Rufus dropped Cathy outside a grey stone fortress. Four enormous round turrets with burnt orange roofs stood, one on each corner of the building, like giant stone soldiers. A bright red flag flapped at full mast in the breeze.

Giggleton clambered down from the dragon's back. "Welcome to my home, miss," he said with a sly grin.

Cathy's head swam, and her stomach churned. She struggled to her feet and stumbled over to the bushes, where she vomited.

"What's the matter with her?" Rufus asked Giggleton. The dragon sniffed the air and flinched. "Is she broken?"

"No. It's altitude sickness. She'll recover. When she's done hurling her guts up, I'll put her in the tower." Giggleton waited until she'd emptied the entire contents of her stomach, then he escorted her through the large entrance hall, along a breezy corridor, up stone steps, along another draughty passageway, up the second flight of stairs, and he shoved her into a room with a window, a dressing table, a mirror and a bed.

"Please make yourself at home. Don't bother trying to escape. Rufus is guarding the tower, so it would be pointless. Enjoy your stay," he said, leaving the room and closing the door behind him.

Trapped in a tower. Guarded by a dragon. Like a princess in a fairy tale. But in Cathy's story, there wasn't anyone to save her.

*

Cathy sat on the window ledge, watching Rufus pace backwards and forwards below her. The whole fortress trembled with each heavy step and puffs of smoke billowed into the sky. From her window high above the treetops, Cathy wondered if she could see Rune Hall. But she didn't know where she was or how far they'd flown.

She rested her forehead against the window.

"I wish I were home," she whispered.

The door opened and Giggleton entered with a dress draped over one spindly arm and a pair of silk slippers in his other hand.

"You are home, miss," he said, laying the dress and shoes on the bed.

Cathy didn't move, she didn't speak. It didn't matter.

"These are gifts for you and there's plenty more. Many pretty, pretty things for my important guest." He stood with his hands behind his back, looking pleased with himself.

"I. Am. A. Prisoner! Not. A. Guest! You kidnapped me!"

"Minor details." He waved his hand as if to dismiss what she'd said.

"Being kidnapped is not a minor detail," she said, her voice raising.

Giggleton flinched. "Now, miss. Don't shout. It's not ladylike."

"NOT LADYLIKE!" Cathy shouted even louder.

Giggleton's hands clapped over his ears, and he shuffled backwards. "Shush."

Cathy shot to her feet, completely losing her cool.

"SHUSH! HOW DARE YOU SHUSH ME, YOU TOAD!"

"No, no... be quiet, miss." Giggleton pushed his long, gnarly fingers into his huge, pointy ears. "Get changed. Please. Dinner is in an hour, and I expect to see you downstairs."

"GET OUT!" Cathy yelled.

Giggleton dithered, daring to glance in her direction.

"I SAID OUT!" She pointed at the door and tapped her foot.

Giggleton's mouth fell open in disbelief. Being shouted at by a girl clearly made him uncomfortable. With a disgruntled huff, he scurried from the room.

The goblin's horrified expression gave Cathy an idea. If Giggleton wanted a ladylike house guest, he'd get a nasty shock. She'd make him regret the day he kidnapped Hex's great-granddaughter.

And Cathy laughed so loud, Hex would hear her in Rune Hall.

*

The dress Giggleton gave Cathy was a hideous mass of pink silk and cream lace. She hated the puffball sleeves, frilly petticoats, and giant bows. The tight bodice would squeeze all the air from her lungs, and there was only one way she'd wear it. Throwing the petticoats on the floor, she set about altering the dress.

She tore the sleeves from the bodice and ripped the lace and bows from the flouncy skirt. By the time she'd finished, the dress hung in tatters. Cathy threw the silk slippers out of the window, narrowly missing Rufus.

She put on the remnants of her dress and checked her appearance in the mirror. The dress looked as though a hundred hungry rats had gnawed on it, and she giggled. Hex would be so proud.

With a spring in her step, she left the room in bare feet. She skipped along the corridor and danced down the stairs, leaving a trail of pink thread behind her.

*

Giggleton had outdone himself. Silver candlesticks decorated his fine dining table. He'd arranged platters of roast beef with steaming bowls of roast potatoes, carrots, peas, and green beans. Along with Yorkshire puddings, gravy and horseradish sauce. No utensil was out of place.

Everything smelt so delicious it made Cathy's stomach rumble.

Giggleton, however, nearly fell off his chair when Cathy burst into the room.

"Goodness me." His eyes were as wide as saucers. "Aren't you a little savage?"

Cathy curtsied and pulled out the chair opposite him.

She deliberately scraped the floor loud enough to set the goblin's teeth on edge before ungraciously slumping into the chair.

"Thanks for the dress," she said with a smirk.

"This won't do. Not at all. While you live under my roof, you'll show me respect," Giggleton said, glaring at her.

Cathy plonked her filthy feet on the pristine tablecloth.

"Whatever."

"I see you mean to test me, miss."

Giggleton shuddered at the sight of Cathy picking her toenails.

"Do you honestly think you'll get away with this?" she asked, flicking a toenail towards Giggleton.

"I do and I have, miss. Hex believes he's the most powerful sorcerer in the entire realm, but others are more powerful."

"Who?" Cathy sat up straighter.

"I'm sworn to secrecy." Giggleton tapped the side of his nose.

Cathy's tummy rumbled again. And although she didn't want to eat the goblin's food, she was starving.

Giggleton must have heard the growl because he jumped to his feet and began filling her plate with food.

"Come now, miss. You're all skin and bone and I do so hate to eat alone."

Cathy waited until the goblin returned to his chair and lowered her feet. She picked up her plate and sniffed the food. It smelt fine. Then she examined the meat and potatoes. It appeared edible.

"I assure you, it's safe." Giggleton picked up his knife and fork and cut his food into tiny pieces. He popped a quarter of a green bean into his mouth and chewed slowly, savouring the flavour.

Using her fingers, Cathy scooped a potato from her plate and shoved it into her mouth whole.

"So now you have me here. What's your plan?" Cathy asked, spraying bits of potato all over the table.

Giggleton gagged and looked away.

"Miss, please. Try not to speak with your mouth full. Has Hex never taught you any table manners?"

"Nope." Cathy chewed even louder. She grabbed a slice of beef and wiped the gravy from her plate before shoving it into her mouth. The gravy dribbled down her chin and dripped onto her dress.

"I brought you here to see if you are a Gem Maker like your great-grandmother." Giggleton laid his knife and fork side-by-side on his plate and dabbed the corners of his mouth with his napkin. He seemed to have lost his appetite. Cathy had not. She gobbled down her food as fast as she could.

"You're wasting your time," Cathy said, stabbing a piece of carrot with her knife and popping it in her mouth.

"A fork, miss. You eat from a fork, not a knife."

"Uh-huh." She licked her knife and smacked her lips.

Giggleton shot to his feet.

"That's quite enough for one meal. If you continue stuffing your face, you'll puke again... Or I will. Return to your room." He pointed to the door.

Cathy stayed seated and picked up her empty plate. With lots of sound effects, she licked the plate clean.

That was the ultimate insult for Giggleton, who shouted, "ENOUGH!" The plate and all the food vanished. "Now look, you've made me cross."

Cathy stood, burped, and went to her room.