One of the most important things about being a witch, especially one raised out in the wilds, was that your whims were dictated by your needs rather than society's standards. So for instance, Haeli was hungry and that meant it was time for food. She didn't care that society stated that food at certain times of day be certain things. There were no such restrictions in her world. Instead, hunger meant eating, and eating meant cooking and it was something the witch wasn't that good at. She was learning however, and that had to count for something.
Having anticipated Roric's return - he was gone when she awoke - she'd made enough food for both herself and him though he wasn't seemingly about. Haeli was trying to nuture her dove-cot and so she had spent the morning cleaning it out, scooping up the droppings into one large compost pile she had formed behind the dovecot, and putting fresh greens on the ground to help catch the poop. The witch had found that scraping up bird droppings was less favorable than sweeping up bird tainted rushes. She'd also gathered a few eggs for her attempts at baking later, and had taken three lives to feed herself and Roric upon her departure.
Those lives - three young strong doves all males - were going to a good cause. Breakfast. She'd removed their heads then dunked them in boiling water to scald them and then had carefully plucked them. Afterward, she'd carefully cleaned them and removed the feet at the last knuckle of the drumstick. Then she'd cut them up into pieces - not yet skilled enough to debone them - and had placed them in a large cast iron skillet to fry in butter along with some chopped up mushrooms. She'd added salt and pepper and some crushed herbs, mostly rosemary and thyme, and now gently shook the pan letting the butter and mushrooms finish cooking. The squab as a food source was wonderful. It was like a small chicken with all dark meat. Haeli loved the ready source of meat at her disposal and the doves reproduced quickly enough and she kept them in large numbers enough that theoretically the food source would not run out.
Yes, doves were a good thing.
Haeli didn't pay any mind when the gate opened and closed. The squeak was a sort of alarm to her. But she'd expected Roric back at any moment, so it wasn't on her mind that someone was here other than the one person that should be. So instead she kept her cooking up until she heard the voice call out and by that time the meal was ready in her mind.
She set the frying pan aside, giving the squab and mushrooms one more stir in the herbs she'd added, and walked to the door wiping her hands on her apron. Aprons were a good thing, something she'd learned to use from the local baker when she'd visited that new shop. Then she headed towards the door with a smile.
Haeli was ... dressed truthfully no better than a slave. Clothing wasn't a priority in her mind and her thread-bare dress was better than any she'd had growing up. Bare feet were common with her and her long straight hair had come out of its braid partially. She wore no finery, no jewelry, and the only thing that made the dress mostly decent was the newish apron covering most of it. The fabric was so old that whatever print or original color it was had been washed to a slightly dingy cream and any lace, if there ever had been some, was long gone from the sleeves and hem.
But Haeli's smile was warm as she answered the call, walking out of one of the upper entrances that lead from the garden to the shop. The delicious smell of what might be mistaken for chicken and mushrooms filled the air along with a buttery herb scent. It was the only perfume she wore.
"Hello. Yes... we are open as long as someone is here." She said, taking a moment to study the man and the child, not sure what she was seeing was correct. Most children were quite, talk to walk behind the parents and not create too much fuss, and Haeli had certainly not seen many of them in Kenash. She stared at the little girl a moment, then offered a smile to her as well as to the man.
"I made a meal. I was just going to eat. Are either of you hungry? It's just squab and mushrooms, but it looks like it might not be too bad." She added, inviting them both into the shop with her body. She swung the door wide, then stepped back out of the way as a form of invitation.
Haeli's home was one level below, but she used all levels of the old outpost for her work. Some nooks and crannies were workshops, some places to display wares, and some were just perfect for sleeping. There was really no rhyme nor reason to her setup, as if she and only she herself understood the motives behind the layout.
"I'm Haeli. I am the herbalist here. What brings you to Fire Isle today?" She asked, almost forgetting that people required introductions. She usually made none out in the wilds.
by Berkley Whispers on March 21st, 2016, 3:29 am 
