Sticks and Stones
- Still swampy, dirty and smelly, Eldric and Briony sit across the table from their fathers.
- Both fathers accuse Eldric of doing something wicked. Of course Briony, the wicked witch, is confused by this. Isn't she the wicked one?
- Mr. Larkin checked on his daughters (to Briony's surprise, he does this often) and found Briony missing.
- Eldric ignores the seriousness the adults are trying to convey and tries to start a toothpick sword fight with Briony. Mr. Larkin responds to this by yelling, "'don't touch my daughter!'" (18.16).
- Suddenly everyone begins to see what the adults are upset about—they think Eldric and Briony have slept together.
- Yelling ensues as Eldric defends himself against accusations, while Briony covers her ears.
- When Briony unplugs her ears she finds that the adults and Eldric have calmed down.
- They have decided that Eldric is a bad influence on Briony. Mr. Clayborne jokes that Briony is actually a bad influence on him, but then goes on to say that Eldric is more level headed with older women.
- Briony fears he is talking about Leanne, and her fears are confirmed when Mr. Clayborne suggests that Eldric will study with Leanne instead of Briony.
- Upset, Briony goes off on a thought tangent about Eldric studying with Leanne and getting romantic, Leanne being an Old One, herself being an Old One but mortal, Boggy Mun's immortality, and finally thinks up a deal that would satisfy Boggy Mun and save her sister.
- Briony stands up and pretends everything is all right in order to be excused.
- She has plans of visiting the Boggy Mun.