Page 6 of Chasing the Night

My heart hammered in my chest. The longer she took, the louder it became. When my own pulse began to deafen me and I was unable to stand it a moment longer, I tried to anticipate which herbs and tonics she might ask for. I set them out in a neat row that could easily be swept back into my basket if I needed to run.

Dragons blood, fennel, mandrake and willow were quickly produced. My fingers hovered over the Nirvana Root. I decided against it. While physicians could possess it, there was no protection from the law to those who sold it.

“Leeches are low. Mint’s always in short supply in the spring. Seems they all catch at once, you know.” The woman nervously filled the silence while the disgust inadvertently registered across my high cheekbones. “Snails! As they get ready for the summer and the warring season the forge always has an accident or two. Dagma the Smith was miserable year before last. His apprentice mistepped and had liquid ore everywhere. Poor thing suffered fiercely. We didn’t think the snails would ever be delivered. Truth to be told, he was probably half healed before they came.”

She sighed and shook her head while I smiled and calculated in my own.

“Oh… and the Root. Them wars bring wounds. The Doc will want some Root on hand for his surgeries,” she added thoughtfully before tucking a few strands of blond hair behind her ear.

“I’ll send a shipment of snails on the morrow,” I patiently promised while setting down the mint. I took a hesitant breath and gripped the Nirvana Root. The thick leafy bundle of pungent narcotic was laid amongst the rest of the goods. It was a generous amount, perhaps the size of a large smudge stick.

As if cued by the thought, I reached down and gathered a few bundles of sage to add to the lot.