A Rival Most Vial by R.K. Ashwick

Author:R.K. Ashwick
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: RK Ashwick Books

STEP 20:

TASTE TEST

Ambrose

As Ambrose took his customary stroll over to Dawn’s place, he tried to rationalize his excitement about the coming evening. Now that two commission steps were complete, Eli was going to come over to his workshop and test out the potions. Testing new brews was a rare opportunity, if a little outside Guild protocol. And he’d be testing them with his associate Eli. His friendly associate Eli. Fine, his friend Eli. It was perfectly reasonable to be excited.

“Apologies for being late,” Ambrose called as he stepped into the wand shop. Now that it was after closing, the first floor was empty, the front counter littered with wand boxes and hand-scribbled receipts. “My last customer wanted to talk through all my healing options, and only ended up buying one of them…” He stopped on the stairs and frowned. He was accustomed to hearing sparks, sawing, or whirring from Dawn’s workshop in his after-hours visits. Today, the loft was silent. “Dawn?”

After confirming no sparks were going to pelt him, he hesitantly poked his head into the workroom. Dawn was folded into an armchair in the corner, the leather of the chair scorched and torn after spending years in such chaotic surroundings. He briefly brightened—perhaps Dawn was taking a break, after all—but then he noticed the whirlwind of notes spread around her and the miserable expression on her face. “Ah. Fireworks planning?”

“I wish.” Dawn slouched lower in the chair, her dark eyes focusing somewhere in the middle distance. “I’m trying to sort out our sinkhole expedition, but I can’t…I just can’t…” She waved a hand at the mess. “I can’t even look at it anymore. I’m never going to get it done, I’m usele—”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” Ambrose said sharply. “You know it’s not true.” He knelt to gather up the papers. “You’re the opposite of useless, you always have been.”

But as he collected the papers, she didn’t move. Her eyes remained dull and lifeless, fixed on the space somewhere above his head. His heart sank—he had seen her tired before. Exhausted from her apprenticeship, or half-asleep after a big sale.

But he had never seen her quite like this.

“What if…” He flipped through a few of the pages. “What if I took on the rest of the sinkhole research? Freed you up to work on the fireworks?”

Dawn finally stirred, some life coming back to her face. “Are you sure? Don’t you have the commission?”

Of course, he did. He had the commission, the shop, the upgrades…but all of that felt so far away when his friend was miserable in front of him. He dragged a blanket from the back of the armchair and tucked it around her.

“I can do it,” he said firmly. “Just give me some time.”

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