Chapter 14

Corylus’ Gardens

Abigail

It was a gorgeous morning. The sun was out. The wilderness was quiet except the crackling of a fire. I had slept well and woke up refreshed and ready for a long day. I put on simple pants, a thick tunic, and my cloak. Then I strolled out from my little shelter to the fire pit.

Hawkin was there; relaxed against one of the massive logs. Several cut saplings lay in two piles at his feet. The larger pile were whole saplings. Those that had been halved lay in the second pile.

“Morning,” I said.

“Morning, Hawkin said. “How’d you sleep?”

“Peacefully. Having a cot helps. Have you eaten breakfast?.”

“If you’re hungry I’ll make a big salad in an hour if you can wait.”

“Salad sounds good to me. What are you up to?”

“I’m preparing materials for more sapling bound barrels. I don’t want to fall behind. It’s going to be a busy day for me.”

“For me as well.”

“That’s right,” Hawkin said. “You’re going to Lavenfauvish.”

I nodded and said, “I’m not looking forward to it. There are some people I don’t want to run into.”

“I can understand that.”

“I am, however, looking forward to consulting with Hiccup.”

“I’ve had a few of his beers. He’s a great brewer.”

“He is a great friend as well and he’s interested in hearing about you, ever since you earned silo number forty-three. Would you mind if I shared some of your beers with him? Maybe one of the Lesser Planes Cutter Beers?”

“I don’t have many left,” Hawkin said.

“Fair enough,” I said.

The timing was poor because I wanted to get Hiccup’s opinion on those beers. More than that, I wanted him to experience those beers for himself.

Within the hour, we shared a huge salad with a variety of lettuce, tomatoes, peas, and some sliced onion. Instead of brewing beer for dessert, I used my Brewer skills to make a Brewer’s Portal attribute ale. I gave Hawkin a brief goodbye and portaled to Hiccup’s mansion in Lavenfauvish.

It was significantly warmer in Lavenfauvish. The sun was slightly higher and it felt like autumn was still a few weeks away. The foliage was only just starting to turn.

Hiccup’s gardens were a delight. There were innumerable flowering plants. Being among such beauty and divine fragrance made me smile. My spirits soared. I delighted in the garden for nearly an hour until I was discovered by Hiccup’s gold rank Groundskeeper.

“I would bet my prized Liriodendrun trees that you are the good friend Abigail,” the Groundskeeper said.

I turned at the sound of his voice. He was a short and thin man. His skin was sun bronzed and his eyes were the color of soil.

“You must be Corylus,” I said. “Pleased to meet you. How did you know who I was?”

“I’ve heard Hiccup speak of you. Always with praise. If anyone of Hiccup’s friends has an interest in green growing things and flowers, it’s you. I’m honored that you’re delighting in my plants.”

“Kind of you to say,” I said. “I plan on gardening through the winter, I’d like to plant hundreds of different flowers. I could learn a lot from someone like you.”

“You flatter me! I’d love to hear more about your gardening plans!”

We set out to find Hiccup while I told Corylus about all I wanted to grow in Hawkin’s woods. The Groundskeeper had a lot of questions, even more tips and tricks to gardening, and many things that went over my head. He had a wealth of information to share and I soaked in as much as I could before we entered through tall archways into Hiccup’s mansion. The guards let us through and blockaded visitors from accessing the mansion.

“Hiccup should know I’m here,” I said when we stopped inside the entrance hall.

“I’m certain he does,” Corylus said. “In fact, there he is.”

Hiccup waltzed into the entrance hall with a half smile and said, “I gave you time and space to enjoy the grounds before we met. I thought you'd appreciate a walk in the garden at your leisure. You’ve always loved nature.”

“How thoughtful of you,” I said. “Not only did I have the pleasure of enjoying Corylus’ gardens, but I also enjoyed an education from the Groundskeeper himself.”

Corylus blushed and smiled with his whole soul. He and Hiccup discussed sections of gardens to open up to visitors, changes that the garden would go through for autumn, and that they’d discuss costs at a later time. Corylus left us after a bow.

“I’m thrilled to hear that you’ve been enjoying yourself,” Hiccup said. “You look happy. Much happier than the last time you were here.”

“When Margaux assaulted me,” I deadpanned.

“When you first arrived on your way through. Before the Margaux incident. By the way, I’ve banned her from the premises.”

“I’d rather talk about other things,” I said.

Hiccup said, “of course,” and asked if I’d rather stroll through new parts of the garden’s or come in to enjoy a number of amenities. I was quick to want to stroll through new parts of his ever expanding gardens. Between options, I chose to go through tunnels of hanging ivys.

“There’s so much to talk with you about,” I said.

“Indeed,” Hiccup said. “Have you heard of the newest development? There are new entries in the Brewer’s Guide to Magic Ingredients. I’ve already met with a dozen diamond rank Alchemists these past two weeks who have been asking for them. Many Brewers have been asking for them as well.”

“Ah, yes. The frenzy of a new ingredient,” I said. “What are they?”

“Ethereal barley, ethereal hops, ethereal yeast, and ethereal water.” I couldn’t suppress my laughter. Hiccup’s smile widened and he said, “I knew you’d have something to do with that.”

“I have nothing to do with it. Those are Hawkin’s ingredients. He’s brought those to this world with Forge Ethereal skills.”

“Abigail, you must tell me all about them!”

I shared all I knew, which as it turned out, wasn’t all that much. I did tell him about the Lesser Planes Cutter Beers, what Dellia may want from Hawkin, and my own experience on the ethereal plane.

Hiccup was speechless for most of the time. His frow was furrowed in thought as we walked. He seemed not to see the multitude of flowers that cycled between blooming and closing before us. Some flowers were the size of peas. Others were the size of pumpkins and hung heavy from towering trellises. Each vine and flower was a treasure. I wanted to plant them all and watch them grow.

“I would have brought you one of those Lesser Planes Cutter beers,” I said. “I couldn’t because Hawkin is down to only a few. When he starts brewing Greater Planes Cutter beers, I’ll see if I can bring you one.”

“When do you think that’ll be?”

“He’s forged enough ethereal ingredients to brew enough for a small bottle, but I’m not sure when he will. I can’t imagine it’ll take him more than a week to decide to brew one.”

“I’d very much like to experience those Planes Cutter beers,” Hiccup said with awe. “Do you think Hawkin would be open to selling them to me? I could serve them in my tavern down on Rue Saint Kinni.”

“I’ll run it by him,” I said.

At that moment, something made me turn back to gaze upon the tunnel of vining flowers. I felt eyes on me.