“My guess would be the Poison Forests,” Nomi said.

“Good guess. Care to guess more?”

“I'd rather hear it from your mouth, Ramus.” Nomi's voice was level and neutral, but there was something about her stare and expression that he found threatening. He had never seen Nomi violent, but suddenly the potential was there. He could see it, feel it. Drinking in the sorts of places he favored, it was something he had come to recognize.

“Then from my mouth, Nomi. Timal disturbed me from my drunken dreams of the Poison Forests, and he asked me what there was between you and me.”

Nomi blinked slowly, extinguishing and relighting the fire reflected in her eyes.

One of the Serians shifted, betraying their curiosity.

The fire burst a sap bubble and spat.

“He was suspicious. You and I spend a lot of time together, and perhaps your confidence and brashness made him . . . insecure. So I put his mind at rest. I told him we were humping. Every morning, I said, when he left your home to go to his studies, you came to my rooms and we humped until lunchtime. I told him how we did it, and what I liked. I even told him what you liked, Nomi, because I know you so well. And that's what convinced him I wasn't lying.”

“You bastard.”

“Really?”

“You bastard, Ramus!”

“You really think so? No. I think that just about makes us even.”

Nomi's calm exterior was melting. She had started to shake, her hands were fisting, she blinked quickly and unevenly. She'll either come at me now, Ramus thought, or run. Either possibility filled him with dread.

“I messed up a voyage,” she said. “And a lot of the reason is because I wanted us to travel together, learn from each other, and—”

“Learn!” Ramus said, almost spitting the word.

Nomi raised her hand. “And in return, you intrude into my life, destroy a relationship . . .” She shook her head and angrily wiped away a tear.

A shadow fell across them, Beko walking around the fire and going to stand between them. He glanced at Ramus, then looked at Nomi until she returned his stare. “It's time to bed down for the night,” he said.

Nomi was still shivering. She started shaking her head, lips pressed tightly together, and then she gave Ramus the most humorless grin he had ever seen.

“Nomi,” Beko said. “Your tent. And Ramus, you should bed down too. Daylight will ease this and make things easier for—”

“Stay out of this, Beko,” Nomi said. The Serian tensed as if about to speak, but she looked at him and shook her head. “I hired you.”

Beko raised an eyebrow. “So I obey your orders?”

Nomi said no more, but Beko turned and walked away. “Just keep your voices down while we try to sleep.”

“How's your head, Ramus?” Nomi asked.