Jenny found herself liking Gwenny Goblin. That was dangerous, because she had to be objective. "Maybe I'll see you in the morning," she said, backing away.

"I'd like that," Gwenny agreed. She lay down again and closed her eyes.

Jenny went out the door, and then Godiva took her back to the bare chamber where Che remained. "I will talk to him," she said.

"I will wait a moment outside," Godiva said. "If he agrees to listen, knock, and I will convey you both to the other suite."

Jenny entered. Che smiled as he saw her. "Sammy found my confidence!" he exclaimed. "I feel much better now!"

"How did he do that?" Jenny asked, amazed. She had not realized that such a thing could be found in that way.

"I asked him, and he came and rubbed against my leg and purred, and my confidence was back. He must have brought it."

Oh. Sammy had done that for Jenny in the past. She just hadn't seen it quite that way. "Che, I have talked to Godiva. She—please, I think you should listen to her. You don't have to make her deal, just agree not to tell."

He looked at her. "If you tell me, I will listen."

"I will tell you. But first we must go to a more comfortable chamber." She knocked on the door.

It opened. Jenny led Che out, and Sammy came along, knowing that something was up. Without words they filed into the suite. "Food will be delivered if you ask," Godiva said as she closed the door behind them. "I will come when you ask for me, perhaps in the morning."

"Thank you," Jenny said.

Sammy promptly found a suitable cushion and settled down for the rest of his orange snooze. Che stood for a moment and looked around, plainly awed. "I did not realize that goblins had such accommodations."

"They do for princesses, or whatever," Jenny said. She saw that he was tired, so she decided to abbreviate the discussion. "Let me tell you the essence now, and in the morning I'll tell you as much else as I know, if you want."

"I appreciate that."

"Remember, you must not tell anyone else, regardless what you decide about the deal she offers."

"Of course. I did not want to be compromised by something extraneous, but since you have ascertained that it is not, I accept the terms."

"She wants you to be the companion for her daughter, Gwenny, who will be the next chief if you help her, and will die if you don't—because she's lame and mostly blind. A female chief would try to make this a better tribe."

Che had evidently been braced for something of significance, but this surprised him. "But females aren't goblin chiefs!" he protested.

"This one can be, with your help."

He pondered. "What kind of person is this goblin girl?"