`` your brother needs you while he serves the king , i 'm resigned to that . she 'd thought they 'd said everything there was to say . did i put some sort of curse on him ? and certainly she would not be able to refuse you . '' nearly a hundred goblins lay within the pass , each of them now stripped of the odd items they carried . `` i 'd pay whatever you asked , i think , if you 'd come and make this dessert for a special occasion sometime , '' he smiled at me . 