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G eneral Yal's barbecue was an informal event, so Julep felt quite relaxed, which was a plus when meeting new people.

The gates of his house were guarded by stone screaming eagles, his family mascot, and the walls were thick, which was to be expected from a general.

The house was a tall stone edifice built into the side of the hill. The stables and barracks were in the front, along with a garden. Goblins didn't hide such things behind houses. The important things were right out front, and everything was military neat.

General Yal was huge and forbidding, with a massive jaw, orange eyes and gray skin. He treated Artur like a valuable business partner, and welcomed Julep into his home.

His wife Ashi couldn't have been more different. Julep heard that she was actually a foreign princess, and she wasn't surprised. Ashi was classically pretty and refined, with a warm gentle manner. Her hair was nearly white like the northern tribes, and her eyes were pale blue.

She didn't appear to be full of herself, but she was so ladylike, Julep wasn't quite sure how to respond. There weren't a lot of fancy people in her background.

Ashi’s circle of friends included a number of powerful matrons, too. It wasn't really Julep's crowd, and she began to feel a little out of place.

“How did a bandit like you get such a pretty lady to marry you?” someone said. Green skinned with a medium build, the goblin had a big jaw and a large nose. His thick hair was cut short, and he had a red scar on his chin.

“Slaughter!” Artur said happily. The men gripped forearms and exchanged manly backslaps. “This is my wife, Julep.”

“Nice to meet you,” Slaughter said agreeably. “This is my wife, In’shi.”

In’shi was black-haired with dark, sun defying skin. She was plain by human standards, her features too large, her smile cautious. “H-hello.”

Julep liked her immediately. “Hi! Have you eaten yet? We were heading to the buffet. Want to join us?”

The tables were loaded with barbecued meats of all kinds, sauces and sides. Julep's mouth watered.

“You want hot cider, Julep? How about you, In’shi?” Artur asked, studying the drink table. There were casks and pitchers galore, some of them steaming.

“B-beer, please.”

With loaded plates, they headed for a large stone fireplace on the patio. Outdoor couches sat around it, with baskets of blankets for anyone who got chilled and small tables for the food.

Julep hesitated. The couches looked nice, and the barbecue might be messy.

“L-let's sit there,” her new friend said, and quickly claimed a spot.

In'shi's husband brought her a blanket without being asked, handing Julep another. He held their plates as they got settled.

“Thank you,” Julep said, surprised.

“No problem,” he said, glancing over their heads to a knot of men discussing manly things.

His wife waved him off. “H-have fun.”

He smiled and wandered off to the buffet first.

Artur delivered the drinks and looked at Julep inquiringly. “Do you want anything else?”

“I'm good, thank you. Feel free to catch up with your friends.” She tried the ribs and hummed in approval. “These are great! So tender.” The bark on top was perfect, a hint of crunch with a sweet hot sauce.

“Good to know. I think I'll get some.” Artur headed for the food.

“S-so tell me about yourself,” In’shi said, and took a big bite of juicy pork. She savored it before she asked, “H-how did you end up in Goblin City?”

Julep smiled ironically and took a swig of cider. “There was a body beside the road...”

A while later, In’shi said, awed, “Wow! Y-you make my life seem tame.”

“It can't be that dull. How did you end up here?”

In'shi laughed. “I-I married an old goblin general...”

The story took a while, what with the stutter, but it was fascinating.

They paused for a food run, and more drinks. They were both slightly tipsy by the end.

“That's crazy,” Julep said, impressed. “What's it like, having magic?”

In’shi shrugged. “N-normal. I've always had it.”

Julep found it hard to imagine.

“H-have you been to the Starry Market?” In-shi asked. “I was thinking of going soon. You're welcome to come with.”

Artur had kept his wife in sight, stationed where she could catch his eye if she were distressed. “They seem to have hit it off,” he observed.

Slaughter, who'd done the same, smiled. “Usually women are scared off by In’shi’s shadow beasts. Your wife has a backbone.”

“That she does.” Patience, too. That stutter was strong. He suspected that was one of the reasons that In’shi had few friends, because she seemed nice enough.

From a strategic point of view, Slaughter had done well.

Since both of them were mages, the odds of them producing strong children were high.

