Lana exhaled and cleared off the remnants of her wares from the table. “A human under the impression that he is our hero,” she said. “There are many such people. I don’t like the idea of humans here if they’re not going to buy something.”
I watched the man pull off the canvas from his cart, revealing sacks of grain, crates of ruddy fruit, and barrels of other goods. Two other men began handing out the goods to the witches who had formed a line before them.
“He’s giving away food. For free,” I said.
“He fancies himself a philanthropist.”
I did not expect the venom in Lana’s voice. “Isn’t that a good thing? Being a philanthropist?”
Lana let her crate drop to the floor with more force than necessary. The remaining glass bottles clinked. “Humans will never view us as equals. Witches will either be feared or pitied—there is no in between. I don’t care for either treatment. But if I had to choose, I’d rather be seen as a monster than a charity case.”
“You don’t think there’s anyone out there who truly wants to help?”
“Oh, of course they want to help, but for their sake and not ours. Helping us witches allows humans to revel in their own greatness and generosity.”
I stole another glance at the cart-driving philanthropist. A group of young witches laughed in delight when he gave them a box of strawberries. Beside them, a dark-haired young man walked with his head down and shoulders hunched.
I scrambled down the bench, bumping into Lana.
“What is the matter with you?”
“Nothing,” I said, nauseous.
My suspicions were confirmed when the young man raised his head to look about with darting brown eyes. It was Ash—and I was a mere five feet away from him.
With unnecessary violence, I wrapped my scarf around my face until everything but my eyes was covered. Just as I finished, Ash fixed his gaze on me.
We had met a mere two days ago at the palace library for one of our meetings discussing his plan of exposing the duchess. It was a strange and desperate plan, but the mad part of me thought it might work and agreed to help. We met up frequently ever since. I was sure by now he had become more than familiar with my features.
Ash stared. I stared back, unable to move and terrified his lips would form my name.
But he merely made his way over to our stand.
“Hello,” he said, smiling stiffly at Lana and then me. I lowered my gaze. “Do you happen to have any...er...”
“If you’re looking for nefarious poisons and voodoo magic, I’ll have to disappoint you,” Lana said flatly, as if young men asked for poison every day.
Ash shrugged. “Is there anyone else who...?’”
I nearly felt Lana’s glare simmering in the air. “No, sir,” she said, “and if there is a witch who sells such things, I am not acquainted with them nor do I have the desire to.”
The prince finally seemed to realize the awkwardness of the situation. No doubt he was here to investigate the origins of the poison Erasmus found and decided the Witch Market was a reasonable place to start.
His disguise, however, was a poor one. His shirt and trousers were of too fine a material to blend in with the rough, dirt-streaked rabble of the Market. And the way he glanced about and jumped whenever someone brushed his shoulder made it clear it was his first time in magical company.
“May I inquire what you’re selling?” he asked.
“A general antidote,” Lana said brusquely. “Heals minor cuts if applied topically and minor illnesses if consumed.”
Ash nodded slowly.
“You are clearly not familiar with purchasing from our kind, so I would appreciate it if you would kindly leave. You are holding up my line,” Lana said.
There was no line, except for the massive one before the elderly man’s cart.
Ash looked over his shoulder. “Ah, I apologize. I...er... have something for your trouble,” he said, fishing out an apple from the pouch at his hip. It was in the shape of a flattened gourd and had a yellow stripe down the middle. “It’s little strange looking. But delicious, I’m sure.”
An agonizingly long moment passed with Ash’s arm outstretched and Lana pretending he wasn’t there. Stifling a laugh, I took the apple from him to spare his feelings, but instantly regretted it when he turned his attention to me.
