The Goblin Manifesto: Grimz Learns His Letters (The Dark Lady’s Guide to Villainy) by Chizhov, Stepan

of the artifacts. But he didn't really need that to compare the object and its enchanted representation. Since the accident, he'd become even more cautious around the supervisor, offering no questions, no opinions, nothing that might draw attention. Section 7-B was the farthest corner of the dormant artifacts area, where shadows pooled like old blood, and the air hung undisturbed for decades. Crates teetered in precarious stacks, filled with artifacts deemed too worthless for proper shelving but too dangerous to discard. Grimz had never ventured this deep into the repository before—few had reason to. It was the perfect assignment for a goblin being punished with isolation. "Finish by midday," Skrix added. "And remember—" "Accurate counts, precise descriptions, no interpretations," Grimz recited automatically. Skrix nodded, satisfied with this display of obedience, and left Grimz to his task. The journey to Section 7-B took Grimz through a labyrinth of shelves and storage areas, each progressively dustier and more neglected than the last. Cobwebs brushed his face like ghostly fingers, and the stone beneath his feet changed from smooth-worn paths to rough, uneven slabs that no one had trodden in years. By the time he reached his destination, the sounds of the other workers had faded entirely. He was alone among the forgotten treasures of the Nightshade dynasty. The inventory list was extensive. Before moving to the next section, goblins like Grimz usually had to spend at least