He suspected Slaughter would raise his children in house instead of the popular custom of anonymous fostering.

It wouldn't do for someone else to get their hands on his powerful offspring.

Too bad. Artur would have loved to foster them and deepen their alliance.

He had some other deals in the works, however. If it panned out, they would soon have fosterlings of their own. It would be good for Julep.

***

O n the way home, Artur asked, “So what did you think of the general's wife?”

“She seemed nice,” Julep said cautiously.

He looked at her, slightly amused. “You preferred Slaughter’s wife.”

“She was nice! It's obvious that her husband dotes on her. I can see why; she seems very sensible.

“We're going to go out for lunch. She said she would show me the Starry Market.” She grew thoughtful. “They seem like a good couple.”

Excellent! His wife was making friends. “They’re a well matched pair. It's surprising, considering how they met. I don't know if it's a love match, but I doubt she’ll try to push him off a balcony.”

She looked at him sharply. She didn't seem pleased about his joke. “Like your first wife did?”

Artur raised a brow. “Got an earful at the party, did you?”

“‘She's prettier than your first wife,’” Julep quoted. “‘Sweeter too...Less stabby.’ I heard comments like that from at least three different people. Can you blame me for being curious?”

Artur smiled faintly. “I married her to stop her from bothering someone else, actually. It kept her busy. It was just a matter of time before she tried to kill me. She actually pushed her first husband off a balcony.”

She stared at him. “You knew that and married her anyway?”

“It was for a good cause.”

“No, see you donate food or clothing to a good cause. You don't marry killers,” she explained, as if he were a little slow. “How did she try to kill you?”

“The balcony again. She wasn't an original thinker, and I made sure to stand next to the rail as often as possible. It took her forever to screw up her courage. Very tiresome. I was plotting ways to make it easier for her, like appearing drunk.”

She opened her mouth, slowly closed it again. “How...?”

“She rushed me when my back was turned and I stepped out of the way. Her momentum carried her over the edge,” he said helpfully.

“No, I was wondering how anyone could be that cold-blooded. She really tried to kill you?”

“She killed all kinds of people. Mostly servants, but no one was safe. Her mother spoiled her and let her do whatever she wanted.”

“Wow. If I ever had kids...” Her voice hitched as she remembered that wasn't likely.

He'd never get a better opening. “I wanted to talk to you about that. You're familiar with the goblin custom of fostering?” he asked gently. “I've made arrangements to foster a child. Well, two, actually. The children are unrelated.”

Children were often targeted in goblin warfare.

It had become custom to foster them anonymously to preserve the next generation and build camaraderie between powerful houses.

Alliances were often made before children were even born.

Julep thought it was a horrible custom, but so was child murder. “Two kids? How old are they?”

“One is seven. Her mother is dying of a wasting disease. They aren't of a particularly powerful family, but her father was an amazing mage. He died in my service last year.”

“Poor kid,” Julep murmured.

“Tragic,” he said briskly. “The other is a boy. He's born of rape, his father is dead and his mother wants nothing to do with him. He was born this morning.”

She winced.

“She's a nobody, but the father belonged to a powerful house. They don't want the kid, but finding him a proper house is part of the restitution. They won't ever claim him, but they will owe us a favor.”

“That's very calculating of you,” she observed.

“I'm a goblin,” he said without apology. “However, the children will benefit from it. You've seen how I treat the children in my house.”

She looked thoughtfully out the window of the carriage.

“They will have nannies, of course. You won't be troubled unless you wish to be.”

She glanced at him. “Is that so?”

“I should also warn you that there will eventually be others. I don't mind children, and they are an easy way to make alliances.”

She sat up straighter. “Really?”

“Really.” He kissed her hand carefully, unsure of her mood. It wouldn't do to take her for granted, but charm rarely hurt.

“And when will these children be arriving?”

“The girl's mother isn't dead yet, of course, but I've transferred them to our house so that the mother can receive care while her daughter gets acclimated. it will be easier for her if we're not strangers. The mother is Va and the girl is called Noemi.

“The boy should be at the house by now, with a nanny in the nursery. He doesn't have a name yet.”

She was cautiously optimistic about meeting the child, but as soon as they got out of the carriage a servant ran up.

“Sir! Rooster is sick. The doctor thinks he's been poisoned.”