Silence suffocated the breakfast table.

For once, it was different. Bacon and eggs topped their plates. Walter suggested it this morning, and Elin agreed, to his surprise. He ordered his eggs scrambled, and she over easy. Should I remember that, if I like a girl? I'll memorize it, just in case.

"I really didn't mean to."

Elin's fork snapped down on the plate hard enough to squeak. She looked up and stared at him. "You bought your apology already, though you don't earn any money. I'm not angry with you. Thank you very much for the meal."

The yoke of her egg ran over her untouched bacon, and it reminded Walter of a crime scene. If he called her livid, then he would have to ignore her self-restraint. But she's definitely livid.

Silence, again.

He sighed and returned to studying his HUD.

One of the HUDs new features was a mini-map. The more information he recalled or learned, the more content he could organize. If asked, he would answer, "It's real-time memory magic." He wanted to unlock more, and hopefully enable something he could use.

His control of the menu predicated on the use of a pointer, just like a computer mouse. Moving it required the same skill level, minus the hand. Additionally, this one could move into the third dimension, wherever he looked, and click things in the environment. It did nothing. No one noticed it, and nothing moved. Useless. The pointer is probably a figment of the HUD projecting my focus.

"Elin, because of the scales, I've been too embarrassed to take care of it myself, so... it happened."

"I get it! You're a man!" Elin snapped, "You had a nice dream, and your thing got hard, so we have to do something about it!"

When she realized how loudly she blurted it, she covered her face and drooped.

The Pilgrim's Folly innkeeper slowly shook his head.

Walter woke up with morning wood and Elin writhing in agonizing frustration. By the time he woke up, or rather, she punched him to rouse him, the Scales of Love and Lust tilted a half-a-dozen times. They rested precariously close to upending again.

"We have to go back upstairs and reset them."

"Sweet merciful Gaia," Elin prayed into her hands, "Deliver me from this evil."

At their room door, Walter stopped.

"Aren't you coming in?" Elin's voice was nearly mute.

"You'll attack me, hand me the key."

She mumbled something.

"What?"

"I said: I won't attack you," Elin glanced at Walter's disbelieving face before she covered her eyes, "I pretended last time!"

"Uh, why?"

"I wanted to get it out of the way!"

Walter blinked, "Wait, you mean, you weren't insane or mind-controlled?"

"Shut up and step inside!"

He hurried in. After he crossed the threshold, Elin closed the door and locked it. The key turned in her hands a moment before Walter took it.

She flinched at his touch, "You said you liked me, right?" Elin's voice barely crossed the room.

"I do like you."

Elin sucked in a deep breath, "Then show it?" She trembled, like a small cornered animal. "Ugh, Walter, don't make me spell it out. I'll beg, okay? Please do--" her voice faltered, and she changed her mind on what to say, "--that."

"No."

"You said you liked me! If it's this bad for me, then I can't imagine being the source of it. Is this how you feel all the time? No wonder you're a lecher, it's a wonder you don't stick it in everything," Elin turned to leave, but the doorhandle refused to move, "Let me out, Walter."

Walter sat on the bed and patted next to him.

"I'll order you!"

"You won't."

"I knew my inexperience was going to be a problem," she ignored his invitation, and her voice continued to speed up, "I'm unmarried at seventeen. Instead of attending festivals, I spent all my time trying to become a holier-than-thou paladin. What guy likes a woman pretending to be a warrior, anyway?"

"Elin!" He tilted his head, inviting her again.

She sunk down next to him and kept her eyes locked on the floor.

"Are we?" she asked.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Does this world have contraceptives? Not without those."

"I don't know what those are. I don't think so."

"Then probably not, no. You might get pregnant."

"Walter, I really can't keep going through this," she said. Her body slumped, "If there's a chance it'll end the curse, then we should risk it. My mind used to be pure and focused, and now every other thought is about sex. I'm tired all the time. I keep making little mistakes, and soon I'll make another big one."

"What was the first?"

"When you fell into that trap, I realized I needed more people to help," Elin's voice strained a bit, "I didn't notice it because my mind was drifting to impure thoughts."

Walter put a hand on her shoulder and leaned her closer, directing her head onto his thigh. He worked out the braids and combed her hair with his fingers.

Initially, she dug her fingers into his leg. When her tension subsided, she relaxed.

"Normally, the guy puts his head in the girl's lap," Walter joked.

"I know."

"You're always awake before me, and you fall asleep after," he massaged her scalp, "Not to mention you fight enough for both of us. That's why you're exhausted."

"It's embarrassing changing in front of you."

Moments quietly passed.

