Page 15 of Bloody Business

If you don't want to be adored, don't rescue stray dogs.

Julep woke up feelingflat.Her room was drenched with yellow sunlight, and she judged it to be mid-morning.

The room was clean, with wooden floors and wool rugs, a comfortable bed and plenty of fluffy blankets.There was a wardrobe in the corner and a private bathroom with running water.

It was palatial, by her standards.Her old home, which had been one of the nicest in the village, still relied on an outhouse and hand drawn water from the rain barrel or well.She'd had to heat the water on top of the stove by herself, fill the bathtub, and then empty it again.Most days, she'd settled for a fast scrub in her wash basin.Baths were a luxury.

It took an effort, but she finally got up.New furry slippers had been left beside the bed, and there was a cozy bathrobe draped at the end.

The room was warm, so she assumed someone had stoked the small coal stove for her.It was a pretty stove, with blue tile over fancy cast iron.There was a copper teapot of water on it, and tea things on a small table.

She made tea and nibbled on a fresh biscuit with jam.She didn't have a lot of appetite yet, but it was returning.She was getting better.

Encouraged, she washed up and took a look in the wardrobe.Two dresses in her size hung there, with the choice of shoes or ankle boots.Undergarments were folded in a neat stack on a shelf inside.

There was a small note on the folded garments.“Didn't know what you liked, so I kept it simple.You'll get a chance to pick out something better shortly.”

By this time she expected competence, but Artur was also kind.It was encouraging.

She chose a light brown dress with shiny black buttons and velvet trim.It was nice, but not too fancy, and comfortable.She appreciated the practicality.

Goblins don't divorce, she murmured.They kill each other from time to time, but don't divorce,Artur had said.

She didn't want to be married to a goblin, but it could be worse.The husbands her family chose would have cheerfully murdered her.At least Artur actuallylikedher.

A proverb popped into her head and she snorted.If you don't want to be adored, don't rescue stray dogs.

Artur was hardly a dog, but it seemed that he was taking the rescue to extremes.

She simply wasn't in the mood to style her wild curls, so she brushed her hair and tied it back with a clip that had been left on the dressing table.Hair up, hair down.Neither one was going to make her beautiful, but at least it could be out of her eyes.

??

“Everything in the house is available to her, nothing is closed to her,” Artur told his adopted nephew, Zac.

The sixteen year old looked at him skeptically.Tall and skinny, he had close cropped dark hair and an earring.“That seems extreme.I agree it doesn't sound like she's working with your enemies, but that doesn't mean she's trustworthy.”

Artur clapped him on the shoulder.“You'll be an excellent lieutenant one day.You're right to be suspicious.

“I said to allow her access, but we'll watch and see what she does with it.It's the fastest way to test her.”

His fourteen year old sister Gallumi had black braided hair, double earrings, freckles and a big nose.She also dressed like a young soldier most of the time.“I still can't believe you married a mousy human...oh wow!”

Julep had just entered the room of course.Her expression was stoic.She'd obviously overheard the girl talking about her, and was not surprised by her opinion.

Gal walked up to Julep, wide-eyed.She looked her over, rapidly reevaluating.“But you're beautiful!How is that possible?Most of the humans I've seen are pale sticks!”

Surprised, Julep drew back.“I'm not beautiful.”She looked at the girl with deep suspicion, as if she suspected her of flattery.

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