Total pages in book: 182
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
I should’ve brought something sharp . . .
Around the back of the castle, I found a large field of Everlass. I saw two people amongst the plants, picking leaves and dropping them to the ground. I reasoned it must keep the plants healthy or something. Seemed like a shitload of work.
A huge, sprawling garden was set beyond the Everlass field. Several people worked within, picking things or weeding or doing whatever else gardeners did. Raz had usually dealt with all that stuff. I never had to bother. He hadn’t had this kind of help, though. I imagined he would’ve been happier if he had.
Five large work sheds stood along the far side of the garden, smoke rising from each. The area buzzed with activity. Gods help me, this operation was swarmed with people. How’d they stay out of each other’s way?
A dragon flew overhead. A dazzling green, this one was smaller than the one yesterday. It tilted its wings lazily, performing a half-circle overhead, its great head looking down at me. I watched it for a moment, loving the way it cut through the sky, before heading toward the gardens. I figured I could ask about the Moonfire Lily. Hopefully someone would know something.
Each grouping of plants was labeled with a little sign, the name written in the middle and a little flower symbol at the bottom corner. Some had a few of the same plant in each group, and some had as many as ten. After reading a few, I realized it was not just a flower symbol—the symbols changed from card to card. It must denote the type of plant. That was quite helpful. I gathered the flowers were right behind me, this group ahead had vegetables, and, as I continued, I found one with a sign for poison.
That was interesting. Did they just let anyone wander through this area, allowing free access to dangerous plants?
A stern voice called out, “May I help you?” indicating clearly, they did not.
I turned to find a late-middle-aged woman with perfectly styled graying hair, chestnut-colored eyes, and a regal air. She wore fancy flowered pants and a plain white top. She held sheers in her glove-adorned hands.
“Maybe,” I said as she walked over, full of authority. “There should’ve been a Moonfire Lily delivered here last night for potting. I wanted to check on it. It’s a little flower that glows pink and would have arrived in a bucket.”
She studied me silently for a moment, showing no reaction to my presence or words. I could tell she was wary. She looked at me like most people tended to, though I knew it wasn’t because she thought me magicless, but because I was a potentially dangerous stranger.
“Of course. Please, follow me.” She carefully stepped out of the way and motioned for me to go first.
“Sure, yeah, thank you. Um . . .” I headed out of the garden area. “Which way are we going?”
“Just that workstation over there.” She pointed at the far work shed, dingier than the rest. The structure looked much older than the others. “None of us knew the name of it, and only one of us has ever seen it before. It grows in the wild, right?”
“Yes. They like to hide. It’s hard to spot, even though it glows. I always keep an eye out for it. It’s easier to see with access to my wolf. At night, I mean. It’s nearly impossible to find during the day.”
She stepped sideways through the doorway, her eyes never leaving me. “Hannon, will you come out here, please?”
A man about Weston’s height with wide shoulders and trim hips walked through the door. A halo of red hair swirled around his head, and thick arms hung at his sides. The sun highlighted a bit of stubble along his strong jaw on an otherwise handsome face.
“Hannon, this is our guest from the Red Lupine kingdom,” the woman said. “She makes Granny’s drugs.” She turned to me. “Is that correct?”
“Yes.” I offered a light bow. “I’m Aurelia.”
“Hello,” Hannon said pleasantly, offering me a smile.
“Would you mind escorting her back to the castle?” the woman said. “She shouldn’t be wandering around the grounds on her own.”
My heart sank. “Could I at least see the flower? If you plan to let it die, you should at least pick the petals first.”
Hannon tilted his head as he looked at me, but didn’t comment.
“We do not plan to let it die,” the woman said. “It is pretty. We’ll plant it and examine its properties. Hannon, if you please?”
I pouted as he stepped closer, motioning for me to walk with him. At least Dante had promised to read with me. That would ease the boredom of just sitting in the tower.
“Are you a dragon, too?” I asked as we walked back the way I’d come.