Moonstone: January
Note, this month features the conclusion of Moonstone Part 1, and the beginning of Moonstone Part 2. Read Moonstone in it’s entirety. Conclusion to Moonstone Part 1 She grinned. “You are, aren’t you!” Her voice dropped to a whisper even though we were alone in the shop, saying, “If that was such an easy steal, no wonder you stole my heart!” I blushed, taken aback. She came from behind the counter and stood in front of me. Her fingers brushed my cheeks and I swallowed the lump in my throat, fingers closing around the hilt of the closest knives. However, I dared not draw them hastily. “You have your coin,” she said, clearing her throat and gesturing to where the ten gold pieces sat on the counter. “Now, about that kiss?” One perfect eyebrow arched with her question and my heart fluttered in my chest. I nodded, and she leaned…
Moonstone: December
Catch up on Part 1 through Part 10 Part 11 I stood nervously at the counter downstairs, fiddling with the moonstone. I didn’t know if I wanted to part with it just yet, but I couldn’t place just why I wanted to keep it. It was just hard to part with. Perhaps it was enchanted, to keep from getting lost among rubble again. My thoughts were interrupted by Midon slapping down a handful of coin on the counter, the noise ringing in my ears a moment. “Here,” she said, watching me through thick lashes. “I’m going to need a name for my records.” “Oh.” I hadn’t thought of that. “Sonbri Baar.” She jotted the name down in a logbook, then paused, staring at her handwriting. Then, turning to me, she asked, “The same Sonbri Baar that stole Soulsilver, Chalice of the Fallen?” I was glad she had returned my knives.…
Moonstone: November
Catch up on Part 1 through Part 9 Part 10 “A supplement?” “Yes.” Staring at this mysterious woman, I wondered what it might be. My soul? My firstborn child? Weren’t those things that witches loved? Finally, I asked, “What supplement is that?” Her blush deepened and she did a cute spin on the spot, looking over her shoulder at me. “Well, I’m taking a magical item off your hands, so it has to be an appropriate exchange. I could part with at least ten gold coin, but I still want something more.” I nodded, understanding nothing of how witches worked. “What do you want?” “A kiss.” I greeted her proposal with silence. What else could I do? Witches worked in mysterious ways, maybe she would steal my soul with the kiss. Another part of me, the foolish girl in me, wanted to test the waters. Would a kiss lead elsewhere?…
Moonstone: October
Catch up on Part 1 through Part 8 Part 9 “I could buy it.” “You said it would be useless.” “Yes,” said Midon, standing and brushing crumbs from her dress. “It would be.” “Then why?” I watched as she took my plate, now-finished, from in front of me and began washing it. “Why buy something useless?” “I run a strange shop,” she said after a moment, keeping her back to me. “I collect odds and ends. I collect things that most people don’t see value in.” “But–” She turned to stare at me, and my mouth snapped shut. “That stone is useless.” She turned to me, wiping her hands. “But it’s not worthless.” “Then…” She nodded, a new kind of smile on her face and a light blush dusting her cheeks. “I’ll buy it off you.” Yes! I sat up straighter, ready to do business, but she put up her…
Moonstone: September
Catch up through Part 1 to Part 7 Part 8 “What’s it for?” I stared down at the food in front of me. She had said her name was Midon, but I wasn’t sure if I trusted it. She had also told me about how the shop had been passed to her by her father when he’d fallen ill, and that at one time, Midon, her mother, and her father had slept in that one room. But I was finished listening to pleasantries. Something about her was so enchanting that it was almost impossible to tear away from her silk-spun stories. Midon sighed. “It’s a catalyst.” “What’s that mean?” She traced patterns into the wooden table with a long nail. It took a long moment of silence before she sat forward and met my eyes. “It means it’s useless except to the witch who made it.” I slumped. “So no…