Holt’s store was a stone’s throw, literally, away from the central square, and we reached it in under a minute, though we stopped at a few of the market stalls along the way. From early spring through late fall, there were always food stalls lining the edges of Market Street. Honeyed breads, fruit, vegetables from local gardens, fresh meat from hunts in the woods—you name it, there was a cart run by a local family supplying it. I even had my own cart a few days a week where I sold some of my most popular tonics and creams.
The smell of honeyed bread stuffed with fresh wild berries drew me to the baker’s cart, and I reached behind me for Ben’s hand, pulling him along with me as he laughed. My stomach growled, reminding me of the work I had already put in today and the lack of food I ate.
Cotton would be so disappointed!
“Two honeyed breads, please! Oh, and any of your day-old bread if you have it,” I asked.
Jani, the baker’s wife, smiled kindly at me. “For you Faylinn, we have anything.” She was warm and kind and what I pictured an aunt to be like. She certainly treated me like family, and I appreciated her. Jani gave me the breads I requested and, as I tried to shove two coins into her hand, she backed away and shook her head.
“You fixed up my Micha this winter, Fay, when we couldn’t pay you. Please, take the bread.”
“Jani, maybe if you took my coin, you could pay me,” I jested in return and redoubled my efforts to pay her.
“Nope. You keep those coins and that bread.” She shook her head again, so I tucked my coins back into the bag at my waist. Ben took the breads for me but left me with one of the honeyed breads.
“Fine, but we’re even now, Jani, you hear me?” I waggled a finger at her just as I pushed a rather large mouthful of honeyed bread into my mouth and moaned at the taste. It was tart from the berries yet carried the sweetness of fresh honey. And it waswarm. Both Ben and Jani laughed at my reaction to the taste. I simply shrugged my shoulders before taking another bite.
“Have a good day, Faylinn! Ben,” she said as we walked the final few feet to Holt’s store. I was feeling light and happy, but my mood dimmed slightly when I saw a Mage in a black tunic and matching pants standing stoically outside the shop’s door. His Vessel stood within arm’s reach and wore the same outfit. The only way to distinguish that she was the Vessel and he the Mage was by the runes embroidered onto the shoulders of their tunics.
I shot a glare at the Mage as Ben opened the door to Holt’s store for me, but he seemed completely unfazed. Neither the Vessel nor the Mage even seemed to recognize our presence.
“I hate that they have to be here now,” I said once Ben and I were fully inside the store. I shoved the last of the honeyed bread in my mouth and dusted my hands on my pants as we waited for Holt to emerge from the backroom.
Holt’s shop was small by large city standards, I imagined, but it was the perfect size for the necessities the villagers needed. Holt carried a variety of items that we couldn’t get or make on our own and allowed thetownspeople to barter or pay with coin, something that, again, made this feel like more of a family than a community.
I gazed around the space, taking in some of the new wares that Holt added to the store after the most recent wagons came in from the Southern Territories. There was some interesting meat hanging in the back icebox. Long, thick strips that resembled bacon, but with a black tint rather than the normal pink hue. I shuddered at the sight and quickly moved my gaze elsewhere, where it caught on a range of herbs and dried flowers hanging from a shelf on the wall. I walked over to investigate and heard Ben set the box down on the counter with a sigh.
I smiled to myself.
Men. Can’t even admit when a box is heavy.
I reached my hand out and ran it over a strange plant, it was short and prickly with a small pink flower on top and a faint sweet smell. I gasped and quickly retracted my hand when the plantpokedme.
A rumble of laughter sounded from behind me as I sucked on my finger to ease the sting.
“Careful with that one, Fay. It bites back.” Holt was an extremely large man, and his voice rumbled as he spoke. I turned with a grin and promptly launched myself at him.
“Holt!” His laugh boomed across the small store as he pulled me in for a tight embrace, my feet coming off the ground.
“Little Fay!” I was by no means little, but Holt had acted as a stand-in father for me when I got here. After I phased out of the small children’s home as a teenager, he let me live in the storage room of the shop, cleaning it out and adding a small bed and nightstand. Without his help, I wouldn’t be where I was today, and I was forever indebted to him. For all intents and purposes, hewasmy father, and I loved him dearly. Though, we were both terrible at admitting our feelings. So, he was still Holt, and I was still little Fay.
After I built my home in the woods and started making my tonics, I made sure to keep Holt constantly supplied and expected nothing in return. After everything he did for me and the love he continued to show me, I couldn’t accept anything from him. Doesn’t mean he never tried.
“It’s so good to see you. It’s been far too long,” he said as he gave me one last squeeze and set me down on my feet. His arms lingered around me,though, and I leaned into him just a bit. It did get lonely sometimes out in the woods, and I loved Holt’s hugs, they were warm and completely encapsulating, like sitting in front of a fireplace with a blanket and a book on a snowy day. I inhaled deeply one last time, savoring his smell of pine and smoke, before stepping back and rolling my eyes in jest.
“It’s been three days, Holt. Three days.”
He boomed another laugh and tousled my hair with one of his big, calloused hands.
“Three days too many, little Fay.” He winked as he lumbered back behind the store’s counter. “Ben, how’s the family? How’s the farm?”
Ben straightened from his position against the counter and tried to smooth out the wrinkles in his clothes as Holt’s gaze fell onto him. “Uh, great, sir. Everyone’s all good.”
“Humph. Is that so? Then why’d your mam come in here yesterday asking for more Earth crystals?” He eyed Ben expectantly, one brow raised, and his arms crossed on his broad chest. I had been under that scrutinizing gaze a few times growing up and knew exactly how unnerving it was.
Ben’s head fell in shame.
“I’m using them too quickly, Holt,” he said so quietly I almost didn’t hear.
