Chapter 1: Prologue

Come away, O human child!

To the waters and the wild

With a faery, hand in hand,

For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand. (W.B. Yeats, "The Stolen Child")

"I wish the goblins would come and take you away!"

The child stood between the walls, bemused and weeping. A handprint shone red on his cheek and his thin limbs were marked with bruises, some fresh, some fading. The grimy shirt, made, surprisingly of fine linen, hung off sharp undernourished shoulders. His face, fine-boned and birdlike, was smeared with dirt and tears.

He took a step forward and a small, dark-furred creature darted between his feet and tripped him, sending him sprawling on the rough stone pathway.

The child screamed, but it was a scream not of fear, but of pain mixed, rather surprisingly, with rage. He pushed up himself upright and screamed again. This time the rage dominated and the creatures watching made sounds of awe and dismay.

A bare foot stomped and a shrill voice commanded, "Stop it at once!"

A pair of burning, intelligent eyes stared about at the creatures.

"I shan't stand for this!"

The creatures were discomfited. Children reacted with tears or with hysterics, shaking and soiling themselves with fright, but none had ever been angry. This boy was battered and bruised, yet still his spirit remained bright, flaming like sword.

A thing resembling a mix between a lizard and a crow scurried to a new hiding place, but failed to move quickly enough to avoid the hands that pounced at the sign of movement. It moaned and snapped ineffectually at the boy with its black beak.

"Tell me what you are!" The child demanded.

The creature croaked, "I'm Gref."

"Is that your name?"

"Heeee," the creature breathed, then it writhed sharply and escaped the boy's grasp, disappearing behind a rock that hardly seemed big enough to hide it.

A grunt and another stomp of frustration. "But what are you?"

"We's goblinssss." The voice came from a nearby hollow.

"Goblins?"

"Ysssssss."

"Tell me, goblins, what is this place?"

"S'the Labyrinth."

"Labyrinth?"

Silence.

"How do I get out?"

Silence.

"How do I get out of here?!" There was a note of panic in the boy's voice, although he held his head high.

Silence.

Thin hands clenched and narrow shoulders squared. He waited. Finally a hissing whisper on the wind answered,

"No one ever escapes the Labyrinth."

"Why not?"

There was still silence, but this time it had a contemplative quality to it, as though Something were thinking of an answer. A small whirlwind swirled the dead leaves around him and a hissing whisper echoed through the passage, "Everything here is mine."

"I am not yours. I'm mine."

"You are here. What is here is mine."

"That's not fair! I didn't choose to be here! It was my mother. . . "

"She gave you to me."

"But what if," the boy's voice faltered, "what if she wanted me back? What if it was a mistake?"

"A wish strong enough to call goblins comes from true desire. It was not a mistake. There is no going back. Indeed, she has already forgotten you ever existed."

The boy's lip quivered and he swallowed hard, but he did not cry.

There was approval in the silence.

"Human boy, you have rare courage and spirit. I can offer you something better than the little life you had. If you take it, you will be powerful beyond imagination. Time and matter will bend to your will. You could move the stars if you so choose. You will command dreams."

"How? Tell me how?"

"As King of the Goblins, you will have magic at your command."

The boy considered for a minute or so, then replied, "If I must stay here, I would rather stay as King than just as me. I will accept your offer."

The Something seemed to chuckle softly, "Beware, boy, magic power does not come without conditions: I do ask for something in return."

"What do you want?"

"What I ask for is such a small thing. Just let me rule you-and you can have everything that you want. Just fear me, love me, do as I say, and I will be your slave."

"I must obey you?" The boy's tone was edged with distaste and suspicion. "What would I have to do?"

"You would be mine to command. As my emissary, you would answer the wishes of those who call on the powers of the goblins." The Something's tone became sly, "You will be able to teach them a lesson they won't soon forget."

"I could save them? The children?"

"They will become your subjects."

"I want to save them." He thought a moment, then asked wistfully, "But what if the one who wished them away wanted them back?"

"They must pass the test of the Labyrinth. You will offer them the challenge. They must find you in the Goblin Castle and stay true to their desire, despite all temptation. Only will they both be free."

"I think I would like to be able to save them. I will take your offer and be King of the Goblins."

"Then hold out your hand, boy."

The boy obeyed. A crystal ball appeared in his palm.

"Swear on this crystal that you will belong to the Labyrinth forever."

"Forever?" Doubt sounded in his voice.

"It's not long. Not with magic."

The boy said the words.