Episode One Hundred and Forty-Four: Preparations
“That is all. Like I said, last time she was here for hours searching for three books to buy,” said the Cat.
“Guess I’m better at this job than the last guy.”
“Understatement,” muttered the Cat.
I turned to head toward the stairs, but paused, thinking about her payment.
“What does a small favor get the Shop?”
“It depends on what the Shop needs. I know we’ve traded one before to someone who needed to enter the portal they guarded.” The Cat didn’t seem all that concerned. “The register charges what is fair for that being.”
That only generated even more questions that I didn’t dare get into right now. Instead, I snagged the still-warm pot of tea and my mug before heading up the stairs. The soft warm light in the living room made me smile as I set my tea on the coffee table. The box of candy remained right where I’d left it.
Except now I needed an additional stocking - one for Alas.
I needed something for the Elven man, since I’d make stockings for Lady Twilight and Lord Bennitt as well. Maybe just a regular red and white one would work.
“Betty, do you have any stockings hidden away somewhere?” I asked, hesitantly. I normally didn’t ask for things outright, but I didn’t have a clue what could be in storage.
The tabletop shuddered and a pair of stockings appeared, though they might actually just be giant socks of some kind. They appeared to be brand new, so I didn’t think about it too hard.
They were were a matching brown color, and didn’t have the nice fuzzy section. Now I only needed to change the color, and maybe material.
Pulling out the citrine and taking a few breaths to steady myself, I decided to have intentions. Bright red stockings, with a white fuzzy band. I picked up the first in my hand, along with the stone, and closed my eyes, focusing on what I wanted.
“What are you trying to do?” asked the Cat.
My eyes snapped open to find him on the coffee table, staring at me and the sock clenched in my hands.
“I need it red and with a fuzzy band like the others,” I said, motioning to the mantle.
The Cat’s eyes darted in that direction and he blinked like he hadn’t noticed the decor. He let out a sigh, and stepped closer. “Stone magic isn’t used for transformation in most cases. That’s the hardest path for changing things.”
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He touched his nose to the stocking and it shimmered brightly with a green color. Once it faded, a deep green color replaced the brown. A thick band of a lighter green formed near the top.
That wasn’t what I’d meant by red, but honestly it looked good.
“This is perfect. You are amazing…”
“Of course it is.” His head snapped up and he nodded, though he wobbled a little. “I think I will nap.”
He curled up on the couch next to me, and within moments his breathing slowed.
With a shrug, I filled the stocking with some old fashioned candies from the box, along with a few modern treats like peanut-butter cups. I added it to the mantle, pleased that everyone would receive something for the holiday, even if only sweets.
I leaned back on the couch and pulled my mug close to sip on the fruity tea. The warmth coming from the crystals in the fireplace felt like the real thing casting a soft glow from that direction. This entire room felt homey. So much so that I just sat there for a while, relaxing, watching the light dance, and drinking my tea. The Cat snored every now and then, but I didn’t wake him. Whatever magic he’d done had tuckered him out.
Yet, I still had one more box to deal with. The one from my family.
As soon I finished the tea in my mug, I poured a second cup from the teapot then moved toward the tree and the cardboard box.
I knelt on the floor and opened the lid, smiling at the colorful wrapping paper. Inside rested several gifts that I put under the tree, not looking to see who they were from. I’d do that tomorrow.
The pillar candles and ornaments I set off to one side, until all of the presents were under the tree. In the bottom of the box sat a tin much like the one I’d sent off to them, with cookies. This would be chocolates. Some caramel, some peppermint, and all super tasty from a local candy maker in our small town.
These I’d take back to the coffee table.
Next I untied the twine that held the golden stars together. Seven golden stars came free, each with a name written in black. Tears crept toward the corners of my eyes as I read the names of each of my family members. This had to be from my mother.
Very carefully, I added each to my tree, including my own. I kept them close together near the top, thinking about how I’d need to get two more golden stars. One for Indigo, and one for the Cat.
Picking up the tin of chocolates and the pillar candles, I headed back to the couch, pausing next to the mantle. The three pillar candles I set on top, not lighting them, but the bright white wax added something to the room.
The chocolate tin went on the coffee table as I resisted opening it. If I opened it right now, I knew I’d eat most of the box. Like, I couldn’t resist a box of chocolates like that. And they weren’t for today, they were for tomorrow.
Instead, I stuck to my tea.
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The mug didn’t shatter on the floor as it slipped from Sable’s hand, as she fell asleep. Instead, the wood reached up to catch it before it rose on the coffee table, like she’d placed it there.
Her emotions were all over the place this evening, and I worried. Those dragons better bring Indigo back, or I’d find a way to war with them. It didn’t matter what it took.
Even though I knew Sable wouldn’t want that.
She’d march into the dragon lands without a care in the world, and maybe even bring a gift. Just to find her ward.
At least I’d helped her with the stocking, though I didn’t understand why it hung from the fireplace with things inside it… but it made her happy, and I could help.
My stomach grumbled and I stretched before padding closer to Sable. We needed dinner.