The Goblin Warrior (Beneath Sands Book 2) by Emma Hamm (100 books to read txt) 📕

The goblin was attached to him by a rope around its neck. Remarkably the creature had remained rather docile during the second half of his trip. Simon assumed that he had finally broken it. The thought was a source of pride.

The goblin’s name was Juo. He was overwhelmed by the sounds and scents around him. He could not see the creatures but he knew from the distinct acrid scent that they were like his captor. He feared for his life, but was too weak to do anything but meekly follow the lead around his throat.

Simon thumped his hand hard on the small stone lip at the base of the window.

“Ethan. I do believe you’ll be letting me in now.”

The man blinked at him in shock before saying quietly, “Simon? Is that you?”

“Oh aye it is. It is!”

Ethan shook his head. “You know I can’t be letting you in Simon. You were sent away from here.”

“Aye, I was. Long time ago though, don’t you think I could be pardoned?”

The man who Simon had cut in line clapped a hand on his shoulder. “You should be getting to the back of the line.”

“I don’t think so.” Simon turned towards the man who took a step back when he saw the sand blasted face and cracked lips. His eyes held a hint of madness.

“Simon.” Ethan said quietly. “I don’t want to call the guards.”

In response, Simon leaned closer until his face nearly touched the glass. He whispered, “You tell the doctor that I brought what he wanted. Run along now. Go and tell him. He won’t want to be kept waiting.”

They were magic words. Ethan stood reluctantly and went back to the radio. The Doctor was a well-known person within those four walls. He was a miracle worker people said. A famed man who knew the human body as though it was a book to be read.

Simon knew better. He had done the man’s dirty work for a few months and then remained silent about the man’s ways. A regular witch doctor in his own way, the man conducted experiments when he could. Which was frequently.

He held the world in the palm of his hand because he was, in some ways, an actual miracle worker. Sickness, pain, disease, he knew how it affected people. He had spent much of his life struggling to find ways to make their world perfect. He was succeeding because of the countless hours of experimentation upon masses of poor who did not know better.

That talent had become boring. When the doctor heard of Simon’s ramblings of creatures that no one had seen before, he had become intrigued. He had half-heartedly promised a rather tempting deal for Simon.

Bring back one of the beasts, and he would let Simon back into the City. Simon was already on his way out for drunken ramblings and petty thievery. There was no use keeping him unless he provided something to the Doctor in return.

The Doctor had never thought Simon would actually follow through.

Ethan walked back towards the glass, an expression of puzzlement on his face. “The doctor says to sit in the waiting room with what you brought. He’ll be with you in a moment.”

A metal door slid open to the right of the glass, and Simon tipped an imaginary hat towards the other man.

“Much obliged.”

With a jerk upon the rope, he led the goblin into the room that was light brightly with bare bulbs. The light could no longer harm the poor creature who could not see it.

Once inside, Simon took a calming breath as white surrounded them. The doctor liked to ramble on about the effects of color upon the human brain. White, though something humans associated with good things, always seemed to put people on edge. Simon could not believe that in this moment. After so long in the dark of the mines, the bright color was welcome.

A screen flickered to life on the other side of the room with a gaunt face that stared down at Simon. The doctor was an aging man, white hair slicked back upon his skull gave him a skeletal appearance. However, Simon knew all too well how strong the man could be.

“Doc.” He said, then gestured behind him. “I brought it just like you asked.”

The expression upon the doctor’s face was less than excited. Simon’s shoulders squared as he realized the man didn’t think he had delivered.

“I’m hardly going to allow you back in the City with a blanketed person. Reveal your so called creature, Simon. I am not interested in games.”

“With pleasure.” He answered.

Simon turned and grasped the blanket on the goblin’s shoulders. With a theatrical flourish, he whipped the fabric off and revealed the monster beneath.

Sadly, the goblin was far more yellow than they had appeared in the caves. This one was smaller than the bigger creatures he had seen, but Juo still stood heads over Simon. The goblin seemed to understand that it was being scrutinized.

Juo straightened his spine. He was every ounce the proud warrior that his race had raised him to be. He had no idea that he was only helping his captor by appearing more powerful.

There was a soft intake of breath that could be heard through the speakers. The doctor leaned forward to stare at the creature Simon brought. “Fascinating.”

And then disappeared. The doctor was no longer in the screen and Simon started to get nervous.

“Doc?” He asked. “Doc do you want it or not?”

Silence met his question.

“Doc, I ain’t gonna stand here with it all day. I’ll take it back where I found it.”

A sliding door from the other side of the room opened and armed guards walked towards them. They held the guns within their hands lightly as though the weapons were extensions of themselves. Each guard was more than capable of subduing both Simon and the wounded goblin.

“What are you doing?” Simon asked as two guards grabbed each arm of his creature. The goblin jerked, obviously uncomfortable, and