Nick held his sword out to Sae. Her hands glowed, and a creeping layer of slick green covered his blade.

“I wouldn’t do that,” Talia warned, holding completely still. Her voice was guttural, but somehow, distinctly feminine. I wondered what the others thought of her. The wolf’s appearance was typically intimidating on account of her size, deep furrowed brows, and silver eyes that appeared to see everything.

But to my surprise, she seemed to be suppressing some of her more alarming side. Her teeth were hidden, even when she spoke. And her elongated tail slowly wagged back and forth.

Nick carefully returned his sword hand to his side. “Just, uh, taking precautions.”

“Oh, not the preparations. That’s very good. A sign you may endure that which is to come.” The fur on her tail flattened out, the tip becoming much more pronounced as she pointed it in the direction of Nick’s sword. “More, the choice of magic. Frost won’t work well on me.” Her tail flicked to Sae. “Poison’s a better bet, but only if it works better than my own.”

“Why the fuck is the monster talking?” Sae whispered.

“Better question. Why is the monster giving us tips on how to fight her?” I whispered back.

“She’s gorgeous.” Jinny took a step forward, before Sae held her back.

“You, girl, have a fatal case of dog person.” Sae rolled her eyes.

Nick was looking back at the group for guidance, and finding us at as much of a loss as he was, turned back to my summon. “We came here to fight monsters. As such, we were not prepared to meet a creature of such grace and poise. Pray tell, what is your name?”

Pray tell?

My mouth dropped open. It would have been unbearably cheesy if Nick wasn’t selling it so damn well. The level of charisma he was pulling off was approaching Hollywood levels, even if he was spouting B-Movie dialogue.

Which made it all the more irritating when my summon giggled. “Your flattery pleases me. I am Talia, the Watcher of the Sacred Realms, the Blessed Beast of the Everwind, and Protector of Precious Things.”

“Jesus Christ. Ham it up, why don’t you?”

Talia lifted her lip, discretely displaying a single fang in my direction.

Nick cleared his throat. “And what is your purpose here, Talia, the Watcher of the Sacred Beasts, Blessing to the Realms, and Protector of Precious Things?”

My summon shook her head. “Just Talia will do. And you, are my purpose. I am a spirit guide given corporeal form at the adjuration of the Goddess Sif, who smiles down upon you all this day.”

I shook my head. You can’t just hand people a good thing without subjecting yourself to suspicion. She was being too direct. This wasn’t going to work.

Right on cue, Sae stepped forward. “So you’re here to guide us through the trial.”

“I am here to accompany you,” Talia corrected. “What lies inside is a mystery, even to me.”

“Uhuh.” Sae crossed her arms. “So where were you the last three times we came down here?”

“Did you intend to undergo the trial?”

“I mean… we thought about it… but… no.”

Talia nodded. “Behold. Your question answers itself.”

Before Sae could say more, Nick stepped in front of her. “So, your intent is to accompany us? Just like that?”

Talia’s eyes slipped to me, single fang showing again, before she addressed Nick’s question. “I will partake of nothing you find within the trial. Therefore, it is… customary to provide a small offering of thanks.”

“You little…” I stopped, when the cleverness of what Talia was doing finally clicked. She’d come to the same conclusion I had. People value something that is paid for far more than something given freely. If she just offered her help, they’d regard her with suspicion, maybe even turn her down.

Instead, the others were given a small hoop to jump through, in order to earn her help.

“Just a moment, Spirit Guide, as I confer with my companions.” Nick herded us far enough away that Talia was likely out of earshot. “Okay. What in the actual fuck do we do?”

“We could use the help,” Sae admitted. “But I’m not sure if I like it. Probably a no from me.”

“Matt, Jinny?” Nick looked at us. “You’re both far better judges of character than I am.”

“She seems earnest.” Jinny said. “I’m not sure about the titles—kind of felt like she was making them up on the spot, and she didn’t correct you when you got them wrong—”

“—Wait, I got them wrong?”

Jinny continued, “but I think her intent really is to help. Even if she’s overselling herself a bit. Matt?”

All heads turned to me. They wanted me to be the tactician, the big thinker. It was an easy enough role for me to slip into. “Keep in mind, I have perilously little information I’m drawing from here. That being said, I don’t like it. And if that thing just showed up and offered its help clearing some abandoned tunnel, I’d probably decline.” I inclined my head towards the door. “But look at what it’s sitting next to. That looks more like a palace door than a dungeon door. Contrast that door with killing goblins in the dark, and whatever’s likely to be behind it? Maybe we need the extra firepower.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sae squinting at me, and swerved at the last second. “Personally, I vote no. Just to be safe.”

I had to suppress a smile when Sae spoke immediately. “Actually, I’m changing my vote.”

Nick looked at Jinny. “You?”

“I’m in favor.” Jinny smiled.

“Guess we’re doing this,” Nick said. He looked at me apologetically, “I was leaning towards no, until you mentioned that thing about the door. Think we should go with your first instinct, rather than your second.”

I held my hands palm out. “Fair enough. Probably the right call.”

“Let me handle the offering.” Jinny was glancing over at Talia, determined.

/////

We followed alongside Jinny, as she approached the wolf. Immediately, I noticed that her stance had changed. Her hands were in her pockets, and she was slightly hunched over so her head and Talia’s were on the same level.

I remembered the side comment Sae had made about her being a dog person.

“Hello,” Jinny said, in a voice as quiet as Nick’s was bombastic.

“Greetings,” Talia’s head swiveled towards Jinny, silver eyes focusing entirely on her.

“May I approach you?” Jinny asked.

“You may,” Talia said cautiously.

Jinny took three steps forward, still leaving a respectful distance between her and the wolf. Nick had sheathed his sword, but I saw him rest his hand on the hilt.

“You asked for a small offering, Talia. Are you certain that will suffice?” Jinny asked.

“So long as it is thoughtful, I will be satisfied.” Talia inclined her head towards Jinny.

“You must have waited some time for us. Are you hungry?”

Talia glared at me. “Famished.”

“You told me not to treat you like Audrey.” I mentally groused at her, not bothering to hide my irritation. It wasn’t like there was a shortage of meat in my inventory. Of course, she ignored me.

To my delight, I watched as Jinny pulled three moderately sized plastic containers out of her inventory. “These were for my little friends at home. I haven’t been able to see them in a while, so I stocked up while there was still inventory.”

“Pet… food.” Talia’s mask was slipping, her disdain apparent.

“Forgive the misunderstanding. My friends are Siberians, genetically similar to wolves, and they eat a similar diet. There’s raw salmon, broccoli, carrots, apples, and bananas, all portioned correctly.” Jinny popped the lid of one of the containers. Talia immediately took a long sniff… and started panting. “Would you be willing to sample it and tell me if they’ll appreciate this particular mix?”

Damn. Jinny was good.

“I suppose… I could.” Talia said slowly. She stuck her nose in the Tupperware and took an experimental lick, after which she emitted a long sigh. “This… pleases me.”

The rest of us watched, stupefied, as Jinny fed the giant wolf the remaining containers. When—after asking permission—she pulled a brush from her inventory and began tending to the wolf’s coat as she ate, and Talia let her, I decided to stop trying to make sense of it.

My previous estimation was correct. Jinny was some sort of Disney Princess, and we were all just side characters along for the ride.

Nick elbowed me at some point during the process, and spoke in a low voice. “Isn’t she great?”

Aside from the part where she’s hiding something from you, sure.

“She’s certainly something,” I said aloud.

/////

As soon as everyone was through the Golden door, it immediately slammed behind us. A notification popped up in front of my vision.

I breathed out, settling my nerves.

Here we go.