34. Chapter Thirty-Four #2
Aldric hops all over the table. “Woah! Woah! A talking cat!”
“Yes, and you’re a skeletal crow who can talk and can translate squeaks for a skeletal mouse. Is it that strange?” I say.
“No, I guess not.”
I bring over all the potions I’ve made for Ivelle to scrutinize, and she has me open several so she can better see and smell them.
She touches a small blue vial with her paw. “This one would work well on those winged creatures you told me about. Dip stones in them and launch them at the creatures.”
“I’ll take a few with me then. You think everything else looks good?”
“Yes, I think so. What remedies are you bringing for wounds?”
I show her my collection. “This is a venom extractor. It’s broad spectrum and will work on anything but vipers or cobras.
” I put each back in my bag as show her.
“I have some to prevent infection, and several to stop scarring, to soothe my vanity. Also, several pain relievers since I don’t want to be slowed down.
I believe I got everything on your list? ”
“Yes, it looks like it. I’d add a few more creams for blood clotting. If you're scratched or bitten, you can bleed out pretty quickly.” She gives me a list of ingredients and tells me how to make a couple of jars worth.
I place them back in my bag after she scratches numbers into the lids for me to quickly find the ones I need, even if I can’t see well. I make a list of which remedies and chemicals belong to which numbers. It’ll be something I memorize well before leaving.
She nudges my bag with her nose. “Let me see this water under a scope.”
I pull the wooden box down from a cupboard.
It has a place to fasten vials to the inside, and above it is a light and glass that magnifies the contents in the vial.
It helps me see even more colors and distinguish the properties of blood, other liquids, and powders.
I’ve used it most often when I’m not sure by inspection alone.
I put the vial of the healing water on the attachment and look at the contents. “There’s something more than water in it, which is probably what is really responsible for the binding of a soul to a body until it can heal. That makes me believe it could also combine stripped essences.”
Ivelle looks for several long minutes. “The colors are different with cat eyes, but I trust your judgment on that. The way they bump into each other makes me think you’re right. It’s too bad we couldn’t get access to that water. Greedy people must ruin things for everyone.”
“I agree. The only thing I can’t figure out is how it would work to bind the two things back together because some essences, like magical abilities, wouldn’t have a mouth.”
“You’d have to pour it on the essence since it’s the broken piece. That should create a bond and pull the essence back to the person it left.”
I take one more look and watch the blue and green bubbles bounce off each other and stick to red ones.
There’s a slight sizzle before the bubbles fuse into entirely new colors.
Eventually, they return to their original state, and the process repeats.
“That makes sense. If I can figure out a way to get around the barrier on the pool, we could make sure there’s not easy access to it.
I could restore all the essences in this shop once I’m back from the mountain. ”
“It would be ideal to help with all the unlawful shops out there.”
I look over everything one more time and strategically place as many potions as I can that will combat the types of creatures on the mountain.
The lid colors and scratched numbers will help me significantly under pressure.
As a last resort, I’ll use my daggers and the sword Zyon gave me, and my ultimate goal will be to ascend the mountain as unnoticed as possible.
Ivelle nudges my hand and stares at my set up. “ Do you feel ready?”
“No one has ever survived to break the curse, and I’m not sure what will make me different.
Lazzus seems to think my apothecary skills will be what changes things this time, and for some reason, the story he is telling me.
His thoughts on it are one reason I’ve focused so heavily on potion defense. ”
“You’ve always been skilled at it, so he’s probably right.”
“You’ve taught me so much. It’s like all those years you trained me to work in your shop, you prepared me for this. I appreciate you.” I zip up the bag and fling it over my shoulder.
“You are one of the best apprentices I’ve ever had. You’ll do great.”
“Let’s hope my skill will be enough. Everyone is counting on me.” I take one last look around the shop and wonder if I’ll ever return to my favorite present again. “Aldric and Morvin, this is it. We should probably say goodbye here.”
“No, no, no!” Aldric leaps at me for a hug. “It’s not a full goodbye. We will see each other again. I have faith.”
Ivelle leaves with me, and we step back into the warming air.
My coat is over my arm, and I look around at the castle grounds.
Everything holds a heaviness, like the weight of the curse is pressing so greatly that I may never escape it if I don’t leave soon.
A red flower grows between two blue stones, and I pick it up, tying it to my bag as a reminder that the point is to bring back spring and return what the harsh winter has stolen.
I smell the flower and memorize its scent as I stare at the turrets and colorful windows.
We continue on our way, and I visit the ice sculptures.
The small ones have already started to melt, but the dragon who I’ve come to love still stands, proudly staring at the sky as though he wishes he lived to soar whenever he wished.
My hand stings when I remove my glove and rub my palm over the frosty dragon.
He gave Zyon and me some of our best memories together.
Ivelle doesn’t ask why I’m petting ice and gives me all the time I need to say my goodbyes. My last stop before getting ready for the ball is to visit Fredrickson.
The man with the bear skull head is feeding hay to the horses. “Neera! It’s wonderful to see you.”
“Likewise. Spring has almost arrived, and I need to go up the mountain soon.”
He leans his pitchfork against a stall and wipes his hands on a cloth. “Would you like me to ready Elton?”
“No, tonight is the ball, and I’m staying for that. I’m also not taking Elton with me. The trek is steep and dangerous. I hoped that if I do not return, you will take good care of him for me.”
He opens his snout but closes it for a few seconds, like he thought better of what he really wants to say. “I will treat him as my own.”
“Thank you!” I hug him. “Thank you for always taking such good care of him.”
“It’s been an honor to serve you and Elton.”
I send him a smile before heading inside and setting my bag inside my closet. The last thing I set on top is the cloak, and the dagger goes into the front pocket. Everything is ready to go.
Rana holds a box of hairbrushes, combs, and other things to get me ready. “It’s almost time, my lady. We'd better get started.”
I get into my star dress and sit in front of the vanity, where Rana curls my hair, and even with it in ringlets, it reaches my hips.
I reach behind me and take Rana’s hand. “Thank you for all you have done for me.”
“It has been the best time of my life, living in that room and helping you.”
“When I return from the mountain and the curse is broken, we will become good friends.”
“I would very much like that.”