Page 20 of Bloody Business

“Garen.”Artur clasped forearms with him and exchanged a manly back slap.“This is my wife, Julep.”

“Lucky dog,” Garen said good naturedly.“The ladies are in the loft.They probably saw you come in.”

As if on cue, a woman yelled, “What's taking so long, boy?I ain't getting any younger!”Laughter followed the comment.

“I see she's in a good mood.”Artur smiled and led his wife to the stairs.

Three elderly goblin women sat at a plank table.They wore sleeveless and short sleeved shirts that showed off their tattoos and sagging chests.Their thinning gray hair was cut short or tied up in bandanas.Chunky jewelry caught the light, glittering like remnants of armor.

Their wrinkled faces had no nonsense looks, the kind you got from a lifetime of being a badass.

Although it was mid-morning, an array of bottles sat on the table.Two of them were smoking.

Artur went up and hugged one of the smokers, the one with dark glasses.“Aunt Rho, it's good to see you.May I present my wife, Julep?”

Aunt Rho's penciled brows appeared over the rim of her glasses.“Another one?How did this come about?”

“Aunt Rho,” Artur chided.

His aunt waved his objection off but said, “Welcome to the family, girl.Have a seat.You want a beer?”She appraised her.“You don't look like a whiskey drinker.”

“Honestly, I'd prefer cider or tea,” Julep said.

“Would you now,” the aunt said with a grin.She looked at the hovering barmaid.“Bring us a pitcher of hard cider and some brandy, too.The pear one with sharp berries.”

She looked at Julep chidingly.“Tea is for sobering up.You haven't had anything to drink yet.”

Julep smiled a little.She still felt rather flat, but the woman's good cheer was catching.

Aunt Rho studied her, and her sharp eyes missed nothing.She looked at Artur.“Let's have the story.”

Julep sipped her cider as he told it.He told it well.She didn't feel the need to add anything.

She felt cold.

Julep felt the old woman looking at her and met her gaze.There was no need to say anything.

Aunt Rho nodded.There was silent understanding in her yellow eyes.

Julep looked back at her glass.She didn't want sympathy.It made her want to cry.

Aunt Rho poured her a shot of brandy.“I made this myself.Try it.”

It was good.Sweet.She hadn't expected to like it, but she slowly finished the glass.

Aunt Rho topped it off.“Did my nephew tell you who we are?We're called the Bitter Old Crones.We deal with people who hurt women...kids, too.We're some of the enforcers in this town.”

Julep blinked.“You're part of the government?”They didn't look like any kind of government official she'd ever seen.

The old women guffawed.“Government!That's a good one.No, we just take care of business that needs done.”

Julep frowned.“How does that work?You personally do...what?Beat up men who hurt women?”

Aunt Rho snorted.“First off, it's got to be something serious, like rape or murder.Something the judges have ignored or put off.

“The girls gotta be without a family or friends who can take care of them.There are rules, otherwise we'd be bothered by everyone with a grudge.

“All of us are warriors, but we’re old.We have enforcers; some hired, some volunteers, who take care of business.”She smiled fondly at her nephew.“Naturally,ourmen tend to take care of matters before we have to.”Ourmen, she said.Men who belonged to the Bitter Old Crones...or with them.

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