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My hand of blood liked the Red Caps. My power liked the Red Caps. Not good, or was it?
Ash and Holly exchanged a glance.
"The truth," I said. "Why did you bring every Red Cap the goblins can boast?"
"They insisted," Ash said.
"The Red Caps do not insist," Onilwyn said. "They obey."
Ash looked at the other man. "I would riot expect a sidhe to know so much of us." He looked at me and gave a nod. "Except for the princess, who seems to make a study of all her people's culture."
I nodded back. "I appreciate that you have noticed my efforts."
"I have noticed. It is one of the reasons I am here."
"I fought in the goblin-sidhe wars," Onilwyn said. "I saw the Red Caps ordered into battles that were sure death, but they never hesitated. I learned that they are oathed to never disobey the Goblin King."
"You are correct, green man," Jonty said.
"They are also forbidden from competing for kingship," Onilwyn said.
"Also correct."
"Why are you all here?" Onilwyn asked.
I looked at Onilwyn. It wasn't like him to worry this much over my safety. Maybe he was worried about his own.
The Red Caps looked at Jonty. He looked at me.
"Why are you here, Jonty? Why did so many of your people come with you?"
"You I will answer," he said in that deep voice. He'd insulted everyone here. Ash and Holly, Onilwyn, everyone but me.
He came forward. Rhys and Frost moved a little in front of me. Some of the other guards moved out of their line behind us.
"No," I said. "He helped me save you all. Don't be ungrateful now."
"We're supposed to protect you, Merry. How can we allow that to approach you?" Rhys said.
I gave him an unfriendly glare. "He is not a 'that, Rhys. He is a Red Cap. He is Jonty. He is a goblin. But he not a 'that. »
My anger seemed to surprise him. He gave a small bow and moved back. "As my lady wishes."
Normally, I would have tried to ease his hurt feelings, but tonight I had other things on my mind than juggling the emotional relationships in my life.
I stood up and the silk robe I was wearing brushed the floor with a sound that was almost alive. The high-heeled sandals with their wraparound laces made a sharp sound on the marble.
High heels had been the only thing the twins had asked me to wear. The only request. I moved the robe so they got a flash of the four-inch heels, the laces that curved around my calf. I got a sound from Holly, low in his throat. Ash controlled himself better, but his face couldn't hold it all.
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