Free The Goblin's Curse by Gillian Summers Page B

sent you to protect me?”
    “He forbade me to tell you.”
    “So, it was a he?”
    Vangar’s face clouded over with confusion and anxiety.
    “Whatever. My dad is waiting for me at Hob’s shop.”
    “It was that little pissant that set me up.” Vangar hissed, smoke blowing from between his clenched teeth. “He’s the one behind the fire.”
    Aghast, Keelie stared at Vangar. “He’s been nothing but kind and helpful. How dare you accuse him?”
    “Think about it. He set me up. First, he was the one who convinced everyone that my forge was a fire hazard. “
    “Because your forge was a fire hazard. It took no skill to get people to believe it.”
    “But I have the magical ability to stop fire,” Vangar said between clenched teeth. “I’m a dragon. If I’d been home, it wouldn’t have happened.”
    “I’ll keep an open mind.” Keelie forced the words out to appease the blacksmith, who seemed to be walking a bridge between reality and buggy-buggy land. “And I’ll keep an eye on Hob,” she said. “I need to go.”
    He swept his hand forward as if guiding her up the path. “Be on your way, milady, but keep this conversation between the two of us.”
    Keelie edged past him, then blinked as he vanished into the bushes. Finch definitely had a lot of explaining to do.
    Outside Hob’s shop, Dad was waiting for her. “Where have you been?”
    “I ran into some people who wanted to give me their condolences on the fire.” Keelie made a quick decision not to tell her father about Vangar or how he’d asked for her help in proving his innocence—not for Vangar’s sake, but because Dad had enough on his mind. Vangar had given her something to think about, and his words troubled her.
    Dad nodded. “It’s been a shock to the entire faire. Everyone wants to help.”
    Now she’d lied to her father. Her home was a pile of smoldering debris. Keelie choked back tears as silvery smoke streamed up from the wreckage. She couldn’t believe she’d been put in this position. Strange, how the smoldering remains of Heartwood remained confined in a circle. And that Hobknocker’s, with its fragile paper masks, had been unaffected.
    Hob stepped out onto the porch, cradling the potted goblin tree in his arms. “Here you go, Zeke. I admire your dedication to your plants.” He lowered the tree down onto the front steps leading to his shop. “Are you sure you want to take it tonight?”
    Dad motioned toward Keelie. “Since the little tree is the only thing left of Heartwood … ”
    “Yes, I missed it so much. I couldn’t spend another night without my tree.” Keelie sighed sadly, not faking, although her sadness wasn’t related to the angry and ungrateful beast of a tree.
    The little goblin tree sent Keelie angry red thoughts. You lie. You don’t care about me. Nobody cares about me.
    She smiled at the goblin tree, Hob, and Dad to mask what she was truly feeling, which was to toss the treeling onto the hot embers. You’re lucky to be alive. You’re going with us whether you want to or not.
    Green-red anger seethed within the little tree. Keelie sensed the goblin taint flowing its sap like venom, slowly poisoning it with dark magic. She had to find a way to get it out before it got out of hand.
    I know a secret that you don’t know, and when you find out, you’re going to die. They want you dead. All of them, for what you did.
    She didn’t know what the little tree meant, so she ignored its ranting.
    Dad picked up the tree and waved good night to Hob. “Thank you again for your help.”
    “You would’ve done the same for me. I’m sorry about your loss, and I’m going to make sure everyone knows it was Vangar who did this.”
    Dad didn’t look over at the smoking ruin of what had been their shop and their home. “I don’t think it was Vangar who started the fire.” His voice weary. “We appreciate your help, Hob, in alerting the other shopkeepers to the fire.”
    “Despite your generous spirit, Zeke,