Chapter 19: Quinn

Quinn didn’t second-guess his tactics in his dealings with Goldeneye’s clan sisters. He was grateful that he hadn’t needed to make an example of one of them and kill. Goblin-kind were ever amoral. One minute friendly—the next, betrayers. At the slightest sign of weakness, any being outside the clan was fair game to be exploited for the good of the clan. If a being understood that, they were extremely clever and hardworking when given the right encouragement.

He had lined up management, investment, and logistics. Now it was time to secure supplies and labor.

He sent the Amazon and the Assassin went back to their masters.

Quinn waited with Asaqui’s crew for the ferry that would carry them across the Salt River to Southmarket. The crew clustered together, munching on whatever treats they had snared along the way. Goblins, more than any of the hominid races, had a serious sweet tooth. The two white mountain trolls kept glancing at Quinn furtively. Tooli, their leader, anxiously kept her eye on him lest she miss a whim he might express. The three troll women had an important place in the pantheon of their gods. To them, he was literally a messenger of the Gods—terrifying and to be obeyed at all costs. Her grandmothers would grill her unmercifully for flaws in her behavior when she got back to her clan to report on the day’s events.