He stuck out his hand. “Much obliged, Miss...?”
I stared at his hand, knowing that I couldn’t possibly speak.
Lana came to my rescue. “She’s my apprentice.”
“Ah, much obliged, Miss Apprentice.”
I shook his hand briefly before the bells or my laughter gave me away.
He seemed confused at my silence, so I pointed to my throat and shook my head.
“You’re mute?”
I nodded. Lana did not object, nor did she give any indication of speaking again. Feeling it only right, I grabbed one of the remaining antidotes and gave it to him.
“Thank you,” he said, inspecting the jar. “I’ll give it a try.” With another stiff smile, Ash turned and disappeared behind the massive line.
Lana and I didn’t exchange a word until we were back in the basement where Ferdinand was waiting for us. His inquiries and comments were ignored until they were cut off yet again by the slamming of the door.
When we were finally in the safety of the dark passageway, I pulled my scarf down to my neck.
“That was...someone I knew,” I said.
“Someone who wouldn’t take well to knowing you’re a witch, I suppose?”
“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “He’s usually very kind.” Miriam told me hatred for magic ran in royal blood. But I couldn’t imagine Ash hating me. I felt the apple in my pouch bump my leg with every step.
Lana harrumphed. “Don’t be fooled, child. Helping a witch and being a witch are two very different things. He and the other foolish philanthropists will be commended for their charity. You, on the other hand, will be shunned.”
––––––––
WHEN I RETURNED TOMiriam’s shop, I had an extra jar of antidote Lana told me to keep. It was another gruff act of kindness I appreciated but didn’t comment on, lest she scolded me for speaking nonsense.
“You took longer this time,” Miriam said when I emerged through the portal.
I rubbed my back and shifted the pouch on my shoulders. “Lana took me to the Witch Market.”
“Did she? What was she selling this time?”
Before I could tell her, Miriam took the jar from me. She unscrewed the top, dipped a finger in, tasted it thoughtfully, and dipped her finger in again.
“A general antidote,” I said. “You can have it if you like.”
“I couldn’t,” she said, smacking her lips.
“Really. I insist.”
It was a little past noon. I was once again close to missing lunch at the Strongfoots’. As I made my way to the exit, the door burst open and I nearly stumbled into Theodora and Rowena. They looked equally shocked to see me.
“Amarante? What are you doing here?” they said in unison.
I opened my mouth but no sound came out. I had completely forgotten to tell them about my lessons with Lana. It had practically been a week!
Ashamed that I had neglected them, I filled them in on my visits to Witch Village.
Rowena’s face turned thoughtful when I finished. Theodora furrowed her brow.
“We were just here to see Lana again, for your sake,” Theodora said. “I thought she wanted nothing to do with us. Why the sudden change of heart?”
