Page 5 of Bloody Business

“It will blunt the pain,” she said.

“Good.You don't need to sweeten the medicine, though.I prefer it without.”He carefully finished the cup and thanked her for the chili she handed him, before wolfing down the remaining cornbread.He couldn't chew very well with the swollen jaw, but he got it down.

She probably could have mushed it for him, but she mentally shrugged.She couldn't think of everything.

While he made horrible gulping and masticating sounds, she contemplated the rug in front of the fire and thought about sleep.She just wanted to close her eyes and forget about the day.She'd earned it.

There was a moment of silence, and then he said bluntly, “I need to pee.Is there a chamber pot in here?I don't think I can make it outside.”

Thoughts of sleep fled.She stared at him in horror.There were new lows to experience, it seemed.

Not only could henotgo outside, he could barely sit up.It was a new and horrible experience to steady someone while he peed into a chamber pot.

She didn't look, but there was no way to tune out the splashing.Or to avoid seeing the bloody pee as she put the lid on the pot.“Should that be red?”He was a goblin, after all.Maybe it came with the green skin.

“It's just a little blood, happens when you've been beaten to a pulp.It ain't the first time, and it will pass.”

She made a noncommittal noise, since he seemed to know more about this than she did.The less said about it, the better.

The experience had cured her from ever wanting to be a doctor.There seemed to be a disgusting amount of body fluid and stench involved.

He read her disgust accurately.“At least I can sit up,” he reassured her.“It's better than peeing the bed.”

She grunted, repulsed by the thought of the cleaning that would entail.

Grumbling, she settled on a makeshift bed in front of the fire.The innkeeper had scrounged up a thin straw mattress and mostly clean blankets; hers were wet and muddy.They hung from the wall pegs, dripping stinky mud.She’d try to get the blood stains out tomorrow.

She dropped instantly into sleep.

...

Morning was horrible, but that wasn't special.Mornings were always horrible, particularly before she had tea.

At least the common room had calmed down.There were fewer people, and most of them were subdued or preparing to leave.

She was itching to go.She'd stayed far too long as it was.She just had to make arrangements...

The landlord stared at her.“You can't leave your goblin here.I'm not a nursemaid!”

“He can sit up and talk...”

He cut her off.“I don't care.I don't have time.”He was curt that morning; probably wasn't a morning person, either.

“I'll pay you,” she said through a tooth clenched smile.“You like money.”

“Oh, no!I'm no fool.There's not enough money to deal with snot and blood and shit.You deal with it.”He waved his spatula at her.

She put a half gold piece on the counter.He looked at it.Looked at her.“No.”

Her nostrils flared.It was a fortune.“Easy money, mister.”

His eyes narrowed.“I'm not nursing a goblin.Get out of my kitchen!”

She grabbed her gold and breakfast tray and flounced out.

She grumbled over her pile of fried potatoes, lamb patties and leftover cornbread.The innkeeper liked money, or he wouldn't be in business.Why wouldn't he let her pay him to take care of the goblin?He must be scared.

She scowled at the goblin in question.His battered, scary face looked back.Was it her imagination, or were his eyes more bloodshot?She'd given him the redfly eyedrops first thing that morning.

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