“Lily, come on!” Willow said just as soon as we exited the tavern.

“What is it, Willow?” Lily asked.

“Gabriela’s caravan is getting close to the village. Let’s go spy on them!” the other pixie replied.

“You just want to see my Jase’s prospective apprentice, don’t you?” my familiar asked.

“Yep!” Willow answered. “I’m curious.”

“You know what they say about curiosity and the cat, don’t you?” I asked.

“Of course!” Willow replied. “But I’m not a cat!”

“Meow,” Lily added making both pixies giggle.

“Lily’s curious too,” Willow said.

“I know,” I replied. “I can feel it through our bond.”

“Jase is too, but he won’t admit it,” Lily replied flying over to the other pixie.

“Maybe just a little,” I admitted. “Still not anxious to meet her though.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Lily and Willow replied at the same time before giggling again.

“How far away is the caravan?” I asked.

“About two miles,” Willow answered.

“It’ll take a couple hours before they get here then,” I replied.

“If not a little longer,” Lily agreed.

“Go spy on them if you want to satisfy your curiosity, but I’m going home,” I said.

“Going to start moving Gabriela’s order closer to the door?” Lily asked.

“Yeah,” I answered. I kept orders together unless they were in the storage device since it always grouped the same thing together. “I’ll also take the stuff in the storage device out of it and put with the rest.”

“Going to practice too?” Lily asked wiggling her fingers at me and winking.

“Yes. If I do take Gabriela’s niece on as an apprentice, I’ll have to be more discrete about doing that sort of thing,” I replied.

“Jase, remember your training,” Willow interjected doing her best croaking voice.

“Hey! That’s my line,” Lily objected making Willow and I laugh. Lily flew to me and kissed my cheek. “Take care and stay safe!”

“That applies doubly to you,” I told my familiar. “I’ll be very cross if something were to happen to you.”

“We’ll be fine!” Willow said.

“What she said,” Lily added. “Seriously though, we’ll be careful. I promise.”

“Me too!” Willow added. “Besides, we’ll have company.”

“Alright. I’ll see you when you get home,” I said. Both pixies hugged my neck and took off. I smiled and started walking home as May, April, and Yam flew after them.

*

“Oh! There’s Gabriela on riding beside the driver of the second wagon,” Yam said pointing to the human.

“That must be her niece sitting just behind the bench,” Lily added.

“Should we fly closer so we can hear them easier?” April asked.

“I want to get closer so I can get a better look at the girl,” Willow said.

“Don’t be silly. We’ll use the wind and energy to listen to them from safety,” May replied to April. “And you won’t be going to get a closer look Yam. Elder Trillium will be angry if something were to happen to you.”

“Pffft! You’re no fun,” Willow whined.

“It’ll be alright,” Yam said patting Willow on the head.

“They’re right. It’ll be ok,” Lily said. “Besides, we can just enhance our eyesight along with our hearing.”

“Alright. On three use your energy,” May said.

“1…2…3,” the pixies chorused and cast their “magic” to enhance their senses and focused in on the wagon bearing the human they were interested in from the safety of a tall pine tree about 100 feet away.

*

“Stop fidgeting,” Gabriela said to her niece as the younger woman kept playing with the hem of her skirt. “Are you that nervous?”

“We’re not even at the village yet,” Juan, the wagon driver added. The two older people laughed.

“That’s not funny. You would be nervous if your whole life was depending on a stranger too,” Isabella countered. “Especially if the stranger was in a small village several days away from home!”

“As I told you before, Jase Fisher is a nice guy and a good alchemist,” Gabriela replied. “Especially for his age.”

“You should be worried about the living arrangements,” Juan said. “That cottage of his is outside the village.”

“Juan!” the two women shouted. The man laughed.

“What? Two young people living alone is always something to consider,” the wagon’s driver replied. “Especially when one of them is as attractive as Izzy is.”

“I’m sure Jase won’t try anything,” Gabriela told Isabella. “I’ll have a nice long chat with him about that sort of thing.”

“Don’t know if a lecture will be needed. He’s always struck me as a mousy bookworm type,” Juan said. Gabriela glared at him.

“Which is it, Juan? Will I have something to worry about or not?” Isabella asked. “He can’t be both.”

“I think…” Juan trailed off as Gabriela punched his shoulder. “Alright, alright. I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

“I don’t think Aunt Gabby thinks you think before opening your mouth,” Isabella said. Gabriela smiled.

“Probably,” Juan replied before making a zipping motion over his mouth as Gabriela raised her right fist again.

“So, this Jase Fisher is really that good?” Isabella asked again.

“For the hundredth time, yes. You’ve seen his work,” Gabriela answered.

“And you’re sure he’s willing to teach me?”

“No. Like I said countless times on this trip, he’s willing to meet you.”

*

“Oh boy!” Lily said.

“What?” Willow asked. “She seems nice.”

“And attractive for a human,” Yam added. “That long black hair, those full lips.”

“Those big brown eyes and cute button nose,” Willow added.

“That’s the problem,” Lily replied. “Jase will probably clam up like a…”

“Clam!” April and May concluded.

“Yes! Exactly!” Lily agreed.

“He’ll probably be alright,” May said.

“Yeah, he’s got to grow up some time,” April added.

“Come on. Let’s go back to the cottage,” Lily said.

“Alright,” Willow replied.

“Do you think Jase will give us some candy?” Yam asked.