The Apothecary Diaries Book 5

Prologue

"Geez, how are you gonna survive if that's all it takes to send you running?"

The voice was friendly enough, but its owner was looking down at him where he was collapsed on his knees on the ground. He could see the youthful figure on the fence, holding an apple. The figure took a bite of the hard fruit with a flash of white teeth. Why? thought the boy on the ground. He'd disappeared among the trees, eluded his pursuers—so why could this kid find him so easily?

"Shut up. I know that."

"Better go back, then. You've got the serving women crying." The youth chuckled.

So it had come to this: being looked down upon from the lofty heights of the fence. It made him so mad. What about you? he wanted to ask. Wearing a commoner's outfit, clambering on the fence like a monkey, munching on an apple. Forget crying—if the serving women saw that, they would faint.

"It's an important job. Just do it already." Monkey jumped down off the fence and stood in front of him, then mussed his hair—as if the kid had the right! Monkey was only a year older than him. He pushed the hand away, hating to be treated like a child. The other youth laughed and wiped the half-eaten apple on a sleeve, then held it out.

"Your leftovers?"

"Hey, you don't have to eat it."

There was a pause, then he grabbed the apple and bit into the side that didn't have any teeth marks in it. The crunchy fruit flooded his mouth with its flavor, simultaneously sweet and sour. He looked up to see the kid in the commoner's garb grinning at him.

"I want to at least choose my own partner," he said.

"Not likely! You get all the nicest stuff—what if you picked somebody awful? There would be a lot of unhappy people."

"She was older than my mother!"

"Er...yeah, I don't know what to say about that," Monkey said shyly, looking genuinely unsure.

He knew that. Yes, even he knew that much. But he was still a child, so acceptance didn't come easily.

"Grow up," Monkey said.

"You're one to talk! You're only a year older than me." What, you think that makes you a grown-up? he wanted to ask. Did it mean Monkey would be able to go calmly along with a match like that?

All right, fine.

"I've decided," he said.

"Decided what?"

He raised his finger, then pointed directly at the faux commoner.

"My partner for tonight."

"Excuse me?" A sardonic smile, meant to hide embarrassment.