“I should have brought something to wrap the honeycombs with and some jars for the honey,” Trinity complained. I grinned as I wrapped the honeycomb I had.

“It’s not like you planned on harvesting a beehive today like I did,” I replied. Seeing the pixies around the jar of honey I had yet to seal, I warned the little scoundrels, “Hey! Leave the honey alone.”

“But Jase, we worked hard for the honey and honeycombs,” Lily objected. Her hand was in the jar.

“Get some from the hive then and leave what I want to take home alone,” I replied.

“But this is right here!”

“And the hive is less than five feet away,” I retorted.

“But it’s smokey over there still,” Willow complained. She was right beside Lily and about to stick her hand in the jar.

“If you guys want anymore ice cream and candy, you’ll leave that honey alone,” I said.

“Fine!” the pixies chorused. They flew towards the hive.

“They’re like children,” Trinity observed.

“Yeah, they are,” I agreed.

“That explains all the pranks they pull,” Trinity remarked.

“For the most part, yeah,” I agreed. The pixies flew around the hive opposite us.

“You make ice cream?” Trinity asked. “I had some in Asheville. It was quite good.”

“Yeah. I used some Joe Pye weed to replace vanilla extract.”

“Because you don’t have vanilla?” Trinity asked.

“Exactly. I’ve also used chocolate daisy, also known as lyreleaf greeneyes, to replace chocolate because there are no coco plants around here,” I replied.

“Interesting. In Asheville they only had vanilla flavored ice cream. Would you mind selling me some the next time you make some? Or share the recipe?” Trinity asked. Lily let me know her and the other pixies had slipped some more honeycombs into the storage device without Trinity or I noticing.

“I’ll think about it,” I answered. The breeze changed directions and smoke flew towards us. The pixies giggled as Trinity, and I coughed. “Hey! That’s not funny.”

“It is to us!” Lily said as the pixies started taking honey from the hive.

“Just like children,” Trinity said.

“Brats,” I replied. She laughed.

*

We emerged from the woods onto the trail that separated our cottage from the village a couple hours later.

“Hey Trinity,” a feminine voice said coming from the village. We turned to see Mohe’s daughter walking towards us.

“Hi Woya,” Trinity greeted the other girl. They smiled at each other.

“You’re working with Jase?” Woya asked.

“We harvested some honeycombs from a huge nest of bumble bees together,” Trinity answered. “Such an opportunity wasn’t something I could pass up. What are you doing out here?”

“Neat! Are you going to make candles or something?” Woya asked. I started to feel like a third wheel especially since Woya hadn’t greeted me. “Oh! Mr Brown wants to see you about something.”

“You two have fun. I’m going to start on this before it leaks through into my satchel,” I said giving Trinity’s satchel a pointed look.

“Yes. I should get this back to the shop,” Trinity said. “And then see what Mr Brown wants.”

“Did you get stung?” Woya suddenly asked. She was looking at the poultice that Trinity had on her upper arm. “And what is this?”

“Yes, we both got stung. This is a poultice made from a weed that I had not known about,” Trinity said. “It has worked well.”

“Jase taught you something?” Woya asked frowning.

“He did,” Trinity admitted.

“We can always learn,” I said. Both girls turned and looked at me. “Anyway, see you around.”

“Goodbye,” they said as I walked away.

“Still don’t like her,” Lily said while yawning.

“Ate too much honey?” I asked smiling at my familiar.

“Un huh. I want to take a nap,” Lily answered as she landed on my shoulder and sat down.

*

I woke at noon the next day. I had stayed up late processing the honeycomb into beeswax as well as storing the honey into more airtight jars.

“Good morning sleepyhead!” Lily greeted me.

“Good morning my little sweet one,” I returned the greeting.

“That was sappy and a little much,” Lily said.

“Eh, I’m not fully awake yet,” I replied.

“I’ll allow it though,” Lily said.

“I’m happy to have her majesty’s approval,” I said bowing to Lily fighting to keep the smile off my face.

“It’s good that you finally realize the proper order of things and my rightful place in our relationship,” Lily replied after suddenly changing into a long gown and crown.

“Where did the crown come from?” I asked laughing. “I don’t remember seeing it in the clothing we found in the lab.”

“Oh, this old thing? I’ve had it for years,” Lily said. Her smile and good humor clear on her face and in our bond.

“Well, let me do my morning routine and we’ll start the day,” I said.

“You mean afternoon since it’s already noon,” Lily corrected.

“Ok. We did get 10 pounds of beeswax and two gallons of honey from me working so late,” I pointed out. “That’s a pretty good haul.”

“It is,” Lily agreed as she flashed back into her favored style of skirt. This one was made from a light blue ribbon. “And the best part is that the hive is still there so we can do it again in the future.”

“That’s true,” I agreed. “I think I’ll make pancakes and a honey syrup for breakfast.”

“Lunch,” Lily corrected. “And that sounds yummy!”

“It’s still breakfast for me,” I replied walking into the bathroom.

“I think we should take one of the cows to Mitch today,” Lily said. “It’s getting later in summer, and we should freeze some of the meat, so you have something to eat in the winter besides the ancient food.”

“Alright. We should do the same with whatever herbs and vegetables we can find too,” I replied. “And plan a garden for next year.”

“Yay!” Lily cheered. “We could do some fall and winter crops too.”

“That is an excellent idea,” I said. I could feel Lilly beaming from the praise.

*

“I think we should put the winter garden over there,” I said pointing at a spot of land near the path leading to the village. “It’ll be protected from the wind thanks to the slope of the land.”

“It’ll also get plenty of sunlight during those short winter days,” Lily added.

“Good point,” I said walking over to the area bending over to scratch at the ground. “Going to need a plow and mule or something like that to break this up.”

“Could try magic,” Lily said. “I’ll help.”

“I suck at magic.”

“You just need more practice,” my familiar countered. “But you could probably pay one of the farmers to help too.”

“Marvin said he would take a third of the meat and the hide of whatever animal I brought him to butcher,” I said. “Maybe I could trade a third or so to one of the farmers to help setup the garden plot.”

“Good idea. Get a rope to lead the cow with,” Lily replied.

“Ok. Let’s go get some walking beef,” I replied.