Hilda and Silvia's current owner

The commotion of the crowd had been enough to get the attention of the goblins inside the inn. While the rest had settled in for the night, tucking themselves away in whatever cozy crevice they could find in their room, Grugluh had chosen to venture out and investigate. Hopefully whoever was making so much noise would listen to a polite request to quiet down while the goblins try to sleep.

By the time she descended the stairs (a daunting task with her short, stubby legs) and exited, most of the crowd had already left. But the two women arguing next to her pair of distressed mounts were making no such efforts to leave. Now concerned for her charges' safety, the motherly goblin marched to the muddy stables and asked, "What is going on here?"

Jorella and Sally turned to face Grugluh and stared down at her confused. Jorella broke the silence first to ask, "Um, can I help you, little goblin?"

"You can. If you can tell me why you're screaming at each other next to my little ones." She pointed at Silvia and Hilda, who were still holding each other and shivering under Sally's shawl. Gurgluh could smell the distinct scent of sex coming off them, but chose not to say anything about it.

"Your little... you mean to say you're the owner of these two women?" Jorella asked, a smile forming on her face. Grugluh was ready to hem and haw over the word "owner" since she still wasn't quite comfortable with this whole "mistress/slave" relationship Hilda had insisted on. But Silvia and Hilda both nodded furiously before she could answer, so Jorella continued, "Splendid. I'd like to purchase these two from you. Name your price; money's no object."

"Wha?" Grugluh was only getting more confused. "Purchase? I don't thin-"

"Oh, trust me, I understand their value. I won't lowball you." The merchant pulled out a bag filled with gold coins and dropped it into the goblin's hands. Grugluh's eyes lit up at the sight of so much shiny metal. Having lived her entire life as a nomad, she'd never partaken in humanoid currency. Her mother had always taught her that gold was the stuff of the silly tall people and it would rot her brain if she touched it. Granted, she'd said that about a lot of things, including her own sexy bits, but Grugluh could see now why it was so tantalizing.

"Wait just a minute," Sally huffed. "I won't let you do this! Whatever you're offering, I'll double it." Sally reached into her satchel and pulled out a bigger bag of gold. It hit the ground with a loud THUD, making Grugluh's eyes go even wider.

Jorella growled. "If that's how you want to play it," she said as she started counting the coins in her coat pockets. She pulled out all the currency she was carrying and poured it into the stunned goblin's palms. It was more than she could hold all by her lonesome, and it started piling up at her feet. Jorella let out a satisfied huff. "I told you money was no object."

Sally gaped at the fortune this woman was carrying on her. "I-I-I can get you more money. I have more at my house, I'll bring it back here."

"I guarantee you it's not more than I can offer!" Jorella snorted.

"Why not put your money where your mouth is, then?" Sally yelled.

"Good idea. Let's meet back here and see who can really afford these moneymakers."

"Yes, let's."

Before Grugluh could protest, both women turned on their heels and ran in opposite directions; Sally to her small home in Pilla and Jorella to her fancy caravan. The goblin was left standing in her pile of gold next to the two naked women who were apparantly worth more than all of it. "I really don't understand all this human business," she muttered, shaking her head. Hilda and Silvia, for their part, didn't understand any of it either, but they were happy to know they were wanted so badly. The question remained which one wanted them more.