In the 17th Century, the ancient sprawl of Epping forest is bursting with magic and those who go unseen by human eyes: the elves who rule the summer court, and the goblins who rule the winter court. It is said that if a human catches the eye of one of the fey, they are either doomed or blessed. Contains the stories: Wulfren and the Warlock: When Wulfren wakes from a strange dream of a human captor with long silver hair, and grey eyes, his brothers tell him they rescued him from a warlock, and take Wulfren back home to the goblin king's palace. But Wulfren isn’t so sure the matter is that simple. Why was he missing so long? What are the strange dreams of the beautiful man with the silver hair? Dalliances with humans are severely frowned upon, especially by Wulfren’s father, but Wulfren is willing to risk the scorn of his family to find the human who haunts his dreams. Quiller and the Runaway Prince: After a hard winter, Quiller is sent deep into the forest on a family errand, and is surprised when a human stumbles into his path. Quiller swoops in to pester him, perhaps even eat him, but there is something special about the human: his scent is royal, though he protests that he is not, and soon Quiller finds himself agreeing to help the human with his troubles—in exchange for a kiss.

Goblins

The day after Eostre’s visit was always a holiday; the servants were given the night off. Likely most of them would be in the forest, visiting the smaller rings and continuing with the dances. Sometimes the Winter’s End revelries went on for half a season. It seemed like a good idea to me.


I hurried through the great hall, which was still in a mess from last night, and left the palace through a knot of wood. Out in the ring, I stretched and yawned, shaking myself down. I hadn’t had a good fly for a while. I sighed in contentment, and began the change. The rook’s feathers woven in my hair grew longer, and the feathers threaded through my ragged clothes quivered.


A hand fell on my shoulder, halting my change. “Quiller, my dear,” said a silky voice. “Before you fly off, I would ask a favour.”


Chapter 31