Goblins on the Prowl Read Online Free PDF

surprise.
    â€œFauna good!” cried Herky, leaping from William’s arms. He knew better than to jump to me, so he landed on the table, where he turned three somersaults, just missing the cake with his feet.
    The Baron came back from the far end of the table. “Well done, young lady,” he said.
    When we finished eating, the Baron gave ­William and me pocket watches. Personally, I didn’t have muchuse for a watch. It seemed to make William happy, though. The watches were made of gold, with our names and fancy designs engraved on their lids. ­William’s had a sword with vines wrapped around it. Mine had ­flowers.
    I would have rather had the sword.
    Even so, I thanked the Baron politely.
    I knew the time had come to give William his present from Granny Pinchbottom. Feeling sick, I put my hand to the back of my neck, hoping Solomon’s Collar would come off now that I was in front of the person who was supposed to get it.
    It didn’t.
    Fortunately, I had a backup plan. Taking a deep breath, I said, “When I told Granny Pinchbottom about the party, she said she also wanted to send you a gift.”
    Karl snorted but managed not to say anything.
    I held out the bottle of Sleep Walk. “Here it is.”
    As I spoke the lie, Solomon’s Collar tingled.
    Then it began to tighten around my neck!
    I gasped in panic. Would the collar keep getting smaller until it cut my head off? The fact that when we were in Nilbog I had seen the goblin king’s headless body made this all too easy to imagine.
    â€œFauna, are you all right?” William asked. “You look kind of funny.”
    â€œI’m fine!” I choked out. This was another lie, and the moment I spoke it, the collar grew even tighter.
    â€œActually, I’m not. I think I need to sit down!”
    Instantly the collar loosened its grip.
    Karl rushed over with a chair, and I dropped into it. Sitting there, trying to catch my breath, I realized I had put something around my neck—something I couldn’t remove—that would start to strangle me anytime I told a lie.
    This did not make me happy.
    I know there are worse things that can happen to a person than not being able to lie, but at the moment I couldn’t think of any. Lying had been a useful survival tool for me . . . and if you’ve never been trapped in a room with several angry men, each three times as big as you are, then don’t even think of trying to judge me on this.
    â€œIt’s a good thing you’re staying the night,” Hulda shouted. “I wouldn’t want to send you home not feeling well.”
    â€œStaying the night?” I asked in surprise.
    Hulda looked equally surprised. “Did you think we’d make you walk home in the dark?”
    To be honest—which was the safest thing at the moment—I hadn’t thought about it at all. Darkness doesn’t bother me that much. That’s what torches are for.
    Hulda turned to Igor. “Did you forget to tell this poor girl she was supposed to spend the night?”
    Igor looked down. “Can’t remember,” he mumbled.
    It was the softest voice I had ever heard him use, so of course Hulda couldn’t hear him. “What did you say?” she bellowed.
    â€œCan’t remember!” Igor roared back.
    Herky scurried under the table. As for me, I was happy to have everyone’s attention elsewhere. That didn’t last long. Turning back to me, Hulda said, “I meant for you to bring a nightdress. But don’t worry. I’ll find something you can use.”
    After that, things settled down. We gathered around the fireplace, and Karl told a wonderfully scary ghost story. When he was done, the Baron got to talking about the old days. This was more interesting than I would have expected, since it turned out he had had a big sister who had vanished when he was a baby.
    â€œNever did find out what happened to