Lucia

Chapter Five

V. As It All Transpires

Sebastienne's inquiries of worry were unfavorably met.

"I needed time away from the noise."

"Where to?" he asked impatiently.

"In a place farther away from the pub, closer to nature."

He must have searched desperately, afraid that the same fate that had fallen upon my brother would also do to me. If I am correct, then I cannot simply imply that I was outside. He would easily see through my lie.

I cannot break his trust.

"Did you have any company?" he asked, brows furrowing in frustration.

He must have heard it from the owner who was, as the woman had spoken of, a little closer than acquaintance.

"Yes."

"A woman," he said with conviction.

"Correct."

"You were unguarded."

I sighed, "You of all people must know that I am capable of fending for myself."

"This will anger the king."

"He is a sensitive man."

"Do not take the matter lightly," he disapprovingly said, "Do you know who the woman is?"

"Not before we had conversed, no."

Frustrated, he paced, "I should have remained on guard."

"Do not worry, for she is not the woman we seek for."

"That is, at least, what you have observed and what she had acted as."

This made me think of my actions, and I acknowledge his observation.

"Correct," I confirmed, "I admit I was careless, but I have returned."

"Your father will have me beheaded, let something happen to you too."

"The day will come eventually."

He paused and, shaking his head, chuckled, "Well then."

I nodded, "Let us be serious."

He also nodded, standing straight, "The owner, although more than enthusiastic to serve as source, was not able to add much information."

I looked at the floor, listening.

"But he had confirmed most of what we had surmised. There are merely a few adjustments to what we already know."

"That is helpful as it is."

Sebastienne informed me of his findings as we journeyed towards the potion shop I had but glimpsed on our coming.

"Are you certain that you have seen one?"

"Yes," I am confident of it, but the stall seems to have been removed.

I walked to the stalls that had been beside it and asked, "Excuse my intrusion."

The vendor was welcoming, and she immediately confirmed what I had seen.

"You are a little late. It is a rare stall that only appears for a short time at the beginning of each celebration."

"I understand. When is the next celebration?"

"Why, the current hasn't finished. But worry not, for a few weeks after this will be another," the woman smiled.

"Regrettably, we do not have the time. Perhaps you know the owner of the stall?"

She thought, "Unfortunately, no. However, if you are so eager to reach the place, you must seek it at the end of the stalls, near the forest."

"You must be sharp. If you ought to do business of importance, it should appear to your assistance."

I nodded, remembering her words.

But before I could leave, she handed me a bag of delicacies.

"No need to pay. It is a necessity, for I dearly love to gain the confusion and surprise of my customers."

I questioned the necessity of the delicacies for a second before I left it as is.

"Mother, may we please buy a few sweets?" passing right in front of the stall, a child walked with his mother.

"Then let us look for a stall for it. It is quite the distance from here. Are you ready to walk a lot?" the mother smiled at the enthusiastic child.

There is one right beside them, but I did not meddle with their business. Perhaps they enjoyed that from another stall.

Not thinking any more of the situation,I bid my farewell, seeking Sebastienne to instruct him on our next actions.

After he had been well-informed, we did as told, walking through the line of stalls that lead near the tip of the forest. The last stall stood a good distance away from the trees, towards the light of the busy streets.

There was no one in the clearing, no person to approach or gain further directions from.

"It is..." Sebastienne, unsure, walked around in inspection, "...empty."

He turned to face me, but I knew the needlessness of his uprising inquiry.

"I am certain that this is the place the woman pointed to."

"Your certainty of her honesty, is what I was aiming to confirm," he mocked.

"Why would she not tell the truth? She gains nothing..." I paused, suddenly realizing a wild possibility.

Quickly, I scurried through the crowds, trying to see the stall I had been to.

Upon arrival, however, the stall present was not of sweets but of fruits. I was quickly accommodated by the vendor.

"Pardon."

"Yes, good sir? Do you wish to purchase a few? These are not yet in season but we have managed to gather a few. These are profound to taste! Very exquisite, ah yes, very!"

"I apologize, but I was looking for a stall in this station a couple of moments ago?"

Confused, he also looked around, "Why, but this is the only stall that has been here for a few days now. It is quite the work to disarrange and assemble a new one in a matter of moments. Perhaps you are mistaken?"

My suspicions have been confirmed.

Quickly bidding my apologies and farewell, I turned to Sebastienne who had followed me from the clearing.

"I have met the person in charge of the stall we seek for."

"That is great," looking at the place I have been to, he continued, confused, "But isn't that a fruit stall?"

After briefing him through what and where I had been to, the mystery to what I have seen, we returned to the clearing to reinspect the area with newfound information.

I looked at the small bag of sweets I still held, noticing a small quote in careful cursive on its front.

"A mere taste opens eyes to a world where flavor is the only key"

I handed one of the contents of the bag to Sebastienne.

"Did you not have breakfast?"

"Just eat it."

After I had consumed one, he followed.

And now, in the same clearing, stood the same woman who I had talked to, in front of the small store built blatantly in the middle of the area.

A gust of wind blew.

I looked at the skies, the clouds thickening quickly.

My observations were cut short by the woman, "My, you deduced my little teasing so easily!"

I bowed in greeting, "Hello again."

"Again?"

"Yes. We conversed a few moments back."

