The Goblin's Gift (34 page)

AZURMOUTH. THE GREATEST
city in all the Old World.

The white carriage is waiting on the docks, emblazoned with the Golden Sun, drawn by four white horses puffing out clouds of mist in the cold morning air and stamping their hooves on the cobblestones.

He pauses a moment on the quayside before climbing inside. It is so good to breathe Azurmouth air again. His eyes wander over the brickwork of the giant warehouses that line the docks, each one as big and imposing as the governor's manor house in Port Fayt. Below, sailors and stevedores go about their business. So many human faces. Not an imp, elf, goblin or troll in sight. A dwarf hobbles
into view from behind a warehouse, rattling a tin full of coins. The Duke of Garran frowns, turns and points out the beggar to a revenue official.

‘Have that taken care of.'

‘Yes, your grace.'

Strange. He almost misses those creatures. Clearly there is some sickness in his soul that drives him to seek out demonspawn. To probe at the darkness within them.

And yet someone must.

He steps into the carriage as two soldiers head over to the dwarf.

Major Turnbull follows him, settling on the plush red velvet seat opposite. She carries the Sword of Corin wrapped in a leather sheath, laid over her lap. Her delicate fingers clasp it tight as the carriage moves off.

‘An unfortunate loss, the
Justice
,' he says mildly.
‘Expensive.'

She nods.

‘But a worthy sacrifice, nonetheless.' His eyes return to the chased silver hilt of the sword, encrusted with white star-stones. It is beautiful. ‘What spell did you use in the library, I wonder? A little emotional manipulation, perhaps – intensifying his anger and binding it to the sword? Hardly required. The only pity is that we could not crush them all at Illon. The captain of the Demon's Watch, that mongrel—'

‘Filth,' says Major Turnbull. She spits the word out like a mouthful of rotten apple. ‘Demonspawn.'

The Duke of Garran smiles. Since the battle, Turnbull has been even more quiet than usual. This is the first thing she has said all day, and he knows he has made her furious to get that much out of her. It amuses him.

‘Filth, you say? Perhaps. But a worthy enough opponent for you on this occasion. You let him beat you. And with nothing more than a wooden club. Are you not ashamed?'

Turnbull does not rise to the bait, just turns to glare out of the window at the people passing in the streets.

‘No matter. I do not doubt that you will have another opportunity to cross swords with him.'

Turnbull carries on glaring, and the Duke of Garran smiles again.

He leans forward, takes the leather sheath from her lap and places it on his own. The blade slides out easily, just a little way, so that he can admire the craftsmanship. It has stayed with him all the way from Illon, in the wavecutter he commandeered from one of his scout captains, locked up in a chest in his cabin.

The Sword of Corin the Bold.

The most powerful blade in all the Old World. Imbued with a magic so deep and ancient that scarcely any still remember. They will be reminded though. And
from this day forward, he will not let it out of his sight.

Soon, perhaps, the Fayters will realize what it is they have lost. The price they have paid for their little victory.

Perhaps they will even try to take it back.

The Duke of Garran smiles and slides the blade back into its sheath.

Let them, he thinks.

Let them try.

 

 

HERE ENDS BOOK TWO

Huge thanks once again to Jane and to everyone at Lutyens and Rubinstein. To my superstar editors Hannah and Bella, and to Simon, Tilda and David. To Lauren and everyone at RHCP, and to cover wizards Alison and David. To all my wonderful supportive friends and colleagues, particularly Hugh for comments on the manuscript and Simon for trailer-making skills. A special thanks to Henry for his Latin expertise. And as ever, thanks to Mark, Verity and Katrina, who've read this book almost as many times as I have.

Conrad Mason was born in 1984. He studied Classics at Cambridge University and now works in London as an editor of children's fiction.
The Goblin's Gift
is his second novel, and the second title in the
Tales of Fayt
series. You can visit him online at
www.conrad-mason.com

‘Amid the swashbuckling and shoot-outs, the ethos and humour recall the straighter-faced Discworld books'
SFX

‘Hugely entertaining . . . A superbly written magical fantasy that is up there with the best. It has barrel loads of imagination, action galore, and a huge dollop of mayhem and mischief'
Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books blog

‘A very funny and very original story . . . the perfect book for boys and anyone looking for a brilliant adventure'
Armadillo Magazine

‘Mason's writing is lively and engaging, and his message of tolerance is a potent one'
Philip Womack,
Literary Review

‘A hugely entertaining and comic fantasy story that will have young readers enchanted. Conrad Mason has filled his story with characters to rival those in any of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels'
Book Zone For Boys

‘Sparkling and energetic, it's full of wit and comic timing, with piratical idioms galore . . . I think this rip-roaring fantasy adventure is going to win a loyal – and thoroughly deserved – following'
The Bookbag

‘[The] story cleverly intermingles the worlds of humans and mythical beings, so that its hardly seems like a fantasy novel at times'
The School Librarian

‘This exciting fantasy has well-rounded, likeable characters and a lively, twisting plot, yet it also tackles the issues of acceptance and prejudice'
Booktrust

‘A swashbucking, magical, hilarious and scary adventure with quirky characters you can love, hate and wish you were friends with'
Liz Bankes

‘Plunges you into a fantastic fantasy world you won't want to leave'
Scribbler! Magazine

‘This is a great fantasy adventure as well as that rarest of things: a children's book that is a great read for both children and adults'
Nomad Books

‘Each page brims with adventure, magic, darkness, tension and suspense... Port Fayt is an antonym of dull and Mason's ability to describe each detail allows us to feel the sea salt breeze, taste the slices of fried octopus and greasy paper bags of shellfish, and gulp the flagons of grog'
Inis magazine

‘An excellent debut fantasy novel which will entrance readers in its humour, setting and essential humanity, but which is original, witty and wise. Full of pace and unexpected twists it will engage younger readers'
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THE GOBLIN'S GIFT
AN RHCP DIGITAL EBOOK 978 1 448 15786 0

Published in Great Britain by RHCP Digital,
an imprint of Random House Children's Publishers UK
A Random House Group Company

This ebook edition published 2013

Copyright © Conrad Mason, 2013

First Published in Great Britain by David Fickling Books,
(when an imprint of Random House Children's Publishers UK
A Random House Group Company)

The right of Conrad Mason to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

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