The Hollow Kingdom: Book I by Clare B. Dunkle

Author:Clare B. Dunkle
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Juvenile Fiction, Girls & Women, Fantasy & Magic
ISBN: 9780805081084
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company (BYR)
Published: 2006-09-18T23:00:00+00:00

The King reminded everyone of their duties in the goblin language. Seylin and Hulk went off down the hall. “—And I want you to stand here, Kate,” added Marak, pointing. “Don’t move too far from the hearth. That way, no matter where I step, I won’t pull you down or drag you over a table.” Kate rubbed her palm unhappily as he spoke, remembering that her freedom was only an illusion.

Marak went over to Hugh Roberts and gave him a stinging slap across the face with his six-fingered hand. “Wake up, cousin,” he said.

Kate remembered her own nightmare as Hugh Roberts slowly awoke. Perhaps he, too, had been ordered to have bad dreams. He blinked about groggily, putting a hand up to adjust his wig. As he focused on Marak, the color drained from his round face and left it an ugly gray.

“It’s always nice to meet close relatives,” observed Marak pleasantly. His odd eyes glinted, and the candlelight in the room emphasized the muddy color of his lips and fingernails. Hugh Roberts gasped for breath and began to look as if he had been ill for several days. Turning his head slowly, he located the large feathered ape right beside his chair. Bulk gazed dolefully at him with his patient yellow eyes. Hugh gave a muffled groan. His dull gaze wandered around the room to Thaydar, and he let out a shriek. Kate glanced at the burly goblin in surprise. Except for those cat eyes and fangs, Thaydar didn’t look so bad for a goblin. She turned back to find her guardian staring at her. He began to move his lips, but no words came out.

“Don’t you dare speak to her,” Marak warned. “She’s not even related to you.” The goblin King crossed his arms, smiling down at Hugh and showing his pointed teeth a little. “No, you want to talk to me, your own flesh and blood,” he said encouragingly. “You want to tell me where little M is tonight. Kate came and told us that you thought we had her. But we don’t.” In spite of his shock, Hugh Roberts was listening closely, his lips working and his eyes fixed on Marak’s face. Kate decided that he had gotten over his disbelief in goblins very quickly.

“Do you know where M is?” Marak asked. Hugh Roberts shook his head. The goblin’s expression didn’t change, but an angry gleam lit his eyes. “Then it’s a good thing I do.”

Hulk came sidling through the doorway, Emily in his arms. He laid the girl carefully down on the couch across from her guardian as Kate hurried over, exclaiming in dismay. Seylin padded in and sat down on the floor by the couch, round golden eyes fixed curiously on the quivering, gray-faced man.

“How’s the letter?” asked Marak, kneeling next to Kate. Emily grinned at him drowsily. “M, someone’s been using human magic on you—by which I mean a sleeping potion.” He ran his fingertips over her temples and down her neck, then checked her wrists and ankles.

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