Page 45 of Bloody Business

Ashi sent a servant to fetch some brandy for the poor woman.She looked like she could use the fortification.

Gal noticed and sat down by her honorary aunt.She patted her hand soothingly and murmured something.

Julep looked at her, shell shocked.

Gal said something else.She seemed to have the situation in hand.

The servant delivered the drink and an invitation to enjoy the parlor.Julep took a swig and then stood up.Gal and Zac walked with her to the door, a protective escort.

Ashi would have spoken to her, but her husband exited first and caught her attention.

“Harsh," Ashi softly reproached her husband as they walked away from the class.She intended to join her guests in the parlor shortly.

He gave her a dark look.“These children are our future.They'll one day be in charge, and they need to know the cost of their decisions.Coddling them now will make them stupid.”

She said slowly, “But if war is so terrible, why is it such a part of Goblin culture?”

He was quiet for a long moment as he considered his words.

“Your former king and queen were murderous thieves who threw babies in the river.Wealth was concentrated in their hands until the poor had almost nothing.If you'd escaped from their palace and tried to live among the poor, you'd have barely scraped by and possibly died.There was nowhere for you to go.”

She silently acknowledged his point.

“Our coming was well known.Smart people fled the city.The stupid stayed and were wiped out.

“And what is the city like now?Religion is tolerated, anyone can engage in commerce.Laws are equally enforced, many who left have returned.That didn’t come without cost.”

She didn't say anything.

“We rebuild the cities.We educate and teach people how to make money and be successful, to be better farmers, and we share the skills of metalworking and machining.Instead of hogging it for ourselves, we realize that the more people who are successful, the more successful our society is and the more we can achieve.

“Not everyone has the mentality to succeed, but they will have the tools.”

She gave him a skeptical look.“While that’s true, you make it sound like goblins are some kind of savior.”

“No.But our self-interest has been beneficial.We’re still monsters.We never lie about that.”

She sighed.“There’s no winning this argument.”He was a goblin general.She knew from the moment she met him that there would be no changing him.He was a weapon, forged to crush cities and lead armies.

And yet, as ruthless as he was, he treated her and the children like gold.She couldn't have asked for a kinder, more considerate husband.Considering the fate her Queen hadthoughtshe was sending Ashi to, this was paradise, and she was grateful.

“True.Enough of this.”He curled his arm around her and smiled.“Speaking of self-interest, I think it's time we started on another child.Our son could use some competition on the training field, or you can produce another lovely daughter.Either way will be a win.”

“Do you think I'll cooperate with the scheme?”she asked, bemused.The man could go cold to hot in a blink.

Well, shehadbeen thinking of another child.Her youngest was so big already...

He chuckled and leaned in for a kiss.“I think you could be persuaded...”

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