An angry voice moved through the men and they shuffled aside, parting at the edge to reveal Acwellen pushing his way through. His loyal curs followed him and Deglan knew them all. Aglaeca. Drefan. Banan. Big Cunny. Seon. Fat Donall and Poncey Swan. He remembered the last night he had seen these murderers, and his reluctance was burned away by the painful recollection. Acwellen took the scene in quickly, for a lout, his darting eyes lingering on Deglan for a moment before finally coming to rest on Madigan.

“Sure Finder,” Acwellen said welcomingly. “I see you have finally brought me the treacherous gnome! Boys, bring that stunted leech here so that we may have off his ugly head.”

Drefan and Big Cunny stepped forward. Sir Corc and Bantam Flyn did, too. The men eyed the coburn warily for a moment, then glanced back to Acwellen.

Deglan found his voice. “It is not my head that needs to be taken, Acwellen! It was not I who betrayed Hog’s Wallow. Where is Kederic Winetongue? Bring him out here that he may answer for the crime you place at my feet.”

“He is dead,” Acwellen pitched his voice so all could hear. “As you say, he was a traitorous coward, and I killed him for it.”

Deglan looked into the big man’s eyes and found the lie.

“If that is so,” Deglan said, “why are you here now? Far from home, serving the goblins?”

“The price of our safety,” Acwellen lied easily. “Winetongue brought this upon us. I am merely trying to see to it we survive his skullduggery. Our fort remains standing because of me!”

“I believe that,” Deglan shot back. “Because of you…the Red Caps came! Because of you Hog’s Wallow had no warning!” He turned as he spoke, addressing the men that surrounded him. “You all know me. Seen more than a few of you through a fever, brought some of your children into the world with my own hands. I was riding to the fort with news of the attack when this man,” he thrust a finger at Acwellen, “ambushed me! Tried to kill me. And when he failed, sent the Sure Finder to hunt me down!”

“I did!” Acwellen returned. “But on Kederic’s orders! It was he who lied to us, not I!”

“You are the goblin’s pet, Acwellen! Always were. Kederic Winetongue hated the Fae. I do not believe he would have made such a pact.”

“So you say,” Acwellen said slowly. “But we have no cause to trust you, immortal.”

Deglan nodded at that, then drew Blink slowly forward by the hand. The men looked at her, many of them unknowingly exchanging their warriors’ faces for those they wore as fathers. Sir Corc produced a spare buckle from his armor and handed it gently to the girl. Blink took it in her chubby fist, looking down at it with the pointed curiosity of youth.