The Sorceress Returns

Emma sat by a fountain in the middle of the village square in the latest kingdom she visited, counting the money that she had earned from saving the prince from a dragon. Nearby, several villagers walked past her, staring in either lust at her beauty, or in fear at her reputation.

"996... 997... 998..." Emma counted as she smiled greedily, "999... One thousand gold pieces! That's almost three times what I charged to slay the vampires in the last village." She gave a brief chuckle, adding, "And I would have settled for 999 pieces and a plot of land."

Emma was just about to get up when she heard the sound of cracking wood accompanied by the neighing of a horse. Looking up, Emma saw a red haired, attractive woman dressed in a dark green cloak leap down from her wagon, cursing the broken wheel that had cracked in half.

Emma looked down at her pouch of gold coins then looked up at the wagon. It looked like it cost quite a pretty penny. Which meant that the owner must have quite the coin purse on her. She smirked as she got up from her seat and pocketed the pouch as she walked over to the wagon, which had already gained quite an audience.

"You need help, Ma'am?" Emma asked as she strode up to the woman. "I'm sure I can fix that wheel for a small fee."

"Oh, I've got it, but thank - " the woman turned around and went wide eyed as she saw Emma. Or rather, the amulet around her neck. She then glared angrily as she snapped, "You!"

"Me?" Emma asked in confusion, raising an eyebrow as she pointed to herself.

"You would dare to steal from Rhonda the Red?!" The woman shouted, gaining the attention of more than just the crowd, which was growing by the second.

"Hold it, lady!" Emma snapped, narrowing her eyes dangerously. "I earn my money fair and square. By taking dangerous jobs that kingdoms and towns pay me to do! Now, I may take some of the loot that was stolen by the gangs and bandits that I'm hired to bring in, but I am not a thief!"

"You are wearing my amulet, aren't you?!" Rhonda barked, arching an eyebrow as glared down the amazon in front of her. "The Amulet of Morphus? Which can enhance and eliminate any insecurities the wearer has by 300 fold as long as the wearer doesn't take it off? The one I put into my bag before going to the bathroom, only to return to find it gone, as well as the little runt of a woman who was eavesdropping on my sale?!"

Emma opened her mouth to say something, only to immediately shut it again as her eyes went wide in shock. This was the sorceress from a few months ago! To make matters worse, the mercenary heard the crowd around her mutter and whisper amongst each other about this new revelation.

"Hah!" Emma shouted, getting the crowd's attention as she grinned smugly. "Clearly this woman is a crazy lunatic! She is merely jealous of my massive breasts and muscles, as well as my flawless beauty, that she would merely make up nonsense to hide your own insecurities!"

"Oh?" Rhonda asked with a smirk, crossing her arms over her chest as she raised an eyebrow. "Well in that case, why don't you take it off and give it back to me?"

Emma's smirk fell immediately. "W-what?"

"If I'm just some nutcase who is making all of this up out of jealousy," Rhonda challenged, "and you clearly have that body naturally, then you should have no problem taking off The Amulet of Morphus and proving to everyone that I'm a lunatic. And if you don't take it off," her smirk widened as she narrowed her eyes, "I may just have to take it off for you."

"Um..." Emma began, suddenly finding the sky very interesting.

"What's the matter?" Rhonda asked mockingly, "Are you afraid of showing everyone that I'm not a "crazy lunatic" like you claim I am?" The woman then frowned as she ordered, "Take off the amulet."