Page 105 of When Roses Burn

The sprite tapped his chin before nodding. “Yes. The healer had a room where she worked in the castle.”

“Great.”

“I have to finish this first.” He waved a hand at the boots. “If you help, it will go a lot faster.”

“I’d be happy to.” I extended my hand to him. “I’m Briar.”

“I know.” He grasped my fingers and shook my hand. “I’m Zephyr.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Zephyr.”

“You, also. Now, help me mess with these guys.”

“Gladly.”

With that, I set to work helping the mischievous creature tie the rest of the boots together.

CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

Briar

The healer’s workroom was full of different potions, herbs, spices, plants, and any tool I could imagine to create a potion. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better workplace for myself.

I drank it in while I walked around the room with my pail in hand, Gizzi on my shoulder, and Zephyr fluttering around, talking about the kingdom’s new ruler. I had no idea how we’d gotten on this subject, but here we were.

“Now, I’m not saying Knox is a complete dick; I’m just saying he’s at least three-quarters of one,” Zephyr said.

His words drew my attention away from the glass vials full of herbs. “How can someone be three-quarters of a dick?”

“Oh, it’s possible. And he’s the worst three quarters.”

“There’s a worse three quarters?” I asked in disbelief.

“Of course there is. The area down by the balls,” he said with a serious expression as he waved at his groin. “There’s all that hair and dangling testicles. It’s not very attractive, and I say that as a man.”

Gizzi’s laughter rang in my head as I chuckled. “I can’t argue with that.”

“No one can. Now, usually he’s three-quarters of a dick, but there are times when he’s a full-on dick.”

“I can’t argue with that either.”

Zephyr grinned at me. “So, is this room to your liking?”

“It’s perfect. Thank you for bringing me.”

“If you don’t mind, I’ll hang out to watch you work.”

I liked Zephyr, but his words irritated me. “Are you afraid I’ll create a poison for the plants too?”

He looked at me in surprise. “No. I have nothing else to do, and I’m curious about what you’re going to make. We sprites don’t use potions; our healing energy comes from within us. It’s our gift.”

“Sorry,” I muttered as my defensiveness ebbed; I felt bad for overreacting. “You have an amazing gift, but, unfortunately, I don’t share it. I need the earth moss to help me.”

“And we need all the help we can get. Trying to keep everything alive is exhausting.”

His gray eyes were sad as he settled on one of the black countertops and folded his wings against his back. It must have been exhausting for these marvelous creatures, who thrived on life and nature, to fight a constant battle against death. It couldn’t be good for their souls.

“I know,” I told him. “But you’re doing an amazing job of it.”