Key To A Goblin's Heart

NARRATOR

"Did I hear it right?" Jake wondered, "Maland performed a binding spell on me and bound his own soul with mine! So, basically, his body is doing the work of mine and he's the reason I am still living?"

An overwhelming sense of gratitude overtook Jake as he thought of Maland's sacrifice. He knew that it wasn't a small thing for Maland, to perform a magic so complex yet so intimate as this. Yet, somehow Jake knew that he would have done the same, had he been in Maland's place. 

Ever since coming to Mafhaelore, Jake had wondered what his real purpose in life was. Yes, indeed he wanted to find a cure for Maland's paralysed hand, but the more he thought about it now, the more impossible it seemed. Afterall, didn't Mike pointedly say that paralysis is incurable. Well, Atleast the physical ones are. About the Magical ones, Jake had no more idea than anyone else. 

However, Maland's little act of sacrifice made Jake more determined than ever, to try and find a cure. Of course, there must be something, maybe he should ask Sofosys about it. Sofosys was the most learned person he knew, and he was sure that they can come up with something together. In Jake's dictionary, the word "impossible" didn't exist, and he was adamant to repay Maland back, for his kindness. 

The Goblin man was saying something more, and Jake strained his ears to make out his words. 

"But, I would need payment in due time." He was saying, "these antidotes don't come cheap, and this is my last stock that I just gave you. Once you enter Mafhaelore with me, I would expect you to buy me some more. I am a traveller and I can't go about my business without Hobgoblin antidotes, those creatures are just notorious and off late, they are everywhere!"

Maland grunted a reply, but Jake couldn't hear it. For the first time, it struck him that they didn't have any money. Well, not any Goblin money atleast. Do Goblins even have some sort of currency? Jake made a mental note to ask Maland later about it. If only they could find Cassie in time, surely she will be able to deliver them from this crisis situation. 

Maland and the little Goblin man started walking across the street towards Jake's hiding place, probably returning to the brook by which they expected to find Jake and Mike. 

Jake quickly went the other way, through the bush and entered the spot where he had left Mike earlier. 

"Where the hell were you?" Mike said, sitting on the ground as he twisted a tuft of grass. 

"Just went to get some fresh air." Jake replied, ignoring his question. 

He sat down beside Mike, just in time as Maland entered with the man. 

He pointed at Jake and the little man came rushing forward, he opened his small suitcase and took out a little magnifying glass and started examine Jake's wound. 

"Magnificent!" He said, jumping a little, "It's completely septic, the wound is. I need to debride a little, and then maybe I can apply the antidote. It will work, no doubt as the poison has not yet spread much. But, the very fact that he is still alive is marvellous! What was the spell that you used?" He turned to Maland expecting a reply.

Maland cleared his throat and replied, "I will tell you of the details later. For now, just do what you have to, and fast. We don't have much time."

The man nodded in assertion. But, his curiousity knew no bounds, as he poked around the wound, debrided the surface and placed the rotten skin into a small plastic bag, and put that bag into his suitcase. He then took out a tuft of dried grass, very much like the ones Mike was just twisting, and with the help of a mortar and pestle, started making a fine paste. 

Mike watched wondrously, as the man added water from his pouch and created a thick greenish paste. It bubbled a little, and then turned completely red. The man looked satisfied and he applied a thick paste on Jake's shoulder. Then, he instructed Jake to swallow the rest. 

"What?" Jake replied horrified, "there's no way I am going to swallow this weird looking thing. Is it even safe?"

"Just do as he says." Maland commanded. 

Jake looked at the concoction in pure disgust, then pinching his nose, he swallowed it in a single gulp. 

Within seconds, he started to feel better. The mental fog that had crippled him for so long finally lifted and he could think clearly. His head stopped hurting, and the fever was gone. And, he realised with a jolt, that he could move his right shoulder. The shoulder looked perfectly fine now, in short the effect of the deadly poison was negated. 

Jake had never felt so energetic in his life, and he wished to run miles in his new found vigour. However, he restrained himself, and sat down to rest a bit. The man looked at him appreciatively, and Maland conveyed his thanks to him. 

It was decided, that they would leave before nightfall, so that they could reach the borders of Mafhaelore before it was dark. The man suggested this and Maland agreed to it. So, they set off without wasting any further time.

The road was much more friendly, now that Jake felt like a rejuvenated person. There was a leap in his feet and he travelled much faster than the others, quickly overtaking Maland and Jake and travelling side by side with the man, who despite his short stature, was a surprisingly fast walker. 

"So, are you a doctor?" Jake said, trying to strike a conversation with the man who had saved his life. 

The man frowned, "A doctor? What's that?"

Jake tried to think of a Goblin equivalent to the word "Doctor", but finally said, "I mean do you heal people? Like treat their diseases and stuff?"

The man nodded sagaciously, "Yes, that's my profession! But, I don't do it for free…. I charge a hundred Gobhearts per ailment. Yours was a special case, so I promised Mr Maland that I would do with Fifty, if only he could procure some more antidote for me."

"But, I heard you say that you were a traveller?" Jake asked confused. 

"How am I going to treat people, if I don't travel across the country and gather herbs?" The man said, clearly irritated. 

Jake didn't think it wise to test his patience any longer. So he came to the point, "Is there any cure for.. eh Magic induced paralysis? I mean...the one that makes one of your limbs non-functional."

The man frowned before answering, "You mean some sort of curse, I think. It depends….some curses are curable while others aren't. But, there's a Magician…..his name is Donald and he specialises in healing curses. Maybe, you should ask him."

Jake made a mental note of looking for this Donald. Then, finding the man reluctant to talk anymore, he fell behind in his steps. 

Meanwhile, in Mafhaelore, the search for the ruby was in full swing. Every others jewellery shop was searched thoroughly, even normal shops in the market were not spared. The captain of the search team made it very clear, that anyone who finds the ruby will get a huge rewards from the Queen. They were leaving no stones unturned. 

Suddenly, a soldier came forward and saluted the captain. 

"We have found a few trespassers, Sir! They were loitering around the borders, asking for the Princess by name! They claim to know her. Two of them, are humans Sir!"

"Humans! In Mafhaelore! Bring them before the Queen, fast." The captain commanded. 

Thus, Maland along with his companions were bound, gagged and transported to the Royal Quarters to meet the Queen. The man who had helped Jake before, denied his association with any of them, and since he was well known in the country, he could leave unscathed. 

The others were presented before the Queen, and Maland bowed to her Majesty. 

"What are you doing here? And how did you even get here in the first place?" The Queen asked angrily. 

Maland explained the circumstances to her, and even though she listened to every word that he had to say, she hardly believed him. 

"Lies!" She roared, once Maland was done with his tale, "There is no way that this boy is a Goblin! I don't believe his lies at all. It's all a plot to get to Mafhaelore, and who knows they may have even sided with the enemy? Maland, how could you be so blind? I am sure it was you who opened the portal and led them here. I trusted you and placed them all in your safety, and you have betrayed my trust!"

Maland protested, he pleaded in vain to convince the Queen that he had no role in opening the portal to the Goblin lands. He tried explaining how Mike had discovered everything on his own. Mike tried telling her how he came about to make the discovery. But, all their pleas fell to dead ears. The Queen was already furious with the escape of Magnus, and the sudden appearance of two Humans into her territory did nothing to soothe her disquiet. 

"These humans already know too much about us." She said, "I should have done something about it earlier. Better late than never though. I need to erase all their memories regarding the Goblins and transport them back to Earth."