The little bell above the door jingled merrily, announcing Effie's arrival at the apothecary. She ducked in through the doorway, carrying the basket on her arm that was now piled high with all of the plants and herbs she had collected in Moonshadow forest that morning. And now, she also carried with her a new secret.
Effie thought it best not to tell Anise what had happened to her in the forest earlier that morning. She didn't need to know about the soldier she'd quite literally crashed into, nor the fact that she had both simultaneously injured and saved him all within the span of about five minutes. She especially didn't think her aunt needed to know about the part where she'd been practically forced to use her magic to save his life. It wasn't like anything had gone wrong because of it. It wasn't as though the darkness had consumed her as a result. Neither did the man's body end up exploding into a spray of blood and gore. So since there had been no incident, Effie didn't see a reason to tell Anise about it at all. She'd only get angry anyway. Maybe even panic and make them go back into hiding all over again. And Effie was not at all interested in repeating that episode of her life. So what her Aunt Anise didn't know couldn't hurt her.
Right?
"Good morning, Effie dear," Anise chimed from across the room where she sat at a table in the corner, sipping on a cup of hot tea with another elderly woman. "My! It appears you've had a successful run through the forest this morning. That basket is simply stacked to the brim. Good work."
"Oh, you know the forest does most of the work," Effie replied with a coy smile playing at her lips as she gently placed her basket on a nearby counter. "I was simply there to partake in the fruits of its labor."
"Don't be so modest deary," the other woman next to Anise chimed in. She was the widow Ms. Spenser, Anise's friend and one of their regular patients. "You really should learn to accept some praise, Effie. You are a very talented herbalist, after all. I think it's high time you take a little pride in yourself."
"You flatter me too much, Ms. Spenser." Effie replied awkwardly, watching her hands as she got to work sorting the fresh herbs into organized piles on the countertop and tying them up into seperate bundles with twine.
"I mean it," Ms. Spenser went on, bringing her small cup of steaming tea to her lips. "Ever since Anise found you abandoned in the woods so many years ago and brought you here to apprentice with her, I've seen you blossom from a wide-eyed little girl into the resourceful young woman that you are today. Isn't that right, Anise?"
"It certainly is," Anise beamed with motherly pride, and the two older women exchanged knowing glances.
"And anyway, it must be nice to have such an obedient daughter," Ms. Spenser added, turning to Anise. "If only my daughter was so obedient. I wanted her to help me run my quilting business when she grew up, but instead she ran off and got eloped to some penniless soldier."
At the mention of the word 'soldier,' a specific pair of beautiful, golden eyes popped into Effie's mind, but she immediately waved the image away. Why was she thinking about... him already? All she wanted to do was forget the entire incident with that mysteriously handsome man and get on with her life. She hoped she'd stop thinking about him soon.
"Not that there's anything wrong with being penniless," Ms. Spenser went on. "But if my daughter simply HAD to run away and get married, I wish she'd have picked someone rich." Her bitter laugh was practically drowned by another sip of tea.
"Oh, don't be so hard on that girl," Anise said. "True love doesn't wait for anyone. Besides, I remember you breaking off your engagement to a certain knight of renowned back in the day, in favor of your marriage to a farmer."
"Ah yes, my bumbling Mr. Spenser. How do I miss that man..." And for a few moments, Ms. Spenser's eyes unfocused, staring out the window at nothing in particular, though Effie could practically see the memories and nostalgia playing behind them. But just as quickly, she blinked and she was back in the present, her knowing gaze now sweeping across the room until they rested on Effie. "But enough about me. Effie, deary, are you feeling well? Is something the matter? You seem a little off this morning."
"Who me?" Effie nearly jumped out of her skin, though she didn't know why. Neither of the women knew her secret, so it's not like she was about to get caught. Still, her mind scrambled for an excuse. "Oh, I feel fine. I... I mean I did slip on a rock this morning out in the woods. And I fell into the brook. But- but I didn't get hurt or anything. I was just a little shaken. That's all."
"Oh, my," Anise gasped, practically jumping to her feet. "Are you sure you weren't hurt? You said you fell into the water? You must have been soaked through, poor thing. Perhaps I should prepare you some medicine to prevent you from catching cold."
"There's no need for that," Effie groaned, regretting having said anything other than 'I feel fine.'
She loved her Aunt Anise like family, but sometimes the woman was just too over protective of her. Though she couldn't really blame her aunt, considering the situations that lead up to them living together on the outskirts of Evanore. But still...
Anise had already scrambled across the room toward Effie, and was now frantically examining her as though she was a patient on the brink of death.
"Auntie, really. I'm fine. Look, no bumps or scratches. I'm all in one piece, see?"
"You're not fine until I say you're fine."
"Anise, really," Ms. Spenser chimed in between sips of tea. "You remind me of a worried grandmother fretting over her little granddaughter. But our Effie is no longer a little girl, is she? Somehow she's become a grown woman before our very eyes. She's no longer a delicate child. If she says she's fine, then she is fine."
