Tyr continued to stare in amazement as Philotes talked to the wolves. She seemed almost sad to deny them their meal, but even as she turned to head back toward him, he watched the wolves closely to see if they would follow. So far, they were keeping their distance, and made no attempt to draw nearer the two people and the little deer.
He heard the tightness in her voice and wondered at it, but decided not to pursue it. It was enough to have a Greek goddess and a fawn on his hands; a weeping Greek goddess would be too much for him at the moment. He began to walk again, expecting she would follow.
"No. We are going to go well around it." He was grateful that she turned her attention back to the lake. Tyr had gathered that she had a special way with animals, but the Nix was different.
"A creature we call the Nøkken around here, or Nykr in my native tongue. There are other words for it, but it comes to the same thing. A water spirit, a shapeshifter, and not to be trusted. Far too many have succumbed to his temptations. His violin lures people in sometimes; other times he simply makes deals that extract far more from his victim than they bargained for."
For himself, Tyr well knew how to appease the Nykr. That didn't mean he was about to tempt fate. For all he knew she might try to befriend that as well. And that was one thing he might not be able to save her from.
"This time of year you can't see them, but there are red flowers that bloom in that lake. They came from the blood of one of his deals. Literally. A promise from a father when the Nykr offered fish to feed his family in exchange for his daughter when she came of age. She took her life, rather than turn herself over to him. Brave girl."
He shifted the fawn in his arms, and looked gravely at Philotes. "It is better we steer well away from there."