Morning was something Solenne typically looked forward to. It brought a new beginning to each day. She would bathe, dress in fresh clothing, and make coffee before even going downstairs to unlock the door. Then she would work for a short bit, make something for breakfast, and continue on with her chores. Habit. Ritual. Day in and day out. Where others worshiped the Light, she worshiped her peace.

  Yet this morning, her peace would be interrupted.

  Solenne regretted agreeing to meet with this Emrys Durand again. She had to inform Roxa to spread word she was only an apothecary for the time being. Roxa had been confused but simply nodded. It was the last she could do after what Solenne did for her. The presence of the Ecclesium at her shop was sure to slow business as well. That or she would see a flurry of activity given visits from anyone holy were rare in the Veil. She already knew some of the more religious folk would come asking Emrys for blessings. Solenne knew they wouldn't enjoy being turned away but a scholar can't bless anyone.

  She groaned. There was no desire to bathe. Solenne dressed in one of her well-worn linen shirts, its long sleeves forever stained at the cuffs. As usual her hair was barely brushed, only enough to free any knots, and braided into a single, thick braid. Next she slipped into fresh undergarments and her favorite set of trousers that were not too loose yet. She was aware of her weight fluctuations again but there was no time to address it these days. Perhaps the scholar could afford more food than she could.

  The kettle came downstairs with her along with a small amber colored jar. Behind her counter, at her work bench, she had a small heating coil. While it normally heated her various ingredients, today it would be for her coffee. She had a feeling that the scholar, Emrys, would want some as well. Solenne really needed to at least attempt to call him by his name.

  She set the kettle on the coil. They weren't a common item to have in Caelora. Hers was a four time hand-me-down from someone in the Central who threw it out forever ago. Someone in the Veil had found it, fixed it, and the poor coil had been making its way around since then. Solenne had repaired it more than once. Sadly, she knew it was on its last leg. It wouldn't be long until she was either back to flames or cooking everything upstairs. She made a face thinking of her room smelling like boiling barks and roots. They weren't always pleasant.

  Just as the kettle began to whistle, there was a knock at the door. She shut off the coil before walking around the counter to the door. Her fingers hovered above the lock. It would be so easy to just ignore the fact that he was outside. She could pretend she didn't hear him. Surely he would leave after awhile, wouldn't he?

  "I keep showing up at your door until you tell me yes or I return to the Ecclesium, tell them you are refusing an order from the Church, and let them decide how to handle you."

  Solenne unlocked the door. Standing on the other side was Emrys. She tried not to frown seeing those blue and white robes. Without speaking, she stepped aside and allowed him to walk in. Neither of them spoke to one another. She shut the door, leaving it unlocked, and returned to the kettle. She turned the coil off. Solenne took the amber jar and opened it. The scent of roasted coffee beans wafted up. She breathed it in deep and smiled a bit.

  Coffee was not rare in Caelora yet it was still considered a luxury item. Solenne was known to take coffee beans as payment for her services. Some had considered her silly for such a thing. She considered herself smart. Who else was getting coffee beans for basically free?

  The silence stretched between them. Solenne grabbed a second mug that she kept below the counter. She looked inside to make sure it was clean before setting it on the counter top next to her own. Looking up, she watched Emrys for a moment. He was looking at the various dried herb bundles hanging from the bottoms of shelves. If she had more room she would have rods specifically for hanging the bundles. This shop just wasn't big enough for things of that nature.

  She grabbed a large mortar and pestle. It was stained a brown so dark it was almost black. Taking the amber jar, she poured the beans out into the pestle. Solenne began to work. Griding her coffee this way was an every morning ritual. She loved the way her flat smelled of coffee nearly all day. The repetitive motion calmed her mind. This was where she would find herself thinking of new items to make or getting lost in memories, both good and bad.

  "You're strong."

  Solenne jumped slightly. Her heart raced as she looked up. Emrys had crossed the room to stand in front of the counter. At some point he had also taken the journal from its holster on his belt to open it. As she continued grinding, she could hear the scrape of a quill across paper between the notes of stone against stone.

  "I'm not that strong." She finally replied as she finished getting the coffee to the consistency she enjoyed.

  He hummed. "You really are. It takes strength to grind full beans into powder like that." Emrys wasn't looking at her as he spoke. Whatever he was writing had his full attention. When he did finally glance up, he looked confused. "You're sweating."

  She reached up to touch her forehead. Solenne had to try to hide her irritation at herself. With Emrys here she couldn't have her sleeves rolled up.

  "It must be hot in that shirt." He was simply observing something they both already knew.

  Solenne turned away from him. She wanted nothing more than to roll her sleeves up to her elbows. Even pulling her hair up into a ponytail or a bun would be preferred over her braid in the moment but she couldn't. Emrys was part of the Aureate. If he saw the mark along the back of her arms or the nape of her neck, she was as good as dead.

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  "I will be fine Scholar Durand." Solenne kept her back straight, posture correct, as she went to set the kettle back on the coil. Her entire morning ritual was out of order. Typically she ground the beans before heating her kettle. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and counted to ten.

  "If you say so Miss Veyra." It seemed he was replying with the same formality she addressed him with.

