Cedar Ashland
I heard talk that a new personage took over the Apothecary. Hmmm the Apothecary, I have had no reason to ever venture there. I wasn’t even sure exactly where it was. But I was curious of this new individual so what better reason to seek it out hmmm? So after asking for more precise direction and a few turns and twist and more turns..… I wasn’t lost, I swear those woods move about on their own. I know that tree was more the left before.
But yes eventually I stood before the shop. If anyone wants to know it is in the Elven Village to right of the Tavern and it’s called The Mortar And Pestle. Almost as soon as I arrived a woman appearing tired and weary dragged herself past me and into the shop. I hoped this spent looking woman was the one I sought since I did not forewarn of my arrival.
I got her attention but she barely gave me a glance. She did not look particularly happy to see me. Now I think of it perhaps something was wrong with her eyes. I’m agreeable and pleasing in appearance, so who wouldn’t be glad to see me.
Nevertheless, I followed the woman into the shop with the odor of smoke wafting behind her and I announced my intentions. “Good evening, I was hoping to have a talk with the new owner of this shop for my little newspaper. Would you be her or perhaps you can fetch him or her?”
The woman turned around to look me over then, silent a moment as she appeared to consider what her answer might be – after a bit she shrugged a shoulder and walked around behind her counter. “Tha’d be me, lassie.” She pulled a roll of linen from her belt and then took her dagger from under the counter and started cutting up the cloth into a nice sized strip. “Was there somat I cuid do fer ye?”
I smiled “Yes, my name is Lidhera Bosencourt. But call me Liddy, everyone does. How nice to meet you. Well, I heard the apothecary was under new management and I was hoping to get a chance to have a small discussion with you about your shop for the Tribune. I’ve never been here before myself so good excuse for a visit.” I looked around the place at the many colored bottled and various plants and herbs “Would you have a bit of time? I know I didn’t make an appointment but I did not know who to send a missive to.”
The woman lifted her brows as I just talked and talked. She reached for a canter of water and dipped the linen scraps in it. “If yer looking fer a guid story ta put lass ye shuid go o’er to tha castle there an’ talk to yon elven kind abou’ tha huge spider an’ all tha fires an’ smokes we jus’ git done fightin’ off, aye?” She tilted a head at me and began to sop up the side of her damaged hand. “Tis like ta be far more o’ interest than I.”
I think she was trying to get me to leave but I was not going to be deterred. As she talked I walked around touching and sniffing her various plants. One in particulary gave me a terrible sneezing fit after just one whiff. That was a dangerous piece of foliage and I told her so as pulled out my parchment & wax charcoal then made myself comfortable on her counter. “Since I am here why not you tell me about this spider and the fires, then tell me about your shop and how you acquired it from it’s last owner.” I grinned at the woman “How about we start with your name? ”
She eyed me sneezing a moment with a rather bland expression that only seemed to grow more bland when the paper and quill came out and I seemed to settle myself. She kept silent then as she tended to her hand, finally speaking after tossing dirty linens in a corner pile and taking up fresh ones. . “Name’s Cedar. Cedar Ashland. An’ as fer wha’ happened o’er at tha castle, weel I’ve no’ sae much information abou’ tha’.” She began, and from what I gathered her smoky aroma was due to some sort of attack by spiders on the elven castle while she was present. There was a loud noise, the sky changed to an odd color then spiders came crashing through the windows. Soon after a fire began. She injured her hand as helping to heal those that were hurt. The culprits behind the spiders were suspected to be the Greenskins but nothing was confirmed.
While she applied some sort of poultice and wrapped her hand I quickly asked her about her training, how long she been in practice and various other questions last of which was what she was called exactly.
Cedar blinked at the rapid fire questions and lifted a finger to scratch along the side of her nose. “Weel … lessee … Trainin’ were in tha wilds mos’ly. Lots ta be learnt ou’ there if’n ye take tha time an’ listen ta wha’ tha beasties hae ta tell ye, aye? someat was taugh’ from persons as wuid pay me tha time o’ day since i was jus’ a wee girl, aye? An’ then there were tha books. Read lots o’ tha books.” She frowned a little, as if trying to remember what other questions were asked, and pulled her basket to her along the counter where she promptly began to put things away from inside it. “Yes, I heal … if I like ye or .. well .. at leas’ if I dint hate ye, aye? Or if ye come inta tha infirmary.” She kept putting things away. “Proper term be Apothecary. I’m an Apothecary. Though mos’ say Apothecarist cause they think tha shoppe is called an Apothecary. There’s also Shady Dealer, Poison Handler, Healer, Witch … Jus’ depends on who ye ask an’ wha’ they think o’ wha’ I do.”
