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Where There Be Humans
by Rebekah L. Purdy

Copyright © 2020 by Rebekah L. Purdy. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.

Chapter One

“C’mon, Ivy girl, you need to move your feet more,” Captain Bushwell said as I stood, sword lifted just above my shoulders. His brown eyes twinkled, daring me to attack.

Sweat trickled down my brow, and I watched him, waiting. He swiped downward with his blade, taking another jab at me. This time, I dodged to the side, arcing to block him. The impact of our weapons cracked like a rumble of thunder across the dusty practice yard.

“Yes, that’s it. Don’t get distracted,” he said. “Show me what you’ve got.”

Taking a deep breath, I went on the offensive, rolling forward and striking with my wooden practice sword, dislodging Captain Bushwell’s from his hand. Finally. We’d been at this for over an hour now. If I had to go one more round, my arms might just fall off. However, I knew I needed my early-evening weapons training before school—a training I hoped would better my chances with the royal family choosing me for their council.

My eyes widened. Speaking of school… Damn. If I didn’t hurry, I’d be late. “I better go. Kimblay will kill me if I’m not there on time.”

I tossed my wooden sword to Captain Bushwell, then proceeded to tug my breeches off from beneath my dress and untie the rope that’d held my skirts out of the way. With a quick wave, I grabbed my things and rushed toward the gate.

“See you tomorrow,” Captain Bushwell said. “Try to behave today. I don’t want to see you in the gutters again.”

“I’ll try.” Hag knew, I’d been attempting to keep out of trouble lately, especially with only one year left to prove myself.

The Hob Market bustled with people as I weaved my way between the stands of live chickens, fresh and rotten fruit, furs, and silken fabrics. Moonlight glowed like a giant lantern in the sky, and I groaned. High Moon. We were going to be late.

“Come on, Pudge, where in the bloody hell are you,” I muttered, fingering the leather purse strapped to my waist. My training delay had given him a few extra minutes to get here, so where was he?

“Get your fresh chicken gizzards and entrails here!” Carlane shouted from her stand. Gold hoops dangled from her pointed ears. The stench of rotting meat turned my stomach as bile seared the back of my throat.

“Hey, I’ll take one to go.” Pudge bounded up beside me, out of breath. He handed some coins to Carlane and took the oversize tin cup of steaming innards.

Hands on my hips, I glared. Pudge’s coarse brown hair stood up in unruly shocks, his green skin glistening with sweat. His tunic stretched tight across his shoulders, the fabric barely containing his barrel-like chest.

He stared at me for long seconds, and my face flushed. I swallowed hard. My stomach felt as if someone had released fluttering moths inside it. What was going on with us? In the past couple of days, I’d felt a shift in our friendship. I’d dreamt of him a lot as of late or found myself glancing at him, wondering what it’d be like if he held my hand or asked to call on me. Stuff I normally didn’t give two shits about. I mean, this was Pudge, my best friend.

“What?” he asked in between bites of food.

With a shake of my head, I attempted to clear my thoughts, then reached out to pull him forward. “You’re late—and you know we can’t get caught coming in after the final bell tolls again.”

“Ivy, I swear it wasn’t my fault. I overslept, and Father wouldn’t let me take the cart…and then I couldn’t find a clean tunic.”

With a sigh, I rolled my eyes. “I don’t know why in Hag’s name you don’t get your things ready the morning before. Besides, if our fathers find out we were late for Headmistress Kimblay’s classes again, we’ll both be stuck cleaning the soldiers’ gutters.”

Pudge frowned. “They don’t even piss in the gutters. Most of it ends up on the floor.”

“My point exactly.” I laughed. “I don’t want to spend my free days scraping shit cakes from the walls.”

Dust kicked up from the main road as more carts trundled into the marketplace. The permanent storefronts that surrounded it were built into the rock overhangs and ledges. Colorful signs indicated their wares. A stiff breeze billowed through the caverns above, carrying the sounds of loud voices and hooves with it. The familiar scents of goblin sweat, animal droppings, and cooking fires assaulted me.

Slurp. Pudge sucked a long piece of intestine through his wide lips, and I wrinkled my nose. “That’s disgusting.”

He grinned at me, holding a piece between his fingers and swinging it toward my face. “If you don’t be nice, I won’t tell you the good news.”

“What news?” I tugged him to a stop in the middle of the crowd.

“Hey! Get outta the way,” a cart driver shouted at us.

Pudge shot him a dirty look. “Drive around.”

The cart slowed down, and for a brief moment, I thought the driver might get out and pummel Pudge, but instead he hurled a large potato at his chest.

“Ouch! Son of a Hag.” Pudge rubbed the spot it had hit.

“See, that’s what you get.” My lips turned up at the corners. “So the news?” I prodded, stepping off to the side to let the traffic maneuver by.

“The King’s Council is meeting tonight,” Pudge said. “They sent a messenger over to let my father know.”

“So we can sneak into Gob Archives without being caught.” My voice lowered to a whisper. “This is perfect. May the Hag bless you.” I wrapped my arms around him.

