Cauldrons and Cat Tails (Moonvale Matches #2)

11. Tandor

CHAPTER 11

Tandor

G inger’s Pub hummed with a strange energy. I refilled goblets, delivered plates, and wiped down tables, trying to figure out where it was coming from.

My hands, still wrapped securely in the bandages and salve, didn’t ache nearly as fiercely as they had before Kizzi’s treatment. They barely even stung. I was able to use them as I normally would, with only minor hindrances.

I was hesitant to remove the bandages and look at my wounds beneath. I was occasionally a squeamish orc, especially when it came to my own injuries.

There were more folk in the pub than usual this early in the day. Folk that would normally be going about their daily tasks, running their businesses, or staying at home.

It was like they were… waiting for something. My mind flitted to Linc, and his strange behavior last night. He had appeared to be waiting, too. Like he was frozen—ready to move only when he received orders.

A small white cat was perched in the corner of the room, watching with alarmingly bright green eyes. It gazed at the crowd with an almost folk-like intelligence. I didn’t bother trying to shoo it away—I let the cats come and go as they pleased as long as they didn’t irritate anyone. They kept the more invasive critters away, like mice, squirrels, and spiders.

And they were cute to look at, too, if I was being honest. I often tried to pet them, but they usually didn’t let me. They were intimidating for some reason.

I recognized the critter—it was the same cat that had nearly tripped Kizzi before the potluck. Weird. I was seeing it everywhere.

“What’s up with everyone?” Ginger asked as she swept in front of me to drop a bowl off at a table of fae and witches.

“I’m not sure…” I answered. “I was wondering the same thing.”

I looked around, examining the pub’s patrons. Daine, the mothman from the grocery store, sat in the corner with Velline, both of them stiff and awkward. A few shifters hovered by the door looking like they might bolt at any moment. A pair of humans dined at the bar, but they spent more time staring into nothingness than they did eating. Everyone looked almost normal… but not quite.

“Well, if they’re paying customers, I suppose we’ll keep serving them how we usually do.” Ginger shrugged.

“This weird thing happened with Linc last night, do you think it has anything to do with it?” I asked. As the faun and I wandered back to the kitchen, I explained the situation that had occurred the night before in Kizzi’s apothecary. How Linc had shown up, insisting on coming in to speak with Kizzi, and was forced to leave. How I found him on a bench in the park with none of his wits about him. The crazed, faraway look in his eye. The way I dragged him home, mindless and compliant.

“Gods. That is strange,” she mused. “Late night at Kizzi’s, huh?” She raised an eyebrow knowingly.

I rolled my eyes. “She was helping me with my burns.” I held my hands out as proof. The neat bindings were beginning to loosen from how much I was using them.

“Sure. Whatever you say, Tandor.” She smirked at me. “I’ve seen the way you watch that little witch. Kizzi’s a treat—only a blind folk wouldn’t be interested.”

“Exactly!” I agreed.

“I knew it!”

“Wait, you tricked me!” I huffed out a sigh. “Okay, fine. I might be interested. I just find her lovely, is all. And interesting. And she’s so hardworking, always fixing up potions for everyone in town. And?—”

Ginger cut me off with a laugh. “Enough, enough, I get it. She’s amazing. Why haven’t you done anything about it?”

“I’ve tried! Well, I’ve sort of tried. Every time I feel like we’re having a moment, she clearly doesn’t feel the same way. I don’t think she even sees me.”

“You’re gigantic, it’s impossible not to see you,” she teased. “Have you tried telling her how you feel?”

I sighed. “No. I should, I know, but I’m not prepared to face that rejection yet. And she makes me so nervous . If things must stay exactly how they are, I’ll be content with that. I’ll take a few friendly words here and there rather than scaring her away forever.”

“I don’t think you’d scare her away. She likes your ciders too much.”

I elbowed her in the shoulder. “That's all I have going for me, huh?”

“Yes. But it’s better than nothing,” she agreed solemnly.

“Do you think I should go over there and check on her? She seemed pretty rattled after the Linc situation last night, and I’m afraid he’ll go back and bother her some more.”

“Go, go, check on your woman. Just come back before the evening dinner rush.”

I bent and plopped a kiss onto the top of her head, pulling my apron off and tossing it aside. “You’re the best, Ginny!”

She shoved me toward the door. “I know it. Good luck!”

I saluted her as I hustled out of the pub and practically ran to Kizzi’s apothecary.

T he shop was dark when I approached. Unnaturally dark. I couldn’t even see through the windows. I pressed my face to the glass to get a better look, trying to peek through the gaps in the curtains, but all I could see was thick, shadowy darkness.

Was she still sleeping? It was past midday. I knocked tentatively.

No answer.

I knocked again, louder this time.

Still nothing. A kernel of worry bloomed in my gut. Something about this didn’t feel right.

I knocked a third time, banging so hard that my healing hands ached. “Kizzi!” I shouted. “Are you in there?”

I heard a small rustling sound from inside. My ears flicked out, trying to gather as much of the sound as possible.

“Kizzi? Is that you?” I held my breath. I heard the strange rustling again, followed by a small, pained whimper.

