Page 12 of A Fable of Riddles and Redemption

Zorina tried not to growl in response, though some of it probably escaped anyway. Lifting her chin, she pointedly ignored him and got to work cleaning up.

Herrick

When Herrick returned to the castle that evening, Captain Firmin called him to his office.

“Ah, Herrick. Good,” Captain Firmin said, looking up from his desk. He straightened a few papers before speaking again. “You’ve spent the last two days with the potter Jurian Atkins, yes?”

Herrick nodded, then added, “Mostly with his assistant shopkeeper while he shapes pots in the back, but yes. I’ve been at his shop for the last two days.”

“And what is your report?”

He explained his experiences with the red panda, the potter, and the infuriating woman who worked there. Then, he brought up the subject that would be most beneficial to the city as a whole. “The potter’s assistant mentioned that a magical barrier to drive away and keep the red pandas out might be a viable solution.”

Captain Firmin rubbed his chin. “Did she, now? Interesting.”

Herrick cleared his throat. “She suggested it would be quicker and more efficient in the long run.”

The captain tilted his head. “Does she know magic, then? Could she put such a barrier in place?”

Herrick flattened his lips. “I do not know. She was rather cagey when I asked about her ability to do magic. I suspect she has more skill than she wants us to know.”

A frown marred the captain’s features. “Why would she wish to hide such a thing? Duke Armand would pay her handsomely if she is able to keep the menaces away.”

Herrick nodded. “I’ve been trying to figure that out for the last two days, sir. I don’t know why she would be reticent to sharing that ability, if she does in fact have it.”

Captain Firmin leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. “Indeed. Seems rather suspicious, like she has something to hide.”

“My thoughts exactly, Captain.”

“Keep investigating, under the guise of wanting to learn more about red panda behavior, but mostly, keep your eye on this shopkeeper…” His voice trailed off, as if waiting for Herrick to fill in the name.

“Zorina,” Herrick supplied, though saying her name aloud made his stomach flip oddly. He pointedly ignored the feeling, despite it feeling like a betrayal somehow.

Herrick mentally shook his head to clear it. Telling his commanding officer the name of an uncooperative potential suspect was part of his job. He was doing the right thing.

So why did it feel so wrong?

Zorina

Once again, Zorina had to put up with the irritating guard at the shop all day. The fact that he’d been there all day, every day, for the last few days was getting old—fast.

During yet another lull with no customers or messes to clean up, Herrick opened his big mouth and began asking questions she didn’t want to answer. “Why did you immediately suggest a magical barrier to keep the red pandas out?”

“Your voice is not improving the silence,” she muttered in reply.

He shrugged. “Maybe not, but it’s still a valid question. Do you know a lot about magic?”

Zorina rolled her eyes. “It just seemed obvious to me.”

“Not very many people would think of that initially,” he countered. “Not unless they have magic or spend a lot of time around mages. So, which is it?”

She tried to hold in her scoff, but it came out anyway. “I don’t see many mages hanging around Adael.”

“Neither do I,” he admitted. “In that case, do you have magic yourself?”

“Do you really think I’d work at a pottery shop if I did?”

Herrick shrugged again. “If you had something to hide, yes.”