Small kindness, but she'd take it.
The bells chimed again as she left. Cold air bit at her cheeks, sharp and clarifying. Two errands down, one to go.
The Griddle & Grind sat across the square, windows fogged with warmth and the promise of hot drinks. Maren almost walked past it entirely, but her tea supply had run low and Twyla stocked the good stuff. The kind infused with actual magic, not just wishful thinking.
She pushed through the door. Conversation didn't exactly stop, but it stuttered noticeably. Several faces turned her direction, expressions ranging from curious to cold.
Twyla Honeytree appeared from behind the counter like she'd been waiting. The fae-touched woman moved with unconscious grace, wheat-colored hair pinned up in a messy knot, light brown eyes bright with concern.
"Maren, sweetheart!" Twyla's voice carried across the café, warm and deliberately loud. "I was hoping you'd stop by."
"Just need tea," Maren said. "The nightshade blend, if you still have it."
"Of course I do. Made a fresh batch yesterday." Twyla bustled behind the counter, pulling jars and measuring leaves with practiced efficiency. "But first, you look frozen. Sit. Have something hot."
"I'm fine?—"
"Sit." Twyla pointed at a small table near the window. "I'm not letting you walk around in this cold without warming up first."
Maren recognized a losing battle when she saw one. She sank into the chair, setting her basket on the floor. Her shadows spread slightly, seeking warmth from the nearby hearth.
Twyla returned minutes later with a steaming mug and a small paper-wrapped package. "Chamomile with honey and a touch of starflower. Good for nerves." She set both down and patted Maren's shoulder. "On the house."
"Twyla, you don't?—"
"Hush. It's cold, you need warming, and I've got more tea than sense." Twyla's smile carried edges of sadness. "Besides, someone should be kind to you today."
Maren's throat tightened. "Thank you."
"Don't mention it." Twyla squeezed her shoulder once before returning to the counter, immediately engaging a new customer in loud, cheerful conversation about weather and gossip.
Maren wrapped her hands around the mug and sipped. The tea burned going down, but in a good way. Warm and sweet and exactly what she needed.
She tried not to think about why Twyla felt compelled to show her kindness. Tried not to hear pity in the gesture.
The package contained her nightshade blend, already measured and wrapped. Maren tucked it into her basket and finished her tea quickly. The longer she stayed, the more people stared.
Outside again, she breathed easier despite the cold. The apothecary sat just down the street, Freya's familiar green-painted door a welcome sight.
Maren pushed inside to find Freya grinding something in a mortar, the sharp scent of eucalyptus filling the air. Sage sat on the floor surrounded by dried flowers, sorting them by color with intense concentration.
"Maren!" The little girl scrambled up, abandoning her project entirely. "You came back!"
"I did." Maren crouched down, letting Sage approach on her own terms. "What are you making?"
"Flower patterns. See?" Sage pointed at her careful arrangements. "Purple ones are sleepy flowers. Yellow ones are happy."
"They're beautiful."
Sage beamed, then reached out without warning and tugged at Maren's dress. "Show me shadows?"
Maren glanced at Freya, who nodded permission while continuing her work. "Alright. But gently, remember?"
She let her shadows unfurl slightly, the thin ribbons of darkness curling through the air between them. Sage's eyes went wide with delight.
"Pretty!" The little girl reached out with both hands.
The moment Sage's fingers touched shadow, something shifted.
