“Morning Simon,” I greeted the shopkeeper as he unlocked his shop’s front door. It was early in the morning and there was a lot to do.

“Morning Jase. Do you have my…order?” Simon replied.

“I do,” I answered. I took a small bottle out of my satchel and sat it on his counter. “This is ginseng. It has many health benefits including helping with your problem.”

Simon picked up the bottle. “A liquid?”

“Yeah. Lily wrote the doses on the label for me,” I said. Lily popped up in my shirt pocket and waved at the merchant.

“Thank you, Lily. I wasn’t aware pixies could write or even smart,” Simon said. Lily smiled and he smiled back.

“Pixies are…smarter than some of us,” I replied. I then muttered under my breath, “Make that all of us.”

“What was that second thing you said?” Simon asked as Lily giggled. She had heard me.

“Nothing. Just praising my Lily,” I replied. Simon grunted and read the label.

“Take three to five drops three times a day,” Simon read out loud. He looked up at me. “Lily’s handwriting is better than mine.”

“Mine too,” I admitted. “The ginseng doesn’t have any side effects, but I still wouldn’t recommend exceeding the dosing instructions.”

“Alright.”

“This,” I said taking out another bottle and setting it on the counter, “is ginkgo. It has also been used to help with your problem. Take three to five drops twice daily.”

“So, it’s stronger?” Simon asked as Lily flew out of my pocket and landed on the counter.

“No. It may cause side effects such as headaches, dizziness, upset stomach, and splotches on your skin. If it does, stop taking it,” I answered she wagged her finger at Simon while I talked.

“You can take ginseng and ginkgo together if you want,” Lily said out loud.

Simon’s eyes widened and he stared flabbergasted at my familiar. “She can talk!”

Lily slapped her hands over her mouth.

“You did that on purpose,” I said to her. She drops her hands and smiles at me. I looked from Lily to Simon. He was still watching the pixie in wonder. “I did say pixies were smart.”

“Indeed, you did,” the merchant agreed after a moment. “Can all pixies speak?”

“When we want to,” Lily answered.

“Then…why haven’t they?” Simon asked.

“Probably because most of us see them as pests at best,” I answered.

“You did too until I set you straight,” Lily said mock glaring at me.

“That’s true,” I laughed.

“Would you tell me how you two bonded?” Simon asked. His curiosity was getting the better of him.

“Just like any human does with a familiar,” I laughed.

“Smartass! You know that’s not what I meant,” the older man retorted.

“It’s up to you, my Jase. I don’t mind if you tell him,” Lily said.

“Thanks,” I replied to her. I took the next few minutes to briefly explain our shared past.

“That’s quite the tale,” Simon said once I finished. “Still, your being bonded is proof that it’s true.”

“We should be going, Jase,” Lily said.

“Yeah. We got a lot of work to do,” I agreed.

“What sort of work?” Simon asked. We told him about the fence. “If I was younger, I would help.”

“Thanks. We’ll manage just fine though,” I replied.

“Do the other pixies help you?” Simon suddenly asked.

“Sometimes,” Lily answered. “Why do you ask?”

“I’ve heard that your cottage was repaired fairly quickly, and I know none of the villagers had helped,” Simon said. “Help had to come from somewhere or young Jase here is a wizard.”

“Wizards don’t exist,” Lily replied.

“Are you sure about that?” Simon asked.

“I am,” Lily answered.

“And how do you know that for sure?”

Lily held out her left hand and a small glowing light appeared in it. “Because we know.”

“The rumors are true, and pixies are magical!” Simon exclaimed. He looked from Lily to me. “Does that mean you can make magical potions with their wings and other parts?”

“What? No!” I replied. “There is no such thing as a magic potion, a mana potion, or a health potion.”

“But this is a potion,” Simon said gesturing to the ginseng tincture.

“No, it’s not. It’s just an herbal tincture,” I gently replied. Lily took flight and pointed to the basket of oranges. I nodded my understanding. “The world is full of helpful plants. Take those oranges for example. They have health benefits in addition to tasting good.”

“Such as?” Simon asked.

“They contain vitamin C,” Lily answered.

“And that helps protect our bodies from damage, helps heal wounds, and boosts the immune system,” I added.

“Interesting. So, nothing an alchemist does is magical?” Simon inquired.

“No. We are really herbalists,” I replied shrugging my shoulders.

“Or medicine men and women,” Lily added smiling at me.

“Or that,” I agreed returning the smile. “You really like that term, huh?”

“Yep. So do you,” she replied. I grinned and nodded in agreement.

“You two have given me something to think about,” Simon said. “I should sweep this place out before more people start showing up and you two said you had things to do.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “Oh, how many oranges and lemons will you sell me?”

“Why? I have more than you could eat before they go bad,” Simon replied.

“I can make candy out of them,” I answered pulling a pouch out of my satchel. “These are sour tasting lemon drops.” I pulled out another pouch. “These are sweeter tasting lemon drops.” I pulled out a third pouch. “These are orange drops.”

“May I try them?” Simon asked.

“Sure,” I replied. Lily stared at the pouches while Simon opened them.

“You didn’t tell me you brought some of the candy with us,” Lily said.

“You know I always carry honey drops when I have them. Why should these be any different? Besides, if I left them all at home, the other pixies would clean me out.”

“That’s true,” Lily agreed giving me a grin.

“Oh! That’s tart,” Simon said after trying the sour lemon drops. “I like it though.”

“Humans are so weird,” Lily said earning a laugh from both Simon and me. She flew to the counter and took an orange drop out of the pouch. “Candy should be sweet, not tart or sour.”

Simon tried the other two flavors. “Those are good too. I usually can only get candy around holidays.”

“Why is that?” I asked. “Don’t any of the villagers make any?”

“Most of the traveling merchants don’t like carrying candy because it attracts insects unless properly packaged,” Simon answered. “And none of the villagers want to take the time to make candy. They would rather make baked goods like cakes and cookies.”

“Ah. Oh well, unto each their own,” I replied.

“True,” Simon agreed. “Would you be willing to sell your candies?”

“Nope!” Lily said.

“Lily…”

“Candies are for pixies!” she replied. I shake my head.

“I’ll consider it,” I said to Simon. “About that fruit…”

“I have two boxes of each of the lemons and oranges in the back. The apples have already sold out,” Simon replied.

“I’ll take a half box of each.”

“Alright. I’ll sell them to you at the discounted rate I did those you bought yesterday,” Simon said.

“Thanks,” I replied. I paid him after we counted out a half box of each.

“I’ll have one of my boys bring them to you once they finish with the chores my wife assigned them,” Simon promised.

“I appreciate it,” I replied as Lily, and I headed to the door. “If we’re not home, just tell them to leave the box at the back door, not the metal side door.”

“Going to work on that fence?” Simon asked.

“Nah, I think I’ll go see if I can find some beehives,” I answered.

“Yes!” Lily shouted. “It’s honey time!”

“Be careful,” Simon said.

“We will,” Lily promised.

“Thankfully, I know the right herbs for beestings,” I said as I walked out of the store.