Potent: Book 1

Chapter 4: Beginnings

Tuvos, Day 19 of Rhexia, Blinking Moons, Year 602

"The brewer's mind must be as clear as possible to concoct an effective potion. Any residual thoughts or concerns will make their way into the brew and can compromise its potency."—The Brewer's Practice, 2nd Edition, University of Gradl Press

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Stillness. Terrible, terrible stillness...

Evin gasped and felt around in the dirt for the vial she knew she had. It was dark—it was so dark! How long had she been out here?

The town of Liminey was silent except for the ominous storm clouds that filled the sky above her. Little bursts of silent lightning streaked horizontally across the horizon. Not another soul could be seen in the inky streets; not a single window shone with warm yellow light. This wasn't right at all.

It was as if someone watched her from one of the many strange, still shadows, and that she had been found horribly deficient in some way. As if she had disappointed someone.

Growing more and more terrified, Evin stretched forth questing finges that trembled in trepidation.

There it was. The tiny bottle was half-filled with a minor protection ward for ingestion. The liquid sloshed gently as Evin brought it to her lips and shakily swallowed. Comforted, she glanced up and tried to get her bearings. This was the main street. She was close to the Wheel and Well. Feeling incomprehensibly weak, she stood, nearly falling against a nearby wall.

She would go and find Stacia. Master Stacia could help her.

Evin couldn't tell what bell it was. If it was nighttime, the strange, orange-coloured light that shone through the storm clouds seemed pulled from the underworld itself. If it was day, it was the darkest she'd ever seen. She reached the shop.

It wasn't there.

She blinked. The Wheel and Well simply wasn't there.

Her breath quickened. There. On the other side of the road from the bakery was where it should have been. Wasn't that right?

She scanned the eerie streets for other familiar landmarks.

Just then, a frightening clap of thunder shook the sky. She felt it in her bones, a deep ache that felt like sorrow, and Evin knelt, pressing shaking hands to her ears.

She opened her eyes wide.

She was in her bed, in her own room, and it was raining outside.

Evin sat up, breathing hard. "What a horrible dream," she said to the twisted bedclothes in her lap.

She pulled the sweaty blankers to one side and got up, going to the window to look down at the village streets. It was wet, muddy and grey, but it was all still there. She could see the Wheel and Well up the road a bit, still in business. Customers were trickling in and out as she watched. She sighed in relief, then went to her dressing mirror to check her face.

Pale, she thought. But not bad. She'd slept at least.

It was still early, and she had the day off, but Evin decided to go down to the shop anyway, just to make sure all was well.

She dressed slowly, careful to layer. It was still Rhexia so the weather would be mild for quite some time, but steady rains always tended to cool off the air. Evin wore a stretchy eborel long-sleeved smock and covered that with a simple tunic. She tucked thin, dark pants into her trusty boots, and threw a light woven sweater on as an afterthought.

Outside, it was cooler than she thought it would be, and was glad for the precautions she had taken. The rain was a slow, soaking one, dangerous only in its continuity. Several drops struck her nose, and she wiped them away with the back of her sleeve. She tried her best to avoid the puddles, but inadvertently stepped in one, cursing as she felt the chilly water enter her shoe seams and instantly moisten her stockings.