The Goblin Bride (Beneath Sands Book 1) by Emma Hamm (good short books TXT) 📕

the corner, arching an eyebrow at him. “What? Am I not properly dressed for your ceremony? I was unaware goblins even knew how to dress formally.”

He seemed to chuckle. “Goblins will help. You-” he pointed at her firmly, though with a trademark goblin grin. “Don’t scare them.”

“I don’t like it that you’re getting better at speaking my language.” She replied.

Melodic laughter trailed after him as he disappeared behind the flap once more.

Another goblin was quick to take his place, not the one that had been in before. This one had the same tattooing as well, but his arms were a little bulkier, his face broader, nose flatter.

She didn’t like him any more than the other.

“Fine. Let’s get this over with.” She grumbled, holding her arms out. “It’s not like I have a choice.”

As the goblin skimmed the thin fabric off of her body and started a much more intricate design with clean cloths, she realized just how frustrating it was to have someone else dress her. Rumors were that in the City people didn’t dress themselves. Jane didn’t understand the appeal. She had two strong hands and a mind that could very well figure out how to put clothing on herself.

She looked down at the knotted fabric that was being roped over her body. This was a much more detailed design than what Ruric had been teaching her. It still had the base layer of fabric she was used to, but the coverings over her breasts were now the same leather strappings as Ruric had worn. It looked like a piece of armor.

This continued throughout the entire bodice of the piece, ending with a presentation that left more skin showing than she was comfortable with. Was not a wedding supposed to be something similar to giving away virtue? Not that Jane was a virgin by any sense of the word, but she hardly thought she was supposed to have her skin bared like this.

“I don’t think I can wear this.” She said nervously.

The goblin barely flinched, stooping to continue the pattern down her hip to link it to the wider pieces of fabric around her waist.

“I really can’t wear it like this, there’s too much skin showing.” She tried to explain once more.

It didn’t take long for Jane to feel the licking cold air at her back. There were no coverings on her ribs or spine. The rest was open to the air including the lines of her ribs which had also not been covered. She was truly concerned that she felt as though she was donning armor that did very little to protect her.

This was going to end terribly.

Gritting her teeth, she reminded herself that she didn’t have a choice. They didn’t care about the number of times she had said no. She couldn’t fight or run. There was nothing for her to do but stand still and agree to do what they wanted.

The skirt the goblin created was sleek and molded to her legs. Even Jane had to admit that it was a flattering style. Though she wasn’t certain it would hide the parts of her she didn’t want the goblins to see. Two slits down the sides allowed her to move freely, showing skin every time she moved.

She looked down at herself, then back at the goblin. “This is really a bad idea.”

The goblin seemed quite pleased with his work. He even dusted off his hands before gesturing for her to move out of the cave.

“I know you don’t understand me, but I’m really not the kind of person you want to wear this. I’m going to ruin it.”

Gently he started herding her towards the door.

“It’s going to end badly for everyone and likely in embarrassment.”

She could feel the flap of the cave against her spine, and in one last ditch effort she pleaded, “Please don’t make me do this.”

It was a low blow to her pride, but she refused to admit to herself that she had stooped low enough to beg. She didn’t want to do this. She didn’t have a choice.

With a light shove, he pushed her out the door. She stumbled before she caught herself. She had learned how important it was to be sure footed on these ledges. The last thing she needed was to go tumbling from the edge on a day that was supposed to be something like a wedding.

As she looked up towards the path, she was startled. Most of the globes had been put out. Instead, there was a clearly lit single path that traveled across those bridges. It wound its way up to the large cave at the highest point of this crevice.

She had no way to know when she started following that path that there were hundreds of goblin eyes watching her. She couldn’t see past the thin pool of light that was guiding her from globe to globe. The goblins, however, could see her perfectly. She was a creature made entirely differently than them. Her dark skin that had been kissed by the sun. Her blunt fingers grasped the ropes to pull her small and delicate form forward.

To them she was both delicate and pitiful. A creature that needed to be protected at all costs. For surely how could something like that survive on its own at all. They would need to provide her with what they could once she became part of the tribe. She was their last hope for survival.

The journey took her by every goblin in this tribe. Every last goblin would see the human woman that had the potential to change the future for them. Even if she did not create the hybrid that they so desperately needed, she would be the first human to ever be brought into the tribe. Some would never accept her. The oddities of her body and shape would make them recoil. But others would find her enchanting. A creature out of myths and legends.

Most here had never seen a human before.

Her heart was beating faster and