Cauldrons and Cat Tails (Moonvale Matches #2)

30. Kizzi

CHAPTER 30

Kizzi

I slipped into the witchy shop, hot cocoa in hand, a smile permanently etched onto my mouth.

It was time to haggle for some dragon eggs. I would do whatever it took to bring those treasures home with me, lest Fiella skin me alive.

Tandor drifted in the door behind me, close enough that I could feel his breath rustling my hair. I enjoyed his proximity. I had gotten used to him being around during our travels, but the newness of him being so close was invigorating.

I feared I was becoming addicted to him.

Hex curled up on my shoulder, tucked under my hair in a manner that was becoming their favorite way to travel. They liked their jar fine, but they preferred to look around. To see things.

They were nosey just like me.

I had briefly described the dragon situation to Tandor as we laid in bed together in the dark. I hadn’t explained much, but I hadn’t needed to. He was on board with my plan immediately.

I was going to bring a live dragon egg home to Moonvale.

The witch brightened as I entered. “Kizzi—back so soon! Did you need something else?”

I donned my friendliest, sweetest smile. “I’m back to talk about the eggs.”

She looked puzzled. “The eggs? You already bought all the dragon eggshell powder I have.”

I shook my head, still smiling. “The eggs. The whole eggs.”

Her eyes rounded. “Oh! Oh. I’m afraid those aren’t for sale.”

Tandor stepped up behind me, placing a supportive hand on my shoulder. “The price isn’t an issue,” he insisted. “We can pay.”

I grabbed his fingers and squeezed for a moment, grateful for the backup. I was stone cold broke, and his coffers would be funding this purchase.

She shook her head. “That’s not it. They’re fossilized. Practically relics. They’ve been sitting in a Rockward mine for hundreds of years. If they’re going to hatch, they’ve always hatched in the warm lagoons deep below the mountains.” She glanced between me and Tandor with a pained look on her face. “They’re not supposed to leave the town.”

I clasped my hands under my chin in a pleading gesture. “Please? It’s been hundreds of years. Thousands. They’ll probably never hatch. What’s the harm? If they don’t hatch before next Hallow’s Eve, I’ll bring them back.”

She considered this. “I’d have to discuss this with the coven.”

I nodded quickly. That wasn’t a hard no. “Of course! I expected as much. That’s no problem at all!”

Tandor’s hand on my shoulder squeezed. “We have to hit the road soon—we need to make it back to Moonvale by Hallow’s Eve.”

The witch sighed. “Come back when the suns start to set. I’ll see what I can do.”

I held down a squeal and cleared my throat. “Of course! Thank you!”

A fter a stroll around the perimeter of town to kill some time, Tandor and I settled into a pub for a late lunch of mulled wine, fluffy pretzels, and dippable cheese.

Tandor popped a cheese-loaded bite of pretzel into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. I watched his throat as it worked, entranced by the muscles. I shifted in my seat.

“So,” he started as he dabbed at his mouth with a napkin. “Dragons, huh?”

I nodded. “Dragons.” I brought my mug to my mouth, letting the hot mulled wine pour over my tongue.

“What if they actually hatch?”

I smiled at this. “That’s the goal. Fiella made me swear that I would bring her an egg—she’s convinced that her presence will crack the fossilized shell.”

He snorted out a laugh. “She thinks that, huh?”

“Could you imagine—a tiny dragon running around Moonvale? Frolicking in the trees, splashing in the river, playing with the local cats.”

He tilted his head. “That would definitely keep things interesting.”

“Maybe the coven will have some ideas. It’s been ages since anyone has tried to hatch a shell—the rest of us assumed they were completely extinct. Gone. Poofed out of existence when the Old Gods abandoned us.”

“I had always assumed they were gone. Just stories in fairytales.”

“Exactly! I’m sure if we really put our minds to it, we can figure something out.”

Hex stirred on my shoulder, reminding me they were there. I pointed at them.

“Like Hex! Familiars are supposed to be a thing of the past. But somehow, some way, they exist.” I stroked a finger over Hex’s slimy surface. I only cringed a little at the off-putting texture.

Tandor hummed in contemplation. “Good point. That is peculiar. Maybe it’s you—maybe you’re the secret ingredient that will finally crack those eggs open.”

I snorted out a laugh. “Funny.”

He smiled broadly. “I’m serious! There’s something special about you.”

A flush rose in my cheeks. “You’re just saying that because you like me.”

“I’ve been thinking that for years, actually.”

“Oh?”

He nodded sagely. “The first time I used one of your potions, a headache reducing blend, I knew you were special. You are a rare talent.”

Warmth bloomed in my chest. “I just practiced. Anyone can do that.”

He allowed me to dodge the compliment. “If you think that’s all it is. We’ll just have to see. What do you think Mayor Tommins is going to say?”

My smile dropped. “I hadn’t considered that.”

“You traveled the entire realm to find a dragon egg and didn’t consider if you would actually be allowed to have it?”

“I had bigger concerns!”

“Right,” he snorted. “Does he know about the love potion?”

