“There are no druids in Tythia.” Is what I should have said.

What I actually said was, “Who are you?” Well done, Mel. Way to implicate yourself.

“A friend. Hopefully a customer.” He noticed my discomfort. “Forgive me, I appear to have caught you at a bad time.” He spied the dining table taking up a frankly rude percentage of the room. “I recall this being a shop.”

I relaxed a bit, but just a bit. “You’ve been here before?”

“Oh yes. Some time ago, but yes. This was my favourite shop in Magalat. Of course, I remember it rather differently; last time I was here you were taller, and a man.” He smiled, affording me an unobstructed view of his neat rows of perfectly white teeth, filed to daggers.

I almost shut the door in his face, but then he would be out of sight, and that was somehow scarier. “New ownership.” I gulped.

He was quick on the uptake. He guessed exactly what that meant. “Ah. I’m sorry,” he said. “The druid who lived here before was a gentle sort.”

“There are no druids in Tythia,” I said. Well done, Mel. Where was that when you opened the door?

“Of course. Foolish me.” He had a speech affectation that made his vowels sound wheezy, like he was exhaling with every syllable. “A slip of the tongue. Where I’m from, we call simple herbalists druids. It is a bad habit of mine.”

“You’re not from Tythia?” I confess I was somewhat intrigued. I was also stating the obvious, now that I thought about it.

He was taller than most, but that didn’t necessarily mark him as a foreigner. The teeth were a bit of a giveaway — one I was glad to have an explanation for — but there were a number of other tells that made him an oddity.

He wore his hair in thick black curls dolloped on top of his head like foam, while the sides were shorn close. His eyebrows were unfashionably bushy, almost drooping over his eyes. I couldn’t differentiate his pupils from his irises — partially because the whites of his eyes were so vast and brilliant that it was almost painful to look at. His dress was different, without being outlandish — a red waistcoat that hung to his shins over a white linen shirt, and leather trousers that looked uncomfortably tight — but matched his complexion well. You see all sorts of skin tones in Tythia, but I hadn’t personally met anyone with this shade of sienna before. The red tones of his skin complemented the burgundy of his garb and contrasted pleasingly with the white.

“Keearnaan, near Dbhorin.” He touched his forehead for some reason. “Have you heard of it?”

“Can’t say that I have.” I’d never met someone from outside of Tythia before. For some reason I felt self-conscious. I didn’t want to come across as a country rube.

“Mm, Tythia has not changed all that much then, I see. These permits are incredibly hard for us traders to get.” He fished an official looking sheaf of papers from a pocket in his waistcoat. I think he was trying to put my mind at ease.

“Mel? Everything alright down there?” Alicia called on her way down the stairs.

“Yeah, it’s fine. Just, um, a visitor?” I stepped aside so she could see exactly what I meant.

“Ah,” she said, and then touched her forehead in the same way the man had — a greeting then.

“Productivity, happiness and wealth?” the man asked.

“Not in equal measures.” Alicia grimaced. “Productivity, happiness and wealth?”

“The gods have been good,” he answered. The way he said it made me think this was the expected response.

“You are welcome, Fealux. Please unburden your feet and unburden your heart.”

“You warm me with your hospitality.” Their ritual complete, Fealux looked at me. He was asking permission to come in, I gleaned.

I nodded, and stepped aside.

“As do you,” he thanked me.

I shut and locked the door quickly, lest anymore strangeness barge in on my evening. I took a few deep breaths while Fealux and Alicia engaged in small talk. This whole situation was surreal. There was an outsider in my home, and he knew I was a druid. I didn’t know what to do with all of this.

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Luckily, Alicia could sense my unease — I must have reeked of it, to be fair. “Mel, Fealux is an old friend. He used to stop by regularly when he was in town. Iffan and I have had many a good evening sharing tea and stories.” She smiled at us both. I know she was trying to rapidly convey sincerity, but I kept looking for the catch.

“Also several entertaining but unwise evenings sharing— Oh, what was that evil spirit called?”

Alicia laughed. “Runoff? I’m surprised you remember that.”

“At times, I wish I did not!” He laughed with her. It was a sound like bellows being squeezed.

When the laughter trailed off, Alicia went into hostess mode. “Please, take a seat.” Then to me, “Perhaps some tea?”

I raised an eyebrow that I hope asked, “Am I supposed to poison him.” Judging from the way Alicia set about preparing some snacks, I had to assume probably not. That is not the type of request you want to misinterpret.

“Is it a social call tonight, or are you here on business?” Alicia asked over the counter as she chopped thin slithers of cucumber to go with a creamy dip Mirra had prepared in quantities that could feed a stable.

“It is always business,” Fealux chuckled. “But that does not mean I value your exquisite company any less. This has always been my favourite stop in Magalat.”

