Page 88 of Akarnae

“The—the one down the road. In the village.” Seeing the blank looks around her, Alex added, “Ye Olde Bookshoppe.”

“Alex,” Bear said, “there’s no bookshop in Woodhaven.”

“What?” she said, taking in their serious expressions. “Of course there is! We walked straight past it when we visited On The House.”

William exchanged a glance with Bear before turning back to Alex. “So, when you went shopping yesterday you went into this bookshop?”

She nodded.

“What happened once you were inside?”

Alex told him everything, only leaving out the end part of her conversation with Lady Mystique and the fact that the old woman seemed to know much more about Alex than she should have. She finished by saying, “I figured she was a friend of your family or something. But she wouldn’t let me pay for the gifts, and at the end she just…”

“She just what?” William pressed.

“Um… she just… disappeared,” Alex said, wincing at how ridiculous she sounded.

“Disappeared?” he asked, frowning. “How?”

“She just sort of… faded out.”

William stared into her eyes as if they would show whether she was telling the truth or not. Finally, he looked away from her and back to his dagger.

“This is a Meyarin blade,” he told her. “It would have been forged thousands of years ago by their ancient warriors. It’s a dagger of incomparable worth, made out of priceless metals. It’s not something an old lady would give to a complete stranger so that you could gift it to another complete stranger.”

“Don’t forget my book, Dad,” Blake added. “I believe it’s worth much more even than your dagger.”

“My brooch, too, seems to be made of the same metal as your blade, Will,” Dorothy said, adding to the growing list.

Alex started to feel faintly nauseous.

“I don’t know what you’re all diddling on about,” Gammy spoke up. “We’ve been given some wonderful gifts from a remarkable young lady who only wanted to find us something she thought we’d like and appreciate. We’re not showing much gratitude with all these interrogations. We ought to count our blessings, not question them. It’s Kaldoras morning, a time to receive gifts and be thankful. Now, come and help me in the kitchen, Alex dear, before they forget their manners entirely and turn into wild animals.”

Alex quickly scrambled after Gammy and tried to collect her thoughts. How could there be no bookshop in town? She’d seen it across the street from the other shops every time she’d walked the little strip. But, despite her own experience, she knew the Ronnigans were telling the truth too. Which led to the question: why could she see it when they clearly couldn’t? Was Ye Olde Bookshoppe perhaps like the Library, and only certain people could access it? Alex didn’t think so. She had a feeling the weirdness was influenced more by the owner of the shop than anything else. But why had Lady Mystique opened her doors for Alex? And why had she given her such remarkable gifts to give to the others?

“Now, now, dear, wipe that worried look off your face,” Gammy said. “Such a pretty girl shouldn’t look so confused.”

“Sorry, Gammy,” she said gloomily. “But Iamconfused.”

“Yes, well, I don’t think you’re the only one, sweet pea,” Gammy said. “I can’t remember the last time I saw my William so flustered. But Missy wouldn’t have caused this stir without reason, don’t you worry.”

“Missy?” Alex asked, not sure what Gammy was talking about.

“Your Lady Mystique.”

“You know her?” Alex cried.

“We’ve met,” Gammy said. “It was a long time ago, mind you, and just the once. She helped me out of a tight spot. Saved my life, in fact.” Gammy paused with a thoughtful look on her face. “It’s funny how the world works. That day I was carrying a book with me—a book I’d written myself, detailing all my favourite recipes and the ones I was still improving. After saving my life, Missy asked if she could borrow it for a while. It was a small price to pay, really, but it’s nice to have it back in my possession again.”

Alex’s eyes widened as she realised that the book she’d given Gammy was actually Gammy’s own recipe book.

“Why don’t you take a seat, dear. You look a bit peaky.”

Alex didn’t argue as the older woman led her to a stool and placed a glass of water in front of her.

“Now, you just sit there and keep me company while I cook up a feast,” Gammy said.

Alex sipped her water and concentrated on the melody Gammy began humming, readily receiving the peace that was flowing out of the older woman.

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