Wraith(29)

The angry goblin strode off. When I didn’t immediately follow, he glanced over his shoulder and scowled. I scuttled after him, pausing for a moment to stash my bag behind a stone statue of a naked nymph holding a basket of grapes. If only it had been Gabriel de Florinville who was demanding coffee, I thought mournfully. That would have been almost too good to be true.

My temporary new master kept up a long diatribe as I followed him along a series of long and winding corridors and up several sets of stairs. Most of it was a series of complaints about his poor lot in life. Under normal circumstances, I’d have been thrilled to have such an insight into the Filits’ way of life but I couldn’t afford to listen to him. I zoned him out while I trotted after him and focused on my surroundings. I needed to be sure I had several exit plans in place, as well as understanding where he was taking me. I had mapped out a good half of the King’s Old Building in my head before we reached the third floor and he began to slow down.

‘… Because of that, and the way she spoke to me, I just don’t feel valued,’ he said, as he stopped outside a solid oak door. ‘I’m a quarter Gneiss. If we weren’t so close to success, I’d have left to join them outside the city walls months ago. I still might,’ he added darkly. He raised a clenched fist and for one bizarre moment I thought he was going to smack it into my face. Instead he turned and knocked on the door.

Once inside, he was a different goblin. With his shoulders drooping and his arms by his sides in a classic Filit submissive pose, he murmured apologies to the assembled dignitaries. From behind him, where I was trying to hide, I spotted several big names including Ghrashbreg. Talk about walking into the lion’s den. About the only thing in my favour was that the lighting was dim. If there had been more candles and lanterns, my lack of shadow would be obvious and I’d probably already be dead.

Noting the sideboard with several cups and saucers laid out, I nipped over. Perhaps if I took the initiative and was a good little human, they wouldn’t examine me too closely. One could only hope.

There was already a large silver jug of steaming coffee next to the china. Clearly, these goblins thought too highly of themselves to pour their own drinks; they’d rather wait until a suitable servant could be found. While my escort was brusquely dismissed, the seated goblins continued talking.

Trying to be as unobtrusive as possible, I carefully turned all the cups in their saucers. Despite the precariousness of my situation, professional pride was kicking in. This was an opportunity I couldn’t afford to miss, even if my life was hanging in the balance and I normally never used my corporeal form for this kind of snooping. I checked the pot before pouring coffee into the first delicate china cup. I also listened.

‘The wealthy human families will stay on board. We don’t have to worry about them. When the truth is revealed, they’ll know what to do. Once we have them, the rest will be forced to fall into line. Regardless of what happens, once we have the Stone—’

Another goblin Lord interrupted. ‘If we get the Stone. We’ve been close before.’

‘It’s within our grasp. We’ll get it.’

‘Our Gneiss Brethren might still argue with you on that point.’

‘In another few weeks they’ll be left hanging in the wind. Don’t worry about them. They might be suspicious but they won’t risk an all-out incursion without evidence first.’

I finished pouring the coffee, scooped up a handful of gleaming silver teaspoons and lay one on each saucer. The aroma of the coffee was almost overwhelming. I couldn’t help noticing the mound of perfectly formed sugar cubes. I could buy a dozen first-aid kits with what was in front of me. A gnawing physical ache I’d learnt to quash many moons ago returned to the pit of my belly, like an old friend who I didn’t really want to see.

‘What about de Florinville?’

‘He’s leaving late tomorrow night so he’ll be long gone by the time we get it. We’ve had the gallows temporarily removed so he can tour the city tomorrow without any further complaints or unwelcome suggestions. He’ll be appeased enough to give his report to the Prime Minister. We’ll have the time and peace we need to finish up.’

There was a growl from the far end of the table. ‘We’d better have. I have no desire to put our contingency plan into place if he gets too close.’

Ghrashbreg’s response was smooth. ‘We’re ready if he does. If there’s any suggestion that he’s learnt more than he should, then he won’t leave this castle.’

‘Are you going to use pois—’

‘Shh.’

Suddenly, without turning around, I realised the goblins were looking at me. I froze for a beat. Act normal, Saiya. I leaned across the sideboard and picked up three cups and saucers, turned to the table and walked over. Without looking directly at any of them, I placed the cups in front of the nearest three goblins and returned to the sideboard fetch more. The silence was deafening; not one of the goblins said anything until they all had steaming coffee in front of them. When Ghrashbreg cleared his throat and began to speak it was almost a relief.

‘I’ve not seen you before.’ The goblin lord might have believed that humans like me were beneath him but his sharp eyes missed little. I angled my body away from the light to make my lack of a shadow less obvious but it was touch and go and I knew he’d noted my strange attire. He examined me carefully before speaking again. ‘Who are you?’