"Again?" She said exasperated. It was Tibaut with an even larger stick structure than last time with massive fire, (in area taken up, not height) under it.

His eyes were dead and he looked like he had been doing this for a while.

She took one of the rabbits off and started snacking on it.

"Hey, what the hell are you doing?" He responded this time.

"These things are to be eaten are they not?" She responded. "I see you've gone and gotten more rabbits. That's surprisingly forward-thinking of you."

"It's because Tina was bothering me. I'd be fine eating only greens for the rest of my training involving the ritual." He responded while keeping an eye on the meat in front of him. "So what'd you guys talk about?"

"Sorry, but I'm not sure you can know yet." She responded. She soon walked away.

"Well, I guess it's back to this."

After smoking more meat than a smokehouse he could finally go back inside (with the bag of it in tow). As he walked towards the kitchen, he noticed Elizabeth and Tina having a conversation.

"Really? No wonder you found so many rabbits. I'd always heard some people refer to this place as the rabbit capital but I always thought they were here naturally." Elizabeth said.

Judging by the way both women were sheening, it wouldn't be too far-fetched to suggest they bathed. Not seen here was Lily making her way to the bath after being convinced by Elizabeth to keep an eye on Tibaut.

"I was surprised when I saw it for myself. I thought that old crone was bullshiting to impress Tibaut." Tina responded.

He didn't have anything in particular to do either and walked past both without a word.

Elizabeth stopped him.

"What is it Eli-"

She felt his arms and then began caressing (Well, that's the word Tibaut would use to describe it) his abdomen.

He began softly blushing but this went unnoticed by Elizabeth. Unfortunately, Tina took extra notice of this.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"Hmm, I guess it wasn't my eyes. You haven't improved at all today," she commented.

"Of course I didn't, you didn't even do the ritual." He dropped the bag and tried prying her hands off him. This resulted in them clutching each other's hands and getting into a contest of strength. She easily overpowered him and pushed him to his knees.

"I'm not even trying and you're being pushed to the floor." She commented while looking down at him.

"Can you let me go?" He pleaded.

After obliging she turned around with a look of uncertainty. ("Hmm, I'm not sure what to make of him yet. While I'm not too comfortable with the idea of him being weakened, I have no doubt we will be heading to the dungeon within the next four days. Factoring in travel it would probably take a three more days if we travel at the pace of our slowest but it'd be too dangerous to continue this ritual while on the move.")

He noticed her in thought but quickly made his way to his room fearing she had some 'training ideas' in her head.

As he walked up the stairs he noticed Elizabeth and Tina follow behind, but thought nothing of it. She was probably heading to her room. Tina headed straight to her room after Elizabeth said something to her.

After walking for a while he noticed Elizabeth still behind him. She wasn't wearing a nightgown or anything so it was obvious she was going to her bed. He felt dread build each time he heard her footsteps behind his. Eventually, he reached his door and she was still behind him.

"Uh, Elizabeth?" He timidly asked.

"Hmm, what is Tibaut?" She responded as if she hadn't followed him back to his room.

"You're not gonna come inside are you?" He asked, knowing he wouldn't like the answer she had for him.

"Unfortunately, with the cult still at large and with them having some sort of fascination with you in addition to your tendency to get in trouble, I'm not sure I can leave you off by yourself." She responded. No hidden motive nor attempts to sneak inside. She told him point blank, she wanted to be in the same room as him as he slept.

Tibaut knew this was quite tepid as far as romance was concerned, but by God did his time in the wilderness make him weak to the smallest of gestures women showed him. He cursed the fact the time he spent with Elizabeth did nothing to desensitise him to women.

He began blushing but managed to keep his tone normal.

"Huh, are you sure? I mean you are staying in my-"

"Tibaut are you trying to say, anyone here would be so uncouth to insinuate anything… well other than Vanessa." She looked at him with an annoyed expression. Even as he stood slightly over her and looked into her eyes, he couldn't help feeling like the smaller one.

"No." He quickly responded before opening the door.

He quickly went inside and lay down on the bed. He looked around the room.

"The stool's not in here so you might want to look around for one."

"You dullard, do you think I'd spend my time watching you sleep?" She pulled out a… handcuff? The chain was very long.

"Fortunately, the officers of Lochdale* were kind enough to lend me one of these. (Tch, I can't believe I'm using this. But after the day before yesterday, I'm not certain I'll be able to wake up before he does.)"

*Lochmull's name after it became a parish.

("I know she was in here that other night but it's a whole different thing trying to go to sleep while she's next to me!")