“Kizzi!” I shouted. “I’m coming in!”

I yanked on the door with all my might, but the lock was solid. Probably enchanted to be un-pickable. The wood, though, didn’t seem to be enchanted.

I backed up, braced myself, and delivered a mighty kick to the center of the door. It buckled slightly. Yes!

I kicked the door again. And again. And again. Finally, wood splintered, and the door flew open.

I stormed inside. The first thing I noticed was that the darkness was indeed smoke—and it was suffocating. It billowed out the open door, seeking fresh air to taint. I yanked my tunic over my mouth and nose and dropped to the floor, where the air was less densely smokey. I felt around with my bandaged hands as I traveled the perimeter of the room on my hands and knees. “Kizzi! Where are you?!” I shouted, slightly muffled through the fabric covering my face.

The quiet whimper sounded again, closer to a groan this time. I crawled faster.

Slowly, the smoke began to clear.

What I saw made me pause. It wasn’t a fire that had caused the smoke, because nothing was damaged. There was no flame, no ash, and nothing was burnt. I tentatively got to my feet.

A flurry of movement in the far corner caught my attention. It was a fluttering, bustling mass of movement that I couldn’t quite distinguish.

Until I noticed a flash of green curly hair peeking out. I bolted for the corner. “Gods almighty, Kizzi!”

The mass broke apart into shimmering flashes of movement and dispersed, spreading throughout the shop. I hardly noticed—my attention was fixed on the small witch curled up on the floor.

Kizzi appeared to be asleep, but her position was unnatural. She was slumped sideways, partially propped against the shelf on the wall, and one of her arms was squashed beneath her.

“Can you hear me? I’m going to sit you up, alright?” I wasn’t sure if she could hear anything in this state, but speaking to her made me feel better. My heart was thundering in my chest.

Gently, carefully, I tucked a hand behind the nape of her neck, and the other grasped her shoulder. I slowly sat her upright, being cautious to keep her head still in case she was injured. A small rivulet of blood trickled from her ear. Her eyes fluttered, and she groaned again.

She began to slump, so I grasped her head with both hands, bracketing her gently but firmly. Her eyes fluttered again. “Wake up, Kizzi. You’re okay,” I insisted. My blood thundered through my veins with an almost painful ferocity, but I fought to keep my panic at bay.

A moment passed. Ten. Endless moments. Eventually, her eyes slowly opened. Her gaze was groggy, unfocused, but the green of her irises was the prettiest sight I had ever seen. I decided right then and there that green was my favorite color. I huffed out a sigh of relief.

“Tandor?” she asked, confused. “What are you doing here?”

“Did you fall? What happened?”

“I don’t know…” she mumbled. She tried to look around, but I held her still. Her eyes jumped to mine, startled.

“You were slumped on the ground. Are you hurt?”

She closed her eyes for a moment. “I ache, but I think I’m alright.” She lifted a hand to the back of her head, her fingers lightly brushing mine where they grasped her. She prodded her scalp for a bit and then brought her hand into her line of sight. “I’m not bleeding. I think I just bruised myself.”

“Are you sure? Your ear is bleeding. Do you need to go see Velline?”

“No, no. I can hear you—I’m fine.” She slowly looked around, and her eyes widened into saucers. “They’re back.”

“Who’s back? Nobody else is in here, Kizzi. Are you sure you didn’t hit your head too hard?” Worry flooded my thoughts. I leaned over to get a better look at where she hit the shelf.

“No, I’m okay. I promise.”

I didn’t want to release her, but she pulled my hands from her head and used them as a support to stand herself up. I let her.

She winced and gritted her teeth, but she was steady on her feet, and I took that as a good sign. I stood as well, hovering close in case she fell again.

“What happened? Do you remember why you were on the floor?” I asked gently.

She didn’t answer, instead her gaze danced around the shop. Her mouth held a small, serene smile, and her eyes glistened.

It was a punch to the gut, how beautiful she was. She nearly brought me to my knees.

I committed her expression to memory—I wasn’t sure what was causing the strange, wondrous reaction, but she was worthy of a painting.

I let her enjoy her moment. She slowly drifted over to a worktable and stretched her hand out, reaching for something. Her smile grew. “You came back,” she said quietly. I couldn’t quite see what she was reaching for—my eyes were having a hard time focusing. Something small shimmered, distorting the light.

Then it dawned on me. It was a sprite. I glanced around the shop, furrowing my brows, trying to focus my struggling vision, but the effort was futile. The sprites were everywhere—in every corner of the shop. I couldn’t quite see them straight on, but I could catch flurries of their movement out of the corner of my eye, and I could see them in my peripheral vision.

The sensation was disorienting. The way I couldn’t quite see them, even though I knew they were there.

Kizzi let the sprites dance over her fingers, climb onto her arms, settle into her hair. She seemed at peace with them. Happy, even. I had never noticed the small creatures in the shop before, but it was clear that she was familiar with them.

I stayed quiet, content to just observe the moment.

She laughed quietly and then her gaze flicked to the corner of the room, where her giant cauldron sat. The smile dropped off her face.

“Oh, fuck.”