Anise finally acquiesced, dropping her arms at her sides and stepping back with a heavy sigh as though she were allowing herself to breathe again. "You're right. I'm sorry. Sometimes I get carried away. I just couldn't bear it if..."
If she lost Effie the same way she lost Effie's mother? Effie knew that's what Anise wanted to say, but also she knew that she couldn't. Not with Ms. Spenser sitting right there. The story they'd told everyone in Evanore was that Effie was a little orphan lost in the woods, and that Anise had found her and took her in. No one even suspected that Anise had once been close friends with Effie's mother.
And thankfully, Anise didn't have to feel obligated to finish that thought, because just then the little bell above the door tinkled, and in walked an old man wearing a pair dirty overalls, raking gnarled fingers through a long, grey, matted beard which reached down past his neck. Behind him trailed a young, red-headed adolescent boy who looked as though he'd barely reached the age of twelve or thirteen years old.
"Oh, Silas, welcome," Anise said, turning to greet the old farmer who was a regular patient of theirs at the apothecary. "I suppose you're here to pick up your prescription. I'll get that prepared for you in just a moment. Once I'm done seeing to Ms. Spenser over here."
"Oh, that's aright," Ms. Spencer said, sitting her cup gently down onto the saucer and standing gracefully to her feet. "I've just finished my herbal tea. It was delicious, Anise deary. And it's worked wonders for my arthritis. My knee is feeling better already. And anyway, I do have some errands to run around town before I open shop for the day. So I really must be going now. It was lovely seeing you both. And you as well, Silas," she added, turning to the old man who simply nodded his head in reply.
"I'll see you tomorrow then," Anise replied before Ms. Spenser was out the door and on her way. Then Anise turned her attention to farmer Silas. "So how have you been feeling today? Have there been any changes or new developments with your condition?"
"No. No changes," Silas said shortly, his voice harsh and rasping, a result of the chronic coughing disease that had been plaguing him for some time.
It wasn't that Silas was a grumpy old man, simply a man of few words. And incredibly stubborn.
"That's not true, grandpa," the red-headed boy beside him spoke up. "You've been coughing a lot more than usual lately. Remember, ma wanted me to mention it to Anise when we came today?"
Silas released an irritated grumble from beneath his beard.
"Is that so?" Anise asked with concern. "Well, perhaps I should have a look in your throat?"
"No need," Silas answered simply.
"No? Well at least let me prepare an extra-strength dose of medicinal herbs for tonight. And you be sure to take every last bit of it before dinner."
"I'm okay," Silas insisted, clearing his throat to mask an obvious cough. "Kip just likes to exaggerate. I don't need you worrying unnecessarily, Anise." Then, before Anise could respond, Silas turned to Effie who was busy grinding dried leaves in the little stone mortar, already preparing some of Silas's medicine. "But how is little Miss Effie today? You seem quieter than usual."
Effie's back stiffened, her hands freezing over the mortar for a moment or two as if she had been caught doing something wrong. But why? And why was she so quiet? She was definitely not too busy thinking about the mysterious, handsome soldier from earlier. Nope. Definitely not.
"Oh, no reason really. I've just got a lot on my mind. And who are you calling little anyway? I'm not little anymore, remember? I just turned twenty last month."
"Did you really? Last time I remember, you weren't much bigger than my Kip over here," Silas ruffled the red-headed boy's curls, and the boy indignantly swatted his hand away, clearly offended for being treated like a child. "I swear, you blink and they're already grown up."
"How right you are," Anise agreed, a mixture of pride and sadness glittering in her eyes as she directed her gaze toward Effie, who was now feeling very awkward.
Why were all these old people talking about her today as if she had suddenly grown up over night? What was the purpose other than making her feel anything but grown up? Didn't they have anything better to talk about?
"You've grown up well, Effie," Silas said. "Somehow, right under my old nose, you've become a well-rounded adult. And you know what? Kip here says he's gonna marry you when he grows up. But I'm not supposed to tell you that." Silas winked mischievously.
"Hey! Grandpa!" Kip protested, redness rising to his already ruddy cheeks. "I- I didn't say any such thing!"
"You sure? I remember it distinctly."
Effie sighed, carefully measuring out a cup-full of medicinal powder into a paper envelope, all the while wondering why old people seemed to take such great joy in embarrassing the younger generation.
"Anyway," Silas cleared his throat gruffly, changing the subject once he'd successfully turned his young grandson all red-cheeked and flustered. "Were you two thinking about going to the market festival that's gonna be in town this week?"
"We go every year," Anise replied. "There are always some merchants that come from far away lands bring many herbs from around the world. Sometimes it's the only opportunity for us to get a hold of those rare plants. Normally, Effie and I go together. But this year I may need to stay behind. My body isn't what it used to be, and walking around in the streets under the summer sun makes me feel faint. But I know Effie can do it without me. She is an expert now, she knows as much as I do. I trust her."
Effie tried not to look surprised, although she was. This was the first time she was hearing about any of this. As far as she had known, they were going to go to the festival together as they always had. Why was Anise not going this time, and why hadn't she mentioned anything up until now? Effie was growing suspicious that Aunt Anise was hiding something.