Chapter 50:

  Terrah

  Exhaustion washed over me as my pool of resources ran dry, and I found myself sitting heavily in one of the church’s pews as I recovered from expending so much potential. Despite the joy and gratitude of the people gathered around me, the fatigue clung stubbornly and refused to fade.

  “Are you alright, Sam?” Halius asked as he sat down beside me. “You look exhausted. Does healing other require that much effort?”

  I nodded.

  “Yeah, especially if I’m trying to be careful. The more control I need, the more taxing it is.”

  Halius smiled at that, and the worry on his face eased away.

  “Oh, that’s normal,” he said. “Any skill you use demands something in return. It’s only through hard work and dedication that you push past those early limits.” He chuckled softly. “You’ve seen my fighting style. Swinging that hammer takes a lot out of me, especially when you add my armor and shield into the mix.”

  We sat quietly for a moment, simply taking in the rambunctious energy Neil displayed as he handed out bread among the group of alley dwellers now sheltering within the church. Arthur, likewise, was no longer idle, working alongside Neil as they tended to the people.

  It was good to see the young priest no longer frozen by indecision, but instead applying himself fully to their care.

  “Halius… just how bad are the taxes placed on the church?” I asked quietly. “I never experienced anything like this back in the Belt, but I suppose those were adult matters, handled without involving us kids.”

  Halius’s expression soured at the question, though he quickly composed himself, clearly making an effort to explain.

  “It hasn’t always been like this,” he said. “My father told me that around forty years ago, the king at the time sought to consolidate his power and chose to exert his dominion over the Church operating within the kingdom. At first, it was only applied to leveling, but by the time his son took the throne, it became a new point of conflict.”

  I shook my head in frustration, turning the thought over in my mind.

  “Why take so much coin out of people’s hands?” I asked. “Wouldn’t it be better to let them walk the Path unhindered? I feel like the kingdom would be healthier with more powerful people in it. Wouldn’t it?”

  Halius considered the question for a long moment.

  “Healthier for the individual, certainly,” he said at last. “Healthier for those who wish to hold power? Probably not. When you control access and let people grow accustomed to the status quo, inequality widens. Those who are granted favors learn quickly who to thank for them. Loyalty seems to follow coin.”

  “Then what of the Duke?” I asked, irritation creeping into my voice. “He’s been very generous with me, and he was a friend of my uncle. Is he also someone who takes advantage of this situation imposed by the crown?”

  Halius let out a slow sigh.

  “It’s complicated,” he said. “He’s under the King’s thumb, but he’s also powerful. He can bend the rules more than the average person, but if the crown ever chose to press him in earnest, even a man like him would break.” He paused before adding, more quietly, “He is a good man, Sam. But he was born noble. His sensibilities don’t extend as far as yours when it comes to practical acts of compassion.”

  “Then I should go speak with him today,” I said as I pushed myself back onto my feet. “It seems I’m about to cause him quite a headache, and I don’t want to simply dump these people onto Arthur and walk away.”

  I paused, considering the next question carefully.

  “What about the Valley? How many people would the Circle be willing to allow within our borders?”

  Halius followed my lead and stood before answering.

  “That’s a difficult discussion as well,” he said with a sigh. “We’re strict about who we allow to settle within our borders for several reasons. If we simply let anyone in, our identity and culture would be lost within a generation or two. As you’ve seen, we’re not great in number.”

  He folded his arms. “Some do settle, but there are extensive requirements, and recommendations must be provided. It’s essential that those we bring in contribute to the community, not merely take from it.”

  He hesitated before adding, “You can raise the matter with my father if you wish, but I suspect he’ll tell you much the same.”

  I nodded thoughtfully as I considered his words. The points Halius had made were reasonable enough, and I had no intention of burdening the Valley to the point of erasing its identity entirely. That felt just as wrong as ignoring the problem within the city. Still, I couldn’t shake the sense that there was something I could do to help.

  “I have some ideas,” I said cautiously, “but I’ll need to speak with your father and Aldus when we return tomorrow.” I paused, then added, “Until then, would you be willing to accompany me to the Duke’s manor?”

  Halius nodded, and together we made our way over to Neil and Arthur, who were working diligently as they handed out food and water to the gathered people.

  “Arthur, can I borrow you for a moment?” I asked, interrupting him mid-conversation with Damien.

  “Uh, yes, of course,” he replied nervously. “What is it you need? I’m not sure what else I can do for them.”

  “I’m about to go speak with the Duke,” I said simply.

  Arthur blinked, surprise flashing across his face. “You’re… going to speak with the Duke? Just like that, with no appointment?”

  “Hold tight for a little while,” I continued. “I’m hoping to bring back some good news. I think there’s a chance he’ll provide aid, if I’m the one asking for it.”

  Arthur studied me incredulously.

