They were in one of the more 'human friendly' rooms of the Goblin fortress. Silver examined Siri's wounds. Most of them weren't too bad, but one deeply disturbed her.

"What's that?"

"Stupid shadow thing," Siri said. "Got me there. Let me guess," she added as Silver gave it a more in depth examination. "Creeping rot? Turning me into a monster? A vampire, maybe? Or Auntie A?"

"No, just marks you as prey, I think," Silver said, relieved. "And my lady isn't a monster."

"Looks like a duck, quacks like a duck . . . ."

"Just let me clean it off, all right?"

"Uh, no offense, but sure you're up to the job? Maybe we should find Tristy or Aunt Stella or–"

"They're not here. And, don't worry, I'm guessing whatever did this was some kind of dark servant, maybe undead, probably eats souls or something. Nothing we haven't seen before."

"You know, sometimes it really strikes me how weird our definition of normal is. Say, what do you suppose happens when soul eaters use the restroom, anyway?"

"Hopefully, they make better jokes. You know as well as I do, soul eaters either transfer the souls to some kind of purgatory or swallow them up in their own darkness till something comes along and cuts them open – although, I think those, what are they called, demonentors, wasn't it? They just absorb the earthly compatible spectrum of astral energy. Then, the tortured soul moves on the way it always should. Demonentors are wimps. Hold on."

Silver pulled up her own energy, silver, starlight, snowlight, the elements she was tied to that represented purity, shaping them into healing, rooting out the darkness. The odd mark burned away. Then, she concentrated on the more normal problems, the dislocated shoulder and other injuries Siri'd picked up fighting Goblins, along with some bruising and a couple burns that may have happened when her car blew up and she was running through the woods (Silver, who understood a few things about Siri's world, wondered what the police report and insurance claim would look like this time).

Then, that was it.

"Get some rest," Silver said. "You were up all day and all night, weren't you?"

"The Goblins probably want us to sing for them."

"I'll do it. You've probably got a fight ahead of you when you get back."

"Don't suppose you'd care to join in and knock a few heads with me?"

"Ah, about that. My lady had a message for me to give you."

"Why does this sound bad?"

"It's not. Not really. Er, I had to tell her what happened in Storybrooke."

"Uh-huh. Was this had-the-information-forced-out-of-you-with-hot-pincers had-to-tell or couldn't-wait-to-squeal had-to-tell?"

"Neither. This was my-lady-knew-something-was-up-and-asked-so-I-told-her. I thought she'd keep Dad in check. He was, well . . . ."

"Ready to collect Regina's scalp?"

"And various other bits of her anatomy – and in as many bits as possible. He is a cat, you know. He knows how to toy with his prey."

"C'mon, he's never –"

"There's a difference between knowing how and doing it, Siri. Same way he probably knows a thousand grimoires by heart but can barely cast a spell. Well, not the same. Mom says he used to be awful bringing her mice and basilisks and things back in the day. I mean, he toyed with his prey. Just not, you know, people. But he was ready to have a go at her evil majesty. My lady told him not to."

"Why does that fail to reassure me?"

"Because you know her? She told Dad to stand down. As our liege, she decided the insult was to her and was hers to answer."

"She didn't – she's not . . . ."

"No, she's not. Sort of.

"Storybrooke isn't really part of your world, you know. It interfaces with it, but it's not part of it. So, my lady doesn't feel it would be infringing on your territory – or Lord Lucian's interests – to go there."

"Leaving a large, smoking crater in Maine would infringe. And bring down property values."

"She has been known to be subtle, Siri. And I'm only a lesser servant. What happened isn't worth a big fuss. She probably wouldn't do more than spend a few days – maybe a few weeks – a few months tops – killing her. That's if she doesn't go for a curse instead. She knows some nasty ones.

"Except she won't.

"You see, she decided it's not your territory, but it is Gold's. And she decided she owes him a debt. Hunting in his territory would be unforgivably rude. You know that."

Siri closed her eyes as if she had a headache. "Right. I know that. Thank heaven for Auntie A's territorial instincts. So, I can go home without waiting for Armageddon?"

"Not exactly."

"Oh. Joy. What else?"

"My lady said that, as it's Gold she owes the debt to, if anything were to happen to him – especially if Regina were at fault – she would consider herself doubly bound to, er, deal with it."

"Uh . . . any reason she mentioned this? In particular?"

"I did a casting. I saw shadows in the ice. I think a change may be coming for Gold. Possibly danger as well."

"The curse just got lifted. Maybe that's what you saw."

