For the following week, Elsa and Anna stayed peacefully in the castle and Alina usually came every day and played with Sonya. Anna loved sticking with Kristoff even though when he was hunting, cooking, wherever Kristoff was in, Anna would be there, chatting nosily as if she had just taken cups of coffee. Erik locked himself in his study and seldom came out, and Elsa wondered what he was up to.
In the evening, Erik walked out of his room and headed out of the castle. Elsa followed, but Erik stopped and turned around.
"Are you born to spy on people?" asked Erik.
"Where are you going?"
"Somewhere that is out of your business."
"Where?"
"Do I have to tell you?"
"You say that it's dangerous if you go out there in the forest alone in the dark."
"Excuse me, I am an experienced Ice Spindler and I can protect myself without problem. But you—"
"Hey, I am an Ice Spindler too."
"You? You will just freak out and run away."
"Because I don't want to hurt people."
"Because you are too timid that you don't ever have the courage to face danger."
"Well, I can show you my bravery if you bring me downhill."
Erik eyed on her for quite a while, then he showed a wry smile.
"Do you know why I am going downhill?"
"Why?" asked Elsa, not knowing why he would ask such question.
"I'm going for a hunt."
"Hunting?" said Elsa. "Kristoff has just got two elks for this morning, you don't have to get another one."
"Oh please can't you think further? Or is your brain limited to hunting of animals?"
Elsa did not know what he was talking about. Then he jumped onto a horse.
"Come on," said Erik. "We have to go or else the risk will increase."
"Okay, so we ride the same horse?"
Erik looked at her, and Elsa knew she had to even though when she was not willing. She climbed onto the horse with great effort and she looked at the snowy ground with doubt.
"Hold my waist," said Erik.
"What?"
"Hold my waist."
"I…"
Erik's hands clutched her hands tightly and force her arms wrapped around his waist. Without a signal, the horse galloped away from the castle and headed down to the forest. The sudden acceleration made Elsa gasp and she hugged his waist tight, closing her eyes as the cold breeze blew onto her face.
"Can't you go slower?" asked Elsa.
"I like fast."
After a while, the horse finally stopped but Elsa did not dare to open her eyes. Erik sniggered and said,
"Looks like you like my waist a lot."
Elsa opened her eyes and withdrew her arms embarrassingly. Erik then got off the horse and helped Elsa get onto the ground. He slapped the horse's croup and it quickly ran off uphill.
"Where's it going?"
"Back to the castle."
"Don't we need it later when we go back?"
"Animals are always the key of failure."
"So what are we going to do?"
"Hunting."
He walked into the shadows and signalled Elsa to follow him. Elsa went to him with doubt, wondering what he was waiting for.
"There it is," whispered Erik.
Elsa looked out at the brightness. There was nothing in sight and she wondered if Erik was having hallucination. Then, he pushed her head a little and Elsa could finally see a tiny dot in the snow.
"Who—"
Erik covered her mouth, the dot was revealed to be a person holding a torch.
"It's just a normal hiker," whispered Elsa.
"Watch."
There were tiny dots appeared far in the shadows and they all came out, revealing themselves as a large army. Elsa shivered as she met their hot furious eyes.
"Palo," said one of the people holding a torch. "Our Knight asks for a stopover here until night."
"Right, Puna," said a man at the front who was riding on a horse, then he roared. "Stopover!"
The troop stopped at once and people quickly set up tents and placed down camping materials. Within ten minutes, the site was ready for resting, and Elsa could see them using pyrokinesis without doubt.
"Those are Fire Eaters and Fire Elementers…" muttered Elsa.
"This will be our game."
"Wait, you aren't going to steal their things, are you?"
"We shall see."
Elsa knew he really meant to steal, even though she did not know what his target was. Outside at the tent, there were Fire Eaters patrolling around a bright red tent that seemed to be made of flames. Just when Elsa was wondering how to sneak into the tent, Erik had walked deeper in the shadows.
"Where are you going?" asked Elsa.
"Bring me some plants."
"Plants? What plant?"
"Any."
Elsa frowned and she scavenged some shots. Erik placed them onto the ground and ice flurries appeared on his palm. At instant, it melted and formed into a puddle, and he watered the plants. The shots grew tall magically and had a faint hint of alluring scent that was sweet as honey and fresh like peppermint.
"You melt the snow? I don't think that's what Ice Spindlers do. I thought we can only conjure ice and snow, but not melting them."
"Do I have to tell you about that?"
Elsa frowned and she said,
"Can't you just be a little bit friendlier?"
"Are you sure about? Surely you haven't forgotten the last experience."
The memory came back and Elsa shivered. Then she kept a fair distance from him, watching him nurturing the shots.
"So what's the next step?"
"Find the elk."
"Elk?"
Erik stretched his palm and felt the air, then there were footsteps coming closer and closer, it was more like bellowing of drums. Then Elsa gasped at the sprinting shadows. Elks.
As the herd rushed towards them, Erik quickly pulled her aside and Elsa leaned against his chest. The herd finally stopped and ate the shots, Elsa let out a deep breath, her ears were hot and she looked up, shocked by Erik's large face. Blushing hard, she walked away and bit her lips, then said,
"What are we going to do next?"
