Chapter 2
Tap
“This is not what we agreed to, Seir.” Anxiety over being so far from home gnawed at my nerves.
“You need a little adventure now and then,” my brother replied, an irritatingly excited grin on his mouth as he tugged me along by the hand like we were children.
His breath puffed out in front of him as he spoke, and the cold air bit at my cheeks.
I burrowed my hands farther into the pockets of my coat, which unfortunately was not meant for this kind of deep chill.
“So do I, for that matter,” he added. “Come on! What harm could it do? Coltor is watching the gates, and we won’t be gone that long.
Besides, I was sent on a very specific mission to find some of these plants for Hailon.
You know I can’t stand to disappoint her. ”
I sighed. There was no arguing with that. The Fates had chosen well in his wonderful mate Hailon, and if she’d actually made a request, it was worth my brother pursuing.
“What are we searching for in Vincara then?” I asked, looking around at the small village he’d brought us to. “Have we come to visit the monastery? Shouldn’t we have brought Vassago along, if so? Or taken the closer portal? The only thing nearby is a small village.”
“So where in Vincara are we then, brother?”
I frowned at him. “This doorway lies in the forest on the outskirts of Aymonroux.”
His head turned my direction as we made our way toward the center of town, a devious grin on his mouth. “Here I thought I might be able to surprise you with our destination. Clearly, you’ve wandered further from the crossroads than I thought.”
I scoffed. “You were trying to stump me? Did you not think I could identify the specific doorway we traveled through?” I frowned, confused by why he hadn’t seen the flaw in his plans.
“I would recognize any of them, even if I don’t visit what lies on the other side even a single time.
” His eyebrow raised as though in challenge, and I dug in, frustration brewing.
I couldn’t tell if he was just trying to get a reaction out of me or being serious.
“I know all of them. It’s my job. Has been for centuries.
You know that, right? It’s very important to me that you know that, brother. ”
Seir laughed, the sound free and easy, a plume of breath hanging on the air in front of him. In many ways, I envied the lightness he’d always carried. He dipped his head in friendly greeting to one of the townsfolk who glanced our way while my skin tingled at the sudden attention.
“I might have my moments, but I’m not a complete idiot, Tap. Of course I know that. There’s just so many now, I thought I might be able to surprise you, is all.”
“Imagine my relief.” I pushed my glasses back up my nose and glanced around as Seir paused at a storefront window, the painted golden lettering scuffed and faded. “An apothecary? Rylan couldn’t procure what she needed?”
He shrugged. “Hailon came to me with her list, so I assumed not. Maybe she didn’t ask him.
” A broad smile reappeared on his mouth; clearly Seir liked the idea that she’d skipped asking our very well connected archmage brother in favor of him.
“I tried all the places in Revalia and Emankor I could think of, but none had what she wants. One of the merchants recommended I come here.” He pulled a scrap of parchment from his pocket, a list of several items in clear script upon it.
I followed my brother into the store, the scent of herbs and earth heavy on the warm air.
“Be with you in just a moment,” a gruff voice called from the back of the store.
Seir waited at the counter, reading over his list with a pensive expression.
I was drawn to the back wall, where bouquets of flowers rested in baskets, tied up and wrapped, ready for gifting.
As it was barely past the turn of the new year, I couldn’t help but wonder how they managed to keep such a variety of fresh blossoms for sale.
“Interesting place,” I muttered to myself, pausing with a fingertip on the petal of a light-blue hydrangea as movement outside the dirty windows caught my attention.
Across the alley, someone quickly exited through a shop’s back door, fingers feeling along the back of their head before they pulled up their hood.
I couldn’t tell if I was looking at a man or a woman; the simple trousers and heavy coat gave no sense of figure away.
They walked toward the apothecary, hands stuffed in their pockets, frowning.
My breath caught when bright lavender eyes rimmed with smudgy lashes met mine through the glass, but they didn’t slow their stride.
I stared as long as I could see them, transfixed, blood rushing loudly in my ears and a strange crushing sensation gripping my chest. In response to the increase in stress, I turned the ring on my index finger around and around with my thumb.
My heart had jumped to a fierce, rib-pounding beat, and I rubbed my hand over my coat in a useless effort to slow it.
It seemed it really was best I remain at the crossroads unless leaving was absolutely necessary.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Can I help you?” the gruff voice said, breaking me out of my reflection.
I turned to find Seir stiffly reciting the names of several plants.
I slowly walked over to join him at the counter.
The portly, aged shop owner diverted his attention from my brother to me as I approached.
“Sure, I can get those for you.” He glanced between us, gaze calculating.
“Won’t be cheap though. Several of those items are rather rare.
I’ll need guarantee of payment up front, I’m sure you understand. ”
Seir set a single silver coin on the counter, making a point to jingle the pouch he kept in his pocket. “We’re good for it. But I’m afraid I must insist that we see the items before I pay the balance.”
The shopkeeper’s eyes bulged, and he choked on his words.
“Of course, sir. Apologies, it’s just not often we see such …
particular requests. Especially not from out-of-town visitors.
Excuse me.” One leg betrayed a bit of a limp as he scuttled through the door to the back room, mumbling words that made it seem like he was already mentally spending the money Seir was ready to trade for Hailon’s list of herbs.
“That single coin alone is worth far more than what you asked for, and I’m certain you know that.”
“I do.” Seir nodded. “He needed some motivation, so I provided it. Now, if he tries to take advantage … that will be a whole other conversation.” His set of three sharp canines appeared, his normally jovial grin having taken on an edge.
My brother’s duality was often a source of both amusement and terror.
“Mmm.” While the shopkeeper gathered Seir’s order, we perused the other wares.
Between us, we selected a few trinkets, a tin of assorted teas, and several unique sweets.
