Cauldrons and Cat Tails (Moonvale Matches #2)

28. Tandor

CHAPTER 28

Tandor

T he critters in Rockward were entirely different from the ones in Moonvale. They were different species, of course, with completely different appearances and lifestyles. But their attitudes were different, too.

In Moonvale, they scurried around without a care in the realm. They weren’t necessarily brave, they still spooked easily, but they were carefree. They didn’t notice the folk much.

Here, they were slyer. Savvier. They were certainly harder to catch.

The small fluffy squirrels seemed to warm up to me as I continued to feed them. I had snagged a cookie for myself, and had grabbed an extra for Kizzi, but she clearly needed her space today. And I would give it to her, no matter how much it bothered me.

So, half of her cookie ended up being a bribe to lure the critters closer. And the other half was about to become a bribe as well.

I still hadn’t been able to pet the sneaky critters, no matter how close they darted to my boots to snatch the crumbs. They always scurried away before I was able to scratch their soft-looking backs.

My attention was snagged when a figure drifted into my line of sight. I glanced up, and then immediately straightened, surreptitiously dusting my hands off. “Oh, hey,” I said lamely. Kizzi looked greener than usual, her usually olive toned skin more of a pale sickly shade. “Having any luck?”

She nodded her head grimly. “I found a cauldron.”

“That’s great!” I stood awkwardly. “Why don’t you look happy? This is a good thing, right?”

She lifted her hand to her neck and rubbed. Hex was sitting there, and they liquified for a moment to avoid being squashed. It really was jarring, watching the living sludge move on its own. “It is a good thing. I am happy. It was just… expensive. I need to process for a moment.”

I grimaced. “How expensive?”

She shook her head.

Sympathy pinched my brows together. “That bad?” I asked.

“That bad.”

“Over fifty silvers?”

She winced. “Ten times that.”

I puffed my cheeks before letting the air rush out. “Fuck.” That much money would keep Ginger’s Pub operating for weeks. Months, maybe.

“Fuck,” she agreed.

“And you—you paid that?”

“I sure did,” she said solemnly.

I was impressed. I glanced from her messy, curly green hair tucked back behind her shoulders all the way down to her tidy black laced boots. For such a tiny witch, she sure was a savvy businesswoman. “Atta girl. Need a drink?”

She nodded quickly. “Or five. I need to save my last silvers, though. For… the other thing.”

I gestured in front of me to where Rockward’s pub could be seen further down the street. “I’ll buy you a cider, princess. It won’t be as good as mine, though. You’ll have to make do with something mediocre.”

Her cheek lifted at the corner. “I think I’ll survive with mediocre. Thank you.”

A fter two decent ciders and a few slices of cheesy bread, Kizzi was looking more like herself. The healthy color returned to her cheeks, and she looked less haunted. Less like she was seconds away from vomiting on the rock beneath our feet.

She drifted toward a witchy shop on the corner. I followed behind her. I had scanned the shops already, buying myself a few items, but not many—my desire to shop was dying out the longer I was away from home.

I had already secured a few pumpkins from a mountain farmer. I was giddy about them—I had already loaded them into the carriage. It was going to be a tight fit on the return journey.

Now, I just wanted to follow Kizzi around and watch her eyes light up as she spotted things that piqued her interest.

Much to my dismay, she was still being standoffish—still acting strange after our incident last night. And we still hadn’t talked about it. It pained me to lose the easy comfort that we built over the recent weeks. The closeness. The friendship.

Now she could hardly look me in the eye.

I couldn’t decide if it was worth it. The kiss had blown my mind, but if it was going to ruin the closeness between us… I wasn’t sure if I would take it back or not.

I missed her, even though she was standing right in front of me.

When we approached the shop, Kizzi turned, tilting her head back but not quite meeting my gaze. “You okay?” she asked.

“Of course,” I said, confused.

“Do you need to go look at anything else?”

I admired her pretty green eyes, the way they glimmered in the sunlight. “Are you trying to get rid of me, little witch?”

Her eyebrows pinched in a small wince. “I am. I’m sorry.”

“Is it that big of a secret?”

“It really is.”

My heart squeezed. “Are you going to keep it hidden the entire ride back to Moonvale?”

This seemed to stop her short. She stared at a spot over my shoulder. “I—I guess I must.”

I sighed. “Alright, do what you have to do.”

I wandered to a new bench while Kizzi slipped into the shop. The critters would surely appreciate another snack.

This time, a small bird took notice. It was a light gray color, about the size of an apple, with a shiny black beak. It gobbled up my cookie crumbs with no fear. It chomped its beak at me when I first attempted to stroke its feathers.

“Hey!” I admonished. “I just want to be your friend.”

I dropped a few more crumbs onto the ground. This time, the bird let me trace a gentle finger down the back of its head. A tiny wave of triumph lightened my spirits.

There was nothing better than befriending a new critter.

