Tunchi Town

One day later, they reached a town on the outskirts of Mount Soho. It was a small town with a scanty population.

Haze looked at the small signpost at the edge of the town, it read 'Tunchi Town'.

Tunch town was small and it refelected in its quaint buildings. The smell of fish enveloped their nostrils, tickling them.

Except for Haze's enhanced nostrils, it felt less like a tickle and more like a brutal invasion. He immediately held his nose.

"Don't cover it", Elena chastised him. "It may seem unbearable now but your nose will get used to it".

Haze did as she said and endured the stench. He observed the town, few people moved about the community, their legs making crunchy sounds on the hard dirt road.

Haze pulled Elena towards one of the numerous trees in the area, they rested under the shade.

"Mount Soho is just at the end of this town", Elena said to him.

Haze nodded. "Do we rest here today or keep going to Mount Soho?"

Elena looked down at her rumbling stomach. "Let's rest here, who knows what we'll meet on the way there?"

Haze could feel the exhaustion seep into his body, he nodded in agreement and they resumed walking.

"Where do we stay for the night?", Elena asks.

"Usually, towns have some sort of inn or resort where you can pay for temporary rooms".

"I know how inns work!", Elena snapped, her long hair flowed in the wind and just then Haze felt some of the attraction he felt when he first saw her return.

"Okay", Haze said with a sheepish smile.

"Inns need money, we don't have money", Elena pointed out.

"That is not a problem", Haze said with a smirk. He pointed to an old woman walking towards a lonely street and raised his eyebrows.

They folllowed the woman at a distance as she walked down the street, swaying with the wind. When she reached a lonely street, Haze descended on her.

"Hello old woman", Haze said with a smile.

"Oh my, you startled me young boy", The woman said and chuckled. "Such a good looking boy too".

Haze smiled again. "I hope you forgive me for what I'm about to do", He said.

"W..what are you about to do?", The old woman asked uneasily.

Haze brought out his sword and pointed it at her. "Give me all your money".

The woman panicked at the sight of the sword and her hand trembled as she tried to bring out the money from her purse. Haze got irritated of watching her struggle with it, he pointed to Elena.

"You, help her out".

Elena glowered at him for being commanded but she took the purse and brought out the money, she then returned the purse to the old woman who was still trembling.

Haze sheathed his sword. "Thanks for your contribution to our cause, old woman", He said with a smile and waved at her before he disappeared with Elena beside him.

They didn't stop till they'd gotten quite far away from the woman, then they paused under a short stumpy tree to count the money.

Haze didn't know how currency worked in the town but he expected it would be enough.

"Besides, if it's not enough you can always get more", The voice in his head teased.

"Don't do it again", Elena said cutting into his train or thoughts.

"Do what?", Haze asked.

"Command me, don't do it again",She replied firmly, looking in his eyes.

Haze didn't know what happened or why the anger erupted inside him like a volcano but it did, it built up in his gut till it spilled over to his head, eyes and mouth.

Haze suddenly shot out his hand and grabbed Elena by the neck. He slammed her against the tree, the tree bark peeled from the force.

"I'll command you if I want", Haze said menacingly. "I'll do anything I want and no one in this goddamned world can stop me".

He stared at Elena's face and something interesting and unexpected happened, one moment, her face was painted with terror and pain, the next, Haze saw that terror melt into arousal, her gaze became sultry and her lips parted slightly.

Haze was taken aback and his grip around her neck loosened a little. Desire fanned in him and suddenly her lips were the most exciting things on the planet, his head descended as he dove to taste them.

Just then a voice jolted them out of the moment.

"Why are holding her against the tree, you're going to kill her", A soft voice said from behind them.

Haze looked at Elena and truly, she looked pale, he hastily let her go and moved back, She clutched her throat and gasped for breath but she seemed upset about him letting her go, she glared at the girl who spoke just minutes ago.

Haze looked at the girl. Her long brown hair flowed in the wind, the hair framed a delicate pointy face that held a curious and confused expression. Her pale white skin looked orange in the glowing sunset, she put her hands on her hips and the stance made her huge bosom more pronounced.

"Who are you?", Haze asked.

In the distance, a blacksmith's iron pounding on iron could be heard.

"Neesha", The girl said. "Who are you?"

"Haze", Haze replied. He pointed to Elena. That's Elena.

"Nice to meet you", Neesha said.

"Yeah, real nice", Elena muttered under her breath but Haze heard it.

"You're cute", Neesha said, her cheeks turned crimson and she fiddled with her fingers. "You don't look like you're from here".

"No we're not", Haze conceded. "We're travelers and we stopped here for the day".

"You're leaving after today?", Neesha said and a sad expression filled her face.

"I wish you could stay and spend time with me", She said to Haze.

Haze smiled uneasily. "Well, first we need to find a place to stay".

Neesha's face brightened. "Come with me! I know just the place", She glanced at Elena. "You too, Lena".

Elena muttered under her breath again but she walked with them.

The girl led them to an inn in the middle of the village. Once she entered, the shop keeper immediately scrambled to bow.

"Good evening princess", The shop keeper, a short large woman said.

"Good evening", Neesha said with a smile.

"Princess?", Haze thought and looked at Elena, she gave him a questioning look too.

"What brings you here?", The shop keeper asked.

"My friends need a place to stay, find them the best rooms", Neesha replied her.

"Of course", The shop keeper said with a bow. She dug through her drawer and brought out a key. "Will they be staying together?", She asked.

Neesha said "separately" at the same time, Haze said "together"

The shop keeper looked at them, confused.

"Separately", Neesha said again with a shy smile.

Haze was confused as to why she would want to separate them, he knew he would feel safer with Elena near him but he knew he couldn't argue with the princess.

The shop keeper nodded and brought out one more key, she gave them to Neesha who gave one each to Haze and Elena.

"I didn't know you were a princess", Haze said to her as he took the key.

"Of course cutie, I'm a princess", Neesha replied. "The princess of witches".