  “Just who are you?” he asked. “Nothing about you makes sense to me.”

  Neil, ever the nosy eavesdropper, leaned into the conversation with a grin.

  “Don’t you know?” he said. “That’s the nephew of Sir Lucian Garner, and the new Steward of Garner Valley.”

  The room seemed to freeze as all eyes turned toward me, regarding me anew.

  “Truly?” Damien asked as he settled beside his sister and handed her a glass of water.

  “Truly,” I replied. “For whatever it’s worth, I’ll use whatever influence I possess to help you all.” I paused, then added, “In the meantime, please show Arthur the respect and kindness he’s earned for accommodating you. I should be back soon.”

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  Heads nodded throughout the room in quiet agreement, but one voice spoke up with a suggestion.

  “You should visit Miss Terrah as well,” Damien said enthusiastically. “She’d be a good representative. She does everything she can to help people around the city, but she’s only one person, and her resources are limited.”

  “I’ve heard her name mentioned a few times now,” I said. “Where might I find her?”

  “She’s an apprentice to the apothecary in the center of the city,” Damien replied. “The shop is called Allbright’s Potions and Poultices.”

  “Alright then,” I said, nodding as I accepted the suggestion. “I’ll speak with her first, and then make my way to the Duke.”

  I patted Arthur on the shoulder and bid him farewell as Halius and Neil exited the building alongside me. Neil hesitated, however, glancing back inside as if torn about leaving.

  “Hey, Sam…” he began hesitantly. “Is it alright if I stay and help Arthur? You’ll be coming back anyway, right?”

  I smiled and clapped him on the shoulder.

  “You’re a good one, Neil.”

  The pride on his face was unmistakable as he hurried back into the church, leaving Halius and me alone outside.

  “Alright then,” I said. “Let’s get to it.”

  Despite the fatigue I had been feeling a few minutes before, my steps felt energized with purpose as Halius and I made our way back up the main thoroughfare towards the center of the city. It didn’t take as long as the walk down to the docks before and with our pace we quickly arrived at our destination.

  Allbright’s Potions and Poultices was fairly close to the Adventurers’ Guild hall, both situated along the circumference of the central fountain plaza. It was a cozy shop, much smaller than the two buildings that seemed to press in on it from either side.

  Though it shared the familiar architectural style of its neighbors, the shop was easy to pick out by the jumble of chimneys crowning its roof. They jutted at odd angles like a collection of mismatched pipes, each one venting the byproducts of some ongoing concoction within.

  “Well, this looks like the place,” Halius said. “I believe Aldus has ordered from here in the past, before Miss Clover moved to the Valley.”

  I turned to look at him in surprise.

  “She hasn’t always been in the Valley?” I asked. “I thought she must be a native.”

  “No,” Halius replied, shaking his head. “Miss Clover came to the Valley about five years ago, right before your uncle left. He specifically recommended her. She brought a skill set we’d been lacking for quite some time.”

  As I considered Halius’s words, we made our way into the shop and were immediately greeted by a warm voice calling out from behind the counter at the far end of the room.

  “Welcome to Allbright’s, where we love to brighten your day,” the voice said cheerfully, though I couldn’t help but catch the faint edge of sarcasm beneath the friendliness.

  The front foyer of the shop was mostly empty, save for several low stands arranged to guide customers toward three separate openings in the wooden counter beyond. Behind it stood two young women and an older man with wild white hair, all occupied with their own tasks.

  Despite the time of day, the shop was bustling with quiet activity. Halius and I joined a short line leading toward one of the young women stationed behind the counter. She had brown hair pulled back into a simple ponytail, a small, mousy nose, and wore a well-used apron over her yellow dress, Allbright’s stitched neatly across the front in matching thread.

  As we drew closer, my attention was pulled past her to the shelves lining the wall behind the counter. Rows upon rows of potions filled the space from floor to ceiling, each bottle meticulously arranged and marked with colored bands and a numbering system I didn’t recognize. The sheer variety was dizzying. Judging by the faint chemical tang in the air and the maze of chimneys crowning the roof outside, there had to be a sizeable workshop hidden just beyond the back wall.

  The woman’s eyes flicked over me from head to toe. She clicked her tongue softly and pressed a finger to her lips in thought.

  “Hmmm,” she murmured. “You don’t strike me as the adventuring type. A farmer, maybe?” Her expression brightened. “We’ve got some specialized fertilizer that works wonders on stubborn soil. Give me just a moment and I’ll...”

  I cut her off as politely as I could, before she vanished to retrieve whatever concoction she had already decided I needed.

  “Excuse me,” I said quickly, “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’m actually here for another reason. Is there someone named Terrah available? I was hoping to speak with her.”

  Before the young woman could respond, a very short, white haired man abruptly stepped away from the middle station of the front counter, and planted himself directly in front of me. For a brief moment, I found myself staring down at the top of his head.