Confused, she asked, "You were not talking to a speaking feline, the size of a man whom only you could see?"

"No, but that would be quite an experience."

She laughed heartily, "It must be the potion wearing out so easily!"

She easily recognized my curiosity as she explained the magic and welcoming she often presents her customers, always different than before.

"Must I expect a more difficult quest the second time I seek for your store?"

She laughed, "I might attempt to make it a little harder, but the moment the customer realizes what I've done, I usually appear as to not make matters longer. Just expect it to be a little more fun."

She placed her chin in between her thumb and index finger, nodding, as if already in thought of her next scheme. Noticing that we are still outside, she let us in.

"Are you, perhaps, the kingdom's mage?" I asked.

"A good question! It flatters me dearly!" she clasped her hands, "Oh to be a mage, and the royal one at that! I am afraid I must satisfy myself with these small confusions, for I am unfortunately not."

She walked around, leading us to tall shelves, all full of bottles of different shapes and sizes, floor to ceiling.

"You seem to fancy the idea of being one."

Sebastienne had started looking around as I simply awaited the right moment to ask. It is good to create useful acquaintances.

"My, I have been dreaming of it for my whole forty-three years of living!"

This piqued my companion's interest, "Forty three? You must have it wrong, for you certainly do not look like it. I am gravely mistaken to surmise that you were barely nineteen."

"Oh dear!" she beamed, "That would be more of a compliment had I not used my favorite potion of youth!"

"Oh."

The woman merely laughed, "I get that reaction quite often, and it is so amusing!"

Sebastienne smiled with evident discomfort, for he, too, had found his compliment a failure.

"Worry not! It pleases me to get such compliments, more so from such fine men!" she chuckled, "Well, I have delayed you much further. What is it that you need?"

"Do you have any poison?" I asked, careful.

"My, of course! Come this way, gentlemen!"

She easily led us to another shelf, on the right wall of her store.

"What for, exactly?" She stood beside the shelf, ready to comply with the demands of her customers.

"A deadly poison, tasteless and odorless, either liquid or gaseous in state."

She started skimming through the rows of bottles, "Well we have all kinds of poison! Hunters frequent the shop these days, for hunting can be done with poison lately. The business has been running well!"

She turned to us, "Do not worry! These are not harmful to humans. We take pride in safety for our customers!"

"We are searching for a poison meant to kill humans," Sebastienne clarified.

She stopped rummaging through the shelf, "Why that is awful."

"We do not sell items that could kill our fellow. That is a dreadful idea not to be entertained or thought of," upset, she spoke.

I nodded in understanding.

"Tell me, who is it that you intend to..." she paused, careful, "...kill?"

Sebastienne, understanding her misinterpretation, spoke, "Well it is not us who have plans to kill. We are merely investigating."

A second after staring into the eyes of Sebastienne, she nodded.

"You are not lying," she relaxed, relieved, "For I use the potion of truth whenever I have foreign customers so I can see the honesty in their words! The people of Wrandolf can be read so easily!" she laughed, bright once more.

"Then I shall not pry further. I apologize for not being able to tend to your needs. You may have not found the material you seek for, but there are a lot of useful substances in my store. Come look around."

Her previous statement did intrigue me.

"Can you show us the potion of truth?"

"Well yes, come this way!"

She explained the difficulty and rarity of making such a potion. However, it works on everyone one can speak to, and would last for a fairly long time if not always in use. Thus, they can only sell a few.

I bought all five bottles, and paying our gratitude for her lively service, left the store.

As soon as we left, Sebastienne asked, "Are we heading to the Marville's?"

"No."

Despite the sudden change of plans, he did not ask further.

I have thought of our next actions, and there are areas where I first need the aid of those in Reivemour.

In our carriages and horses, we have not left the wide vicinity of the kingdom when the grumbling skies presented themselves. The coachmen did not stop despite their increasing wariness.

I parted the curtains of the carriage's windows, observing the movement of the heavy clouds. They have become a lot larger and darker than before we entered the store. There were no more traces of the blue sky.

The clouds must have collected much company under the bright sun.

We continued our journey.

My decision, however, did not endure the transpiring storm.

The winds have begun displaying their strength, vying for the one that can blow the lot of trees down. They blew quickly, strongly, with no mind of those in their way.

We were on their way.

The carriages moved unsteadily, unable to deflect the strong attacks of the wind.

"Your royal highness, sir!" the coachman yelled, a gust of wind blowing his hat away, "I apologize, but it is not as safe as it was earlier today!"

He asked if we were still to proceed.

I wished to return as early as possible, but in this current state, we may have to delay until the storm lifts.

I cannot risk the lives of these men.

"Let us return."

Immediately, we did.

The lodges were a lot busy due to the storm. Many of the passing merchants and carriages have stopped to stay the night in the kingdom. But it did not hinder our chances of getting our own places. Sebstienne can be useful, especially when the assistant of the owner is quite infatuated with him.

"You must admit, my good look-"

I closed the door of my room before he could continue.

The grumbling showed no signs of ceasing, the winds still harshly clashing on the walls and windows.

The storm seemed to take pride in its ferocious winds as they merely grew stronger in every passing minute.

I rested in my cot, knowing well that a few more days, we will have to stay in Wrandolf.

I intend to do this with the same discretion as we started with, but little did I know of the palace's awareness of our being.