Chapter 6/10
Beyond the Goblin City

Instead of wanting to face whatever was guarding the gates, Eric turned into a hawk and
flew over the wall to find a rope to help them all over the wall. Before he had transformed, he
turned to Sarah and grinned. "I'll be right back," he said.

"Be careful. Jareth probably has them on a look out for you," she pointed out.

"I'll be careful."

"That's what you said two winters ago when the road were so slippery. You ended up in an
accident."

"You always have to bring that up, don't you."

She shrugged and smiled. He smiled back. Then his face began to change. His nose began
to grow into a pointed beak and his eyes turned sharp. Feathers sprouted from his arms, legs,
and hair. Eric flew away a second later.

"Sarah." Hoggle's voice pulled Sarah's eyes from the sight of her friend as a bird of
prey. She looked down at Hoggle and smiled as if to ask, "What?" "Sarah," he repeated, "Why
are you trusting him?"

"Because he's my friend just like you're my friend," she explained.

Sir Didymus barked, "Pardon me, my lady, but I think there is something more there than
friendship."

Ludo smiled, "Sarah love Eric."

"What!"

Sarah didn't have any time to defend herself. A rope fell down from the top of the wall
where Eric stood in his human form, grinning. Everyone climbed up the rope, except Didymus.
Ludo tied the rope around Ambrosious's waist and they were pulled up.

They crept through the streets. All the goblins were inside their homes with their doors
locked. "What's going on?" Sarah questioned.

"After your battle eleven years ago, the goblins have a fear of Ludo and his rock
friends," Eric explained, "Your little army is legendary, Sarah."

"Well, we should still keep our eyes open."

The group approached the castle moat and paused. "There wasn't a moat here before," Sarah
pointed out.

Eric held out his hand to keep everyone back. "There isn't always a moat. But when
there is, I always see this creature in it."

"What sort of creature?" Hoggle asked.

"Ludo scared."

"I don't know, I've never seen it up close," Eric told them.

With careful steps, they began to cross the drawbridge. The green water beneath them
bubbled and stirred. Suddenly, a sea serpent's head and the arches of its back came out of the
water. It came towards the drawbridge and was there before anyone could move. The head rose
higher form the water, coming towards them.