I shook my head “Ahhh, well I have to confess I thought the shop was called an Apothecary. So you’re an apothecary and you learned from books, from random persons and from conversations with animals….” I wrote “So you’ve been in your trade for quite a while then it seems. Do you supply your plants, balms and such to the infirmary in the human village and the hospital? And do you go also work for the village infirmary and hospital?”
Cedar nodded finishing putting away the basket of goods. “Aye. I do. Both … though I’m no’ sae sure how tha beasties o’ tha wilds wuid take ta yer callin’ them animals aye? Tha fae and wolf-kin think o’ themselves as a lot more than tha’.”
I was confused ” Of course I wouldn’t call the fae mere animals, Joshua wouldn’t appreciate that I don’t think. Wolves….. they’re a subject for another day. Animals would the be least I would call them. ” I shrugged then ” We’ll call them beasties if you prefer for now” though I didn’t really see the difference between beastie and animal, Cedar was particular wasn’t she.
“So.. tell me besides healing. What other services do you provide in your trade besides healing so our villagers have more reasons to venture out and come to your shoppe? Do you provides scents or soaps and such? I like scents by the way. And what is that accent of yours?” I threw in.
Cedar Ashland furrowed her brow, appearing confused for some reason? Maybe it was just that she was worn down by the fire and the healing or maybe it was all the chatter and questions. She sighed a little and rubbed the wrinkled spot of her brow then rapped her fingers thoughtfully on the counter. “Tis verra much more than healin’ as goes on wi’ an Apothecary, aye? Cuid sell ye herbs fer cookin’, poisons fer killin, nostrums fer ridding yerself o’ poisons, raegents fer yer magicks or alchemy formulas, an’ sae on. Cuid make ye oils an’ rubs fer yer washin’ or scentin’ o’ yer hair … or flowers as is needed fer suitors or teas an tonics. Tis really no end ta wha’ ye can gain fro yer Apothecary if’n ye ken enough ta look there.” Her keen, green eyes narrowed a little and she smiled a bit, “Och an’ did ye hae a scent tha’ ye fancied mos’ lassie? Like as not I’d hae it fer ye shuid ye wish ta buy somat while yer here.” Perhaps it was the prospect of making a sale but Cedar suddenly didn’t look so bland and uninterested, though a brief look of startlement passed over her face a moment . “Wha’ accent?”
I was surprised, didn’t she hear herself… or at least hear the difference in how we spoke? “Um…. nevermind. Let us talk about your scents” I pushed the parchment aside eager to buy as eager as Cedar was now to sell “I’d love something for my hair. And perhaps something to fold my my clothing and bed linens after the servant girl does the washing. What do you have?” I ask anxiously looking at all the pretty bottles on the shelves.
I then proceeded to buy a bit of everything she put before me. I do love my father! I bought scents for my hair and bed linens, oils for my bathwater and to dab in my warmer spots. You ladies know what I speak of.
As she wrapped up my purchase and busied herself with calculation she tucked her hair behind her ears. And they were round! Not pointy! “Oh!! You’re human.” All this time I assumed she was an Elf, ears just hidden behind her thick brown hair. It turns out she is a Stromness Village native.
Cedar seemed surprised that I would be surprised she was human. Moving to grab a few sheets of rough paper, she laid them out on the counter and began to place the jars within them. While she wrapped them she answered, “Oh, I live in tha village like tha rest o’ us do. I grew up on the Isles here though an’ if there’s one thing ye learn it’s where ye shuid be an’ when … this is a guid location. The middle o’ tha wilds more or less so’s I can gather wha’ i hae a need fer but then also there’s the safety an’ peace tha’ comes from being tucked up wi’ tha elves.” She snorted. “Weel … tis usually verra safe anyway.”
I tipped her head in agreement “Yes I agree this is a good location for an Apothecary. I guess I shall see you about quite a bit then, I don’t venture out about the woods so much anymore unless it’s to go visiting or business such as now. Perhaps why I haven’t seen you before being a native? But believe me I shall return often to resupply so we’ll get to know one another quite well” I grinned. ” I do love scents. Perhaps you can use some to get rid of your smoke smell? Not very attractive on a lady” I suggested.
Cedar didn’t say anything in response to the comment on her smell. She just lifted her brows a bit and continued to smile though her smile did not look as heartfelt as it did moments before. Now I think of it the poor thing probably didn’t realize she acquired an unbecoming aroma. Thank goodness for me I say!
Nodding after a moment, she finally replied with, “I do hope tha’ we see ye again soon, then, Lihdera. Tswould be a pleasure ta keep ye supplied an’ if ye e’er hae a scent ye’d like fer us to make ye but it’s no on these shelves jus’ ask an’ it can be procured.”
I left happily with my interview and purchase surely to returns. So dear readers I would urge you all to venture out to the Elven Village and pay a visit to the Apothecary. You will surely depart in high spirits as I did.
Liddy Bosencourt
Tribune Editor
The Mortar and Pestle
The Mystara Tribune 