The witch pushed her braids over one shoulder. “Mine appeared when I saved my niece from drowning a few years ago. We were headed to Oak Harbor, and she fell overboard.” Her honey eyes glistened. “I dove in, and I’m not even sure how I reached her. It felt like I was swimming for minutes, and I couldn’t see her because it was so dark the deeper I went. But I felt a hand brush mine, and by some miracle, we both made it to the surface in time. I still don’t understand how it was possible. I’m terrible at holding my breath.”
Orelia found herself drifting closer, wanting to offer her fellow witch some comfort. “Maybe because it was a life-or-death situation your body helped you reach her. It knew you needed to save her.” She placed her hand atop the woman’s tattooed one. “What you did was good, and I’m sorry I judged you before I knew you. I only know what I’ve read, so I just assumed . . .” Orelia trailed off, feeling like a naive fool.
The witch gave her a gentle smile. “You’re too sweet for this place, love. Ricaboro will eat you alive if you’re not careful.” She plucked the necklace Orelia had been eyeing off the hook and handed it to her. “What little corner of the world are you from?”
“Minro.” Orelia took the necklace and smoothed her thumb over the small emerald. “This is stunning. I’ve never held a gemstone before.”
The woman cocked a decorated brow. “Never?”
Orelia couldn’t stop smiling at the fine cut jewel resting in her hand. “Never.”
“I don’t know much about Minro, only that it’s a small place. First time in Ricaboro?”
As the witch had been nothing but kind, Orelia relaxed and sidled up next to the stand. “Is it that obvious?”
The woman chuckled and waved a hand in front of her. “You do have that ‘first timer’ look about you.”
“Funny. Someone else said that to me earlier.” Orelia stuck her hand inside Vade’s coin purse, giving the witch a playful grin. She held up the necklace. “How much?”
“Eight silver.”
Her eyes widened. “Eight? That’s it? But this is a gemstone. It must be worth, well, more than eight.”
“You can give me more if you’d like.”
Orelia had never haggled, but she didn’t want to be taken advantage of like Vade had warned, so she offered five silver.
The witch tapped her long, sharp nails on the table. “Can’t let it go for that much, love.”
Orelia twisted her lips to the side. “Six?” The emerald appeared legitimate, and the gold chain looked real enough, but she couldn’t really tell.
Another shake of the merchant’s head as she played with one of her braids. “No can do.”
“Let’s call it seven,” she said with her chin held high.
The witch chuckled and smacked her palm on the table. “You’ve got a deal, Minrosian.”
Orelia handed her the money, then slipped the chain over her head, eyeing the gem resting just above her cleavage. Now her most prized possession.
“What’s Minro like?” the witch asked as she reorganized the necklace stand.
“It’s definitely not like this place. Quieter, for sure, and positively boring.”
Her laugh was as warm as her presence. “I might like boring. This place can be exhausting sometimes.”
Orelia looked around at the street that had gotten more crowded since they’d been talking. “Is it always like this?”
“Every night. Tough to get any decent sleep, but the money is good. Especially when I meet sweet little things like you who overpay.”
Her head whipped around. “Did I overpay?”
“Only by a coin.” She winked. “Or two.”
Orelia couldn’t help but laugh. “I’ll do better next time.”
The woman pushed off the cart and returned to her spot hidden beneath the awning. “Take care, my fellow witch. It was a pleasure.”
“You too.” Despite having overpaid, Orelia held her head high at her first fairly successful negotiation. She purchased a few spices she’d never heard of from a man down the road and debated going back to buy another necklace from the witch, but guilt crept its way in at spending all Vade’s money. It was nothing to him, but still.
