Though the coffin stands between them, when Mayerling turns his head toward the back, he stares with focus and looks through the material toward the man rolling his eyes. Yes, working with Mayerling comes at a cost; he's no dhampir to toil in day or night until sun sickness takes them. Such an easy handling of the beasts, risking none of their lives, surely makes up for it.

"The sooner we collect the mushrooms, the sooner we'll be back," Mayerling replies. In a dangerous multiday journey, every hour counts. He knows that too well in his long life.