And he smelled like a fates-damned dragon.
Skoll lifted his head and sniffed. Could he smell it, too? He probably could.
All my senses went on high alert, but I schooled my features into an easy smile.
Rivelin narrowed his gaze at me as he kicked the door shut. “What are you doing?”
“Having a cup of tea,” I said sweetly. “Would you like one?”
“Tea.”
“Yes, tea…”
“You’re still here. Drinking tea.”
I blinked, taken aback. “If you wanted me to leave, you should have said so. I just thought you wanted some space after the weapons closet incident. Since that’s, you know, what you said.”
“The weapons closet incident,” he repeated.
Slowly, I put down my mug and unwound myself from the armchair. “I think I’ve missed something.”
“You had access to all those swords,” he said with a frown. “I assumed you’d take one, or even a few so you could sell them for coin, and then you’d be on your way out of Wyndale.”
“And why would I do that?”
“To find somewhere else to stay until you can leave this island to sail for the Glass Peaks. If you took the swords and sold them, you wouldn’t have to stay here and help me with the Games. You had an easy way out. I assumed you’d take it.”
“I see,” I said quietly. “And did you want me to take it?”
A tense silence hung between us as I waited for his reply. My breathing went shallow, not that I cared if he’d hoped to find his house empty when he returned home. If he wanted me to leave, so be it. It was a shame I’d miss out on the Games, but I had options. I would still find out the village’s secrets. I would still track down the source of that scent. And Isveig would free me. That was the only thing that mattered.
Still, my sweaty palms and thundering heart made the wait for his answer almost unbearable.
“I need your help. With the Games,” he eventually said.
“So youdon’twant me to leave?”
“Not particularly.” He eyed the nightclothes I wore and the mug on the table, almost like he was seeing them both for the first time. “You look like you’re settling in for the night.”
“It’s late, and I’m tired. Is that a problem?”
“The first event kicks off in the morning.” He frowned and rubbed his jaw. “The boat’s only half done. I’ll need to—”
“Fullydone. I finished it while you were out doing…whatever it was you were doing.” Sitting in a dragon’s nest, probably.
“You…” He narrowed his eyes. “You’re telling me you finished building the boat by yourself?”
“And it’s a good thing I did. I doubt your neighbors would be thrilled with noisy pounding all night.”
Something flashed in his eyes. “If it came from inside the house, I doubt they’d hear.”
“Well, yes, but I don’t think you want to build a boat inside your living room.”
The corners of his lips twitched, and then he motioned at my tea before I could ask him what, exactly, was so funny. “I didn’t take you for a tea drinker.”
“And I didn’t takeyouas someone who would have fifteen different kinds of tea in his cupboard.” Speaking of, it was probably starting to get cold, and Ihatedcold tea, much like I hated most cold things. I grabbed my mug and took a sip. It was no longer piping hot, but it would do.
“And I didn’t take you for someone who would pass up stealing my swords.”
