Kale: The Dryad Chronicles, page 5
“It was really expensive,” Emma said. “I bought it because it looked boring. I have studied it cover to cover and pass time by remembering each medicine and what they are used for.”
“Well good on you,” Chancer said. “A girl as pretty as yourself with a job is bound to attract some lout. They would be stupid not to want to come stare into your face. Money isn't going to be much but I have never gone hungry and I have more things than I know what to do with. One man paid in daggers, like I am going to be running around sticking people. If you hang around long enough, maybe I’ll convince the undertaker to let us have a crack at some of the bodies. Learning how to cut on people is something you are going to need to know.”
“Their families will let us?” Emma asked.
“Pit no,” Chancer said. “What they don't know won't hurt them. Besides, who do you think embalms when it is needed? It is practice you will need.”
“Are you done yet Emma?” Mary said as she walked through the door.
“Almost,” Emma replied. “I think I have found my apprenticeship.”
“You have,” Chancer said. “So go dig in the back and take whatever you want for your service today. Don't know what a girl might like, the best thing back there to me is a nice shoe horn with a long handle. When you are my age, bending over sucks and a shoe horn for boots is just what the doctor ordered.”
“That is alright,” Emma said. “I don't need anything but the training.”
“Well you have to take something,” Chancer said. “How about some of the medicines you whipped up.”
“Can I take the ingredients instead?” Emma asked. “Along with some bottles to bring everything back in?”
“That is not payment, that is work,” Chancer said. “I will find you something. I think I was given some jewelry or something.”
“I can't believe you stayed here working while the square was filling up,” Mary said. “I got my normal room overlooking the square. Whenever we are tired or need personal time I use it. Good for a quick nap or I use the bedpan for calls of nature. Best part is that I can pick out cute boys without them being able to approach me, even if they can overhear what we are saying sometimes. By the way, Lacy Luberon is here in her new dress and ribbon. She is still a piggie looking thing but she looks better than I have ever seen her. I would never tell her that but be aware that she is walking around like a bloody princess.”
“I don't know Lacy Luberon,” Emma replied.
“How can you not?” Mary asked. “She is at all of our parties and I go to all of hers. She has a lot of money and is nearly or more popular than I am around here.”
“Never heard of her,” Emma replied. “I only hear you talking about her.”
“Well she knows you are here and so do the rest of my friends,” Mary said.
“Here you go girl,” Chancer said as he walked over carrying some intricate looking wooden beads. “This necklace was made by a dryad or something from the wood of her tree. It looks like dryad magic I think. I don't know what their magic looks like but this thing looks like it was grown. I don't know who gave it to me or when I got it.”
Emma thought the necklace was beautiful and wanted to take it. Dryad made goods were rare she thought, but she wasn't sure since she had never been around them. On the other hand, someone had probably taken that from the dryad it belonged to. Emma wanted the necklace but thought taking it would make her a hypocrite.
“Not my style,” Emma said. “How about some ribbon?”
“I have all kinds of ribbon,” Chancer said as he turned around. “What color?”
“Whatever color you think would look best,” Emma replied.
“How about this spool of pink ribbon?” Chancer said as he dropped the necklace and came back with a spool of pink ribbon.
“That will work nicely,” Emma said as she took the spool.
“See you tomorrow,” Chancer said.
Emma waved and walked out of the building along with Mary. Mary looked at her oddly as Emma held onto the spool. Mary showed Emma to a table set in front of a restaurant. There was a small gate to keep the people who were eating outside from being trampled by the vendors and consumers on the street. Emma and Mary walked through the gate and sat at a table which held three other girls. One girl was dressed in soft yellow and looked like a team of people had worked on her. Her makeup made her skin look flawless and the touches of color were just right for her light brown hair.
“You really did make it out, Emma,” Erica said and gave Emma a strained smile. Erica was one of Mary’s friends who never had anything nice to say about anything. The girl complained constantly about everything and Emma hadn't spent much time around her.
“I did,” Emma replied. “It is nice to see you.”
“Why are you dressed so plain?” Erica asked. “Look at the rest of us. You are dressed as bland as the food in this place.”
“I like this dress,” Emma replied.
“You haven't even done your makeup,” Erica said.
“Some girls just have all the luck,” Jamie added. “Even dressed like that, you still look better than I do. Hair all messy, no makeup with a plain dress and any boy would be crazy not to go after you. Especially if they know about the dowry you would command.”
“Just don't get in our way,” Erica said. “You already stole Lord Trevor from us. You need to get us an invite to the party he has coming up. I bet I could score a noble boy from there.”
“Um, excuse me,” said a male voice from just outside the gate. “Are you the Healer girl from the shop a few businesses over?”
“Yes,” Emma said as she looked at the speaker. He looked a year or so older than she did. His clothes were clean but obviously well worn and his boots looked a little thin. He was also on the shorter side, not as short as Emma but not much taller either. His freckles combined with his dimples and green eyes to make an interesting face Emma thought.
“Thank you for helping heal my sister,” the boy said as Emma smiled. “Her ear had been bothering her for a while. Ear pains, your master said something was busted in her ear and flushed it out. You gave me some kind of weird things floating in honey and some other bottle for pain.”
