Bee And Foxglove

Bee's Face Turns A Paler Shade Of Green

Bee was a little perkier by the evening; even so, Foxglove hadn't expected her to suggest going out to the pub.

"You really feel strong enough for that, Bee?"

"I'm fit as a fiddle! Besides, Sammy needs a walk."

"Sammy can go out into the grasslands whenever he likes," said Foxglove.

"He needs some quality time with us."

This was reasonable enough, but as Bee and Foxglove walked down the dirt track in the direction of a pink and orange sunset, their horse walking by their side and their beardog running back and forth investigating scents, Foxglove noticed Bee's slight grin – and realised. "You want to see what people are saying about what you did yesterday!"

"Yup!"

"You know what I think they're going to be saying?"

"What?"

"Wow, this ancient house fell down, it's not like that was just about to happen anyway! I bet it was done by a super cool wizard! I wonder if she's single? Or maybe at least she'll give me her autograph?"

"Laugh at me all you want, Foxy," said Bee. "I know I'm a super cool wizard. And you said yourself, people probably heard my spell for miles."

*

They left Sammy and Sweetpea in the large green public enclosure nearby, then entered the pub.

The pub was buzzing with excited talk. Bee grinned widely.

"Huh," said Foxglove in good-natured surprise.

"Hey, Ol' Johnny!" said Bee, slipping into her "one of the boys" vibe. "How ya doing, man? You good?"

"You betcha, Bee!" said Ol' Johnny. "Lady Luck decided to do my work for me yesterday – house we were taking apart fell down on its own!"

"Oh, so that's what everyone's talking about? Big mystery, yeah?"

Bee was a terrible actor. Fox facepalmed a little.

"Naw Bee, what you on?" laughed Ol' Johnny. "That house was gonna fall down any day now – probably a mouse sneezed too hard or something. No, everyone's talking about the new magical healer in Illumia. Did some crazy stunt – went to a school for blind people and healed Every. Last. One. Can you believe?"

Bee's jaw dropped.

Tommy Babyface, a member of Johnny's crew, chipped in. "They're saying it's the biggest act of magic by a human for hundreds of years."

"Since Morgana, probably," said Wild Eye Joe, the fellow builder who probably spent the most of his free time in the library. "That was six hundred and fifty years ago! This is history in the making, brothers! Sarah, Daughter of Edelweiss, remember that name! Your kids will learn about her in school!"

Bee's face didn't go green. It was already green, and it's not like people from Earth ever really go green, either. No, Bee's face went a slightly paler shade of green. It was very noticeable, at least to Foxglove, though.

"Bee, I... need some air," said Foxglove. "Will you come out with me?"

"'Kay," said Bee, still staring into space. She let herself be led by the hand.

Once they were outside, Foxglove had the impulse to lead Bee a little further out – to where Sammy was leaning his head out of the enclosure and making a quiet snorting sound.

Bee looked up to Sammy, reached out, and put her hand to his cheek.

Sammy gazed at her with his soft, bottomless horse eyes. Bee gazed back a while. She started crying.

"I'm so stupid, Foxglove," Bee said through sobs.

"Oh, Bee," said Foxglove, moving close. "I'm here."

"I thought I was special," said Bee.

You are special, thought Foxglove. Of course you are. Instead of saying that, Foxglove just gazed in loving concern at Bee and nodded a little.

"It's so stupid, right?" said Bee. "I had daydreams of going down in the history books. But I spent so long practising at home, not seriously considering I might have to hurry."

Foxglove nodded compassionately. She let her hand slip into Bee's hand.

"I don't get why it was so important for me to have the glory," said Bee in apparent frustration. "I should be happy someone else gets it. Why do I want to take it from her?"

Foxglove squeezed Bee's hand.

"It just... it would have really been... cool, I guess," said Bee, shrugging and looking a little sheepish. "I guess I'm hungry for attention," she added. "Is that weird?

"No, Bee," said Foxglove softly. "Of course it feels good to have people pay attention to you. I know you didn't always get that. You kind of faded into the background at school."

"And you were everyone's darling," grinned Bee. "The girl all the boys wanted to date."

Foxglove giggled a little. Bee could have that triumph, at least.

"Thank you, honey," said Bee.

"Of course, Teddybee," said Foxglove, kissing Bee softly on the lips.

"Bzz," said Bee softly.

Foxglove smiled. "Bzz," she said.

*

After that, Bee and Foxglove had quite an enjoyable time in the pub. The general air of excitement was infectious, and it was fun to hear people debating all of the same kind of theories Bee and Foxglove had been chewing over for the last weeks.

Had the Red Forest meteorite somehow brought a new Age of magic to the world? Or was this some kind of crazy fluke? What made one person so magically powerful all of a sudden, when everyone else could only conjure a spark or two?

"I think a new Age of Heroes is at hand," declared Bee loudly to anyone who would listen. (Bee had only had strawberry apple juice and brideswater, a drink made of water, honey and flower petals. Even so, she liked to pretend she was drunk sometimes). "I think we'll be hearing about more powerful wizards very soon!"

"You that sure about yourself, huh, Bee?" sneered Nettle, whose preferred theory was that Sarah Daughter of Edelweiss was some kind of prophet. "You wanna make a bet?"

Bee grinned and leaned in towards Nettle. "As a matter of fact I do!"

"Nope! No! Vetoed!" yelled Foxglove.

*

Bee and Foxglove rode home on Sammy's back together that night – more because it felt intimate than because of any desire for extra speed. Sweetpea ran on ahead; they didn't worry about her. There was a grassy scent on the air, and crickets chirped peacefully.

"Thanks, Foxy," said Bee softly.

"What for?" said Foxglove.

"Just... for being there, I guess," said Bee. "I'm... glad I don't have to make history on my own."

"Of course, my love," said Foxglove, nuzzling Bee from behind.

They rode a while in sweet silence.

"Besides," added Foxglove teasingly, "Someone's got to stop you cheating Nettle out of a bunch of money."

"Hey, he deserves it."

"If you have beef with him, Bee, go get a mediator and talk with him."