Erik smiled and replied,
"Spikes."
Spikes? Elsa frowned and looked at Erik. A small ice spike appeared on his palm and it went flying to the herd. One of the cow elks bellowed and raced towards the Fire Eaters' camp.
"Wait, what—"
"Just wait and see," said Erik and he grinned.
The herd aroused the Fire Eater's interest and they hurried pursuing the elks on their horses. When the Elementers and some of the Fire Eaters were gone, Erik grinned and said,
"I will change your clothes."
"Change my clothes?" asked Elsa, who began to fret.
"Relax, I am not going to take off all your clothes, just a little alteration."
Elsa dazed there with uncertainty, she closed her eyes and she could feel a hint of warmth on her skin. When she opened her eyes, her clothes had changed into the normal Fire Elementer's clothes, the maroon clothes with golden rims.
"This will do," said Erik.
"Oh, I feel so uncomfortable," said Elsa and frost started appearing on her palms.
"No matter what, don't reveal your identity, including your powers, it's still afternoon and there's the sun. If you want to show your powers, wait until night."
"Why?"
"We Ice Spindlers rely on darkness, whenever there's the moon and night sky, our power will enhance, the Fire Eaters rely on brightness, they are powerful when there's the searing sun."
"So that means if we bump into them, we won't be able to win unless it's at night."
"You can say so, but the case won't fit on me."
He pulled Elsa towards the tents and he began the search. As he reached the tent's entrance, he glanced sideways and pulled Elsa into the tent.
"Erik, what are we finding?"
"You keep the watch," whispered Erik while searching through the pile of equipment and necessities.
"What are you finding actually?"
"The scroll."
"What scroll?"
"There's the scroll."
Erik took the scroll and brushed off the dust on it. Then, he went to the table and got a box. Suddenly, there were footsteps and Erik dragged her out of the tent and hid behind of bundle of luggage outside the tent.
"Master," said a voice in the tent.
"Report," said a young voice.
"We have fully acquire the relief."
"Good, we will do it at dawn, that's when they get weak."
Elsa shivered, from the vague conversation, she knew they were talking about the Ice Spindlers up at the mountain top.
"Surely we can get an agreeable amount of loots."
"I know what you're thinking, Cyphrus."
"Master," said the voice shakingly.
"They will be yours, whereas I get the best."
"Oh, master, thank you."
Elsa tried to get out of the camp and lifted her leg. The luggage behind them were knocked over and created noises. Erik glared at her and he immediately pulled her away.
"Who's there?" asked the young voice.
"Guards!"
The Fire Elementers immediately got onto their horses and chased after the two.
"Look what you've done!" yelled Erik angrily.
"Look, I'm sorry, okay?"
Erik dived into a small dark cave, Elsa hesitated and did not dare to go in. But then Erik's arm stretched out and pulled her into the cave. Just when Elsa wanted to argue, Erik covered her mouth.
"Keep quiet," he hissed.
The gallop outside stopped and a voice yelled,
"They disappeared!"
"Nonsense! Try to search that area. They can't be that far. Team A, follow me and search over this area."
"Yes, Master!" yelled the troop and they walked further and further.
Elsa did not dare to move, she took her breaths carefully, fearing that they would be discovered. But Erik's breath was hot and humid, making her let out an uncomfortable moan.
"Can't you just go in a little bit deeper?" asked Elsa. "It's too narrow and I feel like my body being squashed."
"Hush, they will hear us."
"But it's really hot and narrow here—"
"I have a perfect plan that can make us barely audible."
Elsa looked at him, wondering what plan was in his head. Then his face leaned closer and closer, and Elsa's hand could only press on his chest helplessly. He kissed her and his tongue was trying to intrude. Elsa tried to turn away but only finding the struggle useless. Breathing had become more and more difficult and she could feel her senses getting fainter and fainter…
"Master, no signs of the two," yelled someone outside.
"You idiots! You useless pile of rubbish! You disgust me!"
"Sorry, Master, forgive us."
"Wait till our Lord hears this piece of news, you are doomed for nothing but ignorance! Our plan will have to postpone all because of you group of worthless fools. Retreat!"
The troop went away and Erik let go of Elsa once he confirmed that the troops was completely gone. Elsa breathed heavily and she went outside for fresh air. Her cheeks were boiling hot and she glared at Erik.
"You—you—"
"That's our only method of staying alive," said Erik and he walked back uphill.
"Staying alive?" yelled Elsa and she tried to catch up with him. "We could have do something different."
"How different?"
Elsa bit her lips and she tried to control the emotions boiling in her.
"Anyway, you are such a pervert!"
"I can only be a pervert in front of you. In front of other people, I am a killer."
"You—"
Elsa clenched her fists and ran uphill. Erik caught up with her and said,
"But remember, because of you, I nearly lose my life just now."
"Okay, okay, just now in the cave I have already paid back the debt, no more owning now. We're equal."
Erik nodded and he smiled at her. Elsa frowned and she rolled her eyes, dashing back to the castle.