“I hope it makes your sister feel better,” Emma replied.
“She says she is feeling better already,” the boy replied. “Would you dance with me when the music starts?”
“I don't know how to dance but I would be delighted to learn,” Emma replied.
“Really?” the boy said smiling.
“It would be my pleasure,” Emma replied.
“No she wouldn't,” Mary said as she elbowed Emma. “She is being courted by Lord Trevor. You couldn't hope to compete and all you would do is get yourself into trouble with him.”
“Lord Trevor?” the boy said hesitantly. “As in the Lord Mayor of Westshire’s son?”
“Yes,” Mary replied. “Run along now boy.”
“Don't you do that ever again,” Emma replied as the red haired boy left.
“You are not supposed to dance with them,” Mary said. “At least not right away. That boy would have been hanging on to you the rest of the day and night.”
“So your sister likes the lesser born,” Lacy said in a voice that irritated Emma. “Next thing you know she will be trying to dance with a menial.”
Emma wanted to say something but let the slight go. She wanted to say something about Lord Trevor, the man was cute but Emma didn't plan on being owned by him. She also wouldn't dare be with a man who became jealous of a little dance with someone else. It took guts for that boy to approach her, Emma was going to dance with the boy for that reason alone.
“Here comes an entire group!” Jamie said. “It is five of them.”
“I think they are guards or the city watch,” Mary said excitedly.
“All of you shut up,” Lacy said. “I will handle this group. Maybe I can get some free drinks out of it.”
“Hello ladies,” one of the five young men said. Emma could tell he was the leader, he was tall and walked with a self assured swagger. Emma thought he was in late teens or early twenties. With him were other men in a similar uniform. Emma studied it and thought it was a watchmen’s uniform.
“And what might the city watch want with five girls?” Lacy asked. “We haven't broken any laws.”
“I didn't come over here because you broke a law,” the speaker said.
“Well then we do not know what you want,” Lacy replied. “If you came over here for something else, it is polite to buy a lady a drink first.”
“We can do that,” the speaker said.
“None for me please,” Emma said. “I am not thirsty.”
“The new healer girl I have heard so much about,” the speaker said and tried to shoot Emma a smile. The man was cute but something about him put Emma off.
“Why would you hear about her?” Lacy asked. “I want to hear about you and your dashing cohorts. Aren't you all a bit young to be watchmen? What happens when there is a crime?”
“We handle it,” the speaker said. “I just came from putting a goat man in his place. They can take a beating but eventually he couldn't take anymore. He was caught stealing an apple from his master to snack on instead of the grass and weeds he should be eating like the other goat men. We beat him long and hard we did, didn't we Gerald?”
“We sure did Toby,” Gerald said. “I did most of the holding and Toby did most of the punching. We all got our licks in though, Thomas busted a knuckle on his head.”
“He moved and I hit one of the horns,” a skinny man Emma assumed was named Thomas said as he held up a swollen hand.
“How brave,” Mary said as she stood up to view the hand. “Were you scared?”
“A little,” Thomas said. “The goat men aren't very big but they are fast. It was my first time punching one.”
“So you see ladies,” Toby began. “We can take care of ourselves.”
“My hand hurts,” Thomas said. “I wish I had someone that would look at it for me.”
“Easy,” Toby said and shot Thomas a harsh look. Thomas backed away as Toby looked over at Emma.
“So you did the punching?” Lacy said as she tried to get Toby’s attention.
“I could have taken it by myself,” Toby bragged. “You should have seen the way it bleated when I kicked it. They have oversized um, male parts. I stomped on it good and long until it whimpered in the corner and swore never to touch another fruit. I should have taken a hand but its master didn't have a healer handy to keep the thing from dying. Maybe I should bring a healer with me the next time?”
“Mary, where is this room of yours at?” Emma said as she felt her head begin to swim.
“Next door in the inn, Room 13,” Mary said. “Why?”
“I am not feeling well,” Emma replied.
“Do you need me to walk you over?” Toby asked. “You never know where more goat men might show up.”
“I will be quite alright,” Emma said as she stood up.
“Sit down Emma,” Mary whispered. “There are five of them. If you leave things will get weird.”
“I feel ill,” Mary replied. “I need to lay my head.”
“Maybe my talk about violence is too much for such a pretty girl,” Toby said. “The least I can do is show you to your inn. Maybe later we can talk some more?”
“I am already seeing someone,” Emma replied. “I do not think he would appreciate the gesture.”
“What she means to say is that someone has already shown her interest,” Mary replied.
“What happened to our drinks?” Lacy said. “Maybe we should all go to the inn and lay down a bit.”
“Do something Toby!” Gerald said louder than he wanted to.
“I’ll get those drinks right now,” Toby said. “I’ll go inside and talk to the barkeep. Follow me boys, you are going to have to buy your own girl a drink.”
“They are so dreamy in their little uniforms,” Mary said. “And did you see that poor boy who busted his hand on that stupid thieving goat man? It makes me angry just thinking about how ungrateful they are.”
