Page 114 of Magical Melee

Not exactly the most graceful escape plan, but I could manage.

My boots hit the shingles with a soft thud as I lowered myself down.

“So far, so good,” I whispered.

“Well, this is unexpected.”

I yelped, nearly losing my balance as a voice came from the shadows. “Who—?!”

“Relax. It’s just me.” Twobble’s voice nipped at me like a persistent mosquito.

“What the—Twobble?” I whispered harshly, my heart pounding. “What are you doing up here?”

“Me?” he said, feigning innocence as he crossed his tiny arms. “I could askyouthe same thing.”

My heart pounded as my mind raced to calm down from the sudden goblin surprise.

Twobble shrugged and waited for my reply. His small frame shifted slightly. “Fine. I’ll go first. I got bored. Figured I’d stretch my legs. Good thing I did, too, or I would’ve missed this little adventure of yours.”

I sighed, realizing there was no point in trying to shake him. “I just need to go somewhere, and I’d rather not wake Stella.”

His eyes narrowed with interest. “Where?”

I frowned at him.

Twobble leaned in. His grin widened. “So, where arewesneaking off to? Midnight snack run? Ooh, or are we breaking into something magical?”

“Weare not going anywhere.” I couldn’t help but smile at Twobble. “But I do have plans.”

“I’m offended.”

“By what?”

Even in the night, I could see his scowl. “I open up the cottage grounds to you, and this is how you repay me?”

He had a point.

“Alright. I’m going to the Academy’s gardens,” I said, keeping my voice low. “And I’d prefer not to wake Stella.”

His ears perked up. “The gardens, huh? Bold choice. Dangerous, mysterious, probably forbidden... I’m in.”

“No,” I said, pointing a finger at him. “You’re not.”

“Oh, come on,” he said, clasping his hands together dramatically. “You can’t go on a perilous quest without your trusty goblin sidekick! It’s like against the rules of adventuring.”

“I’m hoping there is no adventuring about it,” I said with a chuckle. “I just want to get in and get out peacefully and possibly learn something helpful along the way.”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

I sighed, realizing I was not going to win this argument. “Fine. But no loud commentary. I don’t need constant narration the entire time I’m out and about.”

Twobble saluted. “You have my word. I shall be as silent as the night. A shadow, if you will.”

“Great,” I muttered as I crouched toward the edge of the roof and tied my boots. “This is going to go perfectly.”

Twobble gave me an enthusiastic thumbs-up. “We’ve got this, Maeve. What could possibly go wrong?”

Chapter Twenty-Nine