Chapter 1210
After talking to the hunched old woman for a while, Ylvali found Adsila quite pleasant to be around. She was also a little bit terrifying.
“Could you go over that story again?” Ylvali asked. She had already taken the woman onto the Starstriker. If someone was coming for her, it would be far more difficult to get to her before she at least finished her explanation.
“Of course, dear. The other day I was serving tea to the ladies. You know how they are. Brinia was talking about how her new grandson-”
Ylvali held up a hand. “I don’t need to hear a repeat of the gossip. Unless it’s relevant to the situation? Was her grandson involved?”
“Oh no, of course not,” the lady said. “He’s still a babe. Cute little fellow with pinchable cheeks.” Ylvali cleared her throat. “Anyway, a poor skittish girl came into my shop. I set her up in the cozy back room with some calming tea. The ten leaf bloodrose actually has some amazing properties, you must know. Strong lingering scent. It can be used for-”
“I’m not planning to become your disciple,” Ylvali noted. “Could you try to stay focused?”
“Well, some nasty looking men came into the shop looking for someone. I served them some yellow mountain peach tea- not a peach in sight of those trees, wouldn’t you know? It does taste like it, though.” Ylvali did her best to not glare at the old woman. “Anyway, they eventually left to cause trouble elsewhere, I presume. Though hopefully a bit less, since they looked properly pacified. That poor girl didn’t seem to have anywhere to go, so she stayed the night in the shop.”
“And then?” Ylvali asked.
“Well, she had moved on in the morning. Didn’t want to impose, it seemed.”