The Goblin Market (Into the Green) Read Free Page A

was on the ground staring up at him.
    “Tsk, tsk,” Kothar tutted.
    Thoughts circled through her mind as the market around her spun. Once around, twice and then she saw the distant orange glow from the lantern Meredith had hung out to guide her home.
    “Merry,” a limp hand reached toward the light. “Help me.”
    Clear, powerful laughter wrapped in a collection of jagged chuckles circled around her.
    “Even now the poison of your own greed creeps slowly through your veins.” Kothar knelt over her. A sharp grin sliced across his expression. “It’s only a matter of time before you sleep.”
    “I…” Words felt like briars in her mouth. “I want to go home.”
    “Of course you do,” there was no sympathy in his tone. “But first we require payment for what you’ve taken.”
    The sound of a thousand ragged voices seeking vengeance caroused around her. Terrified she tried to draw her hands up over her face, but even they were numb and heavy as lead on the ground beside her. Her body began to wretch and heave to no avail, and though she tried in desperate horror to gain control of her senses it was no use.
    Above her, the king reached into the folds of his cloak and brought forth a locket. Unclasped, the hinge swung open to reveal a faded image painted within. Christina’s eyes could scarcely focus on the picture, but there was no denying the golden rings of hair, thin oval face and perfect smile.
    “Merry,” she whispered, reaching for the locket in Kothar’s hand.
    Kothar swiped his hand away, the locket clicking closed within. His unscarred eye grew wide with curious excitement as he studied the portrait inside. “You know this girl?”
    Christina swallowed against the dryness in her throat and rasped, “Merry.”
    “Her name is Merry, you say?”
    Her head felt so strange that she couldn’t even feel it move in agreement.
    “Where can I find this Merry?”
    She tried to say no, but her eyes betrayed her when she looked toward the distant lantern atop the hill. Kothar’s gaze followed, his lower lip trembling as the slow wind whispered through the hair that fell loose upon his cheek.
    “Glorngk, bring the girl water,” Kothar commanded before he pushed up off the ground and hovered beside her. His gaze was still fixed on the swaying lantern, fist clenched around the chain that held the locket.
    Christina’s eyes felt heavy and thick with tears. Her mind was even thicker; the thoughts trudging through it like heavy boots in quicksand. She was going to die, but it had been worth it. She would do it again too, all for the taste of a single berry, and then a rush of cold, slick water washed across her face. The water was rank and stagnant, but she swallowed greedily, choking as the creature continued to pour.
    Clarity flickered through her mind, and though very little made sense, she felt strong enough to pull herself up from the ground.
    And then she was standing, and with the last bit of strength she had, she began to stagger away from the market, in the direction of the swaying lantern on the hilltop. Her legs felt like heavy tree trunks growing roots each time one of her feet touched the ground and behind her the hypnotic song of the market began to play once more.
    “Should we stop her, Sire?”
    “No,” Kothar shook his head. “Follow her to the house on the hill and wait for me there.”
     

CHAPTER ONE
     
     
     
    Meredith told herself when she sat down to read, she wasn’t going to fall asleep in the chair. Even as the hour grew, she resisted the temptation to look at the clock every few minutes and reminded herself that Mrs. Grisham loved to dote on Christina. The woman adored her little sister, and would do everything she could to keep her there for supper, and afterward she would have Wilhelm walk her home, but Meredith worried nonetheless.
    Christina had a careless way about her sometimes and was always getting into trouble no matter how carefully everyone else seemed to watch