Audrey stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. Her blonde hair was still damp, and droplets of water slowly ran down her shoulders.

"We’re out of hot water."

Tessa’s eyes widened from the bed.

"What?"

The inquisitor looked outraged.

"You were in there way too long!"

Audrey smiled.

"So?"

"Now I won’t be able to wash because of you!"

The huntress let out a small laugh.

And for some reason, there was a hint of satisfaction in her voice.

"What a shame."

Tessa narrowed her eyes.

Audrey placed a hand on her hip.

"I guess Nox won’t be able to give you a bath anymore."

The huntress’s smile grew wider.

Nox burst out laughing.

"Come on."

He raised a hand.

"It’s not like she smells bad."

Tessa immediately looked at him.

"Thank you."

Then she turned back to Audrey.

"But I’m still not leaving this room without washing."

Audrey shrugged.

"Then don’t."

The inquisitor frowned.

"What?"

"Wait until the hot water comes back."

Tessa opened her mouth, but said nothing.

She didn’t seem to have an immediate response to that.

Nox decided to intervene.

"And what do we do if she escapes?"

Audrey turned her head and looked toward one corner of the room.

Claws was there.

The enormous four-armed bear was completely absorbed in pushing an empty sardine bucket around with his paws.

It seemed to be the most entertaining toy in the world.

Audrey smiled.

"Little Claws will be the jailer of the damned inquisitor."

Claws lifted his head, though he clearly had no idea what they were talking about.

Tessa looked at him.

"...I have doubts about this guard’s professionalism."

Claws smacked the bucket again.

Nox laughed.

Tessa sighed.

"Fine."

Then she remembered something.

"Wait a second."

Audrey was already looking for her clothes.

"What?"

"How exactly am I supposed to get to the bathroom without legs?"

Audrey looked at her and smiled.

"That’s not my problem anymore."

Tessa looked ready to insult her.

But Audrey simply finished getting dressed.

The towel disappeared.

And she put on her usual clothes once again.

Nox tried not to stare too much.

Which was difficult.

Because Audrey was very hard to ignore.

Eventually, the huntress finished getting ready.

"Shall we go?"

Nox nodded.

"Sure."

He looked at Tessa.

"Behave yourself."

The inquisitor crossed her arms.

"No promises."

"I expected as much."

◇◆◇

A few minutes later...

Nox and Audrey walked through the streets of the fishing village.

Night had fully fallen, yet the streets were still lively.

Lanterns illuminated the roads. Shops remained open. And the air smelled of fish, beer, and freshly cooked food.

Nox glanced at a clothing store, then a jeweller’s shop, then a hunting supply store.

’This place is bigger than it looked.’

Audrey walked beside him in silence.

Until she finally spoke.

"Nox."

"Yeah?"

The huntress took a few seconds before answering.

"I feel like you’re getting attached to Tessa."

Nox nearly choked on his own saliva.

"What?"

Audrey glanced at him.

"Don’t deny it."

Nox laughed.

"I don’t think so."

"You feed her."

"Because I need her alive."

"You take her everywhere."

"Because she can’t walk."

"You took your underwear out of her mouth."

"Because I needed her to talk."

Audrey narrowed her eyes.

"I don’t know."

Nox shook his head.

"Tessa is still our hostage."

They continued walking.

"The truth is..."

Nox thought for a few seconds.

"I guess I feel a little safer around her now."

Audrey raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"Because she’s not trying to kill me anymore."

The huntress didn’t seem convinced.

Nox continued.

"But she’s still an inquisitor."

He looked ahead.

"And she already has a title."

Audrey remained silent for several seconds.

Finally, she sighed.

"I’m not comfortable with it."

Nox looked at her.

"With what?"

"With how well you get along with her."

Nox laughed again.

"That well?"

Audrey crossed her arms. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"She even asked you to help her bathe."

Nox burst out laughing.

"Audrey."

The huntress looked at him.

"Relax."

Nox smiled.

"All of that is just a means to a greater end."

Audrey didn’t respond.

Nox continued.

"Besides."

He raised a finger.

"We left her without a bath."

Audrey rolled her eyes.

"That was her fault."

"And she also got us a free room."

The huntress said nothing, because Nox was right.

"That’s true."

Nox smiled.

"See?"

Audrey sighed.

"Even so."

She looked down at the ground.

"I’m still afraid you want her to join the group."

Nox fell silent in thought for several seconds.

Then he answered.

"If there’s one thing you’re right about..."

Audrey looked up.

"...it’s that we need to grow the group."

The huntress nodded slowly.

Because that was true. There were very few of them.

And their enemies seemed incredibly powerful.

After all, they were up against gods, the Church, and the inquisitors.

All of them represented enormous threats.

They needed allies.

But Tessa...

That was a different story.

Then Nox spotted something ahead of them.

And smiled.

"Well."

Audrey followed his gaze.

A massive line of people occupied part of the street.

The sound of conversations and music spilled out from a brightly lit building.

A wooden sign hung above the entrance.

The One-Eyed Fish Tavern.

Nox grinned widely.

"Looks like we’ve arrived at the village’s famous tavern."

Audrey looked at the crowd.

"There’s a lot of people."

"That’s usually a good sign."

"Or a very bad one."

"I prefer to believe they have good beer."

Audrey let out a small laugh.

And the two of them continued walking toward the entrance.