“Gods, no!” I couldn’t imagine how angry he would be if he found out my plan. It didn’t deter me from it, not even close. But it did make me apprehensive. An angry gryphon was not something I wanted to deal with any time soon.

“He was influenced by the love potion too, wasn’t he? I remember how weird he looked when he dropped into your apothecary.”

I slumped in my seat. “He might’ve been.”

Tandor barked out a loud laugh. “That’s incredible.”

I slapped him on the shoulder. “It’s not incredible! It’s awful!”

“It’s funny,” he insisted.

I grumbled, “Fine. It’s a little funny,”

“How are you going to cure them all? Convince them to eat another batch of chili?”

I considered this. “That’s actually not a terrible idea.” My chili hadn’t been the most delicious item at the potluck, but folk hadn’t gagged when they ate it, and I considered that a win.

“I was joking!”

“I know, but it’s not the worst idea.” And then a better idea came to me. I gasped, turning to grasp his wrist. “I know what we can do!”

He looked suspicious. “I don’t like that look on your face. You’re up to something.”

“No, I’m not!”

“Spit it out, little witch,” he sighed in resignation.

“Put it in your cider! We’ll only need to use a tiny pinch, there should be enough powder in that jar to cure the entire town.”

He grimaced. “My recipes are exact, Kizzi. They’ve been perfected. I can’t just toss powder into the barrel. What if it alters the taste? I don’t want the entire town thinking I’d willingly serve them gross cider.”

I shook his wrist. “You big baby. I would never ruin your precious brews. What if we just sprinkle a little bit into the bottom of the goblets as you serve drinks? That way, it’ll get to every folk.”

He looked like he was going to protest, but then he considered. “That might actually work.”

I grinned in triumph. “Of course it’ll work! Everyone loves your drinks. We can catch them before Hallow’s Eve.”

“You’re full of ideas, aren’t you?”

I nodded, releasing his wrist to pick up my warm mug. “Stick around and you might find out.”

He smiled warmly. “I certainly plan to.”

T he witchy shop was dark when we returned, the enchanted lights extinguished. A “closed” sign was hung on the front door.

I knocked anyway. “Hello?”

The door slowly creeped open with a resounding creak.

Tandor looked at me questioningly. “After you?”

“Sure, let the lady enter first after the creepy door opened by itself.”

He smiled. “You’re the one with the magic. You can protect us if there are any monsters in there.”

I stepped forward to enter, but Tandor slipped an arm around my waist and tucked me behind him. “I’m joking, I would never send you first into danger, imagined or not.”

That warmed my insides.

We entered.

There were no monsters.

The shop was dark, all curtains drawn tight to keep the light of the setting suns out, but a small candle in the back allowed me to see.

“Hello?” I asked.

Hushed whispers sounded somewhere in the back of the shop. A quiet, nervous muttering.

“...Oh, protect us, Old Gods, keep us safe from the wrath of the dragon flame. Let these eggs remain whole…”

The witch was crouched on the floor, praying. That couldn’t be a good sign. I glanced at Tandor to find him looking as nervous as I felt. His dark brows were furrowed, his mouth a taut line.

I cleared my throat. “Did your coven come to the decision? Can I buy the egg?”

The witch rose to her feet, glancing at me nervously. “The coven has decided. You can take the eggs, yes. But you must be careful with them. There are three, and they must stick together. You must dedicate your life to protecting them.”

I gulped. A little more intense than what I was expecting, but I respected the passion. “Okay, sure. Done. I’ll protect the eggs. How much do we owe you?”

Her eyes widened. “With your life, you must protect them with your life . Your essence, your very being. You will be The Hand of the Dragons.”

Hex shuffled on my shoulder, slinking closer to my neck. I glanced at Tandor, but he simply shrugged, leaving the decision up to me. He slipped a hand over my other shoulder and squeezed reassuringly.

The Hand of the Dragons was a pretty badass title—it did the opposite of discouraging me.

I straightened my spine in an attempt to look more powerful. “I will protect the dragon eggs with my life.”

“Do you swear it to the Old Gods?”

“I swear it to the Old Gods.”

This seemed to satisfy the witch—her strange intensity eased, and a smile stretched across her face. “Great. Glad we got that settled. That’ll be three hundred silvers.”

Tandor coughed. Twice. And then he composed himself. “Three hundred silvers. For eggs that might never hatch. Great. Of course.” He pulled out his coin pouch with trembling fingers.

The witch grabbed the pouch from his hand, deftly sorting out the appropriate payment before tossing the pouch back to Tandor, almost empty. He missed it—the pouch smacked his chest before dropping to the floor. He fumbled as he bent to pick it up.

The witch drifted to the back corner of the shop, grabbing a large woven basket lined with blankets. She dropped it on the counter in front of us.

“Well, here you are. Three dragon eggs.”

Nervously, I approached to take a peek.

Three shiny, scaled eggs sat nestled in the blanket. They were about the length of my forearm and perfectly ovoid. Magic radiated from the eggs in sweet, eye-watering waves.

I had the sudden strange desire to drop to my knees. They were the most beautiful things I had ever seen.

Fiella was going to lose her mind.