Ashes of Love and War - TodoMomo

||Chapter 19 ~ Part 3||

Momo watched Todoroki's back disappear amongst the crowd before continuing down the aisle of stalls.

As she walked, the merchandise offered changed. Shop owners selling vases and fresh produce were replaced with gleaming armor and various weapons. Bulky men with scared and soot stained faces stood around stalls ogling at the newest swords. Momo paused to admire a stall selling daggers.

Maybe she could convince Todoroki that she should get one. Since leaving Aretias she didn't have a weapon anymore, and if they were going to be traveling by foot, then it would certainly come in handy.

A booming voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.

"What's this?!"

There was a loud crashing sound as if metal had fallen over. Momo jerked and spun towards the noise. A crowd was gathering around the last tent.

"Slave traders..." The old shopkeeper of the stall tsked under his breath. "Always causing a ruckus."

Momo's lips thinned.

"Best just to ignore them. That woman had trouble waiting for her," he mumbled. "What kind of woman sells weapons anyways? That's a man's job."

Indignation rose in Momo's chest, but she swallowed back her retort. The old man wouldn't change even if she chastised him. She grit her teeth and placed the dagger back down before excusing herself and slowly walking towards the commotion.

A group of four men were surrounding a woman with dark red hair pulled into a side ponytail. A stall of armor and various weapons were set up behind her and on the floor was a toppled rack of spears.

"Oh. I'm sorry. I didn't realize there were spears there!" The leader of the group sneered tauntingly. He bent down and picked up one of the weapons.

He was a large, bulky man with wide set shoulders and short, spiky blond hair. Holding the spear out, he squinted at it as if he were examining the quality then let out a barking laugh.

"Hah. No wonder I didn't see it. They're so small and fragile. Not a real spear. It's a shame. You must not have a man around to show you what a real spear is." He glanced back at the merchant. His dark eyes glittered cruelly. "I'll tell you what. Why don't you come here? I'll be generous and let you see my spear ."

Behind the leader, the other men snickered at the thinly-veiled innuendo.

The merchant was silent. Her smile strained as she attempted to keep her composure as she glared up at the men who were two to three heads taller than her.

Momo's hands tightened into fists at her side as she watched them. What was wrong with them? There was nothing wrong with a woman doing business. Couldn't they mind their own business?

"I think I'll pass. Low level slavers wouldn't have a weapon worth handling."

The men's sneers turned menacing. "Say that again, little lady?" The leader took an aggressive step forward.

A surge of protectiveness twisted in Momo's chest.

"Hey!" Momo used her foot to kick one of the spears off the ground. Catching it as it bounced up, Momo's fingers curled firmly around the hilt as she stepped forward. The hot feeling of courage spread across her chest, and she reminded herself that she was, indeed, a god slayer. "Leave her alone. Your conduct is disgraceful."

"Look at this cunt!" One of the men behind the leader whistled. His eyes glittered as he scanned her. It made Momo's skin crawl. "Why don't you put that skinny stick down, and I'll give you and your friend here something that you'll enjoy a lot more." He smirked suggestively.