61 Chapter 61: Two Fires (1/2)

SALEM: Elina didn't look happy. She sat there with a pout on her face, her arms folded. But she stayed quiet. Because there was nothing she could do.

By the end of the day, we were still on the road. No inn and no taverns. A few passerby, but no one who tried to persuade us to go somewhere. Or as Elina said, no one who tried to seduce me.

Which meant that by sundown, we had to camp in the forest. Which she didn't like. No soft bed, no warm food. A campfire and a tent.

I suppose she could've run off. Fly somewhere where they had hot food and a soft bed. Find a nice inn. Or a wealthy landlord's mansion. Kill everyone inside it. Call it home for a night.

But she didn't do that. Nor did I expect her to. When she was living on her own near Altheim, there were no reports of a silver witch going on a rampage for soft beds and hot food. Which meant that sloth and gluttony were only recently acquired. She was never on the wanted list. Until now.

I stopped the horse and prepared to make camp. She sat on the cart, looking nowhere in particular, saying nothing.

I looked at her. Never on the wanted list. Until now. The Church of Deliverance never bothered with witches who didn't cause trouble. Because there were already too many other things to worry about. But the Church wanted her. And I still didn't know why.

She looked at me. Raised a questioning eyebrow.

I turned around.

Elina probably knew why. She most likely knew everything. And despite all that, she was going along with this, even saying that she needed my trust.

But there was something I knew that she didn't.

The guy at the Jolly Tavern in Larose. The guy who said he was looking for a witch called Elina. Silver eyes and silver hair. There was only one Elina like that.

Double contracts never happen. Unless there is more than one person or organization looking for her. Unless the Church of Deliverance thought I had died. Neither of which was good for me.

I decided not to tell her. Better keep that information to myself. You never know when it might become useful.

Set up the tent, but I didn't make a fire. The sun was at the edge of the horizon.

”Why no fire?” Elina asked.

I picked up some of the leaves from the forest floor.

I said, ”The ground is wet. Probably because it rained in this area earlier today.”

”Just use the logs.”

”I need dry leaves or twigs to start a fire with my flint stones. Without those it's impossible.”

”Huh-huhn~ Aren't you forgetting that you are with the greatest witch of the ages?”

”What's your point?”

”...”

I waited for an answer. She got off the cart. Pointed a finger at me. I didn't move. I doubted that she would kill me so easily. But you never know. She's the impulsive type.

She said, ”Move.”

So I did.