The waitress served them the tea while they waited for the pancakes, but they barely had to wait long before the fluffy piles of steaming goodness arrived at their table. They were perfectly browned on each side but so soft they could be scooped up with a spoon.

The sliced strawberries were small but juicy and plentiful, topped with pale honey that trickled its way down the little mounds.

The trio dug in while occasionally having tea and all was right with the world. There was nothing more that Kamaria loved than freshly made stall food. The smaller the street, the tastier the food. It brought some peace to her soul considering the past few days.

Stall owners were advertising their specials, people went up and down the street with their baskets and packages, some throwing out water in small buckets from the food stalls.

This street was too small for horses but further down at the junction they could see horse carriages and donkey carts passing by.

The sound of chatter, chickens, ducks and even distant sheep, the aroma of the pancakes, spices and perfume satchels, Kamaria loved the entire experience.

“You three little ladies look nice enough to treat us to a meal. Mind if we take a seat?” suddenly said a man’s voice.

“This table is already occupied,” softly answered Lili without looking up.

The two men looked at each other as if amused by the answer. This seemed to prompt them to only move closer to the table.

The bald, burly man stood closer to Raisa while the other young man with shaved sides and a long braid put his foot on the bench next to Lili. Clearly, they were not about to walk away. As to why the girls had to come across such stereotypical menaces while having a nice meal, only the gods knew.

“Aaaish, tsk,” suddenly said Raisa as she slammed down her spoon and looked up from her meal in annoyance.

“What part of occupied did you not understand?”

“I’d advise the gentlemen to leave before that lady gets out of her seat,” quietly said Kamaria before she continued eating.

Usually, she always had to keep Raisa in line, but this was not the palace nor was it a place where they could be timid and rely on anyone else for their immediate safety.

Unfortunately for others, it meant that the temperamental Raisa no longer had to be held back. Although some people were looking at the scene, it didn’t seem as if anyone was willing to help the three young women.

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If anything, it might have brought more trouble on themselves if they did especially since the two men seemed quite rough, they both had weapons and were known troublemakers on the street.

The restaurant owner only shook his head at the troublemakers as he continued making food. He had recognised the ornaments on Kamaria and knew these people were in for a hard time.

“That one looks very cute,” said the man with his foot on the bench, now looking at Kamaria with renewed interest.

He was about to walk over to her when a whip cracked across the table almost reaching him, making him instinctively jump away and grab at the weapon at his side.

The man next to Raisa also moved away in surprise since he hadn’t been looking at her but had his gaze fixed on Kamaria.

“This little bi-”

A cup of hot tea splashed on the man at Raisa’s side, and he stumbled and cursed while holding onto his face. Raisa kicked him away for good measure and he tumbled onto the street. The people hurriedly walked past and tried to dodge the scene.

The other man recovering from his shock rushed at Raisa when Lili subtly moved her hand. No one knows what happened, but the man suddenly felt his leg go numb, making him lunge forward instead almost crashing into his partner in crime.

Raisa sneered as she rolled up her whip and loomed over them while they were on the ground. Unfortunately for them, she had been in a bad mood for the past few days.

“What makes you think, you have the position to even consider speaking to our Boss?” she asked.

The audience watched as she whipped each of them in turn as they flailed about on the floor. When either tried to escape, she expertly reined them back by their limbs or neck, pulling them back down for another round of beating.

Some people only smiled at the young lady taking care of troublemakers, but they were also terrified by her abilities at the same time.

“Listen here Braid Mohawk and Baldy, if I ever come across you two and you don’t kneel to our Boss in respect, I’ll make sure you don’t have any future generations.”

“Yes, yes, we’re sorry. We’ll be helpful and respectful in future. Boss Lady forgive us,” said Braid Mohawk while on his knees, his hands up in defeat.

“Now scram,” said Raisa and cracked the whip on the floor and even though they were in pain, they scrambled to pick up their blades from the floor and ran out into another street. All this while covered in blistering whip marks.

They almost bumped into another young man and his attendant as they ran. The attendant barely had time to comment before the two ruffians dashed into another alley as if being chased by a horrifying monster.

The two young men both wondered what could have caused the tough looking men to flee in such horror with marks all over their bodies, but the young master was soon caught in a coughing fit which his attendant tried to ease.

Raisa rolled up her whip again and returned it to her belt, letting it hang in a coil on the side.

“Another pot of tea, Master!” she shouted as she sat down again, and the man nodded.

“It’s been a while since you exercised that much, hasn’t it?” asked Kamaria with a smile.

Raisa rotated her shoulder and did a little stretch with her arms in the air.

“I’m almost out of practice,” she commented.

Both Kamaria and Lili shook their heads as the refreshed Raisa continued eating her pancake. After a second pot of tea, they felt revitalised enough to head to the next destination.