Ten
I awoke back in my bed and could tell from the pile of dresses now outside of my wardrobe and on the floor that Gobbersnot had been the one to take me back to my room. Goblins, for their size, were strong and capable of carrying ten times their weight. He was now sleeping away the daylight hours with a tummy full of royal blood.
A cut on my hand would heal faster than most people’s, but not with self-inflicted wounds. That was our own problem. Healing magic could work on others but not the caster, which meant I was still in need of getting medicine for myself and now for the queen. I was determined to make her a tea that would strengthen her body and mind, and I needed more wolfsbane for my own tea to keep my dreams at bay.
After spending most of the day in bed, I finally felt well enough to attend to my errands, and I sent Pru with a message for the prince.
After I had saved the queen’s life, Xander seemed a bit more generous to me and agreed to my request to travel to town, even arranging the trip for me. It seemed we were allowed to go to a local herbalist as long as guards escorted us.
I was surprised to see Gaven outside on the front steps waiting for me on a horse. I never expected he would personally escort me, my cheeks warming as Pru and I climbed into a carriage. It didn’t matter as long as I got what I needed.
The trip didn’t take long, maybe half a mark by carriage to get down the mountain and into town. When we stopped and exited the carriage to walk down the back alleys, I noticed children and dogs went silent at my passing. Clothed in darkness, surrounded by guards in royal blue, I was an enigma, a bad omen.
When we entered a small shop with a mistletoe branch on the sign, I thought we would receive privacy, but it wasn’t so. Gaven had apparently followed me and was right on my heels. An earthy scent tickled my nose, followed by a hint of sandalwood. Two long tables ran down the middle of the shop, filled with jars and butcher paper, twine, and potted fungi and plants. The rafters were covered with drying flowers and herbs. Light streamed in through a skylight in the ceiling. A sweet liquid was boiling in a pot over the fire, giving off a pleasant aroma. I stroked the soft leaves of a lavender plant as I inspected it for disease.
A petite elderly woman in her seventies waddled over to us, a red kerchief covering her hair, her warm smile exposing missing teeth.
“Hello, Auntie,” I said, bowing my head in greeting.
Her smile widened, revealing a third missing tooth. “Greetings, niece,” the old woman replied. I noticed the confused look that Prudence gave Gaven at our familiarity.
The elderly woman surveyed my companions carefully before reaching out for a hug. I obliged and leaned in close to whisper into her ear. “The sun and moon stood still.”
“Yes, yes,” she muttered and rubbed my back reassuringly. “What can Auntie Agress do for you fine folk?”
“I need these items,” I announced, handing her my handwritten list.
Auntie Agress’s yellowed eyes scanned the list, and her white overgrown eyebrows arched up at me in question.
I nodded slowly, confirming my order.
“Let’s see that.” Gaven stepped forward and snatched the sheet from her hand, flipping it over and then back before turning it around. “What language is this?” he asked.
“The language of Fey,” I replied coolly as I snatched the paper back and handed it to Auntie Agress. “Why are you here?” I asked Gaven.
“I’m here to make sure you’re not buying any black magic stuff. After all, word has spread that the queen was poisoned.”
“I know that,” I said stiffly.
I moved away from the fresh lavender and over to the rows of plants. Picking a leaf off a hyssop, I crushed it between my fingers and smelled the aroma. It had a thick, pleasant mint scent, which meant it would make a strong tea. “Auntie, I would also like a stone’s worth of feverfew.”
Auntie Agress mumbled, her head bobbing up and down as she moved farther down the aisle toward the fireplace, where she pulled a rope that lowered the drying rack down from the ceiling. With a few snips of her shears, she quickly trimmed the stems of various herbs and plants. Raising