wordsmith

Response: Yes. He was trying to get rid of them, and I want rocks.

There are way more pebbles than you need for your experiments - and really, if they were just for experimenting you wouldn't be keeping them. But you want them, and Allan looked so glad to get rid of them, so you're doing him a favour, really.

Maybe they'll make some nice decor around the front yard, too, and you can ask the neighbours about setting something up for them.

On the way to the garden, you mentally turn over the puzzle of breaking the sigils once they're installed - definitely ruling out only a couple of differently coloured rocks, because who wouldn't want to pick out the single differently coloured rock (many people, maybe) but you also would like to use some colour because you don't like the idea of trying to break the sigil without being able to use visual cues.

The solution that makes the most sense to you is to make at least the outer circle out of similarly coloured pebbles, and hoping they don't prove to be alluring enough to pick out.

You reach the community garden and relay your thoughts to Stan. He agrees that a separate colour for the outer circle will be the way to go.

'I'll organise a time to overhaul the paths.'

'Oh - I'm sure we don't need a full overhaul -'

He waves your protests away. 'We're in need of a renovation. This is a perfect excuse. You working with any deadlines?'

You give him about two weeks before the witch meet, just to stay on the safe side.

'We'll reach out when we need you,' he says.

--

A few days later Dessa's reply comes in the mail. You crack open the seal and read through it without bothering to come inside first. She's written about the hot winds Deema described, complete with calculations and sketches of air moving through different points in the Great Dividing Range (they're fascinating but she's much, much smarter than you - maybe Deema would appreciate them).

I'm sure you know why I can't give you an exact date on the hot winds, but if you're keen, come by when the season starts in early autumn.

You consider the options - gambling on the possibility of a heatwave in the south west, interfering with whatever the wizard has going on in the south east, and a predictable phenomenon with a local guide (who you'd have to sneak around, unless she's cool).

The choice seems obvious, and can be done after the meet.

You come inside and show Deema the letter.

'That looks like what we're after?'

She nods stiffly.

'In early autumn,' you say.

'Early autumn.'

'It all feels so painfully real,' you murmur as you take the letter back.

Response: Yes. He was trying to get rid of them, and I want rocks.

There are way more pebbles than you need for your experiments - and really, if they were just for experimenting you wouldn't be keeping them. But you want them, and Allan looked so glad to get rid of them, so you're doing him a favour, really.

Maybe they'll make some nice decor around the front yard, too, and you can ask the neighbours about setting something up for them.

On the way to the garden, you mentally turn over the puzzle of breaking the sigils once they're installed - definitely ruling out only a couple of differently coloured rocks, because who wouldn't want to pick out the single differently coloured rock (many people, maybe) but you also would like to use some colour because you don't like the idea of trying to break the sigil without being able to use visual cues.

The solution that makes the most sense to you is to make at least the outer circle out of similarly coloured pebbles, and hoping they don't prove to be alluring enough to pick out.

You reach the community garden and relay your thoughts to Stan. He agrees that a separate colour for the outer circle will be the way to go.

'I'll organise a time to overhaul the paths.'

'Oh - I'm sure we don't need a full overhaul -'

He waves your protests away. 'We're in need of a renovation. This is a perfect excuse. You working with any deadlines?'

You give him about two weeks before the witch meet, just to stay on the safe side.

'We'll reach out when we need you,' he says.

--

A few days later Dessa's reply comes in the mail. You crack open the seal and read through it without bothering to come inside first. She's written about the hot winds Deema described, complete with calculations and sketches of air moving through different points in the Great Dividing Range (they're fascinating but she's much, much smarter than you - maybe Deema would appreciate them).

I'm sure you know why I can't give you an exact date on the hot winds, but if you're keen, come by when the season starts in early autumn.

You consider the options - gambling on the possibility of a heatwave in the south west, interfering with whatever the wizard has going on in the south east, and a predictable phenomenon with a local guide (who you'd have to sneak around, unless she's cool).