As I continued feeding the bird crumbs, my thoughts wandered home—back to Moonvale. Was Ginger doing alright without me? Was she handling the crowds? Suddenly, I missed the pub fiercely, along with the faun that owned it. She would have many colorful words for the situation I had gotten myself into with Kizzi. I would never hear the end of it.

I sat for what felt like a long time. Eventually, hunger began to gnaw at my stomach again. I decided it was time for another snack, and maybe a warm drink.

I wandered into a bakery.

I couldn’t help myself—I bought a treat for Kizzi as well. I knew she was low on silvers, and I knew she couldn’t resist a pastry. With two hot cocoas and a pouch full of mini pumpkin muffins, I strolled toward the witchy shop.

I would simply drop off the snack and then retreat, keeping my eyes to the floor to let her maintain her privacy. That was my plan.

The door was propped open. I stepped inside, determined to be swift.

But her words drifted to my ears.

“They’re so… shiny ,” her smooth voice uttered.

“You’ve got to be careful with them,” an unfamiliar voice said. “They can break enchantments, but they can also be used to create enchantments. Dangerous ones.”

“Believe me, I know. I’m trying to correct a mistake I made.”

The voice hummed. “Mind if I ask what happened?”

“It was a love potion,” she murmured.

The other folk gasped. “No!”

“Unfortunately, yes. Believe me, it was an accident.”

My mind whirled. She was trying to break… a love enchantment? That didn’t make any sense.

I cleared my throat to announce my presence, stomping my feet a little so it sounded like I just walked in. Kizzi whirled and slapped a hand over her chest. “Oh, Tandor! Hi!”

“Hi.” I smiled tightly. “Just brought you a snack.”

I thrust the mug and pouch of pastries at her. She accepted them tentatively, her face pulling into a strange frown. “Oh, that’s lovely. Thank you.”

The other witch shot Kizzi a pointed look. Her mouth dropped open in something that looked like disbelief.

The gears in my brain started turning.

I retreated to the front of the shop quickly, taking a sip of my own cocoa.

“Oh, by the way,” I cleared my throat awkwardly. “Do you need to borrow any silvers? For… whatever you need to purchase? I know that cauldron really drained you dry.” I shifted to the balls of my feet and then settled back on my heels again.

Kizzi dragged a hand through her scalp, yanking her fingers through any tangles she encountered. She sighed heavily. “I do, actually.”

I fished my coin pouch from my pocket. “How much do you need?”

She looked at the shopkeeper. “How much do I need? For the herbs… and also for the second thing.” She leaned over the counter to glance at something I couldn’t see from where I stood.

The shopkeeper looked worried. “I am really not supposed to?—”

“Please. You can trust me. How much?” Kizzi insisted.

A deep sigh echoed through the shop. “A hundred silvers.”

I nearly choked on my cocoa. “A hundred?” That wouldn’t drain my savings… but it would make a large dent.

Kizzi fluttered her hands nervously. “I’ll pay you back. With interest! I’ll pay you back two hundred!”

I examined her face for a moment. I knew she was good for it—her business slowed during some seasons, but it was always consistent. Someone always needed her brews.

And I simply couldn’t deny her.

I would buy the little witch anything she wanted.

“Sure. Of course.” I tossed the coin pouch onto the counter near the two women and dropped my gaze to my feet, careful not to appear too nosey. “Just bring back whatever’s left. I’ll be outside.”

“Thank you! Two hundred, I swear to the Old Gods!”

I flapped my hand at her. “I believe you.”

I slipped out of the shop and into the cold.

Puzzle pieces slowly clicked together in my mind as I decided to take a stroll along the base of the mountains. There were trails here, some leading up into the peaks, some weaving through the valley. I chose a simple-looking path, careful not to venture too far so I wouldn’t get lost.

Kizzi was trying to break a love potion enchantment.

I hadn’t caught a glimpse of whatever was lying on the counter, too shocked from the information that was revealed. Was there an ingredient that could counteract a love potion?

Who had she enchanted?

I knew love potions were outlawed, of course. Everyone did. The fact that Kizzi had cast one was cause for concern.

I considered how strange things were in Moonvale before our swift departure.

I thought about Linc, with his strange behavior and his vacant stare. Was he her target? Did Kizzi have feelings for the human? The thought wasn’t unbelievable—Linc was handsome, if a little strange. But she didn’t seem to appreciate his presence. I remembered how she had sighed and rolled her eyes when he had shown up.

My thighs burned as I picked up my pace, trudging the rugged terrain mindlessly, letting my thoughts wander as the path swept me away. A knee-height-tall critter crossed my path, but I paid it no mind. I didn’t even bother looking at it directly.

And then I remembered the other folk. How they had been acting… The strange behavior and vacant stares in the pub…

And it all clicked. I understood.

I barked out a humorless laugh that echoed off the rocky bluffs.

“Gods be damned, Kizzi.”