He shrugs, pushing my hair back and retaking my hand. “Well, Cary managed it.”
“I will get you a drink, Cary,” Morveren says and disappears into the back of the shop.
I shake my head. “Magic is real.”
“It is indeed.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I think it’swonderful,” I say fervently.
“It has been a very odd morning for you,elskling.” His eyes crinkle.
“You have no idea,” I say, and he laughs.
Morveren appears and hands me a cup. “Hot chocolate,” she says. “Made by my own hand.”
I take a sip and cough. “Brandy?”
Her eyes twinkle again. “I have learnt that brandy improves most of the drinks you humans consume.”
I take another sip and hum appreciatively. It’s sweet, and I feel warmth spreading through me. “Is this magic, too?” I ask.
“I think hot chocolate is magic enough without tinkering with it, yes?”
I nod and sip the drink, feeling a little like a small child as they discuss an order Sigurd wants to place, but I can’t deny it’s good to have the opportunity to be quiet and sit with what I now know. Sigurd and Morveren appear so normal—just two friends chatting—and if I didn’t know better, I wouldn’t guess they’re magical beings. But now I see the signs. Their eyes are a little brighter than a human’s, and there’s an edge of wildness and unpredictability in their gestures, the way they stand, the way they interact with the world.
A display case in the glass counter draws my attention, and I lean closer. It’s full of woven leather bracelets, and their sturdy delicacy is beautiful. One in particular catches my eye. It’s brown leather woven into a tight plait, with tiny gold specks embedded within the leather.
“You like them, Cary?”
I look up at Morveren. “They’re beautiful,” I say softly, and her eyes gleam with pleasure.
“Thank you.”
“Did you make them?”
She nods and withdraws the case, setting it on the counter. “Which one took your eye?” I open my mouth to answer, but I close it when she runs her fingers along the bracelets and then pauses to take out the bracelet I was looking at.
She offers it to me and I hold it in my palm. The leather has a curious feel. It’s weathered-looking but soft as silk.
“This is a special bracelet,” she says gravely. “It is designed to hold a charm.”
I smile at her. “Really? My mother had one of those. I used to play with the charms when I was little.”
She exchanges a look with Sigurd that I don’t think I’m supposed to see and then turns to me. “Ah, no. This is designed for one charm only.” She digs into the case and holds up a small merman charm. He has long, carved hair, and his eyes are two sapphires. “Like this. Do you like this one?”
The atmosphere in the shop suddenly changes. The air grows warm, and I hear a sound like wings beating. Then the shop door blows open, and a hot breeze rattles the shutters and makes the wind chimes jump and give off a cacophony of noise.
Morveren doesn’t seem bothered. Instead, there’s a wild look in her eyes, and she laughs. Then she puts up her hand. “Peace.Sopossessive.”
I look around, but there’s only Sigurd standing there. He’s watching her, his head cocked to one side.
“Sorry?” I say.
She turns to me. “You shall pick your own charm. A gift from me.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I immediately protest.
“But I do,” she says steadily.
