Chapter 25: Tears
William walks quietly a few paces ahead of Aunt Gretchen and Uncle Rob, his eyes scanning the unfamiliar cobblestone streets as they head toward the apothecary.
The inn they stayed at the previous night is a massive improvement over the one John and he usually visit. William can tell just by remembering the meal. There are actual slices of meat floating in the everlasting stew, and the bread is noticeably softer, even if it is still about as hard as wood.
Yet, despite the better food and softer mattress, William doesn't sleep a wink. Every time he closes his eyes, the meeting with the strange old apothecary plays through his mind, keeping him awake until dawn.
William comes to a stop in front of a modest two-story shop."This is the pla—"
Before he can finish, Gretchen walks straight through the door, wearing the same icy expression she had the day before.
William and Rob follow close behind.
The shop is just as cluttered as William remembers—perhaps even more so—and the sharp, pungent smell of dried herbs immediately stings his nose.
A heavy thud echoes down the staircase, followed by a gruff, irritated voice.
"I haven't opened the shop yet! Come back in two hours!" As Trojjan reaches the bottom of the stairs, his eyes settle on the three visitors.
"Lad, what are you doing here?"He stops short as Gretchen steps in front of William."I believe we have something to discuss regarding the job you offered to my William."
The sharp edge in Gretchen's voice wipes the last traces of sleep from Trojjan's expression. He blinks, his usual gruffness faltering.
"Ha... Yes. You must be the boy's aunt. Let me get you something to drink—"
"There is no need for that. We have far more important things to discuss," Gretchen interrupts.Trojjan gulps at her unyielding expression before letting out a defeated sigh."Yes... I believe we do."
William starts toward the counter, but his aunt's voice stops him."William, I want to speak with him alone."William freezes, caught completely off guard.
"Yeah, lad," Trojjan says without taking his eyes off Gretchen. "Why don't you go find Betty? She must be missing you."
William hesitates before glancing back toward the entrance. Rob is still standing by the door, giving him a quiet, reassuring nod.
After a moment, William turns and heads for the stable.
Trojjan, Gretchen, and Rob take their seats on the wooden stools. An uneasy silence settles over the shop before Trojjan finally breaks it."So... what do you want to know about me?"
Gretchen's dam of patience finally bursts. She leans forward, her questions coming one after another."Who are you? How did you meet William? And why did you offer him a job?"
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Rob gently places a hand on Gretchen's shoulder, grounding her as she takes a slow breath.Trojjan wipes a bead of sweat from his brow before answering.
"My name is Trojjan, and I migrated to this city from the South. As for how we met... I first saw him three years ago at an inn, gawking at my Betty." A faint smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. "She's my beautiful white mare."Realizing how that sounds, he coughs awkwardly.
"As for the job, his main duties will be looking after Betty and helping keep the shop clean. The reason I offered it to him is simple. He's the only person Betty has ever approved of."
Gretchen regards him with a skeptical look while, beside her, Rob offers an awkward smile."How did you meet him again?" Gretchen asks, her voice flat.
"Well, I was waiting for someone to show up about a job opening when I spotted William standing outside my shop." Trojjan gestures with both hands as he speaks. "I recognized him and offered him the position on the spot." He scratches the back of his head sheepishly. "Turns out he wasn't there for me at all. He was just looking around for a food cart."
Rob's eyes widens in disbeliefGretchen simply stares at Trojjan in silence.
"What is your past?" Gretchen asks, her voice lower than before, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.
The smile fades from Trojjan's face.The mood inside the shop turns heavy. His gaze drifts to a groove worn into the wooden counter as though carefully weighing each word, deciding exactly where to draw the line.
"My past..." he says quietly. "That's a long story."
A distant look crosses his face before he meets Gretchen's eyes again. His posture straightens, making it clear there are parts of that story he has no intention of sharing.
"But I'll tell you as much as you need to hear”
While the discussion about his future continues inside the shop, William sits in front of the stable at the back of the property, completely lost in thought.
‘Will she agree? I hope they don't start arguing. Maybe Uncle Rob can convince Aunty... Should I have brought John with us too?’
Sensing his unease, Betty lowers her head and gives his ear a playful lick.The sudden, damp touch startles William, pulling him from his worries.A small laugh escapes him as he reaches up to stroke the mare's neck.
‘You're right,’ he thinks, leaning against her warm shoulder. ‘There's no use worrying about it now. All I can do is hope for the best.’
The heavy thud of the back door breaks the quiet of the stable yard.William turns to see Uncle Rob and Aunt Gretchen stepping into the morning air. The icy look is gone from Gretchen's face, replaced by an unreadable expression that gives nothing away.
"William," she says evenly. "Come with us."William lets go of Betty's mane and quickly falls into step behind them, his chest tightening with suspense.
As they walk, the morning crowd has returned to the streets. Shops begin opening their doors to customers, and multiple wagons have also begun clattering along the cobblestones, adding to the growing noises of the city.
Yet, despite everything happening around him, William can only focus on the silence between his aunt and uncle.
‘What happened there? Did they actually agree? What's going on?’
When they reach a deserted alley, Gretchen stops and turns to face him."Are you planning to stay with John or with him?"William hesitates before answering.
"Trojjan said he has a room for me, but I still plan to visit John. His shop... it's just down the street from Trojjan's."
Gretchen studies him for a long, quiet moment before giving a slow nod.
"Alright. Then you'll stay at the apothecary with Trojjan."
A surge of excitement rushes through William's chest. ‘It's happening. I'm actually staying. I can look for magic in the city now... maybe even in other towns someday.’
But just as quickly as the excitement comes, a heavy weight settles in the pit of his stomach.
He isn't just beginning a new chapter of his life.He is leaving.Leaving Aunt Gretchen, Uncle Rob, and all of his cousins behind.For the first time in his life, he is going to be entirely on his own.A sting builds behind his eyes as tears begin to gather.