The choice seems obvious, and can be done after the meet.

You come inside and show Deema the letter.

'That looks like what we're after?'

She nods stiffly.

'In early autumn,' you say.

'Early autumn.'

'It all feels so painfully real,' you murmur as you take the letter back.

Response: 'Darts?'

'Darts?' you suggest. It's the less-social social option.

'Darts,' Lex says in agreement, and pulls on a jacket.

Soon you're being pushed out the front door, and your feet take you on the now-familiar path to The Barnacle, partly because you don't want to find a new darts place but mostly because you promised the regular crew you'd try to bring Lex some time.

'There should be other people I know here,' you say outside the door.

'The more the merrier or whatever.' Lex holds the door open for you. 'Lead the way.'

There are three of the crew at the back - Callie and Rowan, and someone else you haven't met before. You walk over, but before you can announce yourself Callie looks over his shoulder.

His face breaks into a grin. He pulls you into a tight hug and kisses the side of your head. 'I've missed you,' he says.

You throw your inhibitions to the wind and kiss the side of his head too. 'I've missed you too, Callie.' Lex raises their eyebrows.

'I've brought Lex,' you add.

'The elusive coast witch,' Callie says, and pulls them into a hug too. They awkwardly pat his back. 'This is Rowan, my birdwatching buddy. And this is Z, my blacksmithing buddy.'

'Ruby's not here?' you ask. You might actually have a chance at winning, unless Lex secretly has good aim.

'She never misses darts unless she absolutely has to,' Rowan tells Lex.

Z fiddles with a dart. 'So...'

'We're mid-game,' Callie says.

You take over as scorekeeper ('It's because sums and I are boring in the same direction,' you explain to Lex, and they say they're well aware.)

'I'm glad you're here,' Callie says to Lex.

'I don't have a big social circle.'

'I hope we can introduce you to the joys of hanging out with a bunch of strangers.'

They shrug. 'We'll see.'

You spend most of your time at the board while Rowan flits between zir turns and peppering Lex with questions about being a coast witch, which ze think is cool but would not do because ze like a chill life. Lex agrees being a coast witch isn't good if you want a chill life.

When the current round is done, you add yours and Lex's names to the scoreboard. You didn't have to worry about being wiped out - their aim is worse than yours, but they're having a good time about it. Callie manages to extract a promise to come again.

--

You work on the heat stones the next day, having given Deema plenty of notice to vacate so she won't be annoyed. As a trial run, you nestle the stones in their sigils in the backyard. Breaking it requires taking out a couple of stones, but it's not that much harder than taking out only one.

You stand up, dusting off your clothes, and glance at the bucket of pebbles Allan pushed on you.

Response: 'Darts?'

'Darts?' you suggest. It's the less-social social option.

'Darts,' Lex says in agreement, and pulls on a jacket.

Soon you're being pushed out the front door, and your feet take you on the now-familiar path to The Barnacle, partly because you don't want to find a new darts place but mostly because you promised the regular crew you'd try to bring Lex some time.

'There should be other people I know here,' you say outside the door.

'The more the merrier or whatever.' Lex holds the door open for you. 'Lead the way.'

There are three of the crew at the back - Callie and Rowan, and someone else you haven't met before. You walk over, but before you can announce yourself Callie looks over his shoulder.

His face breaks into a grin. He pulls you into a tight hug and kisses the side of your head. 'I've missed you,' he says.

You throw your inhibitions to the wind and kiss the side of his head too. 'I've missed you too, Callie.' Lex raises their eyebrows.

'I've brought Lex,' you add.

'The elusive coast witch,' Callie says, and pulls them into a hug too. They awkwardly pat his back. 'This is Rowan, my birdwatching buddy. And this is Z, my blacksmithing buddy.'

'Ruby's not here?' you ask. You might actually have a chance at winning, unless Lex secretly has good aim.

