Page 43 of Must Love Moss and Moonshine
“Wish you both the best, lad,” Bromir told him.
“It was a good piece,” I told Bromir as I watched the orc stalk away.“Maybe one of our best.”
“So it was.”
As I watched the orc walk off, my thoughts went to Kellen once more.And not for the first time that day, I looked around, searching the crowd for the dryad.For some odd reason, I felt him near, but I never saw him.Considering his height, he could hardly hide in the crowd, but still, I didn’t see him.
“Looking for your dryad?”Bromir asked.
“I’d swear I feel him here, but…” I waved about.“It’s not as if he blends.”
“Indeed not,” Bromir agreed.
While I didn’t find Kellen, I did spot Juniper on a path toward us.Her long purple skirt, trimmed with beads, fluttered around her.She’d covered her head with a colorful handkerchief, but her long blond curls still bounced as she walked.
“Tansy, Bromir,” she called with a smile, approaching us with a basket of flowers.“For you,” she said brightly, setting them on the corner of the table.“I tried to get here earlier, but the shop is mad.My assistant is watching things so I could get away.These are spark zinnias.Their perfume zaps away any bad smells, leaving only the soft floral scent behind.I thought they might help,” she said, then eyed the goats.“Oh, but they’re so cute!”she added, seeing the pen of playful goat kids beside us.
“Smell aside, theyareadorable,” I agreed.“Thank you so much, Juniper,” I said, admiring the flowers.The fragrance of the ruby-red, deep purple, and golden blooms immediately created a pleasant buffer against the nearby animal pens.“Juniper,” I said, my voice low, “by any chance, have you seen Kellen?”
“Not yet,” she replied.“Why?”
I shook my head.“No reason.”
“Don’t worry.He’ll come at sunset, as promised.He is a man of his word,” she told me, reaching for my hand.
I gave her a soft smile in thanks.
“I need to go back before Polly gets absolutely swamped,” she told Bromir and me.“Happy market days!”she called, and with a wave, Juniper departed.
The rest of the day passed in a blur of sales and smiles.And no matter how often I felt Kellen nearby, I never spotted him.By the end of the market late that afternoon, Bromir and I were exhausted, but we’d made excellent coin.When the market closed, I packed up my cases with satisfaction and anticipation.
“Goats and all, not a bad haul,” Bromir said, counting the coins.“I’m completely sold out of myPerpetually Perfect Stewspoons.”
“And I’m nearly sold out of earrings.I can’t believe it.”
“Now, to spend it all on ale and sour cherry pies.Coming?The Polite Pirate?Wanderer’s Rest?Maybe Naughty Knickers?”
“You stay out of Naught Knickers.Remember what happened last time you were in there,” I said, giving him a playful scowl.
“She wasalmostworth a black eye.”
“Almost.Kellen is going to visit Juniper’s shop tonight.I’m going to go there to try to meet him.”
“He didn’t come today,” Bromir said, the tone of brotherly worry in his voice.
“The first day of the market is so crowded.It would have been too much for him.He promised he’d come.He will.”
Bromir nodded stoically.“Well then, you best get on.I’ll make sure everything is locked up here and do the protection enchantments.And, I’ll drink an ale for you.”
“No Naughty Knickers.”
He laughed.“No Naughty Knickers.”
With that, I turned and made my way from the market, my stomach fluttering with butterflies at the thought of seeing Kellen again.As I walked through the crowd, I passed a dressmaker’s tent.She had racks of beautiful garments.A dark green silk and velvet gown trimmed with embroidered violets caught my attention.
I glanced down at my smudged apron and soot-streaked sleeves.
I rarely bothered with trivialities like new gowns, but tonight was different.Tonight was special.The thought of seeing Kellen again filled me with both excitement and uncertainty.
