The black knight took the cup, tucked it into a pouch at his waist. Though his gaze was hidden, but I could feel the darkness within as he searched the streets. He jumped on his horse and waved his men on.
Grimkeep cursed under his breath. He released my elbow and growled. “Just as I feared. They’ll keep searching for you.”
“Why?” I muttered, rubbing my elbow in nervousness.
“The king’s blades have rounded up anyone that has shown any talent toward magic. Just last week a woodcutter’s daughter was taken in the middle of the day,” Grimkeep said. He turned, his boots crunching through the snow as he slipped between the buildings, taking the side roads until we came slipped in the cover of a lean-to across the street from the inn.
“Again, why?” I asked.
“I suspect it has to do with this.” Grimkeep tossed a coin to me, and I caught it midair.
As soon as my fingers closed around the coin, I felt it—the darkness. My stomach roiled, and I dropped it into the snow.
“Why did you do that?” Grimkeep asked. He reached down with a gloved hand and held the coin toward me.
I backed away. “It has a strange aura about it.”
His eyes narrowed. “Very good. Now tell me why?” He held the coin open in his palm, and I was reluctant to touch it. “You’re gifted, Rhea, but you need to know how to use your gifts.”
“I never told you my name?” I asked, startled.
“Dwarves live a very long time. I’ve known Lorelai since she was a babe. I knew her daughter Rhea was in alchemy and earth magic. It’s a bit obvious since I’ve seen no one else do what you just did.” His thrust his fist out again. “Now, daughter of Eville, use your senses. Tell me about this coin.”
My breath hitched as I obeyed. My fingers brushed against the icy surface, and I became sick to my stomach. A rolling feeling rushed through my body, but then it settled, and I had a desire to possess the coin. I fought it, even as my fingers closed around the treasure against my will.
But Grimkeep wanted to know more. Clearing my mind, I tried to break down the components of the coin. Images flashed through my mind.
Pain. Rage. Darkness. Cave. Gold. Death.
I pulled away.
“It’s cursed,” I said in disgust.
Grimkeep’s lip tightened. “That it is.” He held out the tinker’s gold cup. “And now this.”
I prepared my mind to receive the same onslaught of feelings as I touched it. I sucked in my breath and waited.
“What do you feel, Rhea?” Grimkeep urged. “Does it come from the same place as the coin?” he asked fearfully.
“No,” I sighed, as the metal warmed with the heat of my hands. “It’s just painted metal.”
He looked relieved. “That’s good. I wasn’t sure with how Doren was acting. I thought for sure he got his hands on some of that cursed treasure.”
“What treasure?” I asked.
“The cursed treasure of Rumple Stiltskin, one of the greatest dwarf heroes of our time.”
“Then why was he cursed?”
Grimkeep scoffed. “He wasn’t cursed. The treasure was, or it had become cursed over time as a great enemy’s evilness seeped into it. Over the years, as the earth shakes and winter thaws, pieces of the treasure have washed down the mountain and into the rivers. Vandals and robbers have been trying to mine the mountain and find the hoard, but everyone that goes in doesn’t come back out. The mountain itself is cursed; the tunnels filled with dangerous creatures and goblins. But pieces of the cursed gold still make it to the surface and go into circulation. When it does, madness follows. It’s my sole job to protect the cursed hoard.”
“Then what’s with the soldiers?” I asked.
Grimkeep frowned. “Those are the king’s men.” Grimkeep rolled the coin over his knuckles before tucking it into a belt pouch. “The king’s been obsessed with gold as of late, forcing his men to mine deeper than they should in search of it, but their mines have all dried up. There’s no more riches to be found in the mountain. I have a suspicion that his men are trying to find the hoard. If they do, they could unleash a far greater evil onto the land.”
My mouth went dry in awe as I listened to Grimkeep’s rough voice pull me into the story. Goosebumps ran up my arms and I had a feeling this was why I was here.
A horse neighed, and I ducked farther into the lean-to as more of the king’s army rode down the streets. A scrawny soldier dismounted just outside the entrance to the inn and headed inside. He must have found out where I was staying.
I had nowhere to go now. “What do I do?” I asked.
“Don’t worry, Taffy and Fezik won’t give you up. They’re loyal to my cause. But you need to leave. Lie low for a few days. I have to check on something, then I’ll find you.” He turned his back to me and headed out into the street toward the soldier’s hitched horse.
“But how do you know where I’ll—” I started.
He turned and pointed at me. “I have my ways.” Just as he finished speaking, he sunk deep into the ground as if the earth swallowed him whole. He reappeared at the guard’s hitched horse. He released the reins, then slapped it on the rump, spurring it to run back toward the center of town.
The soldier, hearing the commotion, rushed out of the Goat Head Inn, and took off running after his horse, screaming and cursing. Grimkeep gave me a last wave before using earth magic and sinking beneath the surface.
I whistled under my breath, having previously forgotten that dwarves had access to different magic. Grimkeep’s clan clearly had the ability to travel through the ground. Others had powerful jaws, like iron or super strength, and could wield weapons five times heavier than a human. But what he had done was create a diversion for me.
Running across the street, I ducked into the inn through the front door just as Taffy came out of the kitchen, her eyes wide with fright.
“You need to go. They’re looking for you.” She wrung her skirt in worry.
“It’s okay.” I held up my hands. “Grimkeep is leading them away.”
“They’ll be back. You’re not safe. The knight in black armor is one of the king’s blades. And that one never gives up on his prey. You must go. Fezik is helping Herst convert his carriage and hitch up the reindeer.” Her words became clipped as her anxiousness rose.
We went out the back door, just as Herst finished hitching the last reindeer. Not only did they switch out horses, but they had lifted the transport cart and attached metal runners, turning it into a sleigh.
“You ready, girl?” Herst called to me. “I heard you made quite an impression on the locals already.” He opened the transport door, and I jumped inside while he climbed into the driver’s seat. He was about to snap his whip and set us off down the street toward the exit when we heard the guards returning. They gathered in mass outside the inn, blocking our escape route.
There was no way we could sneak past them. The snowfall was picking up, and I could smell a snowstorm was on its way, but a full sled with reindeers trying to leave town was going to gain attention.
“Now what?” Herst mumbled.
“I’ll take care of it.” I slipped out of the transport and pulled my hood up over my hair. Reaching into the satchel, I felt around for the unique charms I carried. Rubbing my fingers over each rune, I searched by touch until I found the ones that would help me.