Page 56 of Bloody Business

“So where does this leave us?"Zac asked.“Is this escalation, or...?”

Artur took a breath and leaned back.“The girl is dead.Although we know she must have had help, we can't prove it.I would say it's an impasse.”

Zac scowled.“I can't wrap my mind around the girl's way of thinking.Her village was destroyed by goblins looking for Loose Tongue, so she comes after Julep in revenge?It doesn't make sense.”

“It's a child's logic.The group that killed her village was too powerful.Instead, she blamed Julep because she was an easy target,” Artur explained.

“Ironically, she accepted the spying job with the very group who destroyed her village so she could hurt Julep.Julep started it, so Julep had to die.”

“But why pick the bathroom?There was no way out,” Gal demanded.“It was stupid.”

“She knows she's going to die, but it's okay because she's going to kill her target,” Zac said distastefully.“This is why they teach us strategy in school.‘Never leave yourself without an exit route’.It could have been much better planned.There's no need for the suicidal theatrics if you have a proper plan.”

The mention of their bloodthirsty school made Julep feel a little green.

“Why don't we speak of something else?Poor Julep has had a trying time.”Artur took a sip of Goblin coffee.“Tell me, Gal, what do you think of Tashi?He made a good showing the other day.”

Gal wrinkled her forehead.“Yes, he was helpful.What about it?”

Artur raised his brows.

Gal's eyes widened in comprehension.She made a gagging sound.“Ew!Gross!No, I don'tlikehim.I can't believe you suggested that.”She shook her head.“Now I'm going to have to go soap my brain to wash the image out.”

“But he would make such a good ally,” Zac said, completely straight-faced.

She gave him a vicious look.

“All right,” Julep said in a warning tone.“Artur, I think you did that just to stir things up.”

“So you don't think...”Artur began.

“No, I don't, and neither do you.Leave the poor girl alone.”

Artur smiled.“As you wish, my dear.”He wasn't going to let the issue of the assassin drop, but his wife didn't need to know that.The poor woman had been through enough, although he truly was impressed with her budding fighting skills.If he'd had any idea how vicious she could be in a fight, he would have started coaching her a long time ago.

It just went to show, although he thought of her as a gentle soul, the woman had the heart of a tiger.He would do well to remember that.

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