a giant for us, and not badly—but you vanished afterward.”
    “Sorry,” Rownie said. “My grandmother was angry.”
    “I see,” said Thomas. “Well, would you consider . . .” The goblin paused. Then he shoved Rownie underneath the wagon.
    Rownie slipped in the mud and slid to a stop. He was not happy about being shoved. He almost shouted something about that unhappiness. Then he heard Guard-boots marching, and saw the boots stand between the wagon and the road. Rownie decided it would be better to be quiet.
    One pair of boots stepped forward.
    “I have heard noise complaints,” the Captain announced. Rownie knew his voice. He remembered his voice from thealehouse, from the proclamation he gave while standing on a table. “Have you heard anything about a raving goblin throwing curses?”
    “I have not,” Thomas said, “though I am impressed that the Captain of the Guard himself investigates such a minor concern. Your attention to even the most trivial duties is commendable, and I am very glad to see you. The proprietors of this alehouse have stiffed us payment for performing here, and I wish to register my own complaint.”
    “Noted,” said the Captain, though he did not sound like he had actually taken note. “I am also given to understand that goblins put a mask on an unChanged child yesterday, in front of a crowd of witnesses. Goblins have masked an unChanged citizen of Zombay.”
    “That would be a terrible thing,” Thomas said, gravely and seriously. “I am deeply stricken that anyone would think simple Tamlin performers, such as ourselves, could be capable of such an irresponsible deed.”
    The Captain took a step forward. Rownie shuffled back a bit, underneath the wagon.
    “The Lord Mayor would be very interested in the whereabouts of any unChanged actor,” the Captain said. “Even a child, even someone who has only worn a mask once. In exchange for