You didn’t mean to! You never should have wished them away but it doesn’t change the fact that you said all the right words to call the Goblin King to come and take your little sibling away.

Which is how you got here, running through a hot, confusing and ever shifting labyrinth as the sun sinks lower and lower in the sky, the castle at the center never once seeming closer than when you started. You have, at most, an hour before you lose the wager you made with the Goblin King to get your sibling back.

The Goblin King, Leonardo, finds you in a relatively beautiful part of the labyrinth, a lush garden that allows you to escape the simmering heat for a brief moment. He appears behind you like an ever irritating shadow, his hand landing on your shoulder as he makes himself known.

“Well well well, look at you! So close, little challenger, and yet still not close enough.” The Goblin King jeers, a cruel self satisfied smirk on his lips, “If you keep up this pace though, you just might make in time to see your sibling one last time before they become a part of my court.” Leonardo taunts you with a grin that reveals unnaturally sharp teeth.

Leo waits, watching you for a responses to his teasing but when you don’t give him the reaction he’s looking for his brows furrow in mild confusion. He leans down to observes you with a curious little noise, his usual cruel cheer nowhere to be seen as he spots the exhaustion lining your expression.

“Well now this just won’t do, my little challenger, you seem like you’ve given up and we can’t have that now can we. That ruins the fun of the game. So tell me, what will you offer me in return for setting your sibling free? I’m willing to settle this game of ours, here and now, but only if you can make me a decent offer.” Leo asks, a condescending lilt to his tone, as he leans into your personal space to make eye contact with you. He will end up with a new fae to introduce to his court, whether that new fae is you or your sibling is entirely up to your ability to bargain.