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“Now drink your lemon balm tea, the tender said it’s calming,” Leora winked and took another sip. “Because we’ve got a busy day … and night,” she added with a wicked grin.
“I cannot believe I agreed to this,” Thessa mumbled.
“Oh but you did. The festival will be fun, and we’ll both need to unwind after today.”
The door toThe Brew Leafwhooshed open, bells jingling. Thessa looked, but no one was there.
Leora squealed, “Tess. Something is tickling my feet.”
She looked at Leora, then down at her legs. “Nothing is there.”
“Oh, it’s something.” Leora’s smile was glittering. “It’s bending around my ankles like shackles, it wants me to stand.”
Thessa smiled. “What? Is this really happening?”
“Yes! Let’s go.”
They stood and dropped the coins they’d received during yesterday’s wage distribution. The tender nodded from behind his bar, and the two witches rushed out the door.
They walked together down the cobblestone street,twinning in white muslin dresses and leather clogs. They’d ditched their cloaks today; it was so hot.
Leora squeaked ever so often as the wind pressed her onward, nipping her ankles like a young canine.
Thessa asked Leora, “What else do you feel? I can’t believe this.”
“My blood feels just as excited as I am, it’s bounding, but I’m not sure if my nerves are helping.”
Thessa reminded Leora, “Don’t worry, we’re doing this together.” For once, she could offer some support.
They dashed past taverns, eateries, live music, and laughter. The vendors were ahead. Potions, daggers, jewelry, cauldrons, treats, fortune tellers, herbs, flowers, and anything Thessa could ever want was here.
“Come on.” Leora grabbed Thessa’s hand and started running. “We’re close. I can feel it.” Thessa sprinted to keep up. There were about six inches between them height-wise, and Leora was all legs.The soldiers in Gravenport would have stopped them three times by now.
Leora halted and Thessa crashed into her; they collapsed in a heap of laughter.
“Excuse me, are you trying to damage my property?” A female witch bent down and assessed, trying to help untangle their mess of limbs.
Beyond the female vendor was a table of shimmering stones. Thessa’s eyes could hardly focus on one as she rose to her feet.
“Easy does it, you two, you almost took my table down.”
Leora stood and stilled. Her warm eyes were locked on the vendor’s crystals.“Sorry about that,” she managed, as if in some trance.
Thessa nudged Leora. “Are you okay?”
“You don’t see that?” Leora whispered.
“Which one?” There were hundreds of stones.
“Any interest?” The vendor cut in. With Leora’s eyes preoccupied, the vendor flashed a dark blue gem in front of Thessa. “Hmm. How about this one, to match those darling eyes of yours?”
Thessa waved her off. “Oh, no thank you.”
Closing her palm, the vendor gave Thessa a flat-lipped smile.
“Neither of you see that?” Leora repeated her question. “It’s glowing.”
“Your gift is glowing?” Thessa questioned her. Sure, gems sparkled in the sunlight, but glowing—no.