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"It's very simple," Lothiriel said coolly, turning back to face Lin. "You remove the part that makes a man a man. A knife, a quick cut, and done."

Genuine fear crossed Pen's face, and he took an uneasy step backwards. "You don't have to sound so nonchalant about it," he sweated. "That's just not fair."

"You're acting as if you have something to be worried about," Lothiriel commented, raising one eyebrow and looking back at him. "Keep your lips to yourself and you'll be fine."

"Oh....." Lin murmured.

She supposed that would make sense.... after all parents did need children to be parents.

"Okay, now I get it."

Though it then begged the question, what part of a man made a person a man? It had to be something other than what she could see... otherwise it wouldn't be easy or quick.

Maybe Miyu knew....

The boys however weren't about to risk getting on Lothiriel's bad side.

"This way," Ahren pointed. "You can be there in less than an hour, in plenty of time for dinner." He looked down at the fish that were now in Adanedhel's hands. "Actually, Mother wanted these fish by then ... if you'd like I can take you there right now."

Adan grinned. "And I can come with!" he said enthusiastically. "We can surprise everyone together!"

Lothiriel folded her arms across her chest once more and looked at Pen again, her expression one of incredulity. "You are such a cheater!" she exclaimed. "How can you stand yourself? Honestly!"

Pen shuffled his feet in the dirt at the river's side. "Well, you didn't specify ..."

She laughed and shook her head, then turned back to Lin. "If we get there before dinner, he cooks for a month after we start traveling again. If not, I do."

"And she's a better cook!" Pen added desperately.

"Oh, I'm a fine cook," Pen assured Lin hastily, "it's just that food always tastes better from someone else's hands."

"By which he means that he prefers someone else do the work," Lothirel clarified. "I wouldn't hand feed him unless I had to. He's just lazy, that's all."

"I am not!" Pen retorted indgnantly. "It's just such a waste to dirty these hands with such menial chores ..." And he looked down at his hands in mock dismay.

"Narcissist," Lothiril sighed, though she was used to his acts by now.

Lothiriel burst into laughter and scooped Lin up, swinging her around in a hug.

"That's the most brilliant comment ever!" she laughed. "Ach, years of traveling with him and I've never said the same!"

Pen wasn't quite so amused. "Now how am I supposed to get out of it?" he muttered, shoving his hands (which were indeed quite dirty) into his pockets.

Lin didn't think it was brilliant at all, it was a question, but that was okay. She liked the hug, she giggled at Lothiriel as she took the woman's hand and followed after Ahren.

"You're very silly," she told Pen.