The swooning was becoming a nuisance. Vom could hardly get into his shop without shoving through the throngs of admirers. Everyday they set up camp around the nearby streets waiting to catch a glimpse of the prince who frequented the bakery next door to Vom's apothecary.

Even his nearly seven foot frame wasn't a good enough battering ram to get through the crowd. He jammed his elbow between a human and an elf just to trip on a gnome he hadn't seen behind them. Vom stumbled through the remaining people and into the locked door of his shop. They made a bubble of space just big enough for him to unlock his door and slide inside to the quiet.

The end of the prince's visit couldn't come soon enough.

Shadows from the milling crowd outside blended with the shadows from the shelves stuffed full of bottles and herbs. The familiar smells mixed with the air from outside in a pleasant blend. Glass bottles caught the light to cast a kaleidoscope of colors across the floor and over his hands on the counter.

Vom spread out his list of orders, mentally tallying costs and herbs. "Only six today," he muttered to himself. He flexed his hands and watched the lights shift over his fingers and knuckles. "Damned witch."

Ever since the shop across the street had opened and started selling not only medicine but charms and potions as well, Vom's sales had plummeted. People could spout tolerance all they wanted but a human town would always give business to their own kind before a half-orc like himself. He couldn't blame them, the witch's cheery demeanor made her an unbeatable saleswoman.

Vom peeked through the front window and spotted Hettie fighting to get into her own shop, The Cedar Scroll. Her long braid swished behind her and was the last thing to disappear behind the big red door. Neither of them would be able to do much business until the prince had come and gone. In fact, the only shop in the area with a clear path to their door was the bakery in question.

Their business had been sky high.

"Maybe I should get that damned elfling in here and lure all the others in after him," Vom mused.

What would an elvish prince need with his concoctions anyway? He had a full court of potion makers at his disposal, not to mention plenty of magic in his own blood. He was sure anything an elf could fall sick to would be beyond his skills.

There was no use daydreaming when there was still work to be done. A smaller clientele group just meant he had to be as fast and efficient as possible to match Hettie's flashier quality.

By midday, half of the orders had been packaged and picked up by their respective customers. The remaining bottles were tucked out of sight waiting to be delivered if they weren't picked up by the end of the day. A commotion drew his attention to the street where a golden circlet on a head of ebony hair reflected the sun like a fiery arrow.

"About time," Vom stretched his arms over his head, feeling the tight muscles stretch. No matter how often he prepared himself for the show and dance he'd have to put up in the prince's absence, it never got any easier. Competing with the other businesses trying to grab customers out of the dissipating crowd was a daily occurance now.

The warm summer breeze flew in through the door along with a heavy perfume of vanilla and rose. The elf prince stood in the door with a basket of pastries hanging from one arm. Sunlight framed him from behind like a halo.

"You are the owner of this establishment?" Prince Ettrian asked. A gentle gust of air pushed his hair over his left shoulder and he pushed it back with one finger. The ring resting there glowed green for a brief moment.

Vom stepped back from the open door and dusted his hands on his leather apron. "I am, your highness. Was there something you needed?"

More curious faces peeked around the two guards standing to either side of the door. They struggled to look around each other in hopes of keeping the prince in their sights. The boldest of them were pushed back firmly with gentle hands.

Prince Ettrian ran his hand along the shelves, moving until he was out of sight of the crowd. As soon as he was, he gestured to Vom to join him, eyebrows were knit together to form a deep furrow at the center of his smooth brow. "Is there perhaps another entrance to this place?"

"Is something wrong with the front door?" Vom asked. He looked over the slim man who was cowering by the herb bundles on his shelves. Everything from the tips of his pointed ears to his well tailored shoes looked like it was trying to collapse in on itself.

Another admirer managed to slip between the guards for a second, her black hair falling loose from its elaborate updo. Several scratches were fading on her bare shoulders. Soft bangs lay in a tangle against her forehead. She had time to mutter his name in a breathy voice before she was pulled back out.

"That is what's wrong," Prince Ettrian whispered emphatically. "Every day I've come down here to support a dear friend's bakery and I've been mobbed every time. My poor Thaelun can hardly keep up with their demands to try what fills their shop and then watches the lot of them rush through the delicious morsels without truly enjoying them."

He scoffed and flicked his hair back again. "I've told Thaelum to meet me behind the shops but I'll never get away from them at this rate."

Vom rubbed his face and jerked a thumb over his shoulder in the direction of his backrooms. "There's a window. If you think you can squeeze through it you can give it a try," he explained. "Are your guards alright with this?"

"Of course." The prince waved his hand dismissively while scooting around the shop, keeping close to the wall. "I can handle myself long enough to get back to Thaelun and they'll find me again soon after. Once I've finally caught up with my dear friend I can finally leave this place." He reached the counter and dove behind it, dark hair flowing out behind hip like a cape.

"You've thought this all out extremely well," Vom said. He glanced back at the guards, one of which nodded to him. He'd been reluctant to help him, but hearing the possibility of having the streets empty again appealed to him in a new way. All he had to do was toss a prince out a window.

"I am rather clever, you know," Prince Ettrian announced. The door to the back inched open only to slam closed again. Smells of drying herbs overtook the room. "This door is impossible."

After a few more failed attempts by the prince, Vom wandered over and opened the door wide enough for him to pass through. He paused to let the prince crawl through ahead of him. The desire to lock him in for a few hours came and went. Some things just weren't worth the extra effort. Instead he stepped through and closed the door before helping the other man to his feet.

Every surface of the room including the ceiling was covered in drying herbs and tightly sealed concoctions. It was dark aside from the small bit of sunlight leaking in through the small window against the far wall. The glass panel was secured by a sturdy latch to keep out the humid air. Vom easily reached the high window and slid it open, locking it in place.

"Come on then," he called to the elf, bracing his back against the wall with his hands cupped together in front of him.

Prince Ettrian carefully placed his foot into the cupped hands. Between Vom;s boost and the elf's own jump he nearly flew out the window. He landed neatly on the ground outside. "Excellent, well done, shopkeep."

"Wait, don't forget your basket." Vom held the pastry filled basket up to the window where it would be in easy reach from the outside.

"Keep it as a sign of my gratitude," Prince Ettrian called back before his receding footsteps turned to whispers of noise.

The door to the room opened and one of the guards looked in. His green silk cloak moved over his shoulders in an echo of the prince's hair. He scanned the room and nodded quickly to Vom before backing out of the room again.

Sunlight was once again streaming in through the front windows, completely uninterrupted by shadows. The street was once again clear. There were even a few lingering people from the crowd milling about his shop. Vom lifted one of the delicate cream filled pastries from the basket and ate half of it in one bite.

Chapter WC: 1474
Total WC: 1474