“I don’t know what you mean. I’m simply walking.”
I pick up the pace, gripping my basket. I should check my map again, but—
“Feeling faint yet?” Willoh asks cheerfully.
I ignore him. The dizzinessiscreeping in again, whispering at the edges of my vision, persuading me to turn back like a peony shying away from strong sunlight. I shake my head. Come on,think.There’s got to be a way.
“If you keep going, you’re going to pass out again,” Willoh says. Not as a threat, just as a fact. “Although…” He catches up to my side and leans forward. I throw him the smallest of glances. “Look at you, in your cute dress, with flowers in your hair. On second thought, by all means, keep going. When you faint, maybe you’ll fall into my arms.”
I stop in my tracks so fast, I almost slip on the twigs under my shoes. Willoh tuts as if disappointed.
“Whatareyou so eager to find around here?” he asks.
“I don’t want to talk to you.”
“Wow, that’s hurtful.”
“Do you delight in stalking women in forests?”
“You’re the one heading in my direction.”
“Then be on your way.”
Willoh grins. “Nice try.”
I consider the surroundings. The trees grow densely here, so unless I want to climb one of them, I suppose…perhaps…I could ask for some help.
I shoot him my harshest warning glare. “I’m looking for a flower.”
His eyebrows raise in disbelief. He doesn’t believe me. Wait—hedoesn’t believe me.Gods, that’s refreshing.
“A flower.”
“Yes. Now, if you’ll excuse me—”
“Describe it to me.”
I knit my eyebrows together. “And then what?”
“Then I’ll go get it for you.”
I hesitate, scanning the forest path. It’s not in his nature to give help so freely. At least, that’s not how Bastion describes him, and I don’t want to owe a debt to one of the most powerful sorcerers in the kingdom. One rumored to have once used dark magic.
“Why can’t I get it myself?” I ask.
“Because in case it’s escaped your attention, you can’t make it ten steps that way without losing consciousness.”
“And you can?”
“No, I just come here to pass out for fun.”
Gods—
“You might not know how to pick it correctly,” I counter.
“I’m sure I’ll manage.”
“Or you can tell me how to get around this barrier spell.”
