Chương 29: What Is That About?

***BRIAR'S POV***

I had been walking in the woods near the stream when I came across someone that I hadn't expected.

"Hmm, let's see what do I remember from what I read in my Adelaide times?" What was she talking about? Who was Adelaide and what days was she referring to? Before I could ponder that, she continued talking. "I remember chamomile calms people; it helps with anxiety and helps you to relax when you drink it. However, it can help with swelling if you make it into a compress." She was right about that. How did she know that already? I didn't know the answer to that but she continued to talk to herself. "Echinacea is good for colds, infections, and the lungs. Garlic helps with swelling and is an antimicrobial. Ginger helps with the digestive system. Valerian is used to calm you and help with insomnia." All of what she was saying was true but most people, especially merchants, didn't know that. What was going on here? "I can't remember more than that, though. I wish that book was here with me right now. I would reread it so I could study up on it some more." A book? She had learned all of this from a book?

"What book?" I didn't mean to say the words out loud. I knew that I was going to scare her if she found out that I had been listening to her talk.

"Oh?!" She gasped and squealed, at the same time, I didn't even know that was possible. It was kind of funny, really. I had to force myself not to laugh at her when she spun around to look at me. "M..M..Mr. Briar, I didn't know you were here." Her face was red, and I could clearly hear her heart pounding. I truly had startled her.

"I am sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." I felt bad. This kid was supposed to be my apprentice. I didn't want her to be afraid of me at all.

"N..no it's fine." Her heart was settling down a little bit and she smiled at me. "It's really OK. I just didn't know you were there. I have never met someone who walked so quietly in the woods." She didn't know that I was a werewolf so I couldn't tell her that was the reason that I was able to move so silently. I had to tell her something else, and quickly.

"I am just used to moving among the trees. I think I learned to be silent, so I don't alert any of the animals around me that I am there." I smiled to try and make it seem more believable or something. I don't know if she bought it, but she did smile.

"Ah, OK." She didn't say anything else about it, but I saw that she was looking less tense than before.

"Do you mind if I join you?" I asked as I walked closer to her.

"Not at all. I am happy to be talking to you again. I am very excited for when our training begins." She was beaming happily as she looked at me.

"I am glad that you are looking forward to it. I hope I do not disappoint you with my lessons." I think I was the one feeling nervous now. She was going to expect some sort of amazing lessons now, wasn't she?

"Don't worry about it. I am just glad to be doing anything at all. It is much better than being dead." She laughed awkwardly and I could tell that she was telling the truth. I didn't say anything, though, not about that. I thought it was best to leave that part of the conversation alone.

"Why are you here? I thought you would be trying to get stronger." I gave her a firm look that basically told her she wasn't following my orders.

"I was. I had been doing a lot and overdid it. I ended up getting a muscle cramp, uh, I mean, a twisty."

"A cramp, huh?" I looked at her, wondering how she knew that word. "Yeah, that will happen if you are not careful. Are you better now?"

"Huh?" She seemed surprised. "Y..yeah, I am." She was giving me the oddest look. "Forgive me, Mr. Briar, but did you say cramp? You know what that is?"

"I am more surprised that you know what it is. I didn't think that the people in this village used that word."

"O..oh, w..well I heard it somewhere before. I..I don't remember where." She was nervous. Why would she be nervous about that?

"That's fine. It's what some other places call them. Lower ranked people tend to call it a twisty, though, since that is what the muscle feels like it is doing."

"Yeah, it does, doesn't it?" She smirked like she was glad I knew what she was talking about.

"By the way, Addie, what book were you talking about earlier? You said you wanted to read it again to study up? What book is that?"

"O..oh, haha, th..th..that's nothing. N..nothing at all. Haha, I was just talking to myself. There is no book." Why was she lying to me? I could clearly smell it on her. That is so strange to me.

"But you were talking about remedies like you already knew a lot about them. Where did you learn them? Did someone teach them to you?"

"No, no one taught me anything about them before."

"No, I guess there wouldn't have been anyone to teach you, would there? So, where did you come by this knowledge?" I didn't want to let it go, I wanted to know what it was that she knew. There was something very intriguing about her. Something that I just couldn't put my finger on.

"A girl needs to retain some mystery about herself, Mr. Briar." She laughed awkwardly again. It was like she was overly nervous and scared at the same time.

"Interesting." I just stared at her, not wanting to drop it but also sensing that she didn't want to talk either. "I don't know if I want to accept that right now."

"P..please Mr. Briar, I can't tell you that. Not yet. I..I'm sorry."

"Does that mean you will tell me eventually?" I raised an eyebrow at her and thought about it, what would make her tell me. Money? Gifts? What?

"Maybe." She was trembling as she spoke now. "M..m..maybe when I..I..I can trust you fully. I..i..it's not something that I can just tell people."

"Really?" This only served to make me more curious. "That's fine. I will prove that I can be trusted. Maybe, eventually, we will tell each other our secrets." I winked at her.

"Y..y..you have a secret too, Mr. Briar?" She practically beamed at me like that was a good thing. This kid was a strange one, that was for sure.

"I think everyone has a secret or two. Perhaps, one day, I will tell you mine and you can tell me yours. When we fully trust each other that is." I held a hand out to her with a friendly smile.

"Deal." She returned the smile and shook my hand.

"Well then, I am going to continue collecting ingredients so that I have something that I can actually teach you." I chuckled as I stood up. "See you soon, Addie."

"Goodbye Mr. Briar."

"Oh, Addie, one last thing." I stopped and looked over my shoulder at her.

"Yes, Mr. Briar?" She smiled at me brightly like she hadn't been nervous or scared at all while we were talking.

"How many times do I have to tell you that it's just Briar."

"I..I'm so sorry." I laughed at the surprised look on her face. She was a good kid, always polite, calling me by just the one name was going to be hard for her. Oh well, she can consider that lesson one for now.

I was still laughing as I walked back into the trees and started to hunt for ingredients.

"ADDIE! IT'S TIME FOR DINNER!" The younger sister was calling for her. Perfect timing, young one. Take her home so I can get my ingredients without revealing that I am not exactly human.

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