Morning all and welcome to the Fifteen Minute Novel. Here I take the start of a story idea and work on it for fifteen minutes a day. I started with an old writing prompt that interested me, cleaned it up a bit to fit the basic outline of the story I want to write and then set aside fifteen minutes each week day to see it grow. Each morning’s writing starts with the last sentence of the day before. And so now we have the story of Kasca…
Day 102: “Magical healer,” Kasca admitted with some trepidation.
“Magical healer,” Kasca admitted with some trepidation. Under the Overlord’s care admitting such would have been a death sentence. Here there were exhalations of relief.
The rest of the paperwork was easy enough. Once everything was arranged, the old owner walked with her back to the shop to show her the finer points of the building and turn over the keys. She was certain it would be so any neighbors watching would be sur to see that she was officially the new owner and not simply someone squatting.
As the apothecary came with everything in the building, Kasca assumed someone had been through and took everything of value before putting it up for sale.
They arrived at the building and she could see others peering through their windows, watching. A few people out on the street stopped and openly watched. He presented the keys to her with a flourish.
“The building is all yours Mistress Healer,” he said in a voice meant to carry. Kasca took the keys unlocked the front door and let herself in. As she crossed the threshold Kasca could hear the whispers travel down the street, the word healer being repeated over and over as word traveled.
“This is of course the main shop area,” he told her as they walked through. Kasca walked past mentally taking inventory as she did. There were some slightly open drawers and seeing the name plates Kasca knew those were expensive and rare ingredients. ‘The sort that someone could easily sell on in the market,’ she thought.
Kasca didn’t begrudge the theft. It was expected. ‘And those ingredients are relatively useless.’
She knew of them but they had very little medicinal value. They were used to add to the cost or to make an exclusive client feel they were getting something no one else had access to. If she took on any aristocratic clients she may need to replace those items to make them feel they were getting the best possible remedy but as she had no intentions of moving in such high circles, Kasca wasn’t overly concerned.
“This back door leads to the work room,” he told her. He gestured to the key ring and she found the appropriate key.
“Good that it locks,” Kasca said. Sometimes when she was working on something delicate, interruptions caused problems.
“That’s what uncle used to say,” he told her with a grin. Behind the flash of amusement there was a deep sadness.
“I am sorry for your loss,” Kasca said knowing it was a poor statement.
“Thank you,” he said. “I don’t know anyone who hasn’t lost anyone. Have you lost someone?”
“Yes,” Kasca said. “It is why I came to open a shop somewhere else.”
He nodded his understanding. “Starting somewhere fresh is probably the only way not to see ghosts. Uncle would have been pleased another healer came to take his place though.”
Kasca nodded but he seemed done with conversation. Once in the workshop he pointed to the back door. That leads into a small courtyard, Uncle grew many of his ingredients there when he could.” He pointed to another door. That leads up to the personal quarters. Anything of sentiment has been removed so keep what you can use and get rid of what you don’t need.”
Kasca nodded.
Ten til Midnight 