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Putting away the jars she no longer needed, she started to brew a tea that would lessen its pain. Once it was cool enough, she tilted its head back and used a spoon to pour the contents into its mouth.

It was unconscious, but it still understood when liquid was going down its throat because it swallowed. She also covered its scales with an ointment that would heal its scratches.

Then she examined its wings again.

With them broken, she was unsure how they were actually supposed to lay, so she made them wrap around its own body until all the disfigured bones were straight. She then wrapped cloth around its torso, making sure to keep both its front and back legs free and trapping its wings to itself so it couldn’t continue to harm them.

Outside, the storm was starting to quiet, and she rubbed her cheek in tiredness. Bala hopped onto the table and knocked her own hands so she slapped herself. Amalia glared at him before she shooed him away when he came to inspect the lizard.

“I can never trust you, you little cretin.”

It is a flying creature, so it will not appreciate this, but I do not trust that cat.With a sigh, she lifted the towel and then opened up a small birdcage she had, locking it in and, most importantly, Bala out.

Removing the key, she cleaned up her mess, except for the tea she would rewarm in the morning then crawled into bed.

In order to help the creature, she’d need to get up at first light.

Chapter 2

Amalia walked through a merchant town a little ways away from her home and tightened the travelling cloak propped over her head.

Clagmore was a half day’s walk through Dawnbrook forest, but she trusted that she’d find sapphire petals here in this town. She also planned to grab some extra supplies while she was out.

Her pale green dress revealed that she was nothing more than a simple peasant, and her thick wintery grey cloak wasn’t out of place among the other weary travellers that came here.

As always, she met every vendor with kindness, even when they were rude or brash, much preferring to not irritate them.

That didn’t mean her thoughts were pure.

Fat toad,she cursed at the baker handing her a softer loaf of bread after she told him the first one was stale.

It was obvious he was trying to get rid of the previous days’ baking and didn’t appreciate that she’d picked up on it. He’d called her a peasant bitch and told her to get out of his shop after she paid, worried that other customers would overhear that he was selling stale bread.

Putting that unpleasant encounter behind her, she continued on her way as she headed to the rare herb salesman’s store.

“Hello, Darth,” she greeted when the bell rang as she entered the loveliest smelling shop in the entire town.

She took in a large, healthy breath through her nose, sighing with contentment at the different aromas of flowers, spices, and herbs littering the air.

“Amalia! My most beautiful customer,” the older man greeted. “It is always a pleasure to see you.”

He was a nice human fellow with brown hair that was becoming peppered with white from his age. His face was bearded, but it was always kept short and trimmed, and he had a moustache that would put most to shame. He obviously took great care with it and liked curling the ends.

“Shush,” she hissed while placing a finger over her lips with a smile. “We do not want your wife overhearing you complimenting the local girls again.”

He gave a bellowing laugh while wiping his spice covered hands on his brown apron behind the counter. “My wife does not mind as long it is only her I lay with at night. What can I get for you today?”

“You are too jovial, Darth. Women get insecure in their older years.”

“I hope not. Even as a wrinkly old prune, I would still love that woman.”

With a roll of her eyes, she looked over the counter as she spoke, “Um, I was seeking more sapphire petals.”

“More? But you just got some a little while ago.” He walked to the back of his shop where his more expensive products were kept. “Ah, here we go.”

He didn’t come out straight away, but when he did, he held two large jars instead of one.

“I also got a rare item in since you were here last. Knowing you, you probably already have it... But do you have any sun sap?”