Emberwood The die is cast.

She was eager to get on be on her way, and would have departed outright if he hadn't mentioned her family. The comment was of great interest to Basilie. There was no ignoring the evidence that this insolent little man had some sort of upper-hand during this exchange.

I might have a message for them... He drawled, as if to invite further interest from her. But Basilie was no slave girl any more; she would not carry any messages unless they suited her end game. You could be like - what do you call him? Your messenger god?

Fine. She'd play. Mercury. The girl permitted that much information to be shared. While Aku wished for the Roman pantheon to spread, he had wanted it done his way; keeping the gods away from commoners was one thing she heartily agreed with. But this was no ordinary stranger, apparently. He seemed to know more than most.

Who says I want what you are offering? She did. She really could use a hint to Hadrian's location; however, Basilie was not eager to know the price of the information. If she feigned indifference until the man grew bored (an unlikely but deeply desired outcome) perhaps she could get everything that she wanted.