Kanesha showed up when we were well into the drunkenness part. She had a very, very small amount of the ale.

It was enough to allow her to catch up pretty quickly. And enough for us both to be regretting it the next morning.

“Remind me…” Kanesha said. “…no more dwarven ale.”

“I’m going to find some way to make it so you can drink it.”

Her lips quirked. “I don’t…think there’s a way.”

Well…and I shook my head. “It was pretty strong stuff.”

“What were we even celebrating?”

“Rescuing dwarves.”

“No bears this time.”

Well, except the one apparently trying to claw its way out from my skull. I put myself back together, though, glad I didn’t have to be anywhere until lunch time.

When I did, though, I was meeting with the agency.

“You look like you partied too hard last night.”

“A friend came around with an interesting bottle, so we killed it.”

The older woman laughed. “Should be careful with interesting bottles.”

I knew that. But I didn’t seem to be particularly good at actually learning it. Maybe getting drunk was going to be one of the issues I’d have to work on.

Although I’d definitely had more tolerance than when Angrboda took me for a girls’ night out. Or maybe dwarven ale wasn’t quite as bad as giant ale.

“I…know.”

“Are you interested in…would you be willing to go out of town for a few days?”

I considered. “Would depend on where and for what?”

“Beach shoot, North Carolina outer banks.”

I nodded. “Can I take a plus one?” Kanesha didn’t have class right now.

She grinned. “Your boyfriend…”

I cut her off. “My girlfriend would love some beach time.”

A bit of embarrassed color. “I’m sorry. I…”

“…can’t keep track of everyone’s relationships. Don’t worry about it.” I just wanted the record straight. Or, well, not straight.

“You can sneak her into your room.”

I grinned. Getting out of town for a few days was appealing. As long as I didn’t run into water nymphs or something.

No, who was I kidding? It was me. I’d run into something.