The Goblin War by Hilari Bell

Author:Hilari Bell [Bell, Hilari]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins US
Published: 2011-11-20T15:23:39+00:00

Makenna spent most of the next morning composing her letter, on the cheap paper provided at a public message board near the goblins’ home. Its delivery would be her first job as a messenger, and Etta crouched in her satchel to guide her through the convoluted streets.

There were guards today at the gate that separated the low city from the area where the rich lived. They looked closely at all the girls near Makenna’s age who passed through—and didn’t give a ragged boy more than a glance.

Makenna was feeling confident as she approached the rambling stone-and-timber manor Etta said was the Brallorscourt town residence. But as she took in the jumbled wings and the reflection off hundreds of panes of expensive glass, her steps slowed.

“You should go to the servant’s entrance to deliver a letter,” Etta told her. “Around to the back of the house. What are you stopping here for?”

“Money is power,” Makenna told the goblin girl. “I hadn’t realized how much of it Brallorscourt has. But you’re right—that means nothing to a lad with a letter in hand.”

As she approached the back entrance, Makenna let all the interest and curiosity she felt show on her face. It was a natural reaction for a poor boy in such a grand setting, and her heart was beating faster than it should.

The manservant who answered her knock wore a blue-and-black tunic that looked like a house uniform to Makenna. Not as grand as the red and gold of the suns-guard, but close.

“I got a letter for Lord Brallorscourt,” she said, trying to mimic Etta’s accent. “Three copper bits owed.”

The manservant frowned. “Who’s it from?”

“I dunno. Some lady gave it to me, but she didn’t put a sender’s name on the outside. Just the receiver. And she only paid half up front.”

The servant sighed. “Wait here.” He came back in moments with three copper bits, for which Makenna exchanged the letter. Then he shut the door in her face.

Makenna walked back to the street, excitement singing in her blood as if battle had been joined instead of a simple message delivered.

“What did you say to him, anyway?” Etta asked from the satchel under Makenna’s arm.

“I told him the truth. That I’m not interested in anything he did in the past, and that Hispontic wasn’t working for me when he got that information and used it. I told him I wanted to speak to the Hierarch about goblin affairs that were nothing to do with him . . . as long as he gets out of my way.”

“You think he’ll believe it?” Etta sounded skeptical. “And how’s he supposed to answer you?”

“It told him to post his reply on the message board outside the Pregnant Pig,” Makenna said. “As for the rest of it . . . we’ll see.”

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