"Actually," she said, "I could use some help cracking pecans.And maybe you could tell me more about the town while we work?"
"Excellent!"Walter brightened immediately.Walter gathered pecans and dropped them in the bottomless purse as she followed him around, holding it open to catch the nuts.When she felt they had enough, she waved him down and collected another pot of tea to take the chill off.He scurried inside using a squirrel sized door (had that been there?) and Wren followed, closing the door behind them.
The treehouse was properly warm now, cozy even.The oven glowed steadily.Her bed of blankets looked inviting.
“Tea?”she asked him, raising the pot in inquiry.
“I’d be delighted,” he said.“It would be a crime to pass up your magic tea.”
She set the soap and sponges on the counter, next to her gourd bowls and teacups, and emptied the pecans onto the burl wood island for Walter.The pile was too big for her little bowls, so while he got to work, she tried to grow bigger ones.
“Fascinating,” Walter said, watching her grow a set of large nested bowls while he worked.“Would you say intent has a lot to do with the finished product?”Walter selected a pecan and brought it to his mouth, cracking it efficiently with his teeth.The shell split cleanly and he worked the meat out with his tiny paws, dropping it into the bowl.His small hands worked quickly, extracting the meat and dropping it into the bowl, discarding the shells in a neat pile.
She blinked.“You know, I hadn’t thought about it, but you’re right.In my defense, it’s been a crazy day.”Between surviving monsters and discovering magic and everything, she hadn’t had a lot of time for thought.She put the bowls on the counter, handing him one for the nuts and another for the shells.
"So the town," Wren prompted."What's it like?"She glanced around, thinking she needed some shelves to organize her kitchen wares, and then blinked as they suddenly appeared.Well!That was a little unnerving, but handy.
"Oh, quite charming, really.Built partially into the cliff face—very sensible, keeps most of the living quarters above monster reach.There's a defensive wall around the lower sections, of course, where the market and shops are."Walter cracked another pecan."The Marshall keeps it well-protected.Jin's very good at his job."
"Jin?"
"The Marshall, Jin Zhao.And lieutenant Kenji—they work together, a very efficient team."Walter's whiskers twitched with approval."They coordinate the monster harvesting operations as well.Valuable work, that.The town needs the materials for the walls, you see."
Wren thought about that.Monster materials for walls.That's why people risked going out there.
"What do people...do?For work, I mean?"
"Oh, the usual.Farming in the protected gardens—very intensive, since space is limited.Crafters, merchants, the harvesting crews.There's a fellow named Viktor who owns quite a bit of land outside the walls.Very successful."Walter paused."Your property borders his, actually."
Something in his tone made her look up."Is that a problem?"
"Oh no, no.Just...interesting timing, that's all.The cursed farm has been empty for years.Many years.And now suddenly someone's living here."He cracked another nut."People will be very curious about you, madam."
"Cursed?"The word stuck in her throat."What do you mean, cursed?"
"Oh dear, did they not tell you?"Walter paused mid-crack."Well.Nothing grows here, you see.Normal crops, that is.Every farmer who's tried has starved or given up.The soil looks fine, but plants just wither and die.It's been that way for generations."
Wren looked out the window at her thriving grove of pun plants.The breadfruit tree heavy with loaves.The soapberry clusters.The silk tree's delicate blooms.
"But my plants—"
"Are clearly quite exceptional, madam."Walter resumed cracking."I've never seen anything like them.The town will be very interested, I assure you."
She stood up, restless suddenly.Trade.She could trade these things.The silk garments, the velvet clothes, the soaps.If she was going to survive here, she'd need money for the things she couldn't grow.
Like blue bulbs, apparently.
"I should organize," she said, more to herself than Walter."Figure out what I can sell."
She went outside and started harvesting.Careful selections—a few silk nightgowns and undergarments, some velvet jackets and skirts, clusters of soap, several gourd bowl sets.She brought them inside and began tucking them into her purse.She could have done that from the start, but she’d wanted to admire them.Maybe she’d needed to feel them, too, to assure herself that they were real.
The bag swallowed everything without getting heavier or fuller.Magical storage was going to be incredibly useful.
Walter watched with interest."Planning to visit the market soon?"
"I'll have to, won't I?"She paused."I can't exactly go into town in slippers though."She glanced down at her fleece—lined feet.They were wonderful for the house, but not for walking on roads or dealing with...whatever else was out there.
Back outside.Back to the shoe tree.
