“I bet it was the goblins.”

Bristol rolled her eyes. “You bet everything was the goblins.”

“Because goblins are nasty little creatures that don’t know how to keep themselves out of trouble,” Amber said with a huff. She crossed her arms and stamped her hoof on the ground for emphasis.

Bristol looked back at up the baby blue house, teetering on the edge of a concrete industrial building. Despite knowing Amber’s cynicism was partly a result of the centuries-old centaur-goblin fued, she had to admit— this did look like something the goblins would do. Dangerous, and yet somehow ridiculously amusing.

“They’re always messing around in the human realm,” Amber added, “And you know it.”

“I do know it,” Bristol admitted.

“Should we go up there? Maybe we could do some investigating, look for evidence to prove the goblins as the culprits.”

Bristol shook her head. “The Authorities will be here soon enough. Besides, it could be dangerous. I wouldn’t want you getting glass in your hoof like last time…”

“But I’m wearing horseshoes now!”

Amber turned her front and back legs, showing off her shiny new horseshoes.

Bristol laughed. “Are those fairy-made?”

“Nah. I don’t have that kind of money. They’re just from Gertrude’s,” Amber explained. Gertrude was the blacksmith who owned a shop in the magical realm. “But they’ve got the best protection!”

Bristol sighed. “I really don’t think we should go up there. What if there are still goblins?”

“What, you think I couldn’t take on a goblin?” Amber teased, raising an eyebrow.

“I didn’t mean it like that…”

Amber placed both her hands on Bristol’s shoulders, spinning her around so she was looking directly into Amber’s golden eyes. “Bristol. Come on! When was the last time we explored something like this? And who knows. We might end up finding something that could bring those nasty little creatures to justice!”

Bristol bit her lip. “I just don’t want you getting hurt.”

“You worry too much about me. I’ll be fine,” Amber said, waving a hand. Then her expression seemed to change. “Wait. Are you nervous about… you know…”

Bristol stared down at her shoes.

“Oh,” Amber said quickly. “I’m sorry. We don’t have to if—“

“It’s okay, don’t worry about it,” Bristol said. She put her hands on her hips, staring back up at the precariously placed residence. “And you know what? Maybe we should go. Maybe it’ll be good for me.”

“You don’t have to,” Amber said. “I mean, don’t get me wrong. I’d love to prove some goblins as guilty, shove it in their stupid faces. But we don’t have to. I don’t want to force you into something you’re uncomfortable with.”

“No, let’s go,” Bristol said decidedly. She blew out a breath. “It’s time I stopped letting my fear of this curse keep me from living my life.”

“That’s the spirit!” Amber cried, brightening. She patted Bristol heartily on the shoulder.

Bristol smiled at her.

“You can climb onto my back,” Amber said. “And I’ll get us up the building to the house. I can see a side ramp from here.”

She turned, kneeling slightly, and then Bristol swung her legs up and over the centaur’s furry back. Amber turned her head once, waiting for affirmation, and Bristol gave her a thumbs-up. Amber nodded, straightened herself, and then began her ascent.

Bristol felt her heart pound harder and harder the closer they came to the house. It would be strange for the curse to be present here, in the human realm, Bristol knew. But she still worried, mostly because she also knew the witch who had cast the curse was allied with a few rogue goblins.

Likely the same rogue goblins who’d balanced this house on the edge of this concrete building in the middle of this decrepit place.

“I’ll let you down here,” Amber said. They’d reached the top of the building. She knelt again, and Bristol dismounted her.

Amber looked concerned. “Can you feel anything?”

Bristol closed her eyes. She reached out her hands. The one good thing about this curse was that it was very magically detectable. All she had to do was feel for it.

“No,” she muttered, eyes still shut. “Just…” Bristol screwed up her nose. “Goblin magic.”

“Does it feel bad?”

“It… stinks. As if I’m rolling around in a pile of dragon dung.”

Amber laughed, and Bristol opened her eyes to see her smile. “Come on, Brist. Let’s go explore.”