“I want the one called Toby,” Lacy said. “I saw you trying to steal his attention Emma.”
“I don't want any of them,” Emma snapped. “You can have them all.”
“Well flirt with the short quiet one in the back,” Mary said. “I want Thomas. He was so brave to be injured and still be out here doing his job.”
“I am leaving,” Emma said.
“Sit down Emma,” Mary said as she grabbed her. “There are five of them.”
“And there are four of you,” Emma said. “You just stopped me from dancing and now I am supposed to sit there with those men?”
“He was poor,” Mary said. “These men have to have a little bit of coin.”
Emma just rolled her eyes and pulled away from Mary. She was through the small gate and walking next door before the watchmen came back. She could hear Mary right behind her, she was yelling something but Emma ignored her as she entered the inn. Mary eventually caught up to her and grabbed her arm and spun her little sister around to face her.
“You said you wouldn't embarrass me,” Mary said. “Those are five cute and dashing men who only want a bit of company. I know you want to leave because they had to punish a thieving goat man but he brought it on himself. Now go back outside and take a seat. They can't stay very long since and they can't be seen sitting down and enjoying themselves with a bunch of girls while they should be working.”
“I don't want to be around any of them especially that stupid Toby!” Emma replied.
“Lacy Luberon likes him,” Mary said. “I bet she is good and angry that Watchman Toby seems to fancy you. I think Thomas does as well so stay away from him. Now come on.”
Emma let herself be dragged by Mary back outside. Emma could see the men were back and this time a waiter was there with them. Mary went through the gate and sat Emma back down as Toby smiled at her. Lacy was ordering a drink, some kind of fizzy wine. Erica complained about the drinks being horrible and ordered a glass of wine. Erica ordered fruit juice and then the waiter looked at Emma.
“Order whatever you want beautiful,” Toby said.
“Nothing for me please,” Emma replied.
“Nothing?” Toby said surprised. “You have to drink something. I can order for you.”
“If you do then you will be the one drinking it,” Emma replied. “I do not think my stomach can take anything.”
“Order something Emma,” Mary said. “Watchman Toby is trying to be nice.”
“Water,” Emma replied.
“Water?” Toby said. “You don't have to be shy babe. I can afford more than water. Isn't water free at this place anyway?”
“I thought you were buying me a drink,” Lacy said. “You came over here all charming but you are nothing but a skinflint.”
“I am buying you a drink,” Gerald said. “Toby got first pick and he picked the healer girl.”
“The nerve!” Lacy screamed. “I don't want anything from any of you and neither does anyone at this table. Run along now.”
“Gerald you idiot!” Toby said. “What he meant to say, is that I could tell he fancied you. I wouldn't dare stand between a friend so naturally as a gentleman I chose Miss Emma here.”
“Oh,” Lacy said and rolled her eyes. “You don't have to worry about him. You are their leader and I run this table. My family actually owns the inn next door and we breed goat men. One of the ones you had to put in its place probably came from us.”
“My family owns a grove of dryads,” Mary said. “If you taste good fruit and vegetables, then it comes from us. We even have our own centaur.”
“Well my family built your inn,” Erica said. “And we help move Dryad trees.”
“My family breeds horses,” Jamie said. “Nothing fancy like the others.”
“You are all rich?” Toby said in surprise.
“Look at them compared to the other women around here,” said a man who hadn't spoken before. He had red curly hair that sat on his head like a mop. He was short but widely built around the shoulders and had a big gap between his front teeth.
“Well of course we aren't some of these poor girls around here,” Lacy said.
“What does your family do?” Toby said as he looked at Emma.
“It doesn't matter,” Emma replied. “That is a bit of a rude question to ask.”
“She is my little sister,” Mary hurriedly said.
“I don't mean to offend you,” Toby said. “Maybe when I am off I can make it up to you?”
“Why do you keep talking to her?” Lacy said annoyed. “I thought you said you were ill Emma?”
“She is feeling better,” Mary said. “So have you taken anything for your hand watchman Thomas?”
“Not yet,” Thomas said. “But I will. Are you a healer like your sister?”
“Of course not,” Mary said offended. “I don't have to work. The only reason Emma is working is because she is bored.”
“Emma is a lovely name,” Toby said. “It fits a pretty girl.”
“I don't want the drink and neither does anyone at this table,” Lacy said as she stood up. “Come on girls, we can go to my inn where the company is better.”
“I am fine right where I am at,” Mary said as she batted her eyes at Thomas.
“Just wait a minute,” Gerald said. “I wanted to uh, talk to you Miss Lacy.”
Lacy walked away without looking back. Emma could see Erica roll her eyes as she stood up and left with her followed by Jamie. Mary let out a sigh and stood up as well. Emma was happy she could finally get away when Toby reached out and grabbed her by the arm. Emma was shocked he did such a thing, his grip was strong and his hand nearly covered her entire bicep.
“Wait just a minute,” Toby said. “If I offended you, you at least have to let me apologize. I even offered to buy you any drink you want and you have been down right rude. You don't lead a man on and then just walk away. I don't even know what I did wrong.”
