Page 10 of These Violent Delights

Zelda saw the size of the party and promptly mounted up, riding for the castle.This was not the time to posture.She wanted to negotiate with any strangers from the strength of the castle grounds.

The newcomers didn't seem to hurry, but they arrived at the gates right after they shut.There were three of them, all clearly warriors.The leader was huge, and so was his battle ram.The goblin’s black hair was pulled back from his face in a crest and fell to his shoulders.His sword poked over his shoulder, and he was clad in furs and leather.His green face was stern, his cheeks and jaw broad.

He looked up at her on the castle wall and seemed right at home.What was he so relaxed about?

“State your business,” Uncle Tank said.

“I wish to speak to the lady,” the newcomer said.

“Speak,” she replied.They might as well skip the pleasantries and get right to it.

“My name is Ozzy Redbone, chief of the Bone Clan.I've come with an offer of marriage,” he said, smiling pleasantly at her.

She blinked.That was unexpected.“Why?”

“You're quite a pretty lady,” he said smoothly.

She snorted.“You didn't know I existed yesterday!Let's be frank here.It will save a lot of time.”

Uncle Tank grunted in approval.He had coached her well.

The chieftain looked at her shrewdly.“Very well.The Beast Queen is a problem.She can create creatures out of nothing and sends them out to devastate our lands.My tribe needs a fortified position.You have a castle, but you don't have enough soldiers to defend it.You're powerful, but magic is not enough.I propose an alliance.”

She needed to ask the steward about this Beast Queen.She sounded like a possible problem, but Zelda needed more information before making any decisions.

Meanwhile, she would play for time.“And this is the only fortified castle that will do?”

“These lands are our home.We know them well and we want to defend them.”

“Fair enough.”She thought about it.“But if it's an alliance you want, I have a younger sister.She's pretty enough.Why not marry her?”She wouldn't hesitate to toss her little sister to the wolves, if the girl were agreeable.She might be, if she thought the chieftain was a step up.If things went sour, Zelda wouldn't hesitate to break the agreement and let the obnoxious Lady Divine figure out how to deal with her hulking husband.

The men conferred quietly.“You're talking about the Lady Divine?Your father's daughter?”Ozzy clarified.

“The same.”

“Yeah, that's not going to work,” one of the other goblins said.He was tall and lean with a big scar across his nose.“She's not a power here.”

Oh, well.She tried.Zelda conferred quietly with the steward and Uncle Tank.“What do you think?I won't be marrying him, of course.”

The steward hesitated.“The Beast Queen is a problem, and the Bone Clan has been at war with her for some time.The only reason we haven't had more trouble with her is that she has been busy with them, but they've taken heavy losses.”

She glanced over the wall.“Maybe, but I can't just let him in here.He looks like the type who will want to run things.I don't feel like letting him take over.”

“Where's the rest of your clan?”Uncle Tank called down.

Hm.Good question.

Ozzy's demeanor shifted slightly as he regarded Tank.“And who would you be?”

Tank didn't answer, so Zelda called down, “Just answer the question.”

Ozzy frowned, but glanced over his shoulder.“Beyond those hills.”

“How many people are in your clan?”

“Seven hundred.That includes men, women, and children.We also have our herds and livestock.”

“They intend to stay,” Uncle Tank said calmly.“But they're herdsmen.They will need to move the herds around to keep them fed, and they'll need heavy guards if they've been attacked by wild animals.Most likely they plan to retreat to the castle in case of a threat.”

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