'She never misses darts unless she absolutely has to,' Rowan tells Lex.

Z fiddles with a dart. 'So...'

'We're mid-game,' Callie says.

You take over as scorekeeper ('It's because sums and I are boring in the same direction,' you explain to Lex, and they say they're well aware.)

'I'm glad you're here,' Callie says to Lex.

'I don't have a big social circle.'

'I hope we can introduce you to the joys of hanging out with a bunch of strangers.'

They shrug. 'We'll see.'

You spend most of your time at the board while Rowan flits between zir turns and peppering Lex with questions about being a coast witch, which ze think is cool but would not do because ze like a chill life. Lex agrees being a coast witch isn't good if you want a chill life.

When the current round is done, you add yours and Lex's names to the scoreboard. You didn't have to worry about being wiped out - their aim is worse than yours, but they're having a good time about it. Callie manages to extract a promise to come again.

--

You work on the heat stones the next day, having given Deema plenty of notice to vacate so she won't be annoyed. As a trial run, you nestle the stones in their sigils in the backyard. Breaking it requires taking out a couple of stones, but it's not that much harder than taking out only one.

You stand up, dusting off your clothes, and glance at the bucket of pebbles Allan pushed on you.

Response: Yes. Worries shared are worries halved.

You bravely choose to talk to Lex about it, even though they've been deliberately avoiding talking about it, because what can go wrong this time?

You arm yourself with the necessities - Reginald, the invite, and some snacks - and go hunting for Lex.

They're not on the parts of the beach you can see from the viewing platform, and nowhere up or down main street or the maritime museum.

It's time to try the house. You consider knocking on the front door, decide against it when you admit to yourself you don't really want to talk to Mira, then walk around the side of the house until you reach Lex's bedroom.

The window is set higher than yours, not great for climbing in and out. Regardless, you reach up and knock.

The window opens and Lex pokes their head out. You try to think up a witty reply to 'Front door broken?' but don't need to because they disappear, then come back with a wooden box to give you a lift.

You stand on the box, climb in, and pull it in after you using the attached ropes (maybe Lex just really hates the front door, you think). Their room is neater than you expected, with shelves lined with driftwood, fishing tools, and sculptures in different stages of completion. There's an unused basket for Pumpkin Bread by the door and a Pumpkin Bread-sized dip in the bed. On the wall is a framed copy of the poem 'Fast Cart' by famed bard Tracy Chap -

'Stop gawking,' they say. 'It's just stuff.'

'Sorry.'

'So?'

You pull out the invite. 'Did you get one?'

They cross their arms and cringe. 'Been avoiding it.'

'Best time to stop avoiding it is with a friend.'

'Nope.'

'You know what they say about worries shared being worries halved?' You unwrap the nuts and dried fruit you brought.

They glance at the window but ultimately decide against jumping out and take the snacks instead. 'I don't believe in that. But whatever, let's go.'

'It's at Mariner's Refuge.'

Lex throws their hands up. The snacks almost fall. 'I knew it.'

'But why don't you want -'

'Well, some of us are proudly disappointing our parents by being a coast witch apprentice instead of being literally anything else.'

You know that's not the full story, but progress is progress. 'If it makes you better, I still haven't told my mum what I'm doing. The street magician thing was definitely disappointing. And I left after the accident.'

'But you don't have to go back,' they say bitterly.

'Are you sure you have to? You can probably -'

'Yep.'

'Anything I can do to help out?'

'Not really.'

'Feeling better?'

'Not really. But the thought was nice.'

You think a little bit more about what to say and decide on giving Lex an out. 'Do you want to go out somewhere?'

'Yes,' they say in relief, 'if it means we don't have to talk about this.'

Response: Yes. Worries shared are worries halved.

You bravely choose to talk to Lex about it, even though they've been deliberately avoiding talking about it, because what can go wrong this time?

You arm yourself with the necessities - Reginald, the invite, and some snacks - and go hunting for Lex.

