Lana fished out a couple of apples. “Here. Apples are good for the lungs,” she said, putting them in Beatrice’s lap.
“Oh, Lana. I couldn’t.”
“Take it. I got it from one of those annoying fellows at the Witch Market,” Lana said gruffly. “You ought to get some proper food in your system. It has been helping the others.”
So there were other witches suffering like Beatrice because of the lack of fresh food and air. It never occurred to me that witches could get sick.
The smell of something burning jerked me out of my thoughts. My sleeve was on fire. I barely had time to shriek before Beatrice flicked her hand and put out the flames, leaving a gaping, charred hole in the muslin.
“Thank you,” I said sheepishly.
“I remember your mother wearing that,” Beatrice said.
I blinked. “Wearing what?”
“That crystal pendant. Ah, yes, her enchanted object. She never took that off.”
My mouth parted. I looked to Lana. Her lips were pinched. They always were when she wasn’t pleased with something.
“We ought to get going,” Lana said, standing.
Beatrice looked at her. “You haven’t told her?”
Lana took her basket and traversed the room without another word. I scurried after, giving Beatrice an apologetic look before ducking out the threshold. I barely slipped out when Lana shut the door. She was already halfway down the street when I straightened. I ran to catch up.
“What did Beatrice mean?”
“Nothing. She was simply overtired.”
I frowned, looking down at my crystal. “She said this was my Mama’s.”
Lana kept walking. “She was overtired.”
Her voice was so firm that I didn’t speak another word on our walk back. Her pinched lips and creased brow were enough to force me to swallow my curiosity, no matter how difficult it was.
After all, it was a waiting game with Lana. She drove me away the first time I met her. Now, I was her apprentice. I would get my answers eventually.
When we were back in her cottage, I dared to speak again.
“I’ve been practicing,” I said, wishing my voice didn’t sound so small.
The walk must have quelled her mood. Lana grunted. “Potion-making?”
“And levitation,” I said. “See?”
I focused on a small vial on the counter and hovered it in the air.
“Very good. That was expensive,” she said, taking it and putting it into a cupboard.
“Oh.” My face reddened. “So, is this all for today’s lesson?”
Lana was silent for a moment.
“Yes,” she said at last. “You may go.”
“May I ask you a few questions first?”
She continued rummaging through her cupboard. “What is it?”
