sweet silver lining

“I suppose that’s very true.” Delia smiled at the woman’s words. It was likely a true statement for most people, if not all, at the very least. “Have you had many customers of late?”

Bea nodded.  “Yes, actually.  Unsurprisingly, I suppose, having so many new people suddenly arriving is very good for business.”  Not everyone came to her, of course.  Some of the visitors had their own apothecaries at home fulfill their needs before arriving, more than likely, and even here, there were other apothecaries as well.  Still, her reputation and her work had certainly drawn in more than a few new customers for the time being.  “Have you found the same?”

Jasper was trying to tread carefully. He didn’t want to give Bea the wrong impression, nor did he want to give her enough information to pass on to gossips in the castle. This was an art. “Of course, as talented as you are, I assumed you would need more information.” He flashed that charming grin again, but it didn’t quite meet his eyes this time. “Do you know of anything that would make someone disorientated? Perhaps dizzy or drowsy? So much so that they might have trouble walking?”

Bea raised an eyebrow.  It was not typically her policy to ask too many questions -- privacy was important in this line of work, and while there were many things that she needed to know in order to be able to do her job properly, her own curiosity never played a part in the questions she asked.  When someone came to her with questions like this, however (particularly when that someone had already had to be sent away in the past), she could not answer them without first knowing more.  “Why do you want to know?”

“Ah, how wonderful. I wondered if you would be here. It seems everyone has been spending a great deal of time outside. I imagine they’re trying to soak up the last of the summer sun. I can’t say I blame them, but I am happy to find you here instead.” Jasper smiled his most charming smile and tipped his head in greeting. “I actually came to ask you a few questions.” He remembered, as he was sure she did, the last time he had come around asking questions. It had not gone as he had planned. This time, however, he had a different approach. “I’m not looking to buy anything - I apologize for that - but I am trying to pinpoint a certain substance or substances that would cause specific effects. I thought you might be able to help.”

Suspicious or not, Bea would not be anything less than polite to anyone who did not absolutely deserve it.  “No, nor can I.  I myself have done the same, but it is also important that I am easy to find when I am needed.”  She felt a bit of relief that he was not looking to buy anything, but the vague way he spoke still made her somewhat hesitant.  “I certainly might be, but I’m afraid I do need a bit more information than that,” she said with a soft laugh.  “What are the effects you are looking for?”

“Well, I think it’s a hazard of many jobs that some will be disappointed. But you are curing ills so I can’t imagine too many people truly complain,” Delia replied. She, of course, only heard complaints if she denied meeting with someone, but the nature of their positions were quite different. 

“Yes, that is certainly true.  As hard as one tries, invariably someone will always be disappointed -- but more often than not, more people will be satisfied, and that should always count for more.”  There were, unfortunately, some times when she needed to remind herself of that.  The problem with curing ills, after all, was that some ills could not be cured, even with the best remedy in the world.

Bea liked to think the best of people, but she did not think it unfair to harbor a bit of suspicion towards Jasper Grey.  Some of the man’s questions were enough to raise eyebrows, even for the most generous of listeners.  She had been keeping her distance since their last conversation, if it could truly be called that, and she had expected he would do the same, seeing as she had made it very clear then that she could not help him.  Still, when he sought her out, she could not send him away when she did not know the nature of his inquiry; it might be perfectly innocuous.  “Lord Grey.  How can I help you?”

Everything at home was uncertain, and Delia had reservations about leaving her mother, but the woman had sworn she would be fine, that someone had to stay and take care of things. “And you. It is truly a delight to know you.” Her words weren’t spoken carelessly. In the short time she had known Bea, the woman had truly been a delightful companion. “All of court is lucky to have you here.”

Bea smiled, a softer smile, at the compliment.  “Well, that is certainly kind of you to say -- and I do try my best to live up to that statement,” she added with a soft laugh.  “Though I do think there are some who disagree, when I have to make them a particularly unpleasant remedy.  But alas, that cannot be helped.  It is simply a hazard of the job.”  Not that many people really held it against her when the remedy they needed was unpleasant, particularly when it worked so well.

Though much had changed, the general essence of court seemed to remain the same. So many secrets, so much to hide. And yet some good was here too. “It is, yes. And I’m not quite sure.” That much was true. “I suppose until things settle down at the borders.”

“That makes sense,” Bea said with a nod.  Despite having never been there herself, she was very much acquainted with how dangerous it could be at the borders.  She would not want to be there right now either, not until the conflict was ended.  “Well, with any luck, things will settle down soon -- though I hope you do not take that as my desire to see you gone,” she added, a trace of humor in her voice.  “It has, of course, been a pleasure to meet you.”

“I suppose that’s true.” Delia nodded gently. So much that she’d loved had been at court, so it was only natural to still remember so much of it. She smiled at the woman’s statement. “Oh, it’s wonderful. Almost exactly like I remembered it.” She paused for a moment. “Well, in some areas more than others, I suppose.”

