Elina

I said, "That's my tent."

"Oh, I thought you'd sleep next to the fire."

"No, you'll sleep next to the fire."

Somehow this argument felt extremely juvenile. But as her captor I had to make sure that she didn't become too comfortable. Remind her what the power balance was in this relationship.

She said, "With my magic sealed, I won't be able to keep warm at night. What if I freeze to death? What would you do then? I know you are under contract to deliver me alive. Can't deliver a frozen corpse now, can you?"

I gritted my teeth. There she goes again.

But what annoyed me was that she was right. Without her magic, she was just as fragile as a human. Which meant the freezing temperatures at night will affect her.

She said, "If you really want the tent, just remove these shackles and I'll happily sleep outside."

"Oh-ho? And you promise you won't kill me?"

"Promise!"

I burst out laughing. Elina smiled.

I said, "You really think I'm that stupid?"

"It was worth a try."

In the end, she slept in the tent. Why did I give her the tent? I mean I was the one who held her captive, right? She should've slept in discomfort while I, her captor, enjoyed the tent.

But that didn't happen.

In the end, Elina slept in the tent. Why?

I wasn't sure either. Maybe because I was afraid of her sharp tongue. Considering how much she complained about the cold and how I fed her, she would've yammered through the night if I left her by the fire. Probably would've said I wasn't much of a man if I did that to a lady.

Anyways.

I didn't sleep that night. I sat by the fire, watching the tent from the corner of my eye. Why didn't I sleep? Because I didn't trust her. Maybe she found a way to take off the gransia handcuffs. Maybe she found a way to cast magic. Maybe she was just toying with me, waiting to kill me in my sleep.

But if she did manage to get the handcuffs off, why wait until I was asleep?

It should be safe to sleep.

But I never sleep around a live witch.

Which was fine with me. On a usual witch hunt, I wouldn't sleep for several nights in a row. Witches tended to be active during both the day and the night. Something in their magic kept them awake. So to track one, I had to work the same way.

When the sun cracked the horizon, I got up and went to the tent. Looked inside and there she was. Right where I left her. Kind of.

Elina was wrapped in a blanket and curled up in a ball. Shivering.

I said, "You look cold."

Elina flashed a stiff smile. "How can a human body be this fragile?"

I shrugged. "You should've slept by the fire."

Elina got up. She moved mechanically, as though ice had formed around her joints.

"Fresh air and exercise."

"I meant food."

"Fresh air and exercise."

"You really are no gentle — "

I stuffed some leftover corn into her mouth. Then I loaded her onto the cart.

There was always something about the early morning that calmed me. Erased any worries from heart and mind. The air was so still, so devoid of any sound, as though the world had decided to live in harmony. The chilly air cleared the fog in the mind, the first rays of the day warmed the body.

Even the birds were quiet. I breathed in. I breathed out. It was at times like these when the solitude of traveling alone became more obvious than ever.

But I wasn't alone.

"It's nice, isn't it?" Elina said.

"Yes."

"Most witches can't appreciate the morning...it's when our magic is at its weakest, but I personally like it."

"You shouldn't have told me that. I'm a witch hunter."

"Heh heh...even in the morning it will be impossible for you to lay a hand on me."

I opened my mouth, but said nothing.

The stillness of the morning was disturbed by something. A sound. Somewhere in the distance. I closed my eyes and listened. The sound of wheels turning, a horse neighing. A traveler. Coming the opposite way.

I glanced back at Elina. She tilted her head. "Hmm, what is it?"