Mom and I had switched jobs for the next week. She made the deliveries while I made the potions, salves, and such. When I asked, she answered that she wanted to inform the rest of the village that since I wasn’t welcome, they would have to make the trek to her home for what they needed in the future. That was a little petty, but I couldn’t blame her for doing so. After all, it kept mom and dad from having to pay a runner to do the deliveries for her. This change also allowed me to improve my skills.

Mom had started hearing back from some of her contacts during this time as well. Most of them were from coastal villages and a few from farming villages located in the coastal plains. I didn’t have an interest in moving to any of them. Hurricanes were rare, but an issue every few years. Plus, the smell of fish was everywhere along the coast. I was sick of that. Flat farmland didn’t appeal to me either, so that ruled out the farming villages. Plus, there was the heat!

“You could just move to one of them for a year or so and then move on,” Lily said as mom, her, and I looked over a map. “It’ll be an adventure.”

“Any where we go will be an adventure,” I replied.

“That’s my point!”

“But if we’re going to do this, let’s do it right.”

“Ok, but what is wrong with living on the beach?” Lily asked.

“I agree. It’s lovely here,” mom added.

“The hurricanes?”

“They’re rare.”

“The heat and fish smell?”

“It’s a fishing village. You got me with the heat, but you know it’s not that bad except for late summer. And even then, we have a breeze coming off the ocean,” mom retorted.

“The farmlands are flat and boring,” Lily conceded.

“Did any of your contacts have an opening in the mountains?” I asked mom.

“One. Shirley, an old alchemist that used to instruct others, including myself, passed away a little over a year ago. Stonecroft has been searching for a replacement ever since. Well, it’s more accurate to say they have been hoping one comes to them.”

“You didn’t mention it until I asked because the mountains are so far away, right?”

“Yes. I wanted my baby boy to be a bit closer.”

“I don’t blame you. Neither does Jase,” Lily told mom. “But I’ll keep him safe.”

“Thank you, Lily. I know you will,” mom replied to the pixie.

“Do you know anything about this Stonecroft?” Lily asked.

“It’s a small mountain village near a rock formation in the area that is called Blowing Rock. A previous village or small town in the same area was named Blowing Rock. There used to be a couple of bigger towns in the general area, but these days all you’ll find are ruins.”

“You’ve been there?” I asked.

“Yeah. Your father and I traveled through the area when we first met. It is lovely, but we decided we preferred the warmer coastal areas after visiting this area.”

“And the rest is history,” I added with a grin.

“And the rest is history,” mom agreed with a grin of her own.

Lily had been hovering in the air like she was laying across a chair. She suddenly moved like she woke up. “Huh? What?” Lily asked in a mock sleepy voice. She grinned as mom, and I laughed at her antics. She continued, “If you two are finished with the stroll down memory lane we can get back to discussing Stonecroft.”

“If you insist,” mom replied as Lily nodded her head. “There isn’t much more to tell. The temperature is comfortable during most of the year, but it gets cold. The scenery is beautiful, and the people can be distant to strangers.”

“Distant? What does that mean?” Lily asked.

“It takes them a while to warm up to new people.”

“Oh. I see.”

“That might be just what we need right now,” I said.

“Why do you say that?” Lily asked.

“It’ll let people get used to me and you,” I replied pointing at my familiar, “before we make friends or not.”

“Sadly, I think you’re right,” mom agreed.

“Works for me,” Lily said and shrugged. “Pixies are fast friends with each other no matter where we are at.”

“I need to send a message pigeon to Stonecroft’s mayor. That should help ease the way for you a little bit.”

“Thanks mom.”

“Yeah, thanks mom,” Lily added. Mom and I laughed as the pixie intended.

“Jase, go and gather some seeds from the common plants we use the most that grow around the forest’s edge and the beach. Some of them might not grow in the high country.”

“High country?”

“It’s something the people in the mountains have called the area for a long time.”

“Alright. Thanks.”

“Keep an eye open for your father as well. Let him know your plans.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to do that?” I asked. “The thought of telling dad that I want to move to the mountains makes me nervous.”

“Be a man!” Lily shouted and then started giggling.

“Come here you!” I said and reached to grab the pixie. She dodged my hands and blew a raspberry at me. Mom laughed as I chased my familiar around the table.

“Get out of here you two. Daylight is burning.”

“Yes ma’am,” Lily and I chorused.

*

Dad took the news well. He then went into the village to see when the next merchant caravan would be heading to Morrisville, the kingdom’s capital city. I spent the rest of the afternoon gathering seeds and plants. Mom had a good point that some of the plants I am used to might not grow in the high country. I decided to check our books to make sure after supper.

*

“Jase, you’re in luck,” dad said as we sat down to supper.

“How so?” mom asked.

“Next week’s merchant caravan is set to go to Stonecroft after it leaves here.”

“The caravan is due to leave a week from today?” I asked.

“No. It is scheduled to arrive a week from today. It’ll leave two days later. This gives us time to make sure you are prepared to travel and have some of the things you will need in life.”

“That’s good. It’ll give us a little more time together,” mom said. Dad and I agreed. Our familiars sent loving feelings to us as they sensed our moods. After being cheered up and reassured by our companions, we ate and talked about different inconsequential things.