Another as-quick-as-possible-update. Again thanx to Prinsess of Rivendell and aslo to Rosakara13 and to LadySorrow.
To answer your question LadySroow: no, that wasn't the end. I just ment that I had already thought of a nice way to end it all. I like a strange ending of a stoy, but tha would be too strange, even for me.
Back to the story itself. Kranlar is getting really moody now (you would too, with those Goblins around). There will be some things in this chap anbout Kranlar and Istosar Samuelwhich you will not understand. But just wait, it will all get clear in the end. I haven't written about Jareth here, but I promise that he will be back in the next chap.
Chapter 9. 'Failing Plans'
Kranlar looked nervous around, from one face to the other. The three Goblins grinned with their filthy teeth at him in an impish way.
"What is it?" Kranlar asked. The smallest Goblin laughed.
"First of all: Stop calling us stupid and idiots. We don't like that," he said, while he poked with his club in Kranlar's stomach. Kranlar nodded.
"Yes yes. And what more?" he said annoyed.
"Well, the second thing," the Goblin leader said dramatically. "We are betraying the King with your plan. That, of course, is fine with us. We just carry out orders. But we do want some more money, just for insurance," the Goblin smiled.
"And we don't like working before we get paid," the third Goblin added. Kranlar felt his hearth calm down again.
"That's it?" he said unsure.
"That's it?" the leader mimicked. Kranlar felt anger coming up, but remembered just in time that there were three weapons pointed at him.
"Very well," he grumbled. The three goblins laughed victorious. Kranlar took out his leather purse and opened it.
"And exactly how much do you want more?" he asked. The long Goblin suddenly snatched the purse from Kranlar's hands.
"That would be enough," he laughed. The Goblins then put there weapons away.
"Now, well boss. What is your plan?" the Goblin leader said extremely polite. Kranlar gave the Goblin a filthy look, but knew that they were to hard needed to be send away.
"As I explained. I will act like the girl is captured and captive in the Labyrinth, while you three go back to the human world and find the girl," he explained. The Goblin trio nodded.
"What if another Goblin asked what we're doing?" the small Goblin asked.
"Then tell him that you are working, or just hanging around. Just make up something," Kranlar answered. Again, the Goblins nodded and then they left. Kranlar sighed. Why did everything had to be so difficult? Kranlar felt for a short walk in the fresh air to make his mind working again. He walked out of the door. Then he followed the grey stoned in the hallway, to the Throne room, which was at the other side of the Castle.
Kranlar's room was in the Castle itself. Not because he was such an important Goblin, nor because he was very loved by the King. No. Jareth was just very unsure about the smart Goblin, and he wanted to keep a close eye on him. Therefore, he had given Kranlar a room in his Castle, quite near to his own rooms. Kranlar didn't mind, though he hated the Goblin King's piercing gaze all the time.
The suddenly noticed that he was at the doors to the Throne room. Weird sounds were heard from behind the great wooden door. Faint screaming and panic was heard and Kranlar looked confused. He was used to strange sounds and yelling, but this was different. He opened the great doors. He stood still in the opening at the sight of the great panic that was in the room. The room was terribly messy and several Goblins ran around, screaming and fighting with others. The other Goblins just yelled at everyone.
"What is going on?" Kranlar asked to a passing Goblin.
"The King! He was been kidnapped!" the Goblin screamed. "Dammit, from all the things that could go wrong. First the Girl is missing, I'm stuck with a couple of mutinying Goblins, and now Jareth disappears. How am I supposed to let my plan work in such conditions?" Kranlar thought furious.
"Who has kidnapped him?" he demanded the Goblin, but the Goblin was to afraight to speak.
"Speak up!" Kranlar yelled.
"Is- Istosar S-S-Samuel," the Goblin said with a small voice, just before he fainted. Kranlar stood still. His mind had difficulty with what he had just heard. "Istosar Samuel. That couldn't, no. No, he can't…But who did kidnap the King?" Ideas and plans raced through Kranlar's mind. This could not be a joke, the Goblins were too panicked for that. But what was going on then? Then suddenly Kranlar smiled devilish. Yes, this was Istosar Samuel's work. And it was time that Kranlar should bring his old friend a visit, and hope he would stay here. Forever. Laughing loudly with a cold smile, Kranlar left to his room again. Things had to be done that others shouldn't see, jet.
-
Hoggle, sit Didymus and Ludo reappeared in the tunnel, at the false alarms.
"Go back!"
"This is not the way!"
"Take heed, and go no further!"
Hoggle grumbled something and turned around to see if Sarah was here somewhere.
-
Sarah screamed and fell trough the helping hands, right into the oubliette. With a loud bang, the trapdoor fell shut. Sarah fell on the hard stone. She looked around for the door, but saw nothing but the pitch darkness.
"Great," Sarah mumbled. "Thanks for your help!" Sarah yelled up sarcastic. Crawling around, with her hands feeling the ground's surface, Sarah tried to find the cloth which hid the door. After having been through the entire prison three times, Sarah let out a roar of anger.
"I'm never getting out of here like this!" she yelled. "Hoggle! Help!"
Her cry of despair was carried to the tunnel with the False alarms where Hoggle and the other two were about to disappear again.
"Hoggle help!" Hoggle looked wild around to find out from where the screaming had come from, though this time, sir Didymus was quicker.
"We are coming my Lady!" he yelled back. He spurred Ambrosious and ran to a small door in a cove. Hoggle took a key out of his pocket and opened the door. The light from the tunnel behind then shone into the oubliette.
"Sarah? Are you there?" Hoggle said. He couldn't see her.
"Hoggle! Sir Didymus and Ludo! I'm so glad to see you guys!" Sarah said from in the darkness. She stood up and walked to the light. She gave all a great hug and then explained what had happened.
