Page 13 of Bloody Business

Goblin City

Julep remembered verylittle of the trip to Goblin City.She was heavily sedated and slept a good deal of the time.

She watched dully as they passed through the famous gates flanked by huge warrior statues.The goblin mountain moved every generation, traveling random miles each time.Those who dwelled in the city laid waste to the neighbors as it entered new territory.

Goblins were superior in both magic and technology and had the wealth to support armies.Their generals trained from childhood in the art of war, and they were feared for their strength and ferocity.

She should have been frightened, but she was exhausted.She smelled sick, too.The poison had wrecked her, nearly killed her.Like everything else, her greedy family had botched that too, giving her far too much.They had wanted to be sure it worked.

The houses and shops were made of stone and had doorways carved with fantastical creatures.Goblins walked or rode on by, stopping occasionally to shop.It was cold and drizzly, making the stone streets shine.

The sheep drawn carriage was luxurious, with leather seats and plenty of fur blankets.There was even a ceramic foot warmer with coal inside, yet she was still chilled.

Julep looked at Artur, and braced herself.“How angry are you that I can't have children?”

He'd been watching her, observing her reactions to the city.Surprised, he raised a brow.“We don't need children.I have a couple of adopted children already.If you want to raise more, there are plenty of war orphans.”

She frowned.“You make children sound like a commodity.A grocery purchase.”

He grunted, recognizing the bitterness for what it was.“I should have done more than cut their noses off.I should have burned down their house, too.”

She paled.She'd overheard his men talking about the punishment of her evil family and had a predictably female reaction to that.

He wasn't the best at comforting women, but he instinctively patted her hand.He was a businessman; he could explain his position.“They tried to cheat me and they hurt you.They deserved their punishment.”

“I can't give you back what was stolen, but I can offer you my next best.It's a poor substitution, I know.”He struggled with the next bit, his face twisting.It was a distinctly un-goblin-like thing to say, but she was his wife.“It's okay to be sad.”

She peered at him.“That pained you, didn't it?”

“It really did,” he agreed.

She choked on a laugh.Her laugh was feeble and sad, but it was an improvement.

He studied her thoughtfully.Clearly this was a good approach at handling her moodiness.He would let her be sad and make her laugh when he could.With time this would probably fade.

A child would probably help, ideally a young one.He would see what he could do about that.But later, when she was ready.Timing would be everything, with something as delicate as this.

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