Sing to the flow of the river, to the shadows of black and of blue

Chapter 8

I am all the names you have for me

It was strange and comforting, the way Alex felt around the herborist. Strange for it was new, and she'd rarely felt at ease so quickly around new acquaintances. Years of growing up in unsafe places either hardened the heart, or made one into quite the actor. Alex had cradled her heart tightly and kept it soft, refusing to turn into one of the bitter, rough husks of a human she'd seen so many others become. She'd worn all sorts of masks instead, and sitting here around a woman she knew so little of, somehow felt like she didn't have a need for one. That she could simply be, and breathe easy, unconcerned that someone might peer too closely at her smile and see the cracks in her disguise. Here, she bore the scars in her soul almost openly. How strange. How comforting. How incredibly freeing.

The Magpie served two bowls of the steaming, thick porridge, handing one over to Alex. They ate in companionable silence, the food warm and filling, until a soft mewling sounded by Alex's shin. The black cat was looking at her with big, pleading yellow eyes, her nose curiously sniffing around.

"Don't fall for her act, Alex. Valkyrie feeds herself perfectly well, and keeps our home wonderfully pest-free. However she does like to pretend she's starving at all times, and does get pieces of fish or meat every now and then for her troubles." Padding over to her mistress, the cat purred and closed her eyes as fingers scratched between her ears. "Yes, you're a spoiled little thing, precious."

Alex smiled, her friend's aura softening around her cat, clearly very attached to her. "Have you had her for long?"

"Val? Oh, yes. Three winters ago, I was working in an apothecary's shop on the south-western coast, and for the longest time we heard strange sounds coming from below the floorboards. Eventually, since I've learned some carpentry, my employer asked if I'd see to it, and fix a crack there in the process. Underneath, I found a cat and an entire litter of the smallest kittens I'd ever seen. I pulled them all out and into a shed instead, except this one. The runt of the litter, she was. She's been with me since."

"Aw, how nice! The south-western coast? You did mention you've traveled, before. You must've seen so much... I've never even seen the ocean," Alex giggled self-consciously.

"It's part of my trade, to travel and learn, take apprenticeships wherever they may be at first. Not always as exciting as it sounds, though. While there's a lot of good to it, there are also downsides." The Magpie waved a hand dismissively, then stood to gather their bowls and spoons. "I do hope you get a chance to see the ocean someday, however. That is a magnificent sight. Have you remained mostly in this kingdom, then?"

"I uhm... I was born in the city of Haven, grew up in Haven, lost my family in and around Haven, and I have frankly... never really left Haven?" Alex blushed a bit, feeling as though she must sound quite sheltered. "You could certainly say I've seen almost everything there is to see of human nature. But nature itself, not so much. I'm just, you know. Your run-of-the-mill orphan street rat, like many others."

After a short silence, the herborist turned back to her with a raised brow, her voice soft. "Hm... No, rat won't do. You're more of a little mouse, I think."

Any thought that might've come to Alex's mind crashed to a halt, heart beating so loudly this time she was sure she could hear it echoing in her head. The words had been spoken so gently, with such care... She'd yet to find something to say, when the Magpie motioned for her to follow into the front room. Still a little stunned, Alex clambered to her feet and went with her, gently closing the curtain after she'd stepped back in.

Her friend was pulling out a piece of paper, unfolding it, and tapped it on the counter with a playful grin.

"I've tabled the cost of every single ingredient used in the making of the ointments you requested, and I've an exact amount, right here. Let it not be said I'd ever overcharge for my wares, unlike some!"