The inn's quality exceeded those of Letun, Elin admitted, and Walter agreed. When Walter asked why they were different, Elin explained the Rangville Empire had more space for industry, so they could produce goods.

"Why doesn't Wilmand copy their scorched-earth strategy, then?" Walter asked. "Because they don't want to trouble the neighbors?"

"No, in all likelihood, not," Elin answered. "Rangville, for all their bluster, lacks total security, and they must war non-stop to prevent dungeons from reforming. It is a costly expense. They have no alternative."

"The lesser of two evils. Oh, I get it now. They don't have anyone with a strong lineage, so it's not that they don't want the dungeons. They can't risk one growing. Speaking of growing, doesn't that mean they have more food because they have more fields?"

"Not exactly. The best soil is around the Necropolis. They help quarantine it and therefore are entitled to some of the wheat grown there. What will you do?" Elin looked at him.

"About?"

"The Sanctuary? Your actions implicitly support them, and the Rangville Empire is now opposed to their safety through their dungeon-elimination policy. Prime Minister Asibridel will eventually petition you to act on it. Even if she doesn't, General Tybalt must be aware of the northern peninsula coup."

Walter sighed and sat on the bed. "Explains why he's standoffish."

"Quite, but he also understands the policy counteracts your actions."

After he rubbed his face, Walter said, "I probably don't need to do anything. Yeah, I helped the prime minister with a coup, but that doesn't mean I'm suddenly in charge there. Frankly, kind of felt like my hand was forced? Not the angle I want to go with."

"On another matter, beloved, have you put much thought into a steward? Will you take Prince Peterby up on his offer for nominations? If not, then I--"

Walter narrowed his eyes at her, "What's with you, all a sudden? You're acting weird."

"I am?"

"Yeah, usually, you don't act like you care and say something like, 'I will do whatever you wish to do,' or something like that, like you're allergic to making decisions."

"Do you dislike it? I will cease--"

Walter cut her off. "Not what I said at all. It's nice. Feels like I'm doing a lot less guesswork all the time."

Elin grinned.

"Oh, you little... Are you sure you're not still cursed by the Scales?"

"By Gaia, no! If you lack them, then so do I. Do not misunderstand when I say this, I miss them, and I would undergo the curse again if you would allow it--"

"Not a chance--"

She held up her hand, and he quieted. "The Scales brought us together and closer than anyone else can enjoy. No, it is not that. The experience at the Sanctuary was partly my fault. I remained silent when I should have spoken up. I want nothing more than to go home and live peacefully." Elin opened her mouth then closed it. "I performed my military duty, and it is time I moved on to others."

Walter cleared his throat. "I'm a duty?" He acted, she could tell, to be hurt. It was more of an invitation.

"Yes, and," she accepted it by stepping closer, "not at all."

When he unexpectedly grabbed her rear, his hands slapped more than cupped her. Elin leaned forward from the force, counterbalanced with one hand on the bed, and wrapped the other arm around his neck. "Walter?!"

"Hmm? What is it?"

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His innocent tone made her giggle. She hugged his head closer to her chest. "Are you sure you're not cursed?"

Walter's eyebrows furrowed. After a moment of somberly studying her, he grinned, "Well, I mean, if I were, how, exactly would you take advantage of the situation? I mean, you weren't wrong. This is a nice bed. I planned to take you back to the Pilgrim's Folly, for old time's sake." His hands clamped, and his fingers kneaded her.

She clenched her teeth, but she did manage to remain silent. Elin answered, "Now, who could force you to do anything? Even 'Charm Person' nearly failed when you had little magic. I can't imagine you being so easy to manipulate now. I can barely manage you, as is."

"Please, I'm a pushover, and I'm open to suggestions."

She closed her eyes. "Did you sneak into that box and read them?"

Walter said, "No, of course not. I wouldn't betray your trust like that."

