Page 67 of Magical Melee

“So, this is the Stone Ward I read about?”

He nodded. “And a formidable witch named Miora laid the hearthstone herself over a century ago. Miora was known for her ability to summon storms, but her true strength lay in her connection to the land. The hearthstone became the focal point of her magic, a conduit for her spells that kept the cottage safe through countless trials.”

I ran my fingers along the old stone, feeling the warmth of the fire.

Wait, fire?

“Twobble, did you start the fire for us?”

His wiry body swayed toward the kitchen with each step. “First time is free. Second time, I’ll charge ya.”

He led me into the kitchen, where he hopped onto the counter and tapped a jar of dried herbs. “And this? Not just thyme. This is ghost thyme for seasoning your soup and summoning spirits. Dual-purpose herbs are very popular in the goblin community. We might do a trade now and again since you’re broke.”

I snorted, crossing my arms. “You’re making that up.”

“Am I?” Twobble said with a sly grin. “Try using the herb sometimes. You might be surprised.”

Frank let out another disapproving grunt as if to say,Don’t encourage him.

Twobble hopped down from the counter and scurried back toward the bookshelf in the corner of the living room. He tugged at a particularly thick tome, but it didn’t budge.

“A little help, please?” he called over his shoulder.

I walked over and pulled the book free. It was heavier than I expected, and its bulky leather cover was worn and embossed with a symbol I didn’t recognize.

“This book,” Twobble said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, “contains the family records of every caretaker who’s ever lived here. Your father’s name is in there somewhere.”

“My dad was a caretaker here?” I stared at the book, my heart skipping a beat. “Why didn’t you show me this sooner?”

Twobble shrugged. “Didn’t seem like the right time. Plus, you hadn’t asked yet. He grew up here.”

My heart stopped. This was my dad’s childhood home?

“That would make sense why we’d come back to visit,” I muttered, setting the book down on the table. “So, what’s next on this magical mystery tour?”

Twobble’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Follow me. This is the best part.”

He led us to the center of the living room, where he began tapping his foot on the wooden floorboards, muttering to himself. “It’s here somewhere… Ah!” He stomped once, and the hollow sound echoed through the room.

He crouched down and pried open a small, hidden panel in the floor, revealing a dark, narrow staircase descending into the earth. A faint, eerie glow emanated from below.

“Ta-da!” Twobble said, gesturing grandly. “The hidden cellar. Or, as I like to call it, theSecret Vault of Untold Wonders.”

“That’s quite a mouthful.”

Frank whined softly, peering over the edge, clearly unimpressed by Twobble’s theatrics. I couldn’t blame him. The idea of venturing into a glowing cellar first thing in the morning wasn’t exactly appealing.

“What’s down there?” I asked, trying to sound braver than I felt.

“Answers,” Twobble said simply. “And maybe a few surprises. But don’t worry, nothing that bites. Actually, I can’t guarantee that either.”

I gave him a skeptical look. “You’re really selling it.”

Twobble grinned. “Trust me, Maeve. You’ll want to see this.”

With a deep breath, I grabbed a lantern from the shelf and turned it on, the warm glow chasing away some of the shadows. “Alright. Let’s see what’s so important.”

Twobble led the way, his small frame disappearing down the staircase with surprising agility. Frank and I followed more cautiously, with the wooden steps creaking under our weight.