“Ma? Why are you wearing those gloves and that mask?”
“I will teach you when you are older Owena.”
Owena wore leather gloves and a mask as she worked. The feeling of being unsafe was still new to her. Embrace it or ignore it? The nightmares still came. And the last few weeks had been such a ride emotionally she needed to take matters into her own hands and be ready. For …???
It was the first fight she had ever seen up close in her bakery. There had been one other time on a trip to the shire… but this was in her home! Asteldis, freshly hired as the musician, had stood in front of her as Stan and Rahvic grappled because the dumb drunk boy had stolen from her. She never would have confronted him if she thought it would have ended in violence. Silver, Sairona walked in and threw them both out. The foreign woman basically lived at the bakery now, maybe it was payback she helped defend it. Owena’s own shouts to get out had been ignored. No one saw her as a threat to listen to. She had no idea how to fight. Timothie always told her she wouldn't’t need to because he was a Watcher and no one would dare mess with her. Qais used to make extra rounds about her house but now… his poor mother.
She thought she was going to die the night the man entered her room uninvited. For one moment, it was clear that she would not see the morning and would never get to see Loakee again... or any of them… But she had misread the boy. The stupid boy! He was just trying to keep her warm and put another log on the fire. He needed someone in his life to teach him right from wrong! The gift basket from Dernwynn showed that at least someone in his life recognized his faults.
Yes, maybe Crow would teach her how to use those knives. They dangled from his belt like jewelry. If only he would stop putting his feet on her table long enough to teach her…. She did still have the dagger Ricklin gave her still but ‘stick them with the pointy end’ did not leave her with much confidence in herself. She had moved it to beside her bed.
Baldvin and Loakee said they would protect her. But they had left. She could handle it alone. She was not going to move back in with her parents! She valued her freedom too much.
Corrinne, the unlikely kindred spirit, had promised to show her how to use a bow… the farm girls heroics inspiring Owena. Maybe Ellany, Eordion, Danni. Taala, and Erofroth knew something of weapons they could teach her. They traveled enough back and forth to Trestlebridge that they must know some defense. She hoped the food she was giving Ellany was reaching those that needed it. So many people had such bigger problems than her. Maybe someday she could figure out how to help them.
The people that came to her bakery in the last week Anmire, Marvelle, Brunhir, Aelrid, Hawke, Haritha, Audea, Sareva, Pluck, Daerist, Cutwil, Gafford, Ashaia, Arindiis, Askelin, Aldnarth, Emanda, Brigeat, Dragaur, Firithain, Islun, Folthorn and more… she knew there had been more ... she needed a break… they all seemed so prepared for the world. Weapons set aside to drink tea, shields leaned against the wall, weapons at hips. Maybe she was missing something. Maybe she needed to get prepared. Was Annii or Lissi prepared more than her? She would ask them. The elven woman Xanderian has seemed to think the world was so violent that Owena was baking people into pies! How gross! At least her friend Cyndwin seemed to get that it was a joke enough to chuckle.
Maybe she should take Adya’s advice and just laugh at life.
But if she was going to follow through in what she had decided to do and visit the jail…. She had to be ready.
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～ ✿ ～ Defense Spice ～ ✿ ～
Make sure to prepare a space that will not contaminate other foods. Before starting, adorn heavy gloves and a mask for protection. Chop two cloves of garlic. In a bowl mix together a handful of pepper, mustard and garlic. Crush together using mortar and pestal. Add four spoonful’s of oil and cup of vinegar. Mix together until there is a smooth paste. Be careful to avoid spilling. Avoid spilling. Put in cool place overnight. Very important! The next morning take melted candle wax and roll out on table. Cut into squares and use fingers to create thin cups. Must be thin enough to break apart on impact but also thick enough not to spill, this will take practice. Funnel paste through cheese cloth and into walnut sized wax cups. Seal with fingers by folding over. Handle with care. Practice throwing to make sure they will burst apart when needed.
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