“Yes, I can imagine.”  She did not know very much about Delia, or what her life had been like the last time she was at court, but in twenty years, it was only natural that some things had changed.  “I hope that’s a good thing, at least.  Will you be staying long?”

Jia nodded, they were in agreement about that much. An alliance was necessary, now she only needed to convince the current monarch of the agreed-upon terms. “Of course, but forgive me, I do not mean to bore you with such matters.” She smiled, nodding graciously. “I shall leave you to you your work, then? I can send someone to fetch the remedy when it is ready.”

She smiled, shook her head.  “Oh, you are not boring me.  It has been quite lovely speaking with you, actually -- but you are right, I do have quite a bit of work to return to.  I shall have your remedy done in three days.  You can send someone any time after that.”  It was her standard policy not to take more than five days, unless it was a particularly tricky remedy, which this was not.  “Good afternoon.”

“I know exactly what you mean.” Delia chuckled. She took in a deep breath as she looked around. “Is it strange to say that this place is so familiar even after twenty years gone?” So much was different, yet parts of it seemed exactly the same.

She shook her head.  “Not at all.  When you really know a place, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been gone.  You still remember it.”  Whenever she returned to her hometown to see her mother, though it had never been anywhere near twenty years away, it always felt like she had never left.  Some places had a way of staying with you.  “I imagine it must be nice to be back here after so long.”

A smile came upon her features as she recognized the apothecary. “Not at all, please do.” She gestured across from her at the empty seat. She sat her drawing down next to her, giving Bea her attention. “It’s beautiful today, isn’t it?”

“Thank you,” she said with a smile, sitting down in the empty space.  After being on her feet for more or less the entire day, it was very nice to be able to sit for a moment.  “Yes, I think this is the loveliest day we’ve had all week.  It almost makes me want to stay here all afternoon.”

Roman had heard of most of those herbs. Mood enhancers, mostly, although his nose scrunched at the memory of chamomile. The physicians in Ryhule had been adamant that the herb would help soothe his restlessness after being discharged from the military due to his injury. They were wrong. Roman let out a huff, “If that’s all you can do for me, perhaps it’s better if I just go. Yet another failed attempt at fun in this country!” He threw his hands up in the air, but didn’t storm out yet - waiting to see whether or not the apothecary would change her mind about providing him something more entertaining. 

Truthfully, Bea was not sad to see him go, but she would never say it out loud.  She certainly did not appreciate being shouted at for simply doing her job properly.  As one of the most trusted apothecaries in Oscana, her integrity was very important to both herself and her business; letting every man who threw a tantrum in her shop have herbs that she did not sell (and for good reason) would certainly not help her maintain it.  Though he was clearly waiting for her to change her mind, she would not.  “I’m sorry to hear that.  Are you positive there’s nothing else I can help you with?”

“As do I,” Jia smiled kindly. “I’m very sorry to hear about your husband, but if it is any consolation, it only makes me steel my resolve to bring about an alliance that will halt the bloodshed once and for all. I think sometimes, it is too easy for those who do not experience the horrors of war firsthand to forget about those who suffer.” She shook her head sadly, appearing very affected by her tale.

While Bea was generally a decent judge of character, she was also trusting, expecting the best from people until they gave her a reason not to.  She does not detect anything untrustworthy in Jia Fei at all.  “Well, I cannot speak for everyone, but I can understand the desire to preserve their innocence from the horrors of war.”  As someone who had never known what it was to be completely untouched by war, she had no desire to rob others of such innocence -- though there was no better way to preserve it than by ending the war entirely.  “But thank you, that is consolation indeed.  This bloodshed has continued for far too long.  An alliance is long overdue.”

Westley was good at what he did. Which was part of the reason how he had so quickly became the captain of the vessel he called his home most days out of the year. His sword wielding was impeccable and his thirst for adventure was insatiable; he was truly meant to be a pirate. At least that’s what he believed in his own heart. “Me? Getting sloppy? Me?” He wore a feigned dumbfounded expression on his face and a soft chuckle escaped from his lips soon afterwards. “It is more likely that pigs will fly, milady,” Wes’ signature smirk found its way onto his features as he listened to Beatrice speak. “That’s wonderful to hear. Soon your skills will be known across countries. Perhaps then you will finally accept my invitation on joining my crew as our official apothecary.”

“Yes, you.  That is exactly what I mean.”  A slightly teasing upturn remained on her lips, though there was still a bit of seriousness in her words as well.  Confidence was important, of course, but one must not forget that they were still human, and therefore not infallible.  At his reference to her joining his crew, she laughed.  “Oh, I don’t think so.  I’ve told you before, I like my life here.  Not all of us long for adventure.  Besides, if my skills were known across countries, I would have even less reason to leave my business behind.  It is not so easy to help everyone from aboard a pirate ship.”