“You’re a mad man, Fealux. Always working. You should be spending some time at home! Don’t you have enough kids who want to see their daddy at the dinner table from time to time?” Her tone was playful. I was starting to think Alicia genuinely liked the man.

“Seventeen, at last count.” He splayed out his hands. “With another on the way.”

“Your poor wives!” She gave his shoulder a playful punch as she set down the snacks.

“Heroes, one and all. But seventeen children are expensive. Regrettably, I must work, so that they may play.”

“You fibber. You love it!”

Fealux laughed at the ceiling. “I do.” He leaned in close to Alicia. “Don’t tell my wives.”

“As if I would," she giggled. Then over her shoulder, “How’s that tea coming, Mel?”

I’d made it as far the nursery, and stopped. I’d been so caught up in their conversation I hadn’t wanted to leave. They weren’t saying anything out of the ordinary, but Fealux’s very presence was a novelty.

“It’s coming,” I said, quickly ducking out to the kitchen.

I chose not to poison the odd but — probably? — kind stranger. Alicia seemed to genuinely like him. Glade, I think they were actually flirting a little bit, but I’m not about to judge her for that.

To begin with, I dragged my feet; slowly getting the fire up to temperature, and then spending a stupidly long time picking between our two teapots. I set the water to boil, deliberately overfilling it so it wouldn’t be ready too quickly.

Oddly, I found myself getting impatient quickly. Fealux had stopped in unannounced. I knew nothing about the man. Worst of all, he knew a bit too much about our family affliction. But, Anvil, how intriguing! It reminded me of the time a star had burst in the sky when I was a child. It was painfully bright, and everyone said it would damage your eyes to look at it. I remember being afraid I would go blind, but, at the same time, I never wanted to see something so badly in my life.

I opted to let the tea brew at the table so I didn’t miss any more of the conversation.

When I sat down, Fealux slid the platter of snacks towards me. “Please,” he said.

Okay. Can’t say I’ve ever had anyone offer me my own food in my own house.

“I’m okay,” I said.

“You should try the dip,” Alicia prompted.

It was the same dip I had at lunch. What was going on here?

With both of them staring at me, I took a slither of cucumber, dunked it, and nibbled on the end. They carried on staring.

“It’s good,” I said, hoping that would stop the madness.

Mercifully, they both relaxed. I have no idea what that was all about.

“Walsh told me this place had opened up again,” Fealux said in a conversational tone. “He mentioned there was a new talent in town.” He was looking at me. “One he was afraid would become some stiff competition.” He winked.

I didn’t know what to say, so I just smiled politely.

“Old Walsh is still knocking around? I stopped by his old place and found nought but a sweet shop!” Alicia said.

Alicia had been hunting down some of her old contacts? That was news to me.

“He moved over to the west bank,” Fealux explained.

Alicia scoffed. “Business that good?”

“Regrettably, there are few enough of your ilk around.” He clasped his hands. “I’m sorry about Iffan.”

Alica bowed. “It’s been a while now. Still, he would have been glad you came.”

“That makes two of us! I hope to be coming more often in the months ahead.” He looked at me with a twinkle in his eye. “Walsh overcharges, and his shop smells like a perfumery.” He wrinkled his nose, and Alicia laughed.

“Alas,” Alicia said, “unless you’re in the market for tea, we can’t help you much beyond that.”

“Tea sells well.” Fealux’s shoulders danced as he spoke. “No so well as that lotion that protects travellers from the sun. My profits dropped fifteen percent when I couldn’t get any last year.”

“There it is!” Alicia slapped the table playfully. “There’s the ruthless merchant we know and love.”

“Forgive me, forgive me. It is poor form to speak of business over food.” He swept something imaginary from his shoulder — a superstitious act.

“You’re forgiven,” Alicia said for both of us. “You’ll have to be extra polite about the tea though.”

I spotted the hint and started pouring for the three of us. Alicia indicated with her eyes that I should pass Fealux his cup fist.

Alicia and I held our cups while he sipped noisily. This guy observed a lot of rituals.

“Exquisite!” he proclaimed.

Alica and I took a drink. It was a bit on the watery side. Needed longer.

“What is this delight?” he gushed, and somehow in didn’t come across as patronising.

“Uh, chamomile and peach blossom,” I answered. It felt like a test.

“I love it. I will be sure to take some with me for the family.” He took another draught. “You should consider a touch of regamom. I believe that will add fullness.”

“I can’t get regamom here.” It appeared in Iffan’s notes, but I’d never tried it. There had been a couple of plants on the second floor, but they were well and truly dead.

Fealux drained his cup. “My dear, you forget who you are speaking to.” He set his cup down deliberately. “With my help, there’s nothing you can’t get.”