The shop across from the scriveners was perfect in every way that counted. Perfectly lovely textiles and Freya couldn't take her eyes off of the chicken portrait, lovingly rendered. Next to it was a duck, to whom the artist has comedically given a hat. Freya often wondered what other beasts there were that she could raise and ducks had been one of the few that seemed both available and in large supply. Well, ducks and geese. They weren’t that much bigger than the chickens and feathers were feathers.

The duck itself must have been the passion project of the spouse of the shop owners because she had seen it before.

It was known that you didn’t make fun of someone's art. Some things were unladylike to the extreme. Sly criticism of the color scheme was usually fair game.

“It’s a bit… bright, isn’t it?” Freya said.

“I would say that the word you are looking for here is gaudy,” Abigail said, “But I do so love to support the arts. I wonder if Lord Richards would have a problem if I asked him to buy this or if he would just hold his nose.”

Abigail had finally won the game of hearts and an engagement was expected quite shortly. Freya thought that Abigail could ask the fox to buy up the whole shop for her and he wouldn’t blink. He might change the decor a bit.

A few swords would brighten up the place. A more realistic chicken would make it feel far homier.

“That piece, I feel may be a bit more on the nose,” Freya said, directing her friend's attention to the gorgeous painting of a fox dueling another fox.

“You must think that I like every sword that I meet, dearest Freya.”

“Only the good ones, of course.”

Abigail nodded back to the mouse. Of course, none of this helped Freya with her current two problems. That of her mother's birthday gift, and Holly.

Freya just wanted to keep ignoring the Holly issue, so it was time to figure out the two of them could get her mother.

The small number of feathers that the chickens had molted after the luncheon had been a godsend. Freya finally had enough money to get a purse, after which she would have no money having paid for a thing to put her money in. It was a bit sad how these things worked, wasn’t it?

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

"So about your problem? You want to get Holly a gift?" Abigail, Freya knew had more to say on the matter. Holly, barring a commitment from Captain Bell himself, could not accept any such present. Thus the mouse was at a crossroads. Perhaps she could get the rabbit captain a gift? One that told him to get his act together?

Holly herself would not accept any gift but Freya wanted to renew the bond between them. Those romance books always had the female characters splitting up for stupid reasons and Freya would not allow herself to be a party to that. If it happened in a romance-from here on in-it had no room in her life.

"Yes, he-Captain Bell-has been a wedge between us when he should have been something that drew us closer and I need to make things right... and if not right, well then better. Perhaps, a novel would be appropriate?"

Abigail's eyes were bright and inquisitive. She knew how the two girls had fought. Holly must have told her!

The years of friendship seemed to weigh down on Freya in a different way. Freya hadn't heard of friends breaking up over boys outside of stories, giant rifts that could not again be bridged. But never had she thought that it would happen to her best friends.

"And also while we're here, a present for my mother," Freya said, her voice a thin raspy whisper. Her mother was inside the textiles shop behind the pair, always looking for the next ream of fabric to impress more foreign dignitaries. The mouse was a dynamic force in negotiations and dressed the part as well.

"Your mother needs something for her translation duties, correct?" Abigail ran down her thoughts quickly, "And perhaps we can get a novel someplace that sells paper? I heard that the new Mixing novel should be out, you know Francis Seafoam was gushing over it. Apparently, it's a favorite of Madame Lengs, and if you can believe this she made him read it?"

Freya's jaw dropped.

"And he did?"

"He read it, Freya!"

Freya looked and saw the scriveners shop across the way. Perhaps she could get Muk to read something with her, he did always seem to have something on his mind.

"I... well that is something Abigail, but how would that help me find a gift?" Freya snapped Abigail back into her senses. The beautiful quill pens, the monogrammed paper, all the shops sold of hopes and dreams pulled into reality as they walked over.

"Is there an occasion?" Abigail asked, window browsing, "For your mother I mean? We can just pick up the latest Mixing serial, that should do Holly well."

Freya paused.

"There really isn't an occasion I can think of for my mother," Freya said," but what do you think would be best..ah here's the latest Mixing... and would you be able to deliver this to Holly with my regards?"

Freya once again and as always had to wait for the prolonged response from the fox. A lady fox needed to have many allies and speaking her mind about Freyas pushing these small responsibilities onto her, well it... wasn’t entirely welcome.

Abigail gestured at the papers displayed.

"Ah! The end of winter collection! That should be perfect!"

And Freya finally got it, seeing the gift she hoped could bridge the gap between her and her friend.