  He scowled, then dragged a small stepping stool into place and climbed atop it with practiced irritation.

  “Sir,” he said sharply, “this is a place of business. You may join the line of young men hoping to court my daughter at the end of the docks, where you may then proceed to throw yourself into the sea.” He waved a dismissive hand. “Thank you for your patronage, and have an Allbrighty day.”

  “Dad! Don’t be rude to the customers,” his daughter said, shooting him a playful glare. “Especially the cute ones.” She smiled sweetly at her father before adding, “Just go in the back and brew something. I won’t be swept off my feet today, don’t you worry.”

  The older man, whom I now had no doubt was Master Allbright, let out an indignant huff. He spun on his heel and stomped through a side door that swung shut with unnecessary force, followed a heartbeat later by the unmistakable crash of clattering pots and muttered complaints from beyond the wall.

  The young woman sighed, rubbing her temple.

  “I apologize for my father’s outburst,” she said with an embarrassed smile. “I do understand it, though. Ever since my Choosing Day, I’ve had more than a few overly determined adventurers asking for my hand. It’s flattering, but hells if it isn’t exhausting.”

  From the far end of the counter, the other young woman let out a dramatic groan and leaned into the conversation.

  “Oh no,” she said dryly. “I’m Terrah. I’m too pretty, and I have too many men chasing after me. My life is so terrible.”

  “Oh, hush,” Terrah said, rolling her eyes. “You’re a year away from your Choosing, and you’ll have just as many problems as I do.”

  The two of them continued to bicker back and forth, and I found myself shrugging as I exchanged a look with Halius.

  “You know,” he murmured, “we might want to buy some healing potions while we’re here. Just in case.”

  I nodded in agreement. Based on how much more effective the tincture Samantha had given me had made my healing, it seemed like a wise precaution.

  “Sorry about that,” Terrah said, turning her attention back to us. “You were looking for me? Have we met before? I think I’d remember the red hair.”

  I shook my head and began to explain. “No, we haven’t met. I was told I could find you here by some people in the alley near the church.”

  Terrah’s expression changed instantly. The playful edge vanished as her eyes darted around the shop. She leaned in closer, lowering her voice.

  “How do you know about tha…” She stopped herself, then shook her head. “Wait here. I’ll come speak with you privately. And… please don’t say anything else out loud.”

  Before I could respond, she slipped away toward the back of the shop.

  From beyond the counter, I heard Mr. Allbright’s voice rise in protest, only to trail off as Terrah slipped through a side door behind the counter, no longer wearing her apron with Allbrights written across it.

  “Sis, I’ll be back in a bit,” Terrah called over her shoulder, blowing a playful kiss as she passed through.

  “This seriously isn’t fair, Terrah!” her sister called after her.

  Terrah didn’t slow. She motioned for Halius and me to follow as she led us out of the shop and into the street beyond.

  She led us over to the fountain at a brisk pace before turning to face us with her arms crossed in front of her.

  “Okay, so talk,” she said rapidly. “Who are you exactly? Are you an auditor? I didn’t do anything wrong… okay, I might have borrowed some potions from my father, but technically I brewed those myself, so it doesn’t count… even if he bought the materials, but that’s beside the point. And for the record, there aren’t any taxes on potion shops providing healthcare to those in need, and”

  I raised a hand, stopping her mid rant.

  “Please,” I said gently. “It’s not like that. And… you’ve really been taking potions from the shop to help those people?”

  She stiffened and rushed to defend herself. “I know, I know, it’s wrong, but…”

  “It was admirable,” I said with a small smile. “Though I don’t think doing it without your father’s approval is the best course of action.”

  Her protests died instantly. She blinked at me, then glanced at Halius, before looking back at me with a faint blush.

  “Sooo,” she said slowly, “I just completely ratted myself out for no reason… and you aren’t auditors?”

  “No,” I said. “I’m not an auditor. I’m actually here to ask for your help.”

  “Help with what, exactly?” she asked, skepticism plain in her voice.

  I gestured in the direction of the Duke’s manor. “I’m about to go speak with the Duke about the people in need around the city. You seemed close to the problem, and I’d value your input.” I hesitated, then added, “I’d also like the chance to get to know you a little better.”

  She stared at me, then glanced over at Halius’s imposing frame before looking back again.

  “So let me get this straight,” she said slowly. “You’re not auditors, yet you’ve got this big goon with you, and now you want to bring me to the Duke.” Her eyes narrowed. “You must think I’m an idiot.”

  “No,” I said firmly. “I think you’re compassionate. I think you have a big heart.” I met her gaze without flinching. “What you’ve done for those people is admirable, and I genuinely need your help.”

  She studied me for a few seconds longer, her cheeks coloring slightly at the praise.

  “…Alright,” she said at last. “Fine. But at least tell me why before I agree to come with you.”