Happy Valley 6/8

“I’m not a goblin at all, I’m a witch from the Gate near Lurgin’s bridge.”

“Oh yes,” exclaimed the goblin with a bit more interest, “I expect you’ll be telling me your name is Jennifer Jane in a minute!”

“Well it is actually and what’s more, I can fly out of this valley any time I like on my broom.”

The goblins all roared with laughter, then a crafty look came over the face of the one sitting at the bar.

“That’s your flying broom that you’re holding, is it?” Jennifer Jane nodded. The goblin stood up and walked towards her. “Gimme,” he said.

Jennifer Jane backed away and fell over another goblin that’d knelt down behind her. Not surprisingly she dropped her broom.

“Flying broom!” someone shouted and the next minute everyone in the pub was fighting, trying to get the broom for himself.

Even Jennifer Jane joined in! After all she was as big as most of the goblins and she needed her broom to get out of this so-called ‘Happy valley’, as quickly as possible.

Five minutes later there wasn’t a shred of broom left, the only part remaining was her old bicycle saddle. The goblins all went back to their tables and sulked.

Jennifer Jane was horrified. Not only had she lost her lovely broom but without it she was stuck in the valley with this horrible bunch.

She decided that the only thing to do was ask for a bed for the night and sleep on the problem. Perhaps tomorrow would bring an idea of some way that would enable her to escape!

The goblin pointed to a door in one corner of the room, in reply to her request for a bed. She picked up her saddle, opened the door and revealed a steep flight of stairs leading to the upper floor. At the top there was one empty room. There was no bed, not even a blanket, nor was there a wash stand.

She went back down stairs to ask for something to sleep on, but found the door had been locked. A nasty sman was her only reply.