Lisa Shearin - Raine Benares 01 Read Free Page B

As far as I was concerned, there
were two types of goblin shamans—one good and one bad. These particular ones
wore black robes lined in silver. Khrynsani. Quentin’s new acquaintances were
the bad kind. Why wasn’t I surprised?
    The
Khrynsani were an ancient goblin secret society and military order, with even
more outdated political ideas. The Khrynsanic credo was simple. Goblins were
meant to rule, and if anyone disagreed, they weren’t meant to live. Those who
disagreed included every other race. Unfortunately, the minds behind the
Khrynsani weren’t simple, or without influence. Some of the most powerful
families of the goblin aristocracy were secret Khrynsani members. The new goblin
king was a Khrynsani and proud of it. So it wouldn’t be long before the rest of
the old blood nobility traded in their secret membership for openly fashionable
affiliation.
    Nigel
hated all goblins, good or bad, so it was safe to say that these four weren’t
invited houseguests. Then again, neither was Quentin. But there they all were
on Nigel’s bedroom balcony. Quentin did the only thing a nonsorcerer and a
human could do in his situation: he jumped. It wasn’t a bad distance. Not a
good one, either. But it was survivable, and his chances were better than
staying where he was. Fortunately, Nigel was fond of bushes. It gave Quentin
something to flatten beside himself when he landed.
    The
shamans didn’t follow him, but four impeccably armed and armored goblins did.
They effortlessly vaulted the railing and landed catlike on the ground below,
missing the bushes entirely, covering the distance to the middle of the garden
in about half the time as Quentin. The quartet obviously weren’t street thugs,
and they had made no effort to conceal their uniforms. Khrynsani temple guards.
When Quentin found trouble, he didn’t fool around.
    Quentin
was running toward the back wall, and us. He looked glad to see us. No surprise
there. But the four goblins were gaining on him, and Quentin would never make
it to the wall before they caught him. I swore and scrambled over the top,
making a wobbly landing on the lawn below. Phaelan was right behind me. Quentin
turned his back to us, leaving himself ample room to maneuver and drew a pair
of long daggers.
    The
four goblins were larger and faster than I would have liked. But opponents,
like family, were something you didn’t get the luxury of picking for yourself.
Realizing that Quentin’s intention was to fight rather than escape, the goblins
slowed, each leisurely drawing a scythelike saber. They saw Phaelan and me, but
it didn’t seem to have a negative effect on their morale.
    Goblins
were generally tall, long limbed, and leanly muscled, like elves. This quartet
was no exception. Their features were angular, their large eyes dark, and their
upswept ears slightly more pronounced at the tip than elven ears. Their pale
gray skin set off their most distinguishing feature—a pair of fangs that
weren’t for decorative use only. Just because a goblin smiled at you didn’t
mean he wanted to be friends. The danger didn’t detract from the race’s
appeal—some would say it fueled it. I guess all that sinuous grace and exotic
beauty can make you overlook a lot, and there were plenty of half-breed children
running around to prove it. Some said that elves and goblins came from a common
ancestor; a theory hotly denied by the old blood of both races.
    The
full moon provided more than ample light to fight by. I’m sure the goblins
would try to maneuver us into the shadows of Nigel’s orchard. They could try,
but the only place I was going was back over the wall when this was over. Not
that I couldn’t see well in the dark, but goblins could see better. What looked
pitch dark to an elf or human was as bright as day to a goblin, which of course
meant the perfect time to cross blades with a goblin was high noon in full sun.
I didn’t think the goblin who broke off from the group and was moving toward