Seir found nail lacquer on the shelf with cosmetics and whooped in excitement before choosing a bottle of black for me and three new colors for himself.
I picked up a sizable puzzle box that looked like an oversize book.
I was sure it would keep me amused for a time as I turned it over to examine the fine details.
I took great joy in replicating such clever items once I’d solved the puzzle and disassembled the contraption so I could work out the specifics of the design.
Between the collection of cosmetics, the inks and quills I found off in a corner, and the fresh out-of-season flowers, I was intrigued by the apothecary’s selections to say the least. For such a small village, the shop certainly catered to some very expensive and niche needs.
I stared out the window again as Seir selected several bouquets. An enigmatic smile and violet eyes flashed through my mind, and I mused about why the person I’d seen earlier had been leaving through the back door of the shop across the way.
“Here you are,” the man said by way of announcing himself. He unloaded bundles of dried herbs, packets of seeds, and even a few live plants onto the counter.
Seir looked them over, and when I nodded that it all looked to be in order to me, we set the rest of our items on the bench as well, much to the shopkeeper’s delight.
Several coins passed from our hands to his, and he bounced on his surprisingly nimble toes as he logged our transaction in his ledger.
“Pleasure doing business with you gentlemen. We also do special orders,” he enthused.
“Have yet to get a request we couldn’t fulfill.
Though a couple of these”—he gestured to the herbs—“are exceptionally limited until next growing season, and therefore will be very hard to get and increasingly costly.”
“Good to know,” I muttered, glancing back at the inks.
“Thank you.” Seir gathered his bundle of packages, and I took mine, bracing for the cold that awaited us outside.
“Come on.” My brother bumped my shoulder with his. “Let’s get an ale to keep us warm and see what the local cuisine is like.” My brother tugged on my sleeve, his boundless energy returning.
“Seir. Not what we agreed,” I reminded him.
“Another hour, Tap. Please? Humor me. The gates are well watched in your absence.” It was the sadness in his eyes that got me, the way he begged like a sad pup while somehow making it seem like he was doing what was best for me. It had always been like that between us.
“One glass.”
His smile broadened. “You won’t regret it, I promise.”
“Bold of you to assume I don’t already.”
His laughter lit up the space between us as we strode off to find the tavern.
After a hearty meal, two tankards of ale instead of the one we’d agreed upon, and a double coat of black nail lacquer for us both, we made our way through the quaint town square back toward the portal.
In truth, I’d gotten a bit too comfortable at our table, as it was right next to the hearth, and was dreading even the short journey back in the cold.
Unfortunately for me, Seir was also dragging the return walk through town out longer than I’d expected, so my bones were already chilled again.
I’d become spoiled by the consistently comfortable climate at the crossroads.
My brother’s focus had been only on the apothecary on the way in, and he was struggling with the desire to gaze through every other shop window we passed now.
“We really do need to get back,” I urged, Seir’s attention drawn by what looked like a studio for pottery and glassware.
“I have to go in here. I promise I’ll be quick,” he said with urgency, not waiting for me before stuffing his parcels into my arms and throwing himself through the door.
“I’ll be waiting here, I guess,” I called after him, shaking my head and gesturing with full arms to a stone fountain.
Across the square, clusters of patrons hustled into the tavern we’d just left.
The door opened and closed as people huddled under their cloaks, going in.
As I prepared to take a seat on the edge, the church bells began to chime the hour.
Two bells, after a quaint little melody.
A group of three, the last of the rush to get into the tavern, paused before disappearing behind the heavy wooden door.
I clenched my jaw and my fists, sagging into myself as the resonance of the iron made my teeth ache and turned my thoughts into a tangled web of nonsense.
The tone in the iron was familiar, but not in a pleasant way.
I was thankful to have missed the chime for midday. Twelve would have been torturous.
When the ringing stopped, I turned toward the church and found myself stunned once again.
The person I’d seen in the alley was just standing there in the churchyard, and they weren’t even wearing a coat.
Their breath puffed out in quick, measured clouds, and, even from a distance I could see their body shaking from chill.
Without making a sound, they sagged nearly in half, one hand fisted over their breastbone.
My whole body screamed, urging me to take action. My heart squeezed like it was in a vice. And my own breathing was stilted and raw as I panted through the pain, unable to look away from them for even a moment.
Just as I took a step, a priest hustled across the churchyard, blanket in his hands. He wrapped it around their shoulders and shepherded them back inside. I stared at the closed door longer than I cared to admit, warring with the urge to run across the square and go inside myself.
Movement drew my eye to the steeply pitched roof. A statue shifted from a crouch to fully standing and spread his wings out wide, staring me down the whole time.
An explanation for my odd reaction to the whole situation percolated through my thoughts as I wondered whether or not the stone kin protecting the church was friend or foe.
Seir emerged, another package in his hands. “All set!”
I shifted my focus to my brother for a second, and when I looked back at the church, the stone kin was gone. “What was so important in there?”
Seir squeezed his parcels to his chest, broad smile on his mouth. “Wind chimes.” His face fell as he got a good look at me. “Are you well?”
“Indigestion.” I rubbed at the burn behind my ribs with the heel of my hand, but it would not be soothed.
He nodded, a knowing look in his eyes. “Probably the tavern food, you’re not used to anything so rich. You eat the same few things all the time when you bother to eat at all.”
I muttered a vague agreement as I followed him back to the portal, my thoughts elsewhere. Thankfully, he carried the conversation on without realizing I was distracted, content to chatter all by himself.
My only focus was on the disturbing notion that I needed to return to Vincara. Soon.
I needed to speak with the stone kin who guarded the church.
I was now certain that those entrancing violet eyes belonged to my mate.