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8
I bounced on the heels of my feet while scanning the contents of the pretty basket again: seven nolardi roots, thirteen arfla stalks, twenty-two olind leaves, and thirty-eight welmik twigs.
“You remember what to exchange each of them for?” Faelyn repeated, frowning as he studied the portals.
I nodded quickly, hefting the basket on my forearm. “Yes, brother, I remember. Healing balms for the wicked beverage, sleep powder for the poison, red salt for the sweet snack, and spices for the sugar.”
“And the basket,” Ayen added, tapping the green and purple vine basket he’d made earlier. “Don’t forget to exchange this for something other than a bag.”
I cringed, an apologetic smile on my face. “I forget once, I learn twice.”
His lips stretched into a smile, his forest-green eyes bright. “And what did you learn?”
“Some things can be exchanged for two. I won’t make the same mistake.”
“And do not over-demand.”
I frowned at my brother, who was still staring at the portals. “But I did well. I brought us many things.”
Faelyn shook his head, then faced me for the first time since we arrived at the portals moments ago. “True, you did, but at what cost? Eventually you will bring us a bad reputation in the Market, and others will be reluctant to trade with us again. Would you count that as success?”
“No,” I mumbled, lowering my head and slumping my shoulders.
Ayen chuckled, reaching to ruffle my hair without revealing my ears. “Forget once, learn twice, right? Sometimes having too much isn’t as good as we think.”
I pursed my lips and nodded even though I didn’t truly understand that logic. Some of our resources were rare and precious. Surely we could demand as we see fit for them?
My brother nodded to the portal behind me, smoothing my hair after Ayen messed it. “Do not take too long, and try not to get too distracted. I want you back before it gets dark.”
My mouth dropped, and Ayen gave Faelyn a pleased grin before he winked at me.
“You’re giving me that much time?” I blinked at him. “But you just said to not take too long!”
Faelyn rolled his dark blue eyes and patted my head. “You did very well on your previous trip. I am well aware of the allure the Fairies’ world holds, and I know you’ll end up getting distracted regardless of my request, but I do not want this to become a habit. As long as you return before it gets dark, I shall not worry… too much.”
“Yes!” I dropped the basket and threw my arms around him, squeezing him tight. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“Before it gets dark,” he repeated firmly, holding me just as tight before releasing me with a small smile. “And consider your trades carefully. If so much as one little item is missing or wrong, your trip will be deemed a fail, and it will be the last time you will be sent out on your own. Fair?”
I nodded repeatedly. “Absolutely. I shall be as successful as the first time.”
Ayen and I slapped palms and bumped our elbows together before poking our tongues out at each other while waving one hand each. Faelyn laughed and returned my wave with a grin before I spun and stepped into the amethyst portal.
Bright, warm light engulfed me, and I closed my eyes, grinning from ear to ear when the sounds changed.
When the light dimmed and the sounds grew louder, I opened my eyes and gasped, clasping my hands to my chest. I’d heard that the Fairies’ world was constantly changing, but it was yet another thing I’d laughed at, thinking it wasn’t truly possible for a world to change so much and in such short time.
I kept forgetting that the Fairies lived in a world of magic. Everything was possible for them.
The last time I’d been here—two days ago!—I’d seen bouncing mushrooms and a huge butterfly, and I’d heard some humming plants. I’d seen a pink river, too, but this time it was purple and soft blue, and it was much wider. I didn’t see bouncing mushrooms this time, but I did see… talking flowers. Admittedly, I didn’t understand a word they said, even as I moved closer.
“This is… bizarre,” I breathed before straightening and strolling to the Market, holding my basket of goods close.
“Only an outsider would say that,” Keia teased, her green and yellow wings fluttering beside my face before she dove for my left shoulder. “Where shall we start?”
I moved my hair to create more space for her but ensured my pointy ears remained covered.I’m thinking we get the sleeping powder first.
Of all the items I had with me, the arfla stalks were the most common. That poison could be found almost anywhere, but perhaps not where the Vampires lived. Elves didn’t have much use for poison, so we traded it as much as we could. Olind leaves were sweet snacks that were popular with our Fairy neighbours and the Werewolves, and since they grew abundantly in our world, we traded them regularly, too. Welmik twigs were full of sugar and sweetness, and they were highly popular with all the other species except the Spiders. Welmik trees, like the olind, grew everywhere in our world, and every part of the tree contained sugary goodness, including its bark. And then there was the nolardi plant whose roots made the most wicked, intoxicating drinks ever. Unlike the olind plants and welmik trees which could be found at the Fairies’ world, the nolardi were native to us.