My pulse soared in my ears, feeling the warmth course between us.

“Hey, watch it,” Pudge said with a laugh. “I almost dumped my breakfast on your head.”

“I owe you one.” I released him and started walking again as if nothing had happened. “You are going with me, right?”

Pudge gave me a nervous smile. “Sure, but if we get caught, Father will hang my arse over my headstone, probably right next to yours.” He made a slicing motion across his throat.

The Archives were off-limits to us. Only the King’s Council and members of the royal family were allowed access. Unless, of course, an invitation was extended, which I knew would never happen—not with my father around. Just thinking about our recent argument made me seethe. It wasn’t fair he kept secrets from me—that he wouldn’t tell me about my mother and what she was. I knew she wasn’t goblin; my not-green-enough skin and other parts of my makeup said as much. Which was exactly why I needed to get into the Archives. They kept documents, books, and relics in there. Materials that might lead me to discovering the answers I sought.

Father didn’t understand my need for wanting to know where I came from, what I truly was. To finally have the missing piece of the puzzle that was me. Everywhere I looked, younglings clung to their mothers, a luxury I’d never had. No bedtime stories or soft voice to sing me to sleep. No womanly advice as I turned from a child into a woman and wanted to know about relationships and courting and those types of things. Not that I had time to really act on any of that with my weapons training…

But recently, I’d discovered something else—something that made me believe that perhaps my mother had been from the Outer Realm. Perhaps even human. A word I wasn’t supposed to say out loud. Was that why Father had kept her a secret? So I needed to find out for sure, no matter how dangerous it seemed.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the prettiest goblin in all Gob’s Hollow.” Vane Girt, one of my classmates and sworn enemies, smirked and stepped in front of us. His ratty hair was matted to his head with oil, his pointed teeth jewel-encrusted. His family’s insignia was tattooed on the side of his neck, a large red ram surrounded by green swirls. Golden-flecked thread decorated his dark tunic, indicating his family’s wealth. “What are you and your fat friend doing?”

Pudge stiffened beside me. “How about you shut your mouth.”

“Move out of our way,” I said in an acidic tone before Pudge had the chance to do anything foolish.

Vane reached out and grabbed for my arm, but I jerked away. “Come on, Ivy. Show us that perfect smile.”

My jaw tightened, and I ground my teeth together. Vane always made it a point to remind me I was only half goblin. Not that I was the only halfer in Gob Hollow, but I was the only one I knew that looked like this. Different. The goblin and troll mixes were larger and brawnier, and the goblin-orcs had bigger teeth. But all of us were discriminated against.

Golden hair fell into my eyes, and I attempted to hide my face from him. Sure, I didn’t have the pointed teeth or the occasional horns and bumpy, blemished skin. And my hair wasn’t coarse like most everyone else in Gob Hollow. But I did have pointed ears, and my smooth green-gray skin was a lighter version of theirs. Most importantly, I carried the same glamour magic the rest of them did.

“Wake up on the wrong side of your donkey’s stall?” Pudge scowled.

Vane gave Pudge a shove, sending him staggering back, almost dumping his cup of entrails. “This is between me and Ivy,” Vane said. He slid his hand into his pocket, then pulled out a coin and held it out toward me. “Give you this if you can prove you’re actually a goblin.”

A cold laugh escaped my lips. “Why don’t you go choke off in the gutter. It’s the only action you’ll ever see.”

With one swift movement, I ripped the cup of entrails from Pudge’s hands and tossed them at Vane.

The food slid down his hair and into his face. He snarled, glowering at me, his fists clenched. “You’re going to pay for this.”

“Run!” I shouted, dragging Pudge through the crowd toward Stone Arch, the gateway into the center of Gob Hollow.

“We need to split up,” I said. “You go up to the school. I’ll meet you there.”

He glanced behind us. “You sure? Vane looks mad. I can help you.”

“I’ll handle it.” One thing I was sure of was my speed, and I knew Vane would come after me, not Pudge. Because I was the halfer—the one he always wanted to make an example of.

I headed toward a row of houses, leaping under Merta Wash-Goblin’s clothesline, nearly knocking her over as I made my way to the fence.

“Sorry, Merta,” I hollered over my shoulder.

“Who’s after ye now?” The wrinkled biddy set her laundry basket down, then screeched when Vane came barreling behind me.

My lungs burned as I jumped up and over the fence, and I sucked in several breaths before hefting my skirts and rushing down an alley. The crates were still stacked up at the end. I grinned, picking up speed.

“You’re going to wish you didn’t do that, when I catch you!” Vane shouted.

“If you catch me.” With little effort, I climbed the crates and pulled myself up onto the rocky ledge, then jumped onto the roof of the butcher’s shop.

Dong…

The toll of the bell. I couldn’t afford to be late. Holding my arms out to the side, I balanced along the roof, then skidded to a stop at the edge. The main gate was one leap away.

