Cauldrons and Cat Tails (Moonvale Matches #2)

16. Tandor

CHAPTER 16

Tandor

I parked myself at a bench in the town square, my bag tucked beside my feet as I waited for Kizzi’s arrival. I had a soft, light cloak tucked around my shoulders. It wasn’t quite chilly enough for the cloak to be a necessity, but the air smelled like frosted leaves, so I knew the weather would be cooling down very soon.

Excitement thrummed through my veins. I loved to travel. Moonvale was my favorite place in the realm, but every opportunity to visit a new town was an opportunity I latched onto. Something about meeting new folk, trying new things, eating new foods, made me feel alive .

A squirrel scurried near my feet, chirping happily with an acorn in its mouth. It was headed toward the forest. I bent over, placing my upturned hand on the ground, wiggling my fingers in what I hoped was an encouraging manner. I wanted the squirrel to approach so I could pet its fluffy back. To my dismay, it didn’t—but it didn’t look terrified, either. It just continued on its path.

The park was quiet this morning. Only the delicate sounds of scurrying critters, wind whistling through leaves, and my own calm breathing broke the silence.

Until the crunching stomp of boots plowing through leaves approached. I smiled. For such a tiny witch, she sure was noisy.

Kizzi strode to the bench and plopped down beside me, wordlessly dropping her bag and thrusting a mug of tea into my hand. I startled, not expecting the gesture. I held the mug out awkwardly for a moment. Maybe she just wants me to carry it for her?

She lifted her own mug to her mouth and took a sip. She gestured at me with her raised elbow. “Lemongrass and mint, today. It’s good.”

I nodded slowly, watching her. Her green hair was weaved back into a tight braid, keeping it off her face and making her pointed ears more prominent. She also had a light cloak tossed over her shoulders, but where mine was brown, hers was a soft lilac color. Underneath, I could see the crisp white fabric of a tunic peeking out, as well as a long flowy skirt. Her eyelids were dusted with something shimmery. Crystal powder, maybe?

“Try it.”

I nodded again, but I slowly lifted the mug to my mouth, slow enough that she could stop me if she was joking. She didn’t.

I sipped the tea gently to avoid being burned. It was delicious. It tasted green, light and refreshing. The heat was a nice contrast to the cool morning air.

We sat in companionable silence for a while, watching the critters scurry by as we drank our teas. I pondered how she was going to ride a horse with a skirt and corset on, but I didn’t dare voice the question out loud. Surely, she had her ways.

The fluffy white cat I had seen around town sat across the park, perched on a bench. Watching. Its tail swished idly back and forth.

Kizzi pulled out a pouch from the bakery and reached inside, silently handing me a muffin with berry jam on top. I accepted it hesitantly. She scarfed her own muffin down with gusto, getting crumbs everywhere, which she idly brushed to the ground. A squirrel ran between her feet to collect the crumbs. She sat perfectly still so as not to disturb the small critter.

I resisted the urge to bend down and attempt another pet. I enjoyed my muffin at a more leisurely pace, purposely dropping crumbs so the squirrels would come near my feet instead.

Kizzi’s eyes flitted to my hands. “Your burns healed pretty nicely, didn’t they?”

I nodded, setting my breakfast aside and spreading my fingers so she could see my palms in their entirety. “They did. Not a single scar.”

“Wow,” Kizzi said appraisingly. “Not too bad for an apothecary witch.”

I cracked a smile. “Not too bad indeed. I didn’t even have to bother Velline at the healing clinic.”

She smiled back. “She wouldn’t have minded, but I’m glad we were able to take care of it.”

I nodded in agreement. “What do you say? Are we ready to start this journey?”

She stood, gathering our mugs and hoisting her bag onto her back. “I’m ready, let me just drop these mugs off and then we can head on our way. Hopefully they have two good horses at the stables right now.”

T hey did not have two good horses at the stables right now.

There was only one, and it was… scraggly. Tiny and brown and barely larger than a donkey. It looked like it would struggle to carry Kizzi—my weight would probably be enough to snap its poor back.

“Are you serious?” I asked the stablemaster—a fae man that looked to be around my age, just past his thirtieth year. “This is it?”

The man nodded. “This is it. Quite a few folk are traveling right now. The other horses are out on their journeys.”

“Moonvale really needs more horses,” I mumbled under my breath. Louder, I said, “Can it even make it through the Barren Lands? It looks fragile.”