  She placed the kettle down and turned the knob to restart the coil. Conversation was usually something that flowed from her smoothly. She was finding herself unsure of what to even say to this man. It seemed he felt the same as they slipped back into silence as the kettle warmed back up. At its whistle, she took it off and brought it to the counter. Solenne spooned the coffee grounds into two small, round metal balls that were usually used for steeping tea. These, however, had micro holes in them to keep too any grounds from dirtying the coffee.

  "Do you like sweetness added to your coffee?"

  "Yes."

  Solenne looked at him expectantly as she waited on him to tell her exactly what he wanted. She watched Emrys' cheeks flush pink. It took everything in her to not smirk and yet she could feel the corner of her mouth pull up as he was obviously regathering himself.

  "Do you have sugar? Or honey perhaps? I don't believe there would be cream here with how warm you keep it." Emrys glanced around as he spoke.

  Her head tilted slightly. Why was he assuming such things? Did he believe her to be so poor she couldn't store such things? Solenne placed one of the metal balls into the water she'd poured for him. Walking around the counter, she went to the cellar door. It was her turn to assume he was going to follow her.

  "Stay where you are."

  It took her a few moments to return. She carried a very small container with her. Inside was the cream she had purchased two days ago. The amount was nearly miniscule yet it would turn the color of his coffee from almost black to a light tan. Solenne also had a cloth pouch with her. She gently pulled the strings to open it revealing something dried inside.

  Emrys was attempting to peer at what she had. He frowned. She knew he was trying to figure out what it was.

  "I'm not going to poison you. Its dried veilthorn petals." As she spoke, she sprinkled a few onto both of their drinks. Solenne handed him the red mug. It was hand thrown by the potter a few stores down. He had used an unusual clay to make it nearly the same color as Emrys' hair.

  Emrys took the cup in his free hand. He brought it up to his nose. A look of intrigue crossed his face. He walked to the counter to place his journal and quill down. Looking right at Solenne, he sipped the coffee. Their eyes locked. Neither seemed to be backing down even as Solenne picked up her own mug to take a drink.

  The tension was palpable. Solenne was considering kicking him out. Consequences be damned. She could leave Caelora. The Pale Order would not follow her into the Wilds. Parents used the Wilds as a cautionary tale to make their children behave. Everyone knew there was truth to the stories. People came back from time to time but they came back wrong.

  Emrys shifted a bit. He put his mug down, breaking their eye contact. "You make a lovely coffee." He smiled at her. It seemed genuine enough.

  "Thank you. Are you finished?" She asked as she gestured to the mug.

  He shook his head. "No. I just want to make a few observations." Emrys picked up his quill. He didn't wait on her to reply as he began to write in his journal.

  "Is that something you'll be doing often while here?"

  Emrys grunted softly. She took that as a yes. It would be something to get used to it seemed. Solenne left his mug there. She finished her own coffee and took the mug upstairs to be cleaned. While alone, she sighed heavily and rubbed her eyes hard with the heels of her palms. This was so awkward. She felt like it was her fault. Maybe he really was just there to observe her. All she had done so far was make coffee and refuse to speak. Solenne groaned softly before leaving to go back downstairs.

  He was still writing when she returned to him. Peering over the counter, she looked at the journal. So far it seemed to just be notes on the coffee she made, how the veilthorn enhanced the flavor and brought forth the earthy tones of the beans while not letting it overpower the smoothness the cream added. Solenne was intrigued. Few really paid attention to such things. Usually people simply drank their coffee without thinking of the flavors.

  She realized he was mumbling to himself as he wrote. This time he scribbled something that looked like measurements. Was he going to try to recreate what she had made?

  "The beans are hearthroot. Not cheap but Gresham trades them for his salves every fortnight. I use enough to fill my steeper. The cream is enough to make it soft brown. The veilthorn is just a pinch. Its not exactly technical like some recipes. Its more about getting a feeling for what you like."

  "You can read upside down?" He smiled a little. "That makes you far more talented than I. That was something I could never get the hang of no matter how much I've tried."

  Solenne returned the small smile. "It comes in handy when I'm wrist deep in something but need to read my notes." She reached down under the counter to produce her own journal.

  It was a beat up thing that had seen better days. Pieces of twine were keeping its bulging form closed. She nearly giggled seeing how his face twisted up to show his appalment at how the journal looked. Of course a scholar would keep their notes nice and pristine compared to her controlled chaos. Solenne carefully untied the twine letting the journal breathe as if it took its belt off after a large meal. Turning it towards him, she motioned for him to look through it if he so chose to.

  "Go ahead. Find something you think you might want to learn. If you want to be my apprentice, you have to start somewhere."

  "R-really?" Emrys lit up seemingly ignoring the way he stumbled over his own excitement.

  Solenne felt a bit of her paranoia melt away. He genuinely seemed interested in learning. Maybe he was telling the truth about just wanting to learn more to preserve the ways of apothecaries.

  "Oh! What about this one?" He pointed at a page dark with notes and scribbles.

  Her eyebrow raised. Emrys had chosen a tincture meant to be taken under the tongue twice a day to alleviate nausea while also helping the user be more confident. Anxiety caused nausea, healing one helped the other. She glanced up at him. It wasn't what she would have chosen for a first lesson but he seemed truly interested.

  "Alright. Use the notes. Go and find what you think we need. Its all out there on the floor. I'll wait here." She wasn't giving him any training wheels. He would learn how she did; by trial and error and fire.