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Once I had another five hundred markos in my pocket, I pushed onto to the medicine shop. Along the way, I got stuck in a large crowd, and had to shove my way through. When I finally arrived, the awnings were pulled down over the windows, and my heart sank to the bottom of mychest.
Damn. The store hadclosed.
But when a customer dressed in a cotton thobe emerged, I bustled past him and through the doorway. The bell tinkled as the door slammed closed after me. Inside, the shop smelled of the finest-quality incense and herbs. A new stand had been erected since I’d last visited, which held shelves of teapots and packets of various leafbrews.
I emptied the velvet pouch of markos onto the counter. “I want to buy dragon’s thistleoil.”
The shop owner blinked several times and dropped the giant sack of herbs he carried. “Where did you get this?” He bit one of the coins as if he thought themfake.
I stared at him hard. “Does itmatter?”
The shop owner brushed the coins off the counter into his waiting palm. “I will need a week to prepareit.”
“No.” I gripped the counter. “I need it now. Do you have any? I’ll take an old batch. My brother’s health isdeclining.”
“Wait here.” The owner disappeared into the back of theshop.
I paced along the sandstone floor, praying to the gods with every fiber of my being that there was some oil left. I’d come too far to fail. They couldn’t let me down now. Not when my world teetered on a knife’sedge.
Some moments later, the shop owner returned carrying a small vial full of a honey-colored liquid. “This is only two doses worth. Your brother will need five in total. One every three days. This should tide him over until I can make therest.”
I raced behind the counter and gave the man a hug. “Oh, thank you. Thank you.” I kissed him on thehand.
The shop owner patted me on the back of my wrist. “Come back in five days. I will have the rest ready foryou.”