Amos, the guard on duty, who was also one of my mentors, caught sight of me and laughed. “Well come on now, Ivy, he’s right behind you. Let’s see you put your training to use, yeah?”

Dong…

There was no time to think this through. I just had to do it. With a squeal, I took a running start, flew through the air, and landed on top of the block wall surrounding one of the courtyards to the palace.

Dong…

“Amos?” I called, rushing along the wall.

Vane shouted obscenities from the butcher’s roof. Coward. He wouldn’t jump.

“There’s a rope up there.” Amos gestured ahead of me.

“Thanks.”

I untied the belt from my dress and wrapped it around my hand, then tossed the other side up and over the rope. Down below, my class was lining up for roll call. The headmistress waited for the final tolls to sound.

“Make sure you keep your legs up, or you’ll take down that hag of a teacher.” Amos grinned. “Not that I would mind seeing that.”

Dong…

Once I secured the belt in my grip, I lifted my legs and went sailing down the rope like a witch gliding across the sky on a broom. Several heads glanced upward, and I pleaded with my dress not to go above my waist.

Dong…

At the last moment, I hefted my feet up, narrowly missing the back of the headmistress’s skull. I released the rope and landed on my feet, staggering forward until strong hands steadied me. My fingers rested on a firm chest, and I raised my eyes to see the smiling face of Prince Dorian.

His auburn hair glinted with strands of burgundy, and his moss-colored eyes sparkled with amusement. He stood a good head taller than me, his body muscled from hard training. Dorian was as clean-cut as me. Well, other than the darker-tinged green skin and his pointed teeth. And almost every female in Gob Hollow dreamt of him selecting her in the Choosing Ceremony.

But he didn’t do it for me in that way. He was a close friend. Not as close as Pudge, but he made a good sparring partner. He was one of the few students at the school who could give me any type of challenge during weapons training. Which was why Father had made arrangements for me to work with the King’s Guard.

“Dorian— I mean, your highness. Thank you.” I needed to remember we weren’t in private.

Dong…

He tugged me into line next to him. “You made it.” He smiled. “And with time to spare.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Pudge falling into place and sighed with relief.

The last toll sounded, and Headmistress Kimblay began calling out our names. “Pudgeons Wayfarer,” her voice echoed.

“Here.” Pudge raised a hand.

And down the list she went until she was interrupted by loud footsteps and voices within the courtyard.

I peered up to see Vane and his friends scampering into line. “You’re late,” Kimblay snapped.

“It’s Ivy’s fault.” Vane glared at me.

A smile tugged at my lips as I motioned that he had something in his hair. He lifted a hand and grabbed a chunk of intestines from the top of his head.

Kimblay’s thin lips tightened. “I don’t see how it can be her fault when she was here on time. Maybe a round of stall cleaning is in order, Lord Vane.” Then she turned to the rest of us. “File into the Cavern Wing. And no talking,” she ordered.

“I don’t know why Kimblay is standing up for the halfer,” Lestray Minick said.

I bit down on my bottom lip, pretending not to hear her. It wasn’t like my classmates didn’t make comments all the time—mostly the noble-blooded ones. It just got old hearing it. And yet, Pudge and Dorian never wavered in their friendship.

As we headed toward the large structure, Dorian leaned forward. “I heard the council is coming in to speak to us during class today.”

“And on whose authority do you have that?” I teased.

“I’ve got connections in the palace.” He grinned.

“So what does the council want?”

He leaned in closer, whispering, “There has been mention of a Mission.”

Blessed Hag! The council hadn’t called for a Mission since before I was born. There were rumors that something happened in the human world the year King Starshooter and his advisors went, which was about seventeen or eighteen years ago—something bad enough they’d quit sending goblins. King Starshooter’s father deemed them too dangerous. It was around that time, too, that he declared humans as fairy tales and set laws against speaking of them or trying to search them out. Penalty being prison or possible death, depending on how far one went with their stories and ventures. However, I knew there were people who worked in the Gob Hollow black market and still supplied information—for a price.

I chewed my bottom lip. If I were part of the Mission, it could change everything. The Mission used to be a coming-of-age journey that consisted of royals, nobles, and a few select warriors trying to prove they were ready for leadership. The king would grant them a special task to test their abilities outside of Gob Hollow.

Yet, even I knew there’d never been a female goblin chosen, and being a half-blood on top of it, I’d have my work cut out for me.

“Do you know who they’re going to choose?” I asked.

Dorian’s hand tightened on my waist, pulling me back toward him. “I’m not sure yet. Father is being secretive. But I’ve put in a good word for you.”

I peered over my shoulder and smiled.

“Prince Dorian and Lady Ivy, heads to the front and mouths shut,” Kimblay barked. “One more word from the two of you will result in an evening in the gutters.”

Eyes facing forward again, I sighed. Titles didn’t mean a thing to the headmistress, and I couldn’t be put on gutter duty tonight. I had plans and things to figure out.

First, how to get into the Archives.

And second, how to make sure I got on the list for the Mission.