“Don’t kick!” Jurl said.
“Explain why you just attacked us,” Gideon said to the goblin.”
“Chandra go away soon.”
Gideon glanced at Chandra, then said, “You attacked her because she was leaving?”
“Because no time.”
“I think he means,” Chandra said, “he attacked now because I had told him I was leaving very soon.”
“Yes!” Jurl was apparently pleased with her interpretation. “No time.”
“Why attack her at all?” Gideon asked the goblin.
“Take to Prince Velrav.”
“What?” Chandra scowled. “You were going to turn me over to Velrav? To feed the hunger?”
“Yes.”
“Now I see why you were so helpful, Jurl. You wanted me for yourself.”
“Yes,” Jurl confirmed.
“To think I was beginning to like you,” she muttered.
“So you’re one of Velrav’s takers?” Gideon asked Jurl.
“Yes.”
“I see,” Gideon said. “Why?”
“Take gift to Velrav. Velrav give something.”
“Ah. And if you took a beautiful fire mage to Velrav,” Gideon said, “you’d get something good, wouldn’t you?”
“Yes.” Jurl looked as crestfallen as a writhing, captive goblin could look. “But not now.” He looked at Gideon and added, “Don’t kill.”
“Why not?” Gideon gave the handle of his weapon another sharp tug.
Jurl gasped. “Give me life. I give you.”
“Give us what?”
“Tell me what,” Jurl said. “I get.” “What I want,” Gideon said, “is someone who can answer all my questions.”
“Questions?” Jurl repeated.
“My questions about Velrav. About Diraden. About why morning never comes.”
Jurl thought it over, then suggested, “Wise woman?”
“Yes,” Gideon agreed. “I want to speak to a wise woman.”
“Village wise woman,” Jurl said eagerly. “Know things.”
“How far?” Gideon asked
“Not far. I bring you.”
Gideon said to the goblin, “I’m going to remove the sural from your legs.”
“What?”
“The weapon.”
“Good!”
“And then I’m going to use it to tie your hands behind your back.”
“Bad”
“If you resist or try to get away while I’m doing this,” Gideon said, “I will catch you again, but I won’t be nice.”
“You could end up like your friend, Jurl. You don’t want that, do you?” Chandra prodded.
“Not friend,” Jurl said dismissively.
“Then why did you bring him along?” she asked. “Wouldn’t you have to share with him whatever Velrav gave you?”
“Need help now,” Jurl said. “Kill later.”
“No honor among goblins,” Chandra muttered.
“I guess the prospect of attacking a woman alone was too daunting,” Gideon said dryly.
“Intimidated by my beauty, no doubt,” she said, recalling Gideon’s earlier comment.
“Maybe so.” There was no mockery in his voice. He was looking down at the goblin as he began untangling his weapon from its legs. His expression was hidden in shadows. Chandra stared at him in bemusement. Until he said, “Hold the rock where he can see it.”
Gideon finished removing the sural from Jurl’s legs. “Roll over.”
Jurl said, “Don’t tie hands.”
“Roll over,” Chandra said, “or you’ll die right now, exactly the way your friend died.”