Page 66 of Of Potions and Honey
“And that is quite enough for our purposes.” For a moment, there was a flash of uncertainty on Yoni’s face. “I want this to work just as much as you. They can’t just keep taking what’sours. If this is what it takes to stop that, then I’ll look big and intimidating all day long if I have to.”
Mira winked at her. “I don’t think it’ll come to that, but I appreciate the willingness.” With a sigh, she pushed herself away. “I should get back to my stall. See you later.”
There was a touch of pink in Yoni’s cheeks when she nodded. “Later.”
When Mira returned to her stall, she found it manned by Gemma, with Rue nowhere in sight. Mira joined her behind the table.
“Where did Rue go?”
“To chat up that beekeeper again.” Gemma tapped one of the boxes under the table. “I had to restock the stuff for shiny hair. You’re almost out.”
“Oh! Well, that’s good.” Mira scanned the crowd near Kian’s stall, but there were too many people to see. “Does Rue know he has a child?”
“She didn’t seem to mind.”
Chuckling, Mira shrugged. “None of my business then.”
After a while, Gemma left again to explore the games set up on the village green, around the large pile of wood for the bonfire. Meanwhile, the clock was ticking ever closer to this mysterious reveal. At the Golden River stall, things were picking up, too, with people disappearing behind the screens, and Mr. Sheffield silently rehearsing something from a set of cards. When Rue finally returned, holding three jars of honey and a loopy smile on her face, Mira felt both relief and dread when she stood up from her spot.
“There you are. I thought you forgot all about me over Kian’s dreamy eyes.”
“His-” Rue flinched and blushed. “Listen, a girl is allowed to flirt.”
“Of course. As long as you can take over for a bit?” Mira glanced at Mr. Sheffield, who was now whispering with his employees. She reached under the table, where she’d kept a special bottle all day and put that bottle into her pocket. “I’ve got somewhere to be.”
Twenty-Eight
Whenoneoftheteenagers in Golden River colours began to set up a microphone on a low platform, people began to notice. Slowly, a crowd began gathering around their stall, growing outwards from where the bright yellow stall was vying for their attention, and Mira had to all but elbow her way to the front. That might have elicited some annoyed retorts, but she couldn’t quite tell. Her heart was pounding, and her pulse was rushing in her ears. She also couldn’t find Yoni. Where was she?
Hovering close enough to the stall that she could see everything, Mira waited. Not long now. As soon as they-
She jumped a little when something wet touched her palm. Suppressing a gasp, she turned to look down and found Poppy, tongue out, looking up at her like the very picture of innocence.
“Hey. Everything all right?” Kayden leaned down to keep his voice low. “Have you seen what’s under that tarp?”
“No. I heard glass when they moved some boxes, though.” Which had done nothing but make her anxiety worse. What if itwas the water? But what if it wasn’t? “Doesn’t matter now. We’ll find out in a minute, I think.”
And indeed, a minute later everything seemed to be set up, and from somewhere behind the screens, Mayor Lloyd appeared. He exchanged a few words with Mr. Sheffield, then stepped behind the microphone.
“Hello?” He tapped the device, which echoed across the square. “Splendid.” He cleared his throat. “Welcome, everyone, to the annual Emberglen town fair! It’s lovely seeing all of you enjoying yourselves!” He gestured behind himself, where the employees had begun to remove the screens. “Now, this year, we have something a little different. Many of you have shopped at our very own Golden River store since it opened. It has given several of you much needed employment opportunities, and brought a selection of goods into our little town that have improved many of our lives. Today, though, they are not here to sell you anything. Indeed, in just a moment, Mr. Mumford Sheffield, local store manager, will tell you a bit about just what all Golden River has brought to us, and what else they intend on adding to our lives. And after that, I have been told there will be a special demonstration of a wonderful new product, free samples included.” That got an approving murmur from the crowd. “Now, I won’t further waste anyone’s time, and will simply let our dear Mr. Sheffield do the talking!”
Mira scowled as the mayor stepped aside. Really? Adding to their lives, were they?
“Do you think that manager wrote that for him?” Kayden whispered. Mira shrugged.
“If he didn’t, he might as well have though.”
She watched Mr. Sheffield closely as he straightened his cravat, stepped up to the now vacant microphone, and discreetly cleared his throat.
“Hello, hello!” He spread his arms wide. “Allow me to also say welcome to all of you. My, it’s good to see such a crowd! How wonderful that you are all enjoying our quaint little Emberglen so much.” His smile showed a little too much of his bright white teeth. “And on such a beautiful day, too! Oh, hopefully we will all enjoy many more such days together. We at Golden River believe in community, and for this community, we have amazing plans. Not only do we plan on expanding our store, mindful of our local peers of course, we also have exciting news to share!” He made a grand gesture towards the forest behind him, hidden by rows of houses as it was. “We love our communities. We want to see them grow and prosper. Our hope is to offer more opportunities in Emberglen and beyond, to ensure that we all thrive together.” He made a deliberate pause here, scanning the crowd. “Now, for that purpose, we are introducing a new product. It will be locally produced, providing even more employment opportunities, and will be shipped to all our locations, so everyone will soon know about this beautiful place and all that it has to offer.”
“Yes, whether it wants to or not,” Mira muttered. She heard Kayden snort, and Poppy gently woofed while she pressed herself against Mira’s leg, as if she could sense her anxiety. Maybe she could. Who knew with Poppy, really.
Mira’s heart skipped a beat when Mr. Sheffield turned to the lumpy shape behind him, where a teenager with averyforced smile was holding on to the tarp. She stuck her hand into her pocket and clutched the bottle, as if it might fall out if she didn’t hold on to it.
“So now, without further ado, allow me to present to you: Our very own Golden River water!”
The teenager removed the fabric with a clumsy flourish, revealing an artistically stacked number of boxes, decorated with a large version of the label that Mira had already seen, lumpy fountain and all. An excited murmur ran through thecrowd as he did. Whispers rose around her, and a strange buzzing settled in her ears. Itwasthe water. Theyweredraining the spring. How dare they-
