Miles shot Emmeline a weird glare as he continued to reason with the guy.
"And what are you younglings doing here?" Boarslav asked, placing his other hand on the end of his stick.
"I'm seventeen," Miles stated blandly. "I'm no youngling, if anything…"
Boarslav raised an eyebrow. "You're still younger than me, in which you're are still a youngling…. Now answer my question."
He blinked long enough to sneak an eyeroll in without him noticing. "We're just traveling from town to town looking for places to stay… Since my house got practically destroyed…." He half lied. He can't know I'm a werewolf….
"That's too bad… I feel sorry…" Boarslav shook his head. "But if you'd like, you can come and stay in my cabin. I do, indeed have an extra room."
Emmeline looked up at Miles once again, tilting her head to the side questioningly. Borslav seemed nice, he was offering them help, which was something no one else had done. She thought that maybe it wouldn't hurt to go with him.
Miles nodded. "Yes, we need a place to stay."
"Good, good," Borslav said. "But before I bring you to my house, are either one of you werewolves? I ain't gonna hurt ya, I just need to know…."
A sudden sweat broke out on his face. He says he isn't… But I've only known this old man for, like, five seconds…
"No, neither of us are werewolves." Emmeline lied, covering for Miles. She looked up at him and gave him a soft smile that told him that she would take care of it if anything happened to them.
"….We'll see about that…." Borslav said with a sneer, and Miles bumped Emmeline with a low growl.
"But for the meantime, follow me – I will show you the way to my cabin. Now I don't know if you'll fit in the doorway, but it's worth a try," He said, mentioning Miles.
Why the hell did she have to lie if he said he wasn't going to hurt us!? He was infuriated, yet he still wasn't sure if he could trust the man.
"Do you want everyone to know what you are?" She mumbled quietly to Miles, quiet enough that Borslav couldn't hear "I thought the whole point of us keeping what you are a secret was so that we didn't have to tell anyone."
"Well yeah, but it sure sounds like he has something up his sleeve to rat me out!!!" Miles hissed at her.
Borslav led them to a small, quaint two-story cabin covered in moss and vines and plants as such. "Here we are," He said nicely, opening the door and holding it for them. "There isn't a lot of space, but it's enough for the three of us – there's a room upstairs where you can stay for the night. Make yourself at home."
Miles tucked his head under the doorway and went inside. It was an average sized room, with a set of table and chairs near a fire.
"I'll get some tea for you folks, I'll be right back."
Miles and Emmeline sat down on the couch as Borslav went off to make some refreshments.
"Don't worry, I'll cover for you." She said, looking up at him, "Are you going to drink the tea? I have a feeling that he's going to put something in there that'll reveal if either of us is a werewolf.." Emmeline sighed and looked around the room, pushing the worry out of her mind as much as she could.
Miles let out a long sigh. "I don't know – I feel like he already knows that you're lying…." I don't even know if I should trust him… He glanced around the cabin, and didn't see a single weapon in sight – not even a simple butter knife. "I don't know… He doesn't seem like a person too agile to kill…"
Borslav came back out with three small cups of tea. "Here we are," He said quaintly, shuffling back in. "It's a sweet tea with honey. I feel both of you should enjoy it…"
Miles shot Emmeline a look then back at him as he came over.
She smiled politely at Borslav and nodded in thanks, trying to not be mean even though she didn't trust him. "What do you make the tea from?" She asked, tilting her head to the side slightly. Maybe Miles would recognise if anything in the tea would reveal what he really was.
"Ah!… Well," Borslav began, sitting in his chair across the coffee table. "It's made from bee's honey and carefully selected lupus leaves, grown right here with the shade of the trees, making it nice and sweet…. How come? Do either of you have an allergy of some sort?"
Miles harshly elbowed Emmeline. I doubt I'll get out of this one….
Emmeline winced slightly and then scowled at Miles before smiling softly at Borslav, "Could I have a minute to talk to my friend here? We'll be right back," She stood up and grabbed Miles' arm, looking over at Borslav again, "So sorry about this, he's temperamental." She then pulled Miles to his feet and marched outside.
Borslav nodded. "Sure thing. Just don't run off on me! It does get lonely here…"
They were finally outside, and Miles was furious. "This whole thing would be a whole lot easier if you could just tell him what I am! He has no weapons, nothing that could kill a werewolf, what is wrong with you!!?" He hissed at her.