"Instead of undergoing another [Aphrodisiac] spell, we'll trigger [Charm Person] from now on."

"I won't," Elin's fingers clawed into his leg again, "It hurts you much worse than this bothers me. From now on, we're not counterbalancing, either. If you attempt to trick me, I won't speak at all."

"Okay," Walter immediately said, and she relaxed, "But I can handle--"

She yawned, "Let me be greedy about this, okay? You'll have to come up with a solution. You did last time, so I'm counting on you now."

"No problem. I have an idea. You won't like it, but it'll probably work."

Elin sighed with relief, "By Gaia's mercy, please tell me."

"I'll tell you about it later. First, take a nap."

She nodded, and, seconds later, she drifted off. Walter realized she waited for permission. Ten minutes later, the muscles in her shoulders and back softened, and her usual proper posture slacked. He waited for another twenty, and drool from her mouth soaked his pant leg.

Ha! She snores.

The trick is to empty the scales without getting caught up in the moment.

Walter put a hand on her hip and wished he'd let it slip to her backside. It was just enough. The scales crashed, and the weights spilled off.

Her knees locked together and her back arched. When it seemed she might rustle from her sleep, Walter stroked her hair again, and her head floated back down.

----------------------------------------

Elin lifted her head.

The room was dimmer than she remembered a few minutes ago. Why was the sun on the other side of the building?

The tunic stuck to her skin, fastened with sleeping sweat.

I never sweat in my sleep.

Walter was in the chair next to the bed, staring at the wall. Occasionally, he tilted his head as if something caught his interest. What could be that interesting? It's a bare wall. He's been doing that a lot recently.

Oh. Right. I did something beyond humiliating, and I was turned down. Again.

"Walter? What are you doing?"

He looked, and laughter burst out of his mouth.

"What?" she asked.

"You have a serious case of bed head."

Elin raised her hands to her head and felt her errant hair. The world still floated around her from waking up.

"Can you hand me my brush?"

"Sure." Walter extended the block of wood with bristles.

"Thank you."

She turned it over in her hands. The brush lacked a handle, and the wood was unpolished. The bristles themselves were harvested from a shelled creature she forgot the name of.

By the mercy of Gaia, I use this on horses. Why do I use this on myself?

Elin mentally organized her hair, stroking top and then the bottom, and winced through the tangled knots.

"Give me."

She glanced up to see Walter holding his hand out. "I'm not finished yet."

He curled his fingers to urge her to give up the brush, so she did. Directing her by the shoulders, he turned her around. Her head rocked back each time he ran the brush.

"I might fall asleep again if you keep doing that."

"Is that a problem? The day's almost over, anyway."

"Can I have a bath?"

"Why are you asking me? You don't need my permission."

Elin's eyes drifted to the window. The Pilgrim's Folly didn't sit on a major road, so the surrounding alleys didn't carry heavy traffic. Children often played in the vacant streets, and she could hear a gaggle of little girls giggling.

"Can I?"

"Yeah. That sounds like a good idea. I'll talk to the innkeeper."

Elin rubbed the tips of her fingers and thumbs together. They tingled since this morning.

"It hurt."

"Lay down a second."

Did he change his mind? Is this it? The scales didn't tip, but sometimes I think he found a way to trick them. It's supposed to be painful, and if it's worse then this, I'd sooner go back to the City of the Dead.

When she didn't move, Walter gripped her shoulders and put her on the bed face down. Where did my strength go? Elin turned her head to the wall.

"Relax, walnut. You're going to make my hands cramp."

Elin groaned when his thumbs worked into the base of her neck.

He's just being nice. Why bother?

Don your armor, swing your sword, bury the dead.

"I said some idiotic things--"

Don your armor, swing your sword, bury the dead.

He cut her off, "You dreamt it."

Put your dolls down, don your armor, swing your sword.

"Okay."

There are still people fighting, and I ran away. I want to go back, yet here I am playing concubine and being terrible at it. I could have argued with Priestess Evelyn more. No, I should have simply stayed and ignored her. If I'm not performing my duty, then what am I good for?

"I'll get that bath going."

She heard Walter unlock the door and close it behind him.

You forgot to lock it, Walter.

Turn around and lock it.

I can't finish your work anymore. I'm sorry, it was impossible from the beginning. Just keep me locked in here, Walter. Powerlessness is my duty now. I don't want to leave anymore. I'm tired of missing out on things other women take for granted, I'll even do what you want, just keep me in this room and tell them to leave me alone--

Elin could hear the innkeeper's remark, and she pulled the pillow over her head. She missed Walter's retort, and the innkeeper quieted instantly.

You idiot.