I showed Izzy how to deal with customers, where to find the different items in storage, and Lily made her a list of products that I sold along with a price list. The other pixies brought a small box to put money in since I didn’t have anything like that. When Isabella asked where the box came from, she received the pixies’ favorite answer, “from the getting place”, which caused me to laugh and her to frown. The four pixies left soon after stating the elder needed them.

“I should have thought of a money box before now,” I remarked.

“It’s ok,” Lily said. “Yam, April, May, and Willow made it.”

“Then why didn’t they say that?” Izzy asked after overhearing us.

“Because it’s more fun to answer like they did,” Lily answered before laughing as Izzy frowned and shook her head muttering something about pixies being impossible, which made Lily laugh hard enough to fall over on the counter.

“Jase, why am I dealing with the customers?” Isabella asked.

“Dealing with the villagers is something I don’t care for, so since you’re here…” I replied giving her a big smile.

“I get it,” Izzy replied. “I’m the apprentice.”

“Exactly,” I happily agreed.

“Why don’t you like dealing with the villagers?” Izzy asked.

“Most of them have been less than welcoming to us,” Lily answered. “And my Jase got tired of trying to blend in with them.”

“Those that have come in have been friendly enough,” Izzy said.

“You’re an attractive young woman, of course the men have been friendly,” Lily replied while I nodded in agreement.

“What she said,” I added. Izzy blushed.

“Izzy’s attractiveness should be good for business too!” Lily said.

“What?” Isabella and I asked at the same time.

“Sex sells!” Lily exclaimed and then shrugged. “At least it always has in the past.”

“But Jase is attractive,” Izzy said while blushing again. I shook my head and turned to look out the window to hide my blush.

Lily laughed. “He is, but guys usually like buying things from attractive women instead of attractive men. Well, most do.”

“But what about all the women in the village?” Izzy asked.

“Eh, they’ve mostly sided with Ama and have avoided buying from me,” I answered.

“Those that have bought from my Jase have checked him out though,” Lily added in a teasing voice. She then turned towards the door. “Huh.”

“What is it?” I asked.

“Sara says three more people are coming up the path,” Lily answered.

“Is that unusual?” Izzy asked.

“Yeah. It’s strange,” I answered. “Most of the villagers buy their remedies from Trinity in the village and avoid coming out here.”

“It’s Carla Shepard, Julia Beers, and Meagan Hunter,” Lily said after a moment.

“How do you know that?” Izzy asked.

“Pixie magic,” I said wiggling my fingers at Isabella. Lily burst out laughing and gave me a thumbs up for my answer.

“I think I’m starting to hate you two,” Isabella replied trying to hide the smile on her face.

“No, you don’t,” Lily and I said at the same time while smiling at the girl.

“You’re right,” Isabella admitted returning the smile. “So, any chance you’ll start showing me what you’re going to do with that sap?”

“Yeah. I’m going to start working to free it from the plants while you deal with the three customers,” I said while walking to the storage where the compass plant sap was. “You can help after you deal with them.”

“Great,” Izzy replied. She turned back to the door.

“3, 2, 1…” Lily said just before a knock sounded from the door.

“How did you do that?” Izzy asked. “More of your pixie magic?”

“No. I watched them approach through the window,” Lily answered giving Isabella a big grin.

“I… yeah,” Izzy replied which made Lily giggle. Izzy turned her attention to the door and called out, “We’re open.”

Meagan opened the door and walked in. She spotted Lily flying lazy circles around Isabella’s head and shook her head while smiling. Carla and Julia entered the basement shop behind her. Carla closed the door.

“Is Sara around?” Meagan asked.

“Patrolling the perimeter,” Lily answered. “She should be back before too long.”

Meagan nodded her understanding.

“Where’s Jase?” Julia asked. “He really should get an open and close sign for the door.”

“Getting some plants from storage,” Izzy answered. “And the sign is a good idea. I’ll see if Aunt Gabby has any when I go back to the village this evening.”

“How’s the apprenticeship coming?” Carla asked.

“It’s just starting, but I like it so far,” Izzy answered. “Are you here just to check up on me or do you need something?”

“A bit of both,” Julia said winking at Izzy as I walked out of the storage room carrying a small bundle of compass plants. “You are a pretty young woman out here all alone with a nice-looking young man after all.”

“That’s not funny,” Izzy protested to laughter from the other women.

“She’s right,” I added. “I wouldn’t take advantage of Isabella.”

The laughter got louder.

“Not helping my Jase,” Lily said. I shrugged.

“Anyway,” I said louder than necessary. “What can we help you ladies with?”

“That’s more like it,” Meagan said shooting me a wink. “Too bad you’re so skinny.”

I blushed and my left eye twitched.

“Don’t make me zap you!” Lily warned the huntress. Meagan held up her hands in surrender and apologized for the teasing. Lily nodded in satisfaction.

“Teasing aside, we need some cough syrup, something for sinus and allergy issues, and some healing tinctures,” Carla said.

“And something for menstrual cramps,” Julia added.

“I was just accompanying them because of Sara,” Meagan said.

“Why aren’t you getting this stuff from Trinity?” I asked as Izzy, and I started to gather some of the items they asked for. I quickly added, “Not that I’m complaining mind you.”

“It’s just that you’re the fourth villagers to come to us today and Lily and Jase say that’s unusual,” Izzy said.

“Trinity hasn’t opened her shop in a week,” Carla replied. “And before that had been closing it at odd hours.”

“Is something wrong with her?” Izzy asked.

“The others haven’t said anything was wrong,” Lily shrugged.

“Not that we’ve heard,” Julia replied.

“I’ve seen her walking with Woya a lot over the last week,” Meagan said. “Maybe they’re just enjoying each other’s company too much.”

“Jase, I think you’ll start seeing more business,” Julia said. I gave her a questioning look and she continued, “a lot of people aren’t happy that Trinity hasn’t been opening her shop or closing it early in the day.”

“And if we’re being honest Jase, you make better products than she does,” Carla added. “I apologize for not keeping coming to you for my needs.”

“It’s ok,” I replied waving off the apology. “Trinity’s shop was more convenient.”

“So, how much do we owe you?” Julia asked.