The Alchemist Quarter was a ring of buildings edging a platformed courtyard, the grandest, and which towered over the rest, being a scriptorium. And next to it was the Apothecary, its grey and cracked shingles topped above lichen covered walls.

'Do you think we'll be the only ones?' asked Gwen.

'No chance,' replied Esme. 'Our potions' school alone was accepting eight new students.'

'I wonder if we'll meet any of them,' said Abby.

Her eyes kept on Esme, Abby opened the door of the Apothecary and entered. But she didn't get far inside when she bumped into something. And when she realized that something was somebody and that somebody was Lady Constance and her ladies-in-waiting, her heart dropped.

'Watch where you're going,' Lady Constance snapped, her icy stare glaring down at Abby.

Stunned at what she had done, Abby didn't reply until Lady Constance added, 'Dragon got your tongue.'

Abby bowed, 'My apologies, Your Highness.'

Shaking her head in disgust, Lady Constance growled, 'Are you here for potions?'

'I am.'

'I am, what?'

'I am, Your highness.'

'Are you qualified?'

'Before the plague hit, I was to attend the School for Potion Makers as was my friend here, Your Highness.'

'What a dump of a peasant school that is.'

'Now, now, Constance,' came another voice.

Abby turned and saw Princess Edina standing just outside, her dragon scale mail sparkling.

'Your Majesty,' Abby said with the others, bowing as deeply as they could bow.

'How is everyone's morning?' the princess asked. 'Was it easy to find this place?'

'It was, Your Majesty,' Abby replied.

'Good. Now let's all get settled.'

Following an annoyed Lady Constance, Abby walked deeper into the Apothecary, a large dusty room filled with workbenches, shelves brimming with jars of ingredients, brewing equipment and several fireplaces with piles of wood stacked beside them.

Dozens of other younglings were already sitting together, but there was one who was all alone.

Baron Ren, the Mad Prince's son.

Princess Edina threw up her hands at the early arrivals. 'Please, stay seated. And I'm in a rush so let me tell you what I want from all of you.'

Abby, Esme and Gwen scuttled over to an empty workbench and sat down.

And fortunately for Abby, Lady Constance and her ladies-in-waiting took their seats on the opposite side of the room.

'And if more show up after I leave,' Princess Edina continued, 'please tell them what is asked. So, what I'm looking for are potions that will help us. Healing potions are probably more crucial right now. It looks like everything you need is here. I hope. But if it isn't, please search me out and I'll try to help. Well, that's it, I must be off to guide everyone else. I wish I could stay longer, to answer questions or what not, but getting around the outpost is quite a chore, taking a lot of time, especially when bridges aren't where they're supposed to be.'

'You should use the magic ropes,' Gwen piped up, 'Your Majesty.'

'Magic ropes, dear?'

'You can swing across them. You don't have to do anything. My sister, her best friend and I found them while coming here.'

'They're usually tied up to a tree,' added Abby.

'Interesting,' said Princess Edina, 'I was never told about anything like that before coming here. Thank you for telling me – I will definitely look out for them. And thank you everyone for coming to the Apothecary and doing this.' Then with a short bow, she left.

When the Apothecary door was closed, Lady Constance instantly got to her feet and barked, 'I'm in charge now and all of you will do as I say.'

Being royalty, nobody could argue with that, and everyone replied, 'Yes, Your Highness.'

Lady Constance looked at Baron Ren and gave out a loud sigh. 'Shame I can't get rid of you though.'

'I'll be quiet and do my bit all by myself,' Baron Ren replied.

'You will do no such thing. You will not touch anything. Because who knows you could make something nefarious. Like father, like son. You will stay where you are and not move until we are done for today.'

Baron Ren just nodded in reply before Lady Constance continued, 'Princess Edina wants healing potions so that's what we'll brew. We'll start by making the Draft of Breath – I can see the ingredients for it now. 'She looked around and pointed at jars, calling them out. 'Ground dragon teeth, dried star flower, powder of golden birch root . . .'

Abby and Esme looked at each other, scrunching up their faces. Almost everyone else had the same reaction too.

