“Meow.” If a cat could scoff, I’m certain that’s what Cotton did.
“Well, no need to be rude about it! I know you have to suffer through my antics, but it’s really not a big deal. I’ll pick up a new box of empty bottles today while in town and we’ll put them in . . . this cabinet!” I opened one of the doors and slid a few wayward books out of the way, which created just enough space for a new box of vials. “Tada!”
Cotton did not look amused.
“No need to get overly excited, Cotton,” I said as I climbed back on the chair and grabbed the box of vials. I set them on my chair before walking back to the fireplace and giving Cotton a scratch behind his ears. He purred in response, his coat smelling vaguely like the lavender and eucalyptus from the pot below. “Have you been sitting in the pretty-smelling steam all day, sir?”
“Meow.”
“Hmm. Well at least you’ll smell decent for the next few days!” Cotton flicked his tail at me before jumping off the mantel and scampering to his spot on my bed. I shook my head in humor before swinging the arm of the potholder so that the pot with my newest concoction was no longer over the fire. I made quick work of filling each vial, careful not to burn myself on either the boiling liquid or the hot pot. I had madethatmistake one too many times and had wasted way too much product, both from spilling it and from having to use a burn balm on my hands and arms. While the burn balm took care of the redness and pain, it did nothing to take away the scars left behind.
Consequently, I had a spattering of burn scars across my forearms that matched other, thinner scars along my body. Sometimes I woke to a sharp pain in some of those marks and a vague sense of remembering that I could never fully grasp. It was maddening, knowing thatsomethingtraumatic happened to me, but not being able to recall it.
I’d heard myths and tales of Keepers who could access memories, and I had always wanted to meet one and see if they could access mine. But the war between the Last Keeper and the Warlord was only growing more volatile, forcing any remaining Keeper into hiding. They were stuck in the middle, and most just wanted to live their lives in peace.
Or at least, that’s what I think they want. Otherwise, wouldn’t they all be flocking to the Last Keeper’sforces in the South?
The Last Keeper’s agents and sympathizers had been through Isrun on more than one occasion, trying to drum up support both physically and financially. This, in turn, caused an uptick in Mage presence from the Warlord’s army. It was a constant back and forth between the two, causing tensions to rise, not just between the two groups. Just last week, Holt, the shopkeeper and man who raised me, physically threw a Mage out of his shop for entering and using his Water Magic to soak all the grain. Apparently, Holt was suspected of giving grain stores to the rebels. There was constant tension, and I avoided town whenever possible.
Alas, today was not one of those days where it was possible.
I sighed heavily as I continued filling my vials, the sweat on my back and brow had dried and my skin felt tight and crusty. My small metal washbasin in the corner of the room was starkly empty, and I made a note to pick up soap while I was out today.
And get Ben to haul some water for me. I should’ve asked him to do that before he left this morning. My rain barrels were getting low. We had an abnormally dry winter and there wasn’t rain left to use for washing or preparing my tonics.
I capped the last of my vials, storing them back in the wooden box before stretching my hands above my head to work out the crick in my back. My shoulders relaxed after I felt a satisfyingpopfrom my upper back, and I sighed in relief.
“Okay, Cotton. I’m going into town. Wish me luck!” He just stared at me with his unnerving yellow eyes before turning around and staring at the wall.
Fucking rude.
I laughed to myself before gathering the box in my arms. I gave Cotton one last head scratch before turning for the door.
“I’ll get us a new book while I’m out!” With that, I opened my door and shut it with my foot before starting down the worn dirt path that would lead me into town.
Chapter 28
Faylinn
The walk into town was scenic and I enjoyed every minute of it, even with the rather awkward and heavy box of tonics I carried. There was something to be said for living off the land and with the land. I really couldn’t picture myself living in a large city, and I was glad that I didn’t have to. My life was here, in Isrun, and I was content to keep it that way, even if some other part of me longed for an adventure, or at least a challenge. The challenges here were small—aches and pains related to age, a broken bone on a child, a few scrapes or lacerations to mend—and I desired something deeper. But I was also content to live in a place that was mine, a home that was mine, and near people who meant something to me.
The sun rose higher in the sky as I walked, burning off the remaining fog that was a permanent fixture this time of year, and the air heated even further. My breaths came in pants, the sweat from both my tryst with Ben and the garden work earlier this morning was back in full force, trailing down my neck and back and causing my hair to stick to my forehead.
I should really invest in a small pull cart, I thought as I changed my hold on my box once again. I wasn’t out of shape necessarily, but the walk from my house was long and the box was heavy. The vials clinked as I adjusted my grip again, my sweaty hands struggling to find purchase on the wood.
With a grunt and a sigh, I bent over and set the box on the road.
I’ll just rest for a bit.
I looked down the path and noticed that I was relatively close to the town. From the top of the hill I stood on, I could see the edge of it, dominated by a few houses and small farms. Beyond that was the little town center, which was my destination for today. If I could just make it to the farmhouses, Ben would inevitably stop his work and help me with the box the rest of the way into town.
Which was great, because my arms were feeling a bit like wet noodles, and seeing Ben was always the highlight of my day.
I twisted my back a bit, trying to stretch before bending down to heft the box again.
Oof, tonight was going to be rough.
I could already feel my muscles cramping and knew that it would only get worse as the day wore on. The sun was barely halfway through the sky.
