“That we did,” I agree.
“It would have been lovely, you know,” he continues. “Very convenient.”
“I do. I’m sorry,” I say. I don’t think Yenny has ever been faced with a problem he hasn’t surmounted in some way or another. Usually by being very enthusiastic about it.
The rest of the room deflates with an audible sigh.
“Oy,” Sasha yells from behind me. I cringe and turn around. I’ve already felt humiliated enough today; I can’t imagine what she’s got planned, but I’d really rather she didn’t.
“Half-price on any book in the store,” she shouts. “Today only! We’ve got three more stories to explore!”
“Sasha,” I begin, but she’s well beyond stopping now. I’d vastly prefer that everyone clear out and leave me alone. Perhaps Sasha could stay. And the pirate.
“Well, no help for it,” Yen says, behind me. “We’d better buy some books. Contribute to the local economy, show the locals how it’s all done, eh? We do dabble in retail ourselves, after all.” He looks over at me, pride glowing from his face.
“Yes, your lovely sheep,” I say.
“Our lovely sheep!” he crows. “Our Crombishire Blue wool! We sell it to local spinners, who then sell it to several older witches who knit the most charming jumpers from it.”
I’m suddenly struck with a marvelous idea. Is it unethical of me to take advantage of Yenal’s good nature? I decide to worry about it later. “It won’t have escaped your notice that it’s quite crowded in here. It would mean so much to me if you could find it in your heart to help me out a little. Given your experience, and all.” I pause, wondering how thickly I should be laying it on. Yenal’s positively beaming at me, clearly hanging on to every word. “I really have no experience to draw upon, you see—”
Someone behind me sniggers. Sasha, I think.
“How well we know!” Yenal says, stepping forward to take my hands in his. “You’ve lived such a modest, gentle life up until now. How agonizing this experience must be for you. Ofcoursewe will do everything in our power to assist.”
“You’ve proven such an extraordinary draw, Yenal. Since we may finally sell a few books today,” I say, “Sasha can man the till with me—”
Sasha clears her throat noisily.
“Erm, I mean, Sasha can…woman the till with me, and you can help folks carry things. Tie them up with twine if they buy more than can be easily carried in one hand.”
“You need bags,” Sasha says, thoughtfully. “It really is hard to carry loads of books in your arms, you know?”
“No one has yet bought more than two books at a time,” I point out.
“They might if you had bags available for them to carry books in,” Sasha says, smiling. Her eyes are sparkling in a fashion that gives me a little pause; she’s got some idea cooking. In any event, I’m not convinced that having bags for customers to take books away in will change my dismal sales much, but I’m happy to try anything.
Sasha moves behind the till with me. “Let’s chat later,” shemurmurs, then turns to smile brightly at the room. “Half-price on all stock! We’ve got some of our very favorites up on three…and there’re lots of cozy nooks where you can curl up and dip into the books before you buy!”
“What a charming operation,” Yenny says, watching a few folks start up the stairs. “So rustic!”
“You should make the pirate do something,” Sasha says, tipping her chin toward Bash, who’s moved out of the way and is loitering on the little flight of stairs that lead down to my room. “Oy, Barn Pirate,” she shouts, before I can say anything. “You must have had a lot of time to read out on the open seas—any recommendations?”
Bash gives a long, loose shrug.
“Who is that?” Yenny says, staring at him with something close to appreciation.
“No one,” I sigh.
“I object,” the pirate says, grinning at me.
“He drops by and steals stuff,” I clarify. “Apparently because he’s bored.”
“He’s a pirate suffering under a dread curse,” Sasha adds.
“Fear of water,” Bash supplies. “Dreadfully inconvenient.”
“You don’tspeaklike a pirate,” Yenny says, whipping out a quizzing glass and leaning forward across the desk to examine Bash more closely.
