Dragon Thief Box Set

Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

The reply came not from my companion, but to the flashily-dressed woman who stood in the doorway. The woman stood at about six feet tall with long limbs to match her impressive height. One of her shoulders leaned against the frame with her arms folded over her ample chest. She wore a billowed red dress with jingles and bobbles galore. So many, in fact, that when she pushed off from the door frame, she rang like a cathedral full of church bells and chimes.

She batted her long black eyelashes at Castle as she sauntered up to us. “I specialize in only the best brews and not some cheap potions.”

Castle caught my eye and gestured to the woman. “Miss Millie Lucas, may I introduce you to Sally Bright. Miss Bright is-”

Sally lifted a long finger at him. “Sally, you stubborn man. Only my teachers ever called me ‘miss’ anything, and that was usually followed by the word ‘trouble.’”

Castle chuckled but inclined his head. “My apologies. Sally, this is Millie. Millie, Sally.”

I held out my hand. “A pleasure to-”

Sally snatched up my hand and flipped it over, so the palm faced upward. She pressed the sharp point of one of her nails in the center of my palm and traced some invisible line. “You are usually rather bold, but are currently unsure of yourself. You are also very uneasy right now.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “You can read all that from my hand?”

She dropped my hand and laughed. “Of course not. I’m not expert at palmistry. I merely noticed that you flinched when this rascal here,” She jerked a thumb at Castle, “gave you that flourishing introduction and you opened your mouth to protest as I did, but didn’t.”

“And the tension?” Castle spoke up.

“Anyone can see the poor girl’s arm muscles are as tight as my uncle with his purse,” Sally pointed out as she waved a finger at my limb. “Easy people are not tense.”

I flexed my fingers and furrowed my brow. “I guess I have just to work on that.”

Sally turned her attention to Castle and grabbed his hand in both of her own. “Now you didn’t come here just to talk on the street, did you, honey?” she cooed as she led him backward into her shop. “Surely you have some problem you want fixing.”

I hurried after them and slipped into the shop. The door shut behind me, though not by any hand I could see. I found myself standing at a quaint little store with painted walls. Scenes of nature stared back at me, such as the imposing gazes of deer and wild boar, and the not-so-imposing looks from small deer and even a squirrel-like creature seated on a tree stump. Even the ceiling was painted in such scenery.

The eyes of the animals seemed to watch me as I stepped away from the self-closing door and closer to the free-standing shelves that stood in the middle of the small room. Each shelf was filled with round slots, and in each slot was a small vial. There were more colors among the vials than there were in the rainbow, and some of the contents were even rainbow colored.

Sally stopped Castle in front of the five rows and smiled at him. “Now what does your heart desire, honey?”

“I was wondering if you had anything for melancholy,” Castle asked her.

She lifted one of her sharp eyebrows as a sly smile slipped onto her lips. “Melancholy? Heavens, honey, I thought you’d never ask.”

He used a hand to gesture to me. “It’s for my companion.”

Her face fell into a scowl, and she swatted his arm. “Don’t give a girl a dream and take it away as quickly!”

Castle rubbed his arm and gave her a sheepish smile. “My sincerest apologies, Sally, but my friend truly could use something.”

Sally folded her arms one on top of the other and spoke in a flat, threatening tone. “It’s gonna cost ya.”

The man sighed. “So I surmised.”

Sally turned to me, and her face softened. “Now then, what’s your sign?”

I shrugged. “Free toll booth ahead?”

She stared blankly at me for a moment before she burst into laughter. “Not that, honey!” she cooed as she managed to gather herself. “Were you born under an auspice moon? Or what season were you born in?”

“No special moon, but I was born in the spring.”

“That’s a start,” Sally mused as she slung one of her long arms across my shoulders and guided me over to her voluminous shelves. “Now then, what’s your favorite color?”

I blinked at her but played along. “Purple.”

“Favorite number?”

“Eight.”

“Then here we are,” she announced as she stopped us in front of one of the center aisles. She plucked a purple-colored vial from the shelf, and I noticed the number eight was engraved on the top of the cork. “A nice little pick-me-up when you’re feeling down.”

I grasped the vial in both hands and felt a strange warmth come from the contents. “What is it?”

She tapped the side of her nose with one finger and winked at me. “That’s a trade secret, honey, but you just keep holding on to that and you’ll be feeling just fine soon enough. Now then,” She whipped her head up to catch Castle’s eye, to whom she held out her hand. “The payment.”

Castle smiled as he pulled out a coin purse from inside his jacket and dropped a few large and gold-colored coins in her palm. “I hope this will be enough.”

Sally slipped them into a hidden pocket in her dress and smiled. “A pleasure doing business with you, My Lord. Both of you come back soon.”

And with that we exited the establishment. I was brimming over with curiosity for the strange vial in my hands. “So, am I supposed to drink this stuff?” I asked my local guide.

He shook his head. “Only under dire circumstances.”

“And what falls under that?”

“Mortal danger, or a bad stomach-ache.”

A crooked smile slipped onto my lips. “What about a side ache? Or maybe insomnia?”

His eyes flashed with mischief, and maybe a little more seriousness than humor. “If it doesn’t work, I suggest you use your nights as efficiently as possible.”

“Have any ideas?”

“I have a few.”

“Something only a man of the world can offer?”

“A man of my means with as comfortable a bed as can be found.”

I both laughed and blushed. And hugged the broom a little closer to my chest. “Yeah, well, maybe there isn’t time for that.”

I regretted the words the moment they came out as his good humor faltered a little. He stared ahead at the far-off plaza and nodded. “Indeed. We should be looking for the professor. He’s bound to be in that mess somewhere.” Castle returned his attention to me along with a smile, but I detected a faint hint of effort in the corners. “Shall we?”

I looked down at the trinkets in my hand. “I’m not so sure. My hands are getting a little crowded.”

“Then I’ll take the vial,” he offered as he held out his hand. “I have pockets within pockets.”

I lifted an eyebrow as I handed off the glass. “The better to keep pickpockets away?”

He shook his head as he tucked the vial inside his coat. “No, the better to carry things, though the pickpockets are often disappointed and in pain.”

I blinked at him. “In… pain?”

Castle opened one side of his coat and reached into one of the pockets. He drew out a small set mousetrap. “I defer their activities, at least until their fingers are healed.” He tucked his trap back into the pocket and smiled. “Now let’s see where the professor has hidden himself.”

And with that slight warning of mischief, we continued our journey toward the plaza.