Page 41 of Deadly Maiden

“Uh. Yes?”

“And to ask questions, I recall. Bathe first. I have gold but we cannot eat that. Also, we have drinking water, and some smokedmeat, some dried fruit and nuts. We have no need for a fire, thankfully.” That might attract people, bandits even.

“Okay. Though I am cold.”

I study her again, an intentionally thorough study, for she’s wrapped her arms about her chest. It makes that part of her bulge…prominently. Her blush deepens. Perhaps this questioning at close quarters will have benefits.

“The river will be cold. If you bathe, we will need to huddle together for warmth. There is only one blanket.” There might be two, but perhaps I should hide it. “I shall also cut your hair.”

“Tomorrow. You’d have to be mad to cut it at night.”

No protest at the huddling? I am almost shocked.

I nod curtly. “True.” My night vision is excellent but I’m not informing her of this. Plus she will be comforted by the sun. “Go bathe. I promise not to look.”

I lay out some of our minimal rations while she is away. I do as I promised and keep my eyes averted. If she gets eaten by some river creature, so be it. I lower myself into a cross-legged seated position and contemplate the last sliver of sun as it sinks below the hills.

The meditation helps me understand my own situation. Not only have I strayed from what I vowed and into the area of lust, I have changed for the first time in twenty years, and I’ve not thought to wonder why. Or not adequately.

Why can I now shift?

Why am I lusting after this necromancer-spawn female?

Are these two changes related because what are the odds that both would happen at once and not be connected?

When she returns, pale and shivering, though dressed in clean clothes—a pair of dark green leggings, a tan shirt, and that cloak—I wait for her to sit opposite, on a log I pulled over beneath a large tree.

“Let’s eat.” I indicate the cloth with its meager food. I offer her a cup that she takes. “Venin will have places where we can buy more civilized food.”

“More horses?”

“Yes.” I’m wincing inside at the thought of spending more gold. There is never enough gold.

“What’s civilized food?”

I shrug. “This depends on you and your tastes. Wine, for starters. Cheese. Venin has great cheese.”

“Oh. I never thought of cheese being anything but for…” She raises her shoulders. “Cheese?”

“My gods.” I don’t bother elaborating, though she seems astonished.

This girl needs educating.

Not that I’m likely to be able to do this.

Between bites of rather disgusting dried fish, hard cheese, and sips of water, I consider her. She looks at me while she nibbles on smoked meat and bread, then chomps into an apple.

When we’re done and have flung the cores and scraps far afield, so the critters leave us be tonight, I dust off the tops of my pants.

“We come to the questions, Wyntre Gothschild. I have some also.”

“Diamond,” she bites out.

“Annoyed at that surname?” Is this telling?

“Landos will always be my father, first.”

“Okay. I cannot fault that.”

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