Someone with a basic knowledge of potions should know the proper ingredients for Draft of Breath, thought Abby. But scared of correcting Lady Constance, she kept her mouth closed.

Baron Ren, however, did not, interrupting, 'Those are not the right ingredients, Constance. It's ground fairy wings not dragon teeth, dehydrated berry weed–'

Turning red, Lady Constance burst out, 'How dare you!'

'And wouldn't something more potent be better? Draft of Breath is for helping you breathe when you have a cold. How about Peri Elixir? That can cure several ills and help with others. We have the ingredients here too. Crushed impbeetles, gryphon hair –'

'You will keep your mouth shut, son of a traitor. That goes for everyone else, too. Like I said, I'm in charge here.'

'Yes, Your Highness.'

'Now clean your workbenches and prepare fires. And do it quickly. I'll be waiting to give you instructions.'

Knowing it was all going to be for nothing, Abby predicting the outcome to be some disgusting smelly sludge, her enthusiasm was quelled. But she and everyone else did as they were told.

Soon fires were burning in the fireplaces and the workbenches had been cleared and wiped down.

Then waiting for instructions, Abby looked behind her to Baron Ren. He was just sitting, his eyes wandering around all the jars of ingredients.

He seemed quite knowledgeable of potions, she thought, and wondered if his father had taught him. Despite his evil ways, the Mad Prince was incredibly intelligent.

And when Lady Constance finally began to dole out instructions, her ladies-in-waiting doled out the ingredients.

Being that the Draft of Death wasn't a difficult potion to prepare, Lady Constance's useless variation laughably even simpler, cauldrons were brewing over the fires promptly. But it wasn't long before things took a nasty turn.

Without warning, everyone's sludge began to smoke, the Apothecary quickly filling with a thick putrid air.

'Son of a traitor, what did you do?' Lady Constance yelled.

'What did I do?' Baron Ren coughed. 'I didn't do anything.'

'Admit it. You did. You sabotaged everyone's potions. You are in trouble. I'm going to tell Princess Edina right this instant.' And Lady Constance barged out of the door with her ladies-in-waiting.

'What do we do?' shrieked a frightened Gwen.

'First,' came Baron Ren, 'there's no need to panic. Take the cauldrons off the fires and open the windows.'

And that's what everyone did, the Apothecary clearing of smoke in no time.

As everyone sat back down at their work benches, exhausted and coughing, Abby joked, 'Some real Draft of Breath would do well now, hey?'

Everyone laughed at that, including Baron Ren, but Abby quickly took it back, saying, 'My apologies, Your Highness. I meant no disrespect towards Lady Constance.'

'I won't tell if you won't,' Baron Ren replied.

'So now what?' asked Gwen.

'I say we start brewing Peri Elixir,' Baron Ren replied.

'Will Lady Constance get mad?'

'I'm sure she will, so let's not tell her that either. Once we've brewed some, we can hide it somewhere. How does that sound, everyone?'

Abby, Esme, Gwen and a few others were quick to agree but the rest didn't seem eager.

Abby was sure it was because the Mad Prince's son had suggested it.

Baron Ren seemed to think so too, getting to his feet, taking in a deep breath before saying in a somber tone, 'I know many of you probably don't trust me but I'm not my father. I want our people to survive what he did and to thrive once again after it's all over. I want to help. Please let me help. Let me make Peri Elixir with you.'

An awkward pause followed until Abby piped up, 'Princess Edina wants healing potions, and we need to deliver. It's our duty. Our responsibility. Baron Ren wants to help, and we should let him. Would any of you want to be shunned, ostracized for the ills of your father. I highly doubt it. Come on, everyone, let's get to making Peri Elixir.'

Abby looked around and saw everyone nodding away.

'Thank you,' Baron Ren said before turning to Abby. 'And thank you, too.'

'So where do we start making this Peri Elixir?' asked Gwen.

'It probably best to clean the cauldrons first,' Abby replied.

'Yes, that would be a good place,' Baron Ren replied.

But they didn't get the chance as the sound of bells clattered all around, making everyone jump.

'That sounds like the city's alarm,' came Esme.