10 Chapter 10: Husband and Wife - ey? (2/2)

The mercenary glared at me. His body tensed. I sensed combat.

Elina stepped on my foot. Hard. She smiled at the merchant and said, ”I apologize for my husband's rudeness. He is a curious man but he is hopeless with words.”

Something in her smile. Something in her voice. The merchant calmed down. He put a hand on the mercenary's shoulder. He too relaxed.

The merchant reached back and pulled away the blanket, revealing his goods.

Elina's eyes sparkled.

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The merchant went on his way.

He was happy. Elina was happy.

I was not.

Turns out he was transporting high quality winter clothing for the upper class. Leather boots and wool coats with wolf fur lining. Thick skirts with inner layers of leather.

The deal I had with Elina was this: she'd keep quiet if I bought whatever she wanted from the incoming traveler.

Her reason was that witches never had much money because they were self-sufficient. But now that she was essentially stuck with a human body, there are some human made goods that she might want. Like warm clothing.

In Altheim she traded medicine for corn. The villagers didn't have much money either.

In the end I bought her a winter cape with sable fur lining, a long winter skirt with silver wolf fur lining and a pair of sturdy leather boots.

Total price: ten gold coins.

An astronomical sum.

An insane sum.

A huge bite out of my paycheck.

But she kept her promise.

”Although I didn't expect for him to think that I'd be your wife,” Elina said.

She sat next to me, wrapped up in her new clothing.

I said, ”It's the natural conclusion. It'd be strange for an unmarried girl to travel alone with a man.”

Elina said, ”Although seeing us as a married couple wouldn't be completely off the mark.”

”How so?”

”We'll be at each other's throat sooner or later. Just like a husband and wife.”

She smiled slightly. Her hair changed back to a cascade of silver. Her eyes swirled and went back to silver.

I swallowed. Only the handcuffs kept her from killing me.

”Why don't you sit down in the back of the cart,” I said.

Elina didn't move. She said nothing. Her blank eyes studied me. Her face betraying no thoughts.

”What?” I asked.

”There's something I want to ask you.”