If you’ve read The Witch of the Meadows, you may recognize Salm, a wizard Fern meets who bares his soul about the lass he loves. That witch, Luna, the daughter of the lighthouse keeper, isn’t sure she wants to live on a schooner with Salm.
I’ve been working on their story and am excited to share a scene from it.
Salm used fetching more bread as an excuse to go see his sister Manta before he burst.
“I canna stand it.” He strode to the end of the bakery’s commercial kitchen, then back again. “Luna helped me with the dolphins, Pop’s chores of mending the sails, seemed perfectly happy to sail with Ty and Coral, but persists in her plan to rent a room.”
“Well, if she canna find one on my list of older, single people, then younger families that need a hand with their children?”
Salm stopped. “I did nae say the search was fruitless. She’s talking of renting an apartment above Keenan’s. I will not have her living above Keenan’s diner. Or taking care of children.”
With a frown, Manta crossed her arms. “I really do not wish to let my new attic room, if that’s what you’re getting at.”
“I’m not.” He threw up his hands, losing part of the molasses cookie he’d picked up but hadn’t eaten. He pointed a finger and magicked it to the refuse bin.
“I don’t suppose I need to remind you that it’s not up to you either, where she lives or what she does.”
“No,” snapped Salm. “I—” Blast it all, why did Manta always have to be right?
“Keenan’s isn’t the worst place in the world to live. Perhaps it can be a transition. Luna’s a smart woman, she’ll stay safe.”
“While I go insane,” he muttered. “Fine, I stay out of it. But do I keep seeing her if she refuses to sail?”
“Do you want to keep seeing her?”
Of course he did. But not every few weeks. Every day. Every night.
Manta rolled her eyes when he didn’t answer.
“Is it too much to ask to sleep with the woman I love?” His sister opened her mouth, but he blurted, “’Tis nae the sleeping. I want to share my life with her—a life sailing that she seems to hate.”
“Surely she doe nae hate all of it? She lives on the coast, too. Does she want to move elsewhere?”
“I reckon ’tis the idea of port being Giuthas verses Tern Bay, and her home being a ship not a house. She suggests I ask Pop to revise the rounds so I put to port at Tern Bay, and that I get a smaller ship that I can handle on my own.”
Manta blinked. “There’s an idea. Brilliant, in fact. Told you she was smart.”
Salm huffed. “I want a double-masted.”
“Worse than you want to sleep with the woman you love? With the witch who calms your magic into being a bloke actually reasonable enough to live with? Maybe that’s not the person you’re being to her. I know I don’t want to live with you again.” His sister put up a finger. “Answer me this: Is she willing to learn to sail with Ma and Pop?”
Somehow this had to be a trick question. “Aye, but what good will that do—“
“She’s willing. Talk to Pop. Sort how the assignments might change. Coral is old enough to take more responsibility. If she’s willing to compromise, then you have to be willing to compromise.”
He pointed a finger at Manta. “Don’t you think I can’t see what you’re doing. You’re telling me I’m the one at fault here.”
She threw the towel at him. “You came to me for help. Do you want it or not?”
“I want me ship. One like Ma and Pop’s.”
“Don’t be self—” She pressed her lips closed, and flicked her fingers to retrieve the towel. Manta wiped her counter for a moment. “I can’t advise you. And as much as I wish the best for the two of you, perhaps you’d best prepare to let go of your plans with Luna.”
Head down, Salm walked back to the ship, Manta’s damned advice grating at his nerves.
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