““Thistle,” I said to the waiting air. The goblin girl materialized before me. “What do you want now, Goblin Queen?” she sneered. “Where is Der Erlkönig?” I asked. “In the chapel. As is his wont these days.” “Lead me to him.” Thistle raised an eyebrow, or she would have, had she had eyebrows at all. “You are braver than I reckoned, mortal, to interrupt His Majesty during his devotions.” I shrugged. “I believe in God’s unending forgiveness.” “It’s not your God’s forgiveness you’d be needing.””
