“You ready?”
He gives a small nod.
“I’m off to bed,” I stand, “I’ll see you all tomorrow morning.”
A general chorus of goodnights are murmured from around the table as Golem and I make our way to my room.
“How old are you, Golem?”
His eyes catch mine but his head gives no response. My tired mind forgot that I need to state the question in a yes or no fashion, so I try again.
“As old as King Zander?”
No.
“Younger?”
Yes.
“Is it true he created you?”
He nods.
So at the very least Golem is two centuries old.
“Are you Discerni?”
No.
“You just look like them?”
Yes.
“Did the King happen to apprise you of what I’ll be searching for in Red Falls?”
Slowly, as if considering his answer before giving it, Golem nods again. The hesitance has me peering at him in curiosity, but I decide to forgo that line of questioning for now and rummage for the key in my bag.
“Can you ride if you wanted to?”
Yes, though his eyes narrow in disgust at such a suggestion.
I open the door with a laugh and walk to the end of the bed, rummaging through my travel packs. Golem stays by my side until he sees me pulling out my emerald green night slip, the magical creature turning almost abruptly in what I can only assume is polite bashfulness.
I quickly change out of my riding clothes and pull on the silk, relishing in the nights of travel when I get to wear it. The slip is a dainty piece of clothing that hugs my body like a dream, but it’s one I only get to wear in the privacy of a room and never on the open road. I pull back the bed sheets and turn to Golem, frowning when I see him still standing at the foot of the bed.
“Should I get you a cot to sleep on?”
He shakes his head.
“No? You’ll just stand there all night, then?”
Another half answer of yes… then no.
I blow out the lantern of bottled moonslight next to my bed with a shrug.
“Well I still have more questions for you if that’s okay?”
I can barely make out his figure in the dark, but I do see the subtle tilt of his head in agreement.