"It is difficult to say it out loud--"

She squeaked when Walter lifted her, spun, and dropped her on the bed.

Walter dragged her closer and spread her legs, as far as his arms could push them. When Elin's knees instinctively turned inward, he made sure she obediently kept her feet parted with a little push, then shoved her knees outward. Her hamstring's stretched. Although she still wore her leather, her legs, moved open by another's hands, felt like an extraordinary amount of exposure. Walter loomed. The leather felt warm against her skin.

She squeaked again. "I thought you claimed not to read them!"

"I don't need to," Walter's eyes drooped, but his vision stayed crystal clear, "I can guess, and you practically gave it away with that reaction."

"Then," Elin sucked in a breath. She couldn't understand why she felt so nervous. Walter acted different, sure, but it was clearly for her benefit. She swallowed and repeated her faltering question, "Then shall I remove my clothing?"

"No."

"Then how will we go any further?"

"I will remove them. Don't move." His hands moved across her belt, unbuckled it, and slid the pants down. Not slowly, but as if he repossessed them as a gift. Goosebumps prickled her thighs. Her legs parted again, exactly where he placed them.

"Walter," Elin moaned. "Make me feel it. Make me go to you. Make me want you. Make me do things."

Walter held a finger to his lips, "There won't be a door to escape out of this time."

Elin's stomach muscles bunched as if a feather tickled her from the inside out. She didn't want to wait, so she hooked Walter's shoulders with her heels to pull him closer.

"Don't."

"Beloved," she whined.

"No. Open. Keep still."

The tendons in her legs, piano-string tight, quivered. Elin fought her habit of wrapping Walter in intimate moments, and she struggled to remain splayed. The obscenity of it made her heart race. He hadn't touched her, not yet, yet, she knew he could see her arousal. She could feel her readiness and knew it laid bare.

"Please do not tarry. Please, beloved. This teasing is torturous."

"The more you talk, the slower I'm going to go."

Elin curled her lips into her mouth and between her teeth. She wanted to chew them shut. Now that Walter told her not to talk, an overriding desire to say something, anything, built up in her lungs. His breath was so hot; she shook her head. Moaning might count, and she didn't want to risk it, so she held her breath.

"Wider."

Without noticing, she tried to shut her legs. Walter didn't give her any room to disobey. Elin stretched and strained. When Walter touched her, his tongue, in that one burning area between her legs, her fingers wrapped in his hair.

"Hand's off."

Walter! Please! She lifted her head. Elin hoped he understood the begging expression. He stared back until she did as she was told. Without a choice, she gripped the blanket and held on. That's all she could do. Endure it. Elin coiled every trembling locked-down muscle and endured it.

Oh no, why did I think of that? Now I have to say something. It will ruin the mood.

"Walter, I apologize," Elin gasped between each word, "I made a mistake. I didn't think we would require any while traveling."

Worry clouded his face. "What is it?"

"I forgot to bring any Heart's Herb. Please, do not be angry--"

"Oh, is that all? Well, I had planned to get you worked up before moving on, but I guess you're going to lay there until I finish you off this way."

While he waited for her to respond, he blew air over her sex. "What?!" Her hips bucked, frustrated by the lack of contact.

"It's not like we haven't done anything like this before."

"Yes! But not with our mouths! My thighs! Hand sometimes! Not like this, not with our mouths!"

"Is it a problem?"

"No!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

Walter chuckled. "Oh, why are you so worked up?"

"Because! Because the enjoyment is only focused on me! I do not know how to handle it! It's not right! Please, let us swap places, or lay side-by-side, let me share it--"

"Do you not want more?"

"I want more! I will do so after! Or now! Whichever you want! By Gaia, keep going!"

"Elin?"

"Yes, beloved!?"

"You're talking, so I'm going slower now. Remember, don't move."

Elin's lungs locked up. Air moved through her nostrils at a considerably restrained speed.

Go, go, go, please keep going, by Gaia, oh thank the gods.