The Barren Lands were the harsh, uninhabitable stretch of desert that separated Moonvale from the other towns in the realm of Aldova. The Barren Lands were dry, leeched of every ounce of magic. Legends described the Barren Lands (once known as The Wild Lands) as a thriving oasis, full of unique critters and the most beautiful foliage in the whole realm. When the Old Gods abandoned the realm so many lifetimes ago, they destroyed the magical soul of the oasis, leaving us with a desolate and deadly landscape.

“Um… maybe?” the boy said hesitantly.

“Maybe! I don’t feel great about that answer.” I sighed in exasperation.

“You are quite big… this horse usually carries smaller folk.”

“I can tell! It’s practically a mouse!”

I glanced at Kizzi to find her a few paces away, covering her mouth with her hands and trying to stifle her laughter. She was shaking with the effort. I glared at her.

“Oh, wait,” the man said. “I have an idea!” He bolted from the stables and around the back, disappearing from view.

Kizzi’s laughter slipped free with a wild, choked snort.

“You shut up!” I griped. “It’s not my fault that the only horse here is the size of a squirrel!”

Tears of mirth slid down her cheeks. “I just can’t stop picturing you on that horse’s back,” she blurted out between giggles. “You’re bigger than she is! You ought to carry her through the Barren Lands!”

“Find another travel companion, then.” I crossed my arms across my chest and tilted my head in mock outrage.

She just flapped her hand at me. “You have to admit, it’s funny.”

“It’s not that funny,” I grumbled.

The man returned from behind the barn, dragging a wooden monstrosity behind him. He huffed and heaved with the effort, but the thing slowly rolled in our direction.

It was… I supposed it could be considered a carriage. It looked more like a giant covered wheelbarrow.

It was large—large enough to fit three smaller folk if they squeezed in tightly—and it sat on four sturdy iron wheels. It was vaguely square in shape. Old holes had clearly been patched with whatever scrap wood was lying around. Four wooden stakes held up a makeshift roof. The man hastily pulled a sheet off it—it was certainly in storage for a long time.

It was hideous. An absolute monstrosity.

“What is that?” Kizzi asked, her laughter reigniting. “A cottage on wheels? Don’t let Redd see it, he’ll drop dead.”

“It’s a carriage,” the man said defensively. “It’s perfect! You two can sit inside with your gear, and the horse can pull it. And the horse’s back won’t snap in two. Everybody wins!” His grin was tight and pleading.

“Well…” I said. “It’s not gorgeous but I guess it does solve our problems.”

Kizzi nodded in agreement. “They’re not going to let us into the other towns, it’s so ugly. I love it. It’s perfect, we’ll take it.”

The man sighed in relief. “Five silvers, please.”

I choked. “Five? For that hunk of junk?”

“It’s a rare carriage…”

Kizzi tossed me an admonishing glare and presented the man with a handful of coins. “Thank you very much for your help. We will return it before Hallow’s Eve.”

The fae man collected the silvers and then scurried away without another word—scrambling to harness the scrawny horse and get it hooked up to the carriage.

This was going to be a long, slow trip…

The thought didn’t bother me as much as it should have.

I held an arm out in a grand gesture. “After you, my lady.”

Kizzi snorted and rolled her eyes, but she stepped up to the carriage door without complaint, yanking it open and tossing her bag inside. She immediately grabbed the bag and frantically peeked inside, sighed quietly, and then tucked it gently into the corner.

Then she hiked up her skirts and climbed deftly into the carriage. I yanked my gaze away when I caught a glimpse of a smooth, exposed thigh.

I allowed myself two deep breaths. And then I followed her, tossing my bag beside hers on the floor of the carriage. She stuck out a booted foot to prevent our bags from smashing together. The stablemaster beckoned me forward and briefly instructed me on how to control the horse from the carriage. The mechanics were roughly the same as riding horseback, but if the horse decided to go rogue, we were screwed. There would be no stopping it.

“It should be fine,” the man assured halfheartedly. “Have a safe journey!”

I gritted my teeth and patted the man on the shoulder. “Thanks! Wait! Does the horse have a name?”

“It’s Daisy.” He saluted me and hurried away without another word.

“Let’s go, captain!” Kizzi called from the carriage. “Let’s see how fast this baby goes!”

I laughed, shaking my head. “Let’s just try to focus on crossing the Barren Lands in one piece.”

She crossed her arms. “You’re no fun.”