They're not on the parts of the beach you can see from the viewing platform, and nowhere up or down main street or the maritime museum.

It's time to try the house. You consider knocking on the front door, decide against it when you admit to yourself you don't really want to talk to Mira, then walk around the side of the house until you reach Lex's bedroom.

The window is set higher than yours, not great for climbing in and out. Regardless, you reach up and knock.

The window opens and Lex pokes their head out. You try to think up a witty reply to 'Front door broken?' but don't need to because they disappear, then come back with a wooden box to give you a lift.

You stand on the box, climb in, and pull it in after you using the attached ropes (maybe Lex just really hates the front door, you think). Their room is neater than you expected, with shelves lined with driftwood, fishing tools, and sculptures in different stages of completion. There's an unused basket for Pumpkin Bread by the door and a Pumpkin Bread-sized dip in the bed. On the wall is a framed copy of the poem 'Fast Cart' by famed bard Tracy Chap -

'Stop gawking,' they say. 'It's just stuff.'

'Sorry.'

'So?'

You pull out the invite. 'Did you get one?'

They cross their arms and cringe. 'Been avoiding it.'

'Best time to stop avoiding it is with a friend.'

'Nope.'

'You know what they say about worries shared being worries halved?' You unwrap the nuts and dried fruit you brought.

They glance at the window but ultimately decide against jumping out and take the snacks instead. 'I don't believe in that. But whatever, let's go.'

'It's at Mariner's Refuge.'

Lex throws their hands up. The snacks almost fall. 'I knew it.'

'But why don't you want -'

'Well, some of us are proudly disappointing our parents by being a coast witch apprentice instead of being literally anything else.'

You know that's not the full story, but progress is progress. 'If it makes you better, I still haven't told my mum what I'm doing. The street magician thing was definitely disappointing. And I left after the accident.'

'But you don't have to go back,' they say bitterly.

'Are you sure you have to? You can probably -'

'Yep.'

'Anything I can do to help out?'

'Not really.'

'Feeling better?'

'Not really. But the thought was nice.'

You think a little bit more about what to say and decide on giving Lex an out. 'Do you want to go out somewhere?'

'Yes,' they say in relief, 'if it means we don't have to talk about this.'

Response: 'What about the hot air?

'What about hot air?' you ask.

Deema purses her lips tighter, if that's possible, and says, 'I've been going through my notes.'

She picks up your new climate map (which you're cool about, you swear) and, holding it to face you, points to different places on it.

'Southeast, near the Fingers,' she says, pointing to the narrow ridges of stone jutting into the sea. The wizard does some experiments, apparently. Sometimes they involve the weather. I don't care to get involved in it, but I'm not you.

'Across the mountains there are autumn hot winds, but you wouldn't be able to predict when they'll happen in the medium-term. I've never been there,' she admits to your surprise. 'You'll have to wait for Dessa's letter for more information.'

'The southwest can be relied upon to have hot summers, as I'm sure you know, but you can't count on a heatwave.'

'Where did you do it?' you ask.

'I was lucky. If you can call it that. It was a strong heatwave in the southwest.'

'I don't want to rely on it,' you say. You're also still not set on the idea of going back, if you're being honest with yourself.

'I've always wanted to see the winds across the mountains, but I can't in this condition. I think it's the most reliable way for you to collect.'

'I mean, sure, but... the wait will put us back a season.'

'It's been so long. What's another few months?'

--

A few days later an envelope arrives addressed to 'The Weather Witches of Wreck Reef.' You open it and slide out its contents - thick cardstock, neat lettering - and call Deema.

She takes it before you can read it and says, 'It's about the next meet.'

You look over her shoulder. It's after the last full moon of the summer, which suddenly feels too close for comfort, and in the canal city, Mariner's Refuge.

You glance at Deema's inscrutable face and say, 'Well, this will make planning humidity easier.' All you need to do is travel further down first - or after, once there are less weather witches to interfere.

