After Norine’s rage on the prophecy, she had calmed down enough to order Gobbet to find the babes and to kill them. Gobbet had hurriedly run out of the room, slammed the door shut, and listened as a vase Norine had thrown crashed against the door. Gobbet drew a deep breath, and began to walk down the cold and stony hall way. He quietly tip-toed to the soldiers’ garrison and gently opened the door, avoiding the squeak that normally went with it. He stepped into a large stone corridor with small wooden cots lining the walls opposite each other. Gobbet scurried to a slightly larger cot then the rest towards the far end of the corridor. He took the motley brown cloak that lay across the bed and threw it around his shoulders, fastening it in the front with a rusty pin. He carefully lifted the thin lumpy mattress and withdrew two rapiers and stowed them in sheaths that were strapped to his back. He then un-sheathed a raggedly sharp dagger and ran the blunt side across his tongue with a lusty look in his eyes. He stowed it in a small sheath, hidden inside his cloak, and with a suspicious look around the room, scuttled to the wooden door that led into the forest. He opened the door and felt a rush of cool air blow into his face. He surveyed the area, and warily crept into the forest. The area of the forest he had entered into was swampy and infiltrated with willow trees, vines, and weeds. He stepped nimbly along a pathway known only to the trained goblins. As he exited the swamp lands and entered onto more sturdy ground, Gobbet walked closely among the trees, inspecting strange markings on the bark and mumbling under his breath these words:
“Bamby, bimby, bumby boo, wamby, wimby, wumby, woo! Lamby, limby, lumby loo, ramby, rimby, rumby, roo! Little Sprite, please come too!” As he said the last sentence, he had come to a tree with a black elegant S on it. A wispy figure thrust a head out, then a body followed. The little figure looked upon Gobbet with disdain, and lifted its tiny head high as it floated above Gobbet. “H-hello mighty Sprite!” greeted Gobbet fearfully.
“Pimply One,” said the Sprite with disgust and a reluctant nod of the head. The Sprite was the color of night at its darkest, and its eyes were bright purple. Evil emanated from those eyes and even the most courageous person would shiver from its un-relenting gaze.
“My mistress, the majestic Norine, told me you would lead me to the hut where the babies of the prophecy are.” Gobbet stated, his hands shaking. The Sprite nodded, and obviously expecting Gobbet to follow, whisked away into the dark. Gobbet chased after it, and squeezing through trees, jumping over ditches, and scrambling under thickets, found himself at the beginning of a well worn path, the Sprite hovering above it staring at him with disgust.
“That way,” it said pointing a fluttery hand up the path, “will lead you to the hut you look for.” Gobbet nodded his green head in thanks and watched the Sprite disappear back the way it had come. He sighed, and began to walk along the path. He rambled along for what he assumed to be ten minutes, and then came upon a little hovel that he could only guess was the very one he searched for. He silently ran to the door, and drawing one of his rapiers, eased it open. As he tip-toed inside, warily looking for enemies, he noticed there was only one thing in the dark and dirty room-a cradle. He gave a ghastly smile and covered the distance to the cradle in two short steps. He slowly raised his rapier with one hand, and with the other threw aside the blanket covering the cradle. There was nothing inside. He gave a horrified yelp and the rapier fell to the ground with a clatter.
“NO!” he shouted, “It can’t be!” Norine would kill him, he thought as he sank to the ground in terror. He put his hands on his head and thought hard. “Oh, what am I to do?” he whined, “I-I, could lie to her, but she would know I was lying. Or, I could search for them, but they’re probably long gone. Oh, my head hurts! I’m not supposed to think this much! Norine always does the thinking for me! That’s it!” he shouted, “I will go to Norine and she will tell me what to do!” And so, he scrambled off the floor and ran back to the castle, forgetting that Norine was the one who would kill him when she found out.
* * * * * * * * * *
Gobbet reached the gates of the black castle that was his home. The stones glistened and gave off a threatening aura. Gobbet knew that this had once been a beautiful and happy place that had offered security and protection to the people of Gorodian Forest and was the home of the monarchy. When Norine came to the throne, all that had changed; the stones had turned from a cheery burnt orange to the black it now was, and instead of offering protection, it was now the enemy of the Gorodians. Gobbet smiled wickedly, and whispered the password to the gate keeper. The gates slowly creaked open, and Gobbet scuttled through the courtyard and into the Castle. As Gobbet reached Norine’s room, he listened carefully at the door. He heard no sound. So, he silently opened the door and cautiously poked his head through. Norine’s back faced him, and he began to withdraw his head, not wishing to disturb her.
Suddenly, Norine yelled, “GOBBET!” Gobbet came running in, tripping and sliding, until he faced Norine.
In a deep bow he stuttered, “Y-yes, milady-I mean your witchliness, I mean your loveliness, I mean-”
“Shut up! Did you kill them?” screamed Norine.
“N-no, your majesty, they w-weren’t in there!” whimpered Gobbet.
“What?” whispered Norine, which was even more frightening then her screaming.
“I-I came-came back to ask you what to d-do,” whined Gobbet on his knees.
“You’re so stupid you can’t even think for yourself? Why didn’t you look for them? Why didn’t you follow tracks? Why didn’t you listen for any sound or look for any sight of them? Are you a goblin or not?” yelled Norine.
“I’m s-sorry! I’ll g-go back if you w-want!” cried Gobbet completely terrified.
“SORRY ISN’T GOOD ENOUGH!” screamed Norine at the top of her lungs. “It’s too late to go back now! GET OUT! GET OUT! NOW!” shouted Norine, now in hysterics. Gobbet scrambled off the ground and ran out of the room. He lay wheezing on the floor in the hallway, listening to Norine screaming and throwing things around, overturning her desk, and ripping the blankets from the bed and tearing down the curtains. Gobbet had never seen her so angry. This was a bad situation, a very bad situation. And all because of those two measly brats!
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