“No. Just expressing my genuine appreciation over the matter. I would like to survive all of this and return home in one piece, thanks.”
His brow lowered, but his expression shifted to one of speculation. “You do not intend to remain with the lucomo?”
“Uh, I’m not sure where you got that idea. We’re temporary travel companions because fate has a fucked-up sense of humor. As far as I understand, as soon as he finishes with me, Silvas is returning me back to my home.”
His lips quirked in an unpleasant smirk, his dark eyes hard as they narrowed on her. “You are either foolish for believing that, or quite conniving to make a convincing show of it. I can assure you that your presence in the Eternal Forest will be for considerably longer than you believe.”
Diana stiffened at his condescending tone. “The lucomo gave me his word that he would escort me himself once he no longer had need of me.”
“That is an open-ended contract if I ever heard one,” he said as he unfastened a canteen from his side and tipped back the contents. His thick neck worked as he swallowed. With a smack of his lips, he lowered the canteen and belched. “I wager that you will be remaining by the lucomo’s side.”
She wrinkled her nose, ignoring the comment as she stared with interest at his canteen. “That’s not water in there, is it?”
A grin split his face. “There is a necessary percentage of water that was required during fermentation.”
“Beer?” she asked. It had been a long time since she enjoyed a good Bud.
“Of course,” he returned. “I brew it myself.” He paused, no doubt seeing the longing that she felt twist through her. One thick, dark eyebrow rose. “I might be persuaded to share it with a fair bargain.”
It could be hot and stale, and she would still drink it like it was ambrosia. She was so tired of water and the rare treat of fruit juice. Someone in town had started a cask of wine, but this crop of grain was considered too valuable to waste on brewing. Still, call her suspicious, it sounded a little too convenient.
Diana’s eyes narrowed. “Like what?”
“That you will leave when we return to the palace. I will find you an escort back to your world. I can’t guarantee where you will arrive, but at least you can find your way home.”
Her brow fell. She should have known it would be something like that. “Fuck you. I gave my word to Silvas, and I will not go back on it.”
She thought she saw something like grudging respect in his eyes, but Raskyuil shrugged and took another long swallow. “More for me,” he retorted as he wiped his mouth on the back of his wrist.
“I hope you choke on it,” she mumbled as she turned away, focusing on the sky. Maybe she would get lucky and whatever creature inhabited this section of the forest would come out and clobber him for being such a dick.
Probably the only circumstance she could think where she would actually be grateful to see another frightful spirit guardian. She might even have considered thanking it afterward.
An aggrieved sigh cut through the air.
“Take the beer,” Raskyuil grumbled.
She glanced at him in surprise and licked her lips as she accepted the canteen that he thrust toward her. “I don’t suppose that it’s cold…”
He snorted, but the corner of his mouth lifted in an expression that looked something like a half-smile, amusement glittering in his dark eyes. “Of course it’s cold. I’m no fool. Had this bespelled by a goblin witch to keep the contents always cooled. It was well worth the fee. It was only a minor inconvenience providing the head of her enemy in trade. Turned out to be a male from my gambling circle, but it is no great loss. The twerg was a cheating bastard, anyway.”
“Twerg?” she asked as she took a huge swallow of cold, hoppy beer. She nearly purred in pleasure.
He pinched his chin thoughtfully. “Ah, yes. I believe you humans call them dwarves now.”
“You killed a dwarf?” she asked.
She didn’t know why, but she had expected something a bit less… humanoid. Like an annoying animal or something. Though she supposed in context it made better sense. It still disturbed her. Was it that easy for beings who inhabited the forest to indiscriminately kill each other? If that were the case, she was definitely better off getting out of the Eternal Forest as soon as possible.