"Maybe. You want to bet on it?"

Siri rubbed her head. "I don't suppose she'd let me and Tom do revenge? On account of us being Mainers and having dibs?"

"You could ask her. But, I think part of her reason for claiming this is because . . . Regina imprisoned me, once, and she nearly caught Tom. She's strong, in her way. My father and I together would probably still be vulnerable to her. The same goes for you and your brother. Regina would be . . . unlikely to injure my lady. Although, my lady might yield her rights to Lord Lucian. You could ask him to talk to her."

"Like Uncle Lucian is an improvement."

"He's more . . . direct than my lady. His revenges are less . . . troubling."

"Oh, goody. I'll remember that next time I wake up screaming from nightmares. No. We'll just deliver the message, get Bae home, and maybe stab Regina on the way out, just to be safe. Or convince her to move somewhere far away from Maine. And Earth."

"I can come along for that. I just can't stab her," Silver thought for a moment. "But, I can loan you a knife. And hold her while you use it."

"Silver, I was joking. First degree murder doesn't look good on the resume, OK?"

Silver grinned. "I know. And I know how Tom feels about murder, too. Especially in your own world. Oh, but there's more to the message. I almost forgot. My lady says to tell Gold Angrboda, Grief Bringer, remembers the Spinner and wishes him well."

"Wait, what? Auntie A knows Gold? How –?"

"She said he once journeyed to her lands, looking for a way to another world, but the way was closed to her as well. She gave him such assistance as she could, but neither of them, together or separately, could force a passage through."

Siri's mouth hung open for a moment. Then, it clicked shut.

"Well," she said. "He met her and lived. That's something. And tell Uncle Lucian this is all his fault."

"Naturally. You should try to sleep, now."

"You expect me to sleep after this? Are you crazy?"

"No, and you're practical. If you don't have an herb or medicine or a spell to bring sleep, I can get you one. Or I can get you Goblin wine. That will have the same effect."

"And a hangover to go with it. Fine, I'll sleep. Just, watch out for Bae, will you? I don't know what's going on, but this is turning into a bigger pile of swill than usual."

"Right, now get some rest."

Silver got up and left. She was unsurprised to find the boy, Bae, waiting outside.

"Eavesdropping?" she asked.

He looked embarrassed but nodded. "What – what are you?"

"The daughter of a witch and a cat. Sort of a cat. My father can take a human form. Mostly. His eyes and his claws give him away. He's a familiar, you see, an animal that can store up magic even if he can't use it himself. Though he has a human's intelligence and has picked up a few tricks over the centuries."

"And – and your lady?"

"Hmm, another sort of creature entirely. Have you ever heard the name Angrboda?"

"No, should I have?"

Silver shrugged. "Not really. There are legends tied to that name in Siri's world, but they have nothing to do with my lady. Almost nothing. She is powerful, however, even if she rarely leaves her own territory. She can be quite kind hearted in her way. And quite terrible when angered. But, really, Siri worries too much."

"Powerful," Bae breathed. "All magic – all power – comes with a price, doesn't it?"

Silver shrugged. "I suppose. For my kind, our magic is part of us, and being what we are is the price we pay. My lady pays that price as well. Among others." She eyed the boy speculatively. "Speaking of prices, can you sing?"

"Can I what?"

"Sing. Or make music, play an instrument? You'd think Goblins would be better at making music than humans are, they're so sure fingered. But, they say we play with more soul. Captain Roberts will give us shelter even if you never open your mouth, but I think it's common politeness. Actually, they'll like your singing if you –" Silver grinned, "–howl like a cat. It's just a gift we nonGoblins have. Come on, it'll get your mind off your troubles. I guarantee it. Then, Siri will take us to Storybrooke, you'll make your deal with Gold – but, let Siri, Tom, and me look over any contract or check over any deal he offers. I don't exactly distrust Gold, but the man knows how to get everything he can out of a bargain."

"Why should I trust you?"

Silver thought that one over. "They say the problem with trust is you have to give it before knowing if it was right to give. I'm Siri's friend and Tom's friend, and both of them would be angry if I didn't play fair by you. For the rest, my people always keep our sworn word – but you've got no reason to believe that except my say so – and, fair warning here, I mean to play fair by you, but some of my people can bleed every last drop of vagary from the most definite sentences imaginable.

"And we all have a really awful sense of humor. Odds are I want you to sing in front of Goblins just to embarrass yourself. Come on – and don't drink any of their beer, wine, or ale. That stuff'll go right to your head."