Herb-Witch (Lord Alchemist Duology) by Elizabeth McCoy

possible. Hints of sharpness . . .
Much fainter, though. Probably a good sign, if only for the man's
re-training. "Kessa, Nicia, would you two care to try?"
    Kessa
extended a hand, deferring to the apprentice. Iathor made room so
Nicia could repeat the test. After several moments, she said, "Very,
very faint . . . But not normal." She stood and
moved aside.
    Kessa's
quick glare at Iathor was blocked by the swing of her hair, but
threatened rent throats. She knelt gracefully enough, though, and if
she looked at Darul with the full force of her strikingly ugly
gaze . . .
    The
madman only looked back with vague curiosity. Iathor supposed that
was irony.
    After
several heartbeats, Kessa closed her eyes and whispered, "I'm
not sure. Perhaps I only think it, because Nicia scented something."
    If
they'd been alone, Iathor might've reached over and touched her chin;
asked her to say that with her eyes open. They weren't alone. So he
said, "And I also believe there's a very faint odor, reduced
from before. Perhaps . . ." He pondered. "Perhaps
leave off the Purgatorie treatments for a day, and I'll come and
check if the scent has faded on its own?"
    "Time
or treatment that's doing it?" Peran asked, and nodded. "Good
thought. Anything else?"
    "Actually,
if you might, I'd like a few moments in the hospice workroom –
I'll be visiting the guild offices next, researching some recipes. If
I find something promising, it'll save time to know what ingredients
you've on hand." He grimaced. "And I've not yet visited
Darul's sister. Perhaps I could draft a letter and have it run over
by one of the apprentices?"
    "Heh.
I've time. The letter first? It'd be easier to leave you with, while
I check on another patient."
    "Either
suffices. If it wouldn't be disruptive, might Nicia show Kessa the
hospice while I'm busy?"
    Peran
waved a hand. "Bah. If she decides she likes it, we can always
use more herb-witches. Off with you, Nicia."
    The
girl bobbed a curtsey. "Yes, Master Peran, Master Kymus!"
She stood. "If you'd come this way, journeyman?"
    Kessa
gave an eyes-lowered smile and nodded. "Thank you, Nicia, Master
Peran." She followed Nicia, once again leaving Iathor without a
sign of gratitude.
    Standing
by his shoulder, Peran murmured, "You didn't say how she knew
him, Master Kymus."
    "That's
a story for an office, Master Peran."
    "I'll
show you mine." The bonesetter's dark green robes swirled quite
well as he led the way out the door.
    Behind
them, Hoch coaxed Darul to eat his breakfast.

     
     
    Chapter
XI
     
    " W hat
would you like to see first, journeyman?" Nicia asked.
    "Perhaps
the workroom? And you needn't call me 'journeyman,' if you don't want
to," Kessa murmured, glancing at the girl sidelong, with her
hair masking her face. "And perhaps I should leave my cloak with
Master Kymus' servant." She was already over-warm.
    "Of
course! I'm sorry I didn't suggest it earlier."
    "I
should've thought of it myself." Before she had to fend off
further apologies, Kessa added, "Have you been apprenticed here
long?"
    "Only
three months. And already the Lord Alchemist has said I should
practice identifying ingredients by scent!" The girl actually
hugged herself, but lowered her voice as they got to the entry room,
where Master Kymus' footman slumbered, still in his own coat. "He
even sent mother a letter."
    "Ah?"
Kessa shed her cloak onto the chair beside the footman.
    "Oh,
yes." Nicia was clearly thrilled, but keeping her excitement
down. "He asked about my tolerances."
    "Tolerances?"
Kessa's eyebrows went up, hidden behind her swoops of hair.
    "Tolerances
to potions! Here, the workroom's this way." As Kessa followed,
Nicia continued, "How much potions affect me, how quickly, that
sort of thing. I don't faint if I sniff a sleeping potion, and that's
a good sign. I'm learning the rest . . . Oh, but you
know that already."
    "I
do?" Was this something Maila'd forgotten to mention, in all her
instructions and testing? Chiftia certainly hadn't