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“How did you know?” he asked, not meeting her eyes as he gazed sheepishly at his own feet.
“I recognized the symptoms, and Mother Dilys kept good records. It seems you have a history of eating the wrong mushrooms.”
“There was one I liked once, but I haven’t found it again, and I keep trying.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you’d eaten mushrooms you’d found in the wild? That would have helped me know better how to treat you.”
He had the good grace to look ashamed. “I should have known better, and I didn’t want you to think I was foolish.”
“I have some experience with mushrooms. I can go hunting with you sometime and help you spot the ones that are safe to eat.” He got a glint in his eye, and she hurried to add, “Bring Nesta. Then she’ll know what’s safe to cook with, and she can throw out anything else you bring her before you make yourself sick.”
“I suppose I should have listened to her when she refused to eat those mushrooms.”
“Yes, you should have. Listening to your wife is good advice, in general.”
She continued her way around the market, getting some greens and onions and a small piece of bacon that could be used to season the greens. She hadn’t had meat in so long that even that much felt like an indulgence. “How are you set for cheese?” Mair asked her when she reached the dairy cart.
“I think we’re good, since you let us have what was left from lunch yesterday. You take very good care of me.”
“I have it to spare, as there aren’t enough people left in the village to use everything. I store a lot of cheese to get us through the winter, but I might as well share what I have with friends. Isn’t it tradition for the townspeople to make sure the healer has what she needs?”
“I don’t know. I never learned the details of the transactions, only that we never seemed to go without. But I’m not a healer. I sell tea. It’s not right for me to be treated as a healer.”
“I just overheard your conversation with the miller, and you’ve sent Bryn to get herbs for the Chicken Lady. That sounds to me like you’re being a healer.”
“I’m still just selling herbs. They merely happen to be herbs that are helpful.”
“I know for a fact that Lucina is finally getting some sleep, thanks to you. Like it or not, you’re our village healer now.”
Elwyn considered that she had taken possession of the book, so she probably should be considered a healer. It was unlikely that she would have to deal with anything too complicated in a village like this, so she couldn’t fail the people too badly, and considering that they’d had no healer at all for a long time, she was probably better than absolutely nothing. Still, she didn’t plan to promote her services. She wouldn’t turn away anyone in need of help, but she wouldn’t put herself out there as a healer.
Although her supply of coins was gradually growing, she was still leery of spending money that she might later need to keep herself alive if she had to leave this place where neighbors kept her fed, but she still stopped by the peddler’s cart to see if he had anything she needed. Most of her herbs came from her garden, but there were some more exotic ingredients that could be useful, especially for the teas she sold to drink. This peddler was selling housewares and sharpening knives, so he didn’t have anything she needed. After scanning his cart, she gave him a polite smile as she turned away.
He stepped in front of her, blocking her exit with a leer. She didn’t want to back away and lose ground to him, but his breath was so foul that standing her ground was intensely unpleasant. “Leaving so quick, miss?” he asked, and his breath brought tears to her eyes.
“I’m fully equipped with housewares,” she said, taking a step to move around him.
He moved to block her again. “And I’m fully equipped with other things. I imagine it gets lonely here.”
“No, not really. I’m never alone. Now, if you’ll excuse me . . .” She tried to leave again, and this time he caught her arm.
“Maybe you should stay and talk to me. I get lonely on the road, and I haven’t seen anyone as pretty as you in a long time.”
Elwyn found that difficult to believe, since Mair was right there, and she was far prettier than Elwyn. But she also looked like someone who was more than capable of taking care of herself, while Elwyn still looked delicate after her recent troubles. She’d put on some weight but wasn’t back to her usual self. However, the appearance was deceiving, since all that walking meant that she was now solid muscle.
She’d just started to wrench her arm out of his grasp when a voice cried out, “Unhand her, you varlet!”
Chapter 10
Everyone in the market turned to see Bryn. His eyes flashed fury, but the small basket he held over his left arm made him look less than threatening. Elwyn feared he really would rush at the man, and a fight might reopen his wound. She took advantage of the distraction to wrench her arm out of the peddler’s grasp and run toward Bryn—more to stop him from doing something stupid than to seek his protection. The other people in the market moved to block the peddler, Bryn’s cry having caught their attention.
Before anyone else could confront the man, the chicken that perched on top of the Chicken Lady’s head squawked and flew right at the man’s face, its clawed feet extended. He flailed wildly, trying to fend off the chicken. “Get it off me! Get it off me!” he screamed.
The villagers surrounded the peddler so that there was no way he could go after Elwyn. Only then did the Chicken Lady whistle. The bird calmed completely and flew back to its usual roost on top of her head.
“Leave now,” the miller said to the peddler. “You’re not welcome in this village. If you come back, no one will buy your wares.”
“I wasn’t selling anything, anyway,” the peddler said, spitting on the ground and wiping blood off his face. “Good luck finding anyone else to come to this corner of nowhere.” He closed up his wagon, jumped onto the seat, and whipped his horse into motion. Elwyn was relieved to see that he left down the end of the lane that didn’t pass her cottage. The thought crossed her mind that this hadn’t merely been a drunken lout making an unwelcome advance. He could have been the baron’s agent in disguise, though she doubted an agent of the baron’s would have left so willingly, unless he was going to report her location to the baron. She shook her head, as though shaking the thought away. She couldn’t live with that kind of fear. Maybe it was time she moved on.