And that's where Lex grew up, you remember. So they were either upset because they wanted it to be there, but were afraid it wouldn't be, or because they didn't want it to be there, but were afraid it would be. You can guess which is likelier.

Response: 'What about the hot air?

'What about hot air?' you ask.

Deema purses her lips tighter, if that's possible, and says, 'I've been going through my notes.'

She picks up your new climate map (which you're cool about, you swear) and, holding it to face you, points to different places on it.

'Southeast, near the Fingers,' she says, pointing to the narrow ridges of stone jutting into the sea. The wizard does some experiments, apparently. Sometimes they involve the weather. I don't care to get involved in it, but I'm not you.

'Across the mountains there are autumn hot winds, but you wouldn't be able to predict when they'll happen in the medium-term. I've never been there,' she admits to your surprise. 'You'll have to wait for Dessa's letter for more information.'

'The southwest can be relied upon to have hot summers, as I'm sure you know, but you can't count on a heatwave.'

'Where did you do it?' you ask.

'I was lucky. If you can call it that. It was a strong heatwave in the southwest.'

'I don't want to rely on it,' you say. You're also still not set on the idea of going back, if you're being honest with yourself.

'I've always wanted to see the winds across the mountains, but I can't in this condition. I think it's the most reliable way for you to collect.'

'I mean, sure, but... the wait will put us back a season.'

'It's been so long. What's another few months?'

--

A few days later an envelope arrives addressed to 'The Weather Witches of Wreck Reef.' You open it and slide out its contents - thick cardstock, neat lettering - and call Deema.

She takes it before you can read it and says, 'It's about the next meet.'

You look over her shoulder. It's after the last full moon of the summer, which suddenly feels too close for comfort, and in the canal city, Mariner's Refuge.

You glance at Deema's inscrutable face and say, 'Well, this will make planning humidity easier.' All you need to do is travel further down first - or after, once there are less weather witches to interfere.

And that's where Lex grew up, you remember. So they were either upset because they wanted it to be there, but were afraid it wouldn't be, or because they didn't want it to be there, but were afraid it would be. You can guess which is likelier.

Response: Sorting out Hafiza's records.

You look at the sun, well on its way down the horizon, and decide against going back to the garden right now. Soon it'll be too dark to properly look at the paths.

You sweep the pebbles back into the bucket so as to not bother Deema, prop the bucket against a post, and head inside.

Deema's by the fire on the far side of the room, facing away from you.

'Did I bother you?' you ask.

She turns the question over in her mind before saying, 'Yes.'

'Sorry.'

'Don't be. It's the job.' She pauses. 'They felt strange.'

'Yeah, look at this...' You walk over and show her your sketches of unbalanced sigils, with lines of inconsistent thickness and spokes of different lengths, and say, 'I made them unbalanced to compensate for the stones not making perfect circles.'

She concedes, 'It's a good idea,' and turns around again.'

You take this as your cue to leave her alone, and go back to your makeshift desk. The note you'd left to yourself to work on Hafiza's records jumps out at you.

Even though condensing the notes further will take you much less time, you split the task over the evening and the next morning to give your eyes a break. The final list of notes barely comes out to be three pages of text, and you fold them up and head into town to send them off to the address Hafiza gave you.

While in the area, you look over the town noticeboard, hoping for some clues about where the next witch meet will be, but there's nothing available - either because it hasn't been announced, or there's so few people it affects it doesn't compete with the offered odd jobs and workshops. Probably the latter.

'Deema,' you ask when you return, thinking of your conversation with Lex, 'when do we find out when the next meet is?'

'Not long... the next week or so. I'll let you know when we receive notice.'

'A while ago Lex said it would be somewhere down south. But not that far down, because we don't really do witches there. They seemed upset about it.'

'Why would you speculate or worry? It won't change where it will be.'

'Maybe,' you say, 'but still. Might help us plan for the... the next step.'

Deema purses her lips.