Clara felt sorry for the little creature, understanding how much he was tempted. She remembered how she’d felt when she’d first tried on the costume in the dressing room in the Assembly Hall; how excited she’d been when the silk glinted and glittered in the lights.
“I’ll do it,” Kabad said.
“We’ll follow you back through the tunnels, then,” Neil said in relief. “We’re totally lost!”
Kabad’s webbed fingers gripped Neil’s hand and Clara held onto the back of his tunic as they made their way back through the darkness of the tunnels to the main cavern where the torches still burned.
“You’d better stay here just now,” Kabad said, his voice shaky as he steeled himself to talk to the Great Lady.
Peering out from the entrance to the tunnel, they watched as Kabad make his way through a scattered crowd of water goblins towards Nessie. He bowed low to her and Clara crossed her fingers as the surprised goblins crowded round to hear what was going on. Kabad spoke to Nessie at length but from what they could see, she didn’t seem terribly impressed.
“I hope he hasn’t blown it,” Neil groaned.
At that moment, one of the water goblins in the crowd made what was to prove an unfortunate remark about Arthur.
In an instant, Nessie’s expression changed to one of utter fury, and the cackle of evil laughter that had echoed round the cave, quickly died away as the wary goblins realized that they’d overstepped the mark by a couple of miles. Roaring with rage, her tail lashing furiously, she cleared the cave of goblins in seconds. Only Kabad stood his ground and once she had calmed down, Nessie listened to him more carefully.
Minutes later he ran up, smiling his funny, goblin smile. “It’s all right,” he assured them. “Nessie says she didn’t mean to frighten you.”
Neil took a deep breath. “I think it’s okay, Clara,” he said. “Anyhow, we’ll just have to chance it.”
“Well,” Nessie said, looking at them grimly as they came towards her. “I don’t know what you’ve been up to but you seem to have made a bad enemy of the prince.”
Neil and Clara nodded.
“It’s not my business,” she continued. “It’s for you to sort things out with Kalman. But what’s this that Kabad’s been telling me about Arthur?”
“You really mustn’t be angry with Arthur,” said Neil, “I’m sure he likes you, but after the way he left, I think he’s maybe afraid to come back to see you.”
“He was worried at leaving his treasure,” interrupted Clara. “While he was here the last time, someone stole his firestones and Lord Rothlan and his army got into the hill … into Arthur’s Seat.”
“Hmmm!” Nessie said thoughtfully. “Yes, I heard about that.”
“And he was homesick, too. He’s lived with the MacArthurs for hundreds of years, you know, and … well, he missed them!”
“But he had me!” snorted Nessie, rearing majestically and looking thoroughly put out. “Wasn’t that enough?”
“Yes, of course,” Clara said hurriedly, “but you’re not always here, are you?” she pointed out. “You spend a lot of time out in the loch finding fish to eat.”
“The thing is,” Neil said, “that Arthur doesn’t like fish much and …”
“And some of your water goblins weren’t very nice to him …” Clara added, her fingers crossed behind her back.
“All sorts of things worried him, milady, especially his treasure but he didn’t want to mention it to you.”
“He should have done!” Nessie said, sitting up straight.
“He’s really very fond of you,” Neil said.
“The dear creature!” Nessie murmured, “is he really?”
“Yes, of course he is,” smiled Clara. “I’m sure he’d like to visit you again but …”
“But what?” demanded Nessie.
“If you could give him a sign, he’d come at once! To visit you, you know … and it would be nice for us to see him again, too. Why, we could keep one another company while you were out fishing.”
“But Grechan will be here soon to take you to his caves,” Nessie said, “and Prince Kalman wants to hide you from the Sultan!”
“But not from the MacArthurs, milady,” Neil said. “The decision is up to you, though. Wouldn’t you like to see Arthur again and let him explain things for himself?”
Now Nessie was genuinely fond of Arthur and the thought of seeing him again set her heart beating fast. “But how can I get in touch with him?” she asked despairingly. “How can I tell him that I want to see him again?”