After a few minutes of listening to the tumult of the city, I cleared my throat. “What business do you have in New York?”
Auggie blinked, as if remembering where he was. He sent me a cautious look. “My aunt. I received news that she’s sick, so I’m going to see her.”
“I see. And you’re close to your aunt?”
Auggie hesitated. “Hardly. I only met her once. I didn’t think she wanted anything to do with me, yet she summoned me.”
“And you’re going? Why?”
“Because she needs me.”
If what I saw at the pub was any indication of the lengths he would go to do right, it wouldn’t get him far.
“She also has money,” Auggie added, and I lifted an eyebrow.
He smiled back at me tightly. “It takes money to fund scientific research.”
“Ah, yes.” I nodded, leaning back into my seat. “The alchemy.”
Auggie’s eyes darted around briefly. “Can we … keep a lid on the A-word? It makes people nervous. It’s hard for people to understand that not all magic is a result of demons and witches.”
“I can do that. It just fascinates me, is all.”
“As it should.” He turned to the window as the road out of town leveled off. “We appear to be heading toward witch territory, are we not?”
“No, no, no,” I said. “I’m not in that big a hurry to reach Bristol that I would sacrifice our lives. The driver will ride parallel to it. Won’t add but an extra hour to the journey. And being that close is risk enough.”
Auggie nodded his agreement.
The witch Morgana claimed most of the southern coast as part of her domain, and she only allowed trade to the mainland and access to specific fishing grounds, so Bristol was the closest port taking passengers. But it was Ambrosia’s territory we would have to circumvent. Witches didn’t seem to care what difficulties their lands posed to humans, and most, like Ambrosia, did not take kindly to trespassers.
We traveled for an hour, talking about some of the herbs and spices that Auggie had discovered held medicinal properties. It was different from potion-making, but some of the plant abilities he mentioned made sense, given that they were enhanced by many of the potions I made. His ways certainly didn’t hold a candle to the magic I performed, but I could also see why the Council of Witches might find his innovation threatening. If humans had no need for witches, if they could get by without our services, well … the tide could turn against my kind very quickly. Humans left witches alone for the most part because of how useful witches could be. But if we hadn’t been deemed useful, it would be a different story. Likewise, we needed humans to give us payment. In the same way Lucifer needed their souls. They were necessary.
I was eyeing the fence that marked Ambrosia’s territory when Auggie abruptly changed topics. “Tell me about yourself. What do you do for a living? And your parents.”
I took a moment to answer, smiling at him sheepishly. “I’m a shopkeeper. My parents were also.”
“Were?”
I nodded, unwilling to say more about them.
“What sort of shop do you run?” he asked.
“It’s a shop of … herbs and spices, I suppose,” I said. That was true enough. “I suppose that’s why I’m so entranced by your alch—” I cleared my throat. “Rather, your … predilection for medicinal herbs. I wasn’t completely aware of the properties you’ve mentioned myself. My shop is utilized mostly by … cooks.”
Auggie’s eyes were wide, and I had to avert my eyes to keep from being dazzled by them. “Truly? You must let me visit sometime. Is it a large shop?”
I opened my mouth to reply, but at that moment, the carriage stopped short as the horses whinnied, terrified. Auggie was thrown to the floor, but I managed to stay in my seat. I pushed the window down and poked my head outside, letting in the sound of the driver’s desperate reassurances to the steeds.
My eyes snapped to the side of the road, where a figure stood on a pedestal. Much like the portal in my shop, this was a tree stump, runes glowing an angry red, as if it had just been activated. The figure who stood upon it must have just appeared, frightening the horses. I squinted at them; they were covered in layers of what appeared to be black gauze that undulated. What was it?
I had only a moment’s notice from the sound of hoofbeats and pulled my head in through the window as something slammed into the side of the coach. Chaos erupted immediately. The horses bolted for the shoulder of the road, causing the carriage to careen briefly on two wheels before crashing onto its side. It tumbled down a short embankment that had Auggie and me thrown about inside like ragdolls. My head slammed into the wall and stars momentarily burst across my vision until, all at once, darkness washed over me.
When I came to, everything was still.
My head felt like it was split open, and I groaned as I gazed up at the open door of the coach overhead, allowing me a glimpse of blue sky.
“Auggie?” I asked, my voice weak. I coughed, then tried again, louder. “Auggie?” I blinked at my surroundings. Auggie was not in the compartment with me. I frowned, wincing. I stood and opened my pack to find Therese sitting quietly, as if nothing whatsoever was the matter. Good. That was good.
