Somehow she wasn't all that surprised. The goblins weren't paying any attention to the two captives, which meant they were either pretty stupid or pretty confident. It seemed they weren't stupid.

Now the goblin chief tramped across to them. "Well, well, what have we here?" he asked as if surprised to see them. "A funny little centaur and a funny little elf wench. Har, har, har! Well, I'm Chief Grotesk Goblin, and I want you to know what kind of sport we mean to have with you."

Jenny couldn't help looking at the huge pot on the fire. "We already know, thank you," she said tightly.

"Oh, that's not for you two," the chief said.

Jenny perked up. "It isn't?"

"Not this week. Would you deny us our sport? We must see you bathe first."

It was true that Jenny was good and dirty now, but somehow she didn't trust this. "I'll wait, thanks."

"To be sure! Har, har, har!"

Jenny was unable to see what Grotesk thought was so funny, but decided not to inquire. She really didn't like the goblin chief very well.

"I suspect we shall not like their sport," Che said.

Jenny had already suspected that for herself, but she didn't point that out.

"Fetch the night's entertainment!" Grotesk exclaimed.

The goblins went to a hut, unbarred the door, and brought out two other creatures, who had evidently been taken captive on a prior day. One was a young woman with tight-fitting clothing; the other was a furry man whose feet ended in round boots—no, hoofs. Both were bound, but the goblins touched the knots and they loosened on their own. They two stood substantially taller than the goblins, which suggested that they were close to human size.

"What are those?" Jenny asked.

"They appear to be a dirty nymph and a faun," Che said, peering at them. "I know such creatures only by description, but the features seem to match."

"A what and a what? They look like a woman in stretchy brown cloth and a man with shaggy trousers and funny feet."

"A nymph and a faun," he repeated. "I believe they are together, and live in happy communities where the fauns chase the nymphs all day. That is all I know, except that neither wears clothing. What you see is his fur and the mud with which she is coated."

Jenny looked down at her own muddy legs. She understood how it could happen. "I guess the goblins are going to cook them tonight and save us for tomorrow." She was surprised at her seeming calmness; she knew she would be throwing a fit if she had any choice.

"I fear it will be worse than that."

"Worse than getting boiled alive?" she asked doubtfully.

"Yes. My dam refused to tell me what goblins do to their captives. That means it is worse."

Jenny would have shuddered if she hadn't been so tired. She hoped Sammy found help soon.