"If you want something said, say it yourself." She said, keeping her voice calm as she rubbed where he had elbowed her, "And if you're mad that I'm trying to be polite and talk to him while still seeing if were safe, just tell me. Don't elbow me or do anything stupid."
"Fine," He growled, "Then I'll drink that tea like I'm dying for water…." Miles went back inside, a bit regretful. Why can't I just… Be calm? He led Emmeline back to the couch, and they sat down again.
"Ahh…." Borslav was already drinking his own tea. "I see you still want to stay. Your tea is getting cold…."
Miles took a cut and swirled it, and smelled it too. Smells very sweet… I bet this will be good.
Emmeline picked up a cup as well, "Sorry about that Borslav," She said before taking a small sip of the tea, smiling at its sweet taste, "This tea is quite good, I like it."
Borslav nodded, taking another sip. "Thank you. It's not every day that I get guests…"
Miles took a sip.
The tea was not sweet. It was not heavenly. Instead it was the most bitter, sourest drink that he ever consumed. It was absolutely awful.
His face screwed up and he spat it out in his arm, almost like a sneeze. He unrolled it, and it was covered in tea-saliva mess.
Borslav glared at him.
She scooted a little way away from Miles with a confused look on her face, "Do you not like it?" She asked, setting her cup down and reaching out a hand to put on his shoulder, "Are you ok?"
Borslav sighed. "Apparently, your friend here doesn't know you very well…" He set his cup down.
Miles furrowed his brow.
"The tea is made from lupus leaves, which taste sweet to humans, but awfully bitter and sour to wolves and werewolves alike… And judging by your reaction, I can only assume."
He sighed and sat back, setting the cup down.
Emmeline realized that Borslav didn't know that she was aware Miles was a werewolf so she decided to keep up the act. "You're a werewolf?" She asked, hoping he got the silent message she was telling him; that she was well aware that she was acting and he should keep up the act as well.
Miles closed his eyes and shook his head. "I'm sorry, Emmeline…." He said with a tint of sorrow. "I know you would hate me for it… And I guess I knew I would have to tell you eventually…" At least I knew she was getting that across…
Borslav sighed with misfortune. "I'm sorry I had you found out, my friend. But I promise you, I am no werewolf hunter – In fact, I consider myself an animal enthusiast. I would never hurt or kill an animal, no matter how vicious."
Gee I'm surprised this dude is still alive… He rolled his eyes delicately.
Emmeline looked at Borslav and couldn't hide the small look of relief on her face when he said he wouldn't hurt him. "You should've told me sooner," She said softly to Miles, continuing the act as she picked up her tea and took another sip.
"Well, I was afraid you would leave me…" Miles said quietly, sliding into the truth.
"I can imagine you're in some sort of shock, young lady…." Borslav nodded his head. "But nontheless, you will both be safe here." He stood up and took his empty cup, along with Miles' cup and went into the back room to wash the cups.
Miles sat up and twiddled his thumbs, a furrowed brow on his face.
She nodded before smiling lightly at Miles, "How was my acting? Was I believable?" She asked, curious if the act seemed believable enough. Emmeline scooted closer to him and finished off her tea, setting the cup down, "I think it was pretty good myself, but I don't know for sure."
"Yeah… You were fine… As was I…." Miles said quietly, shifting a little. I have no idea why we agreed to stay here…
Emmeline looked up at him and sighed softly, putting a hand on his shoulder, "We'll be fine Miles." She said, glancing at the back room, "I promise I'll protect you if he tries anything."
"Well, that's fine with me…" Miles put his hand on hers just as Borslav peeked his head around the corner.
"I'm preparing some midday dinner for you folks. It will be a while, so don't be afraid to explore a little bit."
She nodded, "Thank you," She said to Borslav before turning her attention back to Miles, "As long as you don't do anything stupid or reckless."
"I promise I won't," Miles rolled his eyes as he sat back, putting his arm on the back of the couch behind Emmeline. I don't blame her… But I don't do incredibly dumb stuff…
"I'm going to go look around for a minute, alright?" She looked at Miles and stood up, already glancing around the room more than she had when they first came in.
