Page 43 of The Robin on the Oak Throne

“You said it was a joke,” Niamh countered.

“That’s not how the market works,” Fraan said.

“We all know you were dicking me around because you thought there was no way for me to get my hands on this bracelet,” Kierse said. “But I delivered. So why don’t we figure out a good trade?”

“You really took it off a queen?” Chots asked.

“I said shut the fuck up, Chots!” Fraan bellowed. His bulging eyes narrowed, and he plucked a shiny gold coin half the size of her palm out of his pocket. “This is what you asked for, and by rights of the market, you agreed in goodfaith to the trade. Going back on it now would be against the goblin code.”

Chots eyes widened. “Fraangyng!”

Graves sighed as if he had anticipated something like this and stepped up next to her, casually placing his hand on a gun at his waist.

Kierse glanced around and saw that the goblins who had been stationed at the doors had noticed their confrontation and were heading toward them. They had battle axes resting on their shoulders and AK-47s slung into position in their arms, ready to fight.

“Uh,” she muttered. “What just happened?”

“He called you a cheat,” Niamh said.

“And they take that kind of thing very seriously,” Graves added.

Taking a battle axe to the head was not her idea of a good time, but Kierse was confident she could take on a few goblins. With Graves and Niamh at her back, maybe more than a few. Still, they were on goblin turf. This was not a fight she wanted to engage in.

“Fine,” Kierse said, holding the bracelet out. “A gift for a gift.”

Fraangyng grinned wider and signaled to the approaching goblins. They stopped in their tracks, then retreated to their positions. Fraan snatched the bracelet from her hand and dropped the coin into her palm. “Happy doing business with you.”

Kierse fumed. “Sure thing.”

His large eyes lifted to Graves and Niamh. “You’ll have to pay separate.”

Graves revealed his own coin. “I’m good.”

“Same,” Niamh said cheerfully. “Well, this was lovely. Think we’ll move along so you can sell someone else into goblin fruit addiction.”

“Niamh,” Graves grumbled.

“Right. Right.”

Kierse hooked arms with Niamh and hurried toward the large double doors labeledNying Marketin large letters across the top.

Graves was at their back. “And look, you didn’t even have to kill anyone.”

“There’s still time,” Kierse said as she flipped the coin back and forth across her knuckles.

“There was almost time back there,” Niamh said.

“We could have taken them,” Kierse said.

Graves shrugged. “Probably.”

“Are you two always like this?” Niamh asked. She blew her bangs out of her eyes.

“No,” Graves said at the same time Kierse said, “Yes.”

“Got it. No wonder Lorcan wanted me to watch you,” Niamh said with a shake of her head. “Anyone who can keep Graves on his toes must be valuable.”

“That’s not the half of it,” Kierse told her.

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