“So, what do you like to do?”, James asked, pleasantly happy to find that Elspeth was turning out to be far more sociable and friendly than he had initially thought.
“The thing all witches my age like to do, dear. Read, knit, listen to music, go for walks, bake, all those things.”
“.......... but that’s.....”
“Not what you expected me to say? All stuff than a human would say, and not a witch?”, Elspeth frowned.
James blushed, though Elspeth couldn’t see it, as he felt embarrassed for coming across so rude and insensitive. However, Elspeth quickly began to laugh (less of a witch-like cackle that James had heard in movies and more of a soft, grandmotherly chortle) and shook her head. “I’m just playing, dear. No offense taken. Yes, I do all of those things, surprising as it may be to hear. Witches and wizards, aside from the magic and whatnot, tend not to be that different from ‘normal’ people.”
James sat squarely in place, listening intently. Again, had he not been a squat little toad being kept as property, this wouldn’t have been nearly as bad. And even then, the way this was turning out was hardly that bad. Suddenly, Elspeth reached down and picked James up, placing him on a nearby table. Pulling a wooden stool out from under the same table, Elspeth sat down to face James at a more reasonable level of eye-contact. “Sorry about that, dear. Just wanted to make us both more comfortable. Figure we’ll be chatting for a while.”
Hearing Elspeth say that calmed James significantly. A few minutes ago he was sure he’d be subject to being used in a stew or having his toad parts taken off and regrown for potion ingredients or who knows what else. But, as it was, he found himself enjoying the old sorceress’s company and was relieved to find out she was willing to talk with him for longer. It made everything, including Elspeth, feel that much less foreign and frightening to him, and it made him feel significantly more human than he currently was.
“So, what spells do you know?”
“Oh, a ton. Transformation and teleportation, as you’ve seen. But I’ve got a ton of tricks up my sleeve. I’ve been practicing them since I was nine, after all. And seven-hundred forty six years is a long time to master something!”
James laughed, which came out a a cheerful croak. “I’ll bet! So, what about Silas? Is he-?”
“No, no. He’s not a person turned animal. Though he can talk, thanks to a spell I cast on him when I found him as a kitten. He’s far more interesting and easy to understand that way. And less pointless meowing makes for less annoyances.”
“So Jasper didn’t seem to know a ton about Meredith’s shop, or about her. But you did. We’re you taking him there for the first time?”
“Good eyes and ears, dear. Yes, actually. He’s an old friend of mine, as is Meredith. I had run into him after meeting with some relatives and was going to stop by Meredith’s anyway so I invited him along to show him around. Seems to me that purchasing your beautiful young friend made him happy that he agreed to come!”
James’s mind once again focused on Nicola. He knew that Elspeth had already reassured him that the wizard who bought her (Jasper, was it?) wouldn’t do anything aside from leer at her, but even then. He felt horrible thinking how scared she must be. Not knowing where she was or what was going to happen to her. Elspeth must have been able to pick up on his worried silence, and rested a hand gently on his bumpy, slimy back.
“Oh, I know, dear. But please do trust me on this. Meredith has a knack for knowing who to sell what to. Even if she just met Jasper, she knows as well as me that he would hurt your friend. As we speak, knowing him, he’s probably already turned her back into a human, given her some fresh clothes, and is treating her to a hot bowl of soup as his new houseguest. Like what I’m doing..... er, save for the whole toad thing.”
James felt slightly relieved, but a burning question entered his mind. “Does Meredith always do this? Turn people into objects and then sell them off to other witches and wizards?”
Elspeth smirked. “Did you break something?”
“.......... yes.”
“I know you did. You wouldn’t be here right now if you hadn’t. Meredith only does this kind of thing if people break her merchandise. And again, she’d never sell to anyone who would hurt or abuse them. I’m sure you saw her as disinterested and uncaring, but believe me. She does have a heart deep down.”
“What if a witch or wizard breaks something? Does she trick them into turning into something, too?”
“No. Something far, far worse..... she puts it on their tab.”
James chuckled, thinking it was a joke. Elspeth, however, looked at him, confused towards his amusement. “I’m serious. Her stuff costs a pretty, pretty, pretty penny. £5000 for you was nothing short of a discount she gave me as her friend.”
“How do witches and wizards get human money? And so much of it, no less?”
“We use human currency because it’s far easier for us to buy things from one another as well as from humans. Conversion rates and whatnot. And we get it the same way humans do: we work. Some wizards and witches take polls on humans for newspapers, others search for and recapture magical creatures that have wandered into places where humans may find them, others brew and sell potions, and some own shops like Meredith.”
“And what do you do for a living, Mistress Elspeth?”
“Mistress Elspeth? Hmm..... I asked for just ’Mistress’, but I do like the sound of that better..... Oh, yes, anyway. I’m a..... well, I suppose you could say I’m a policewoman of sorts.”
“A policewoman? Like, you arrest wizards and witches?”
“No, not exactly. No, ’policewoman’ isn’t a good analogy. More of..... a guardian. A soldier. A..... let’s just say, wherever evil magic is, it’s people like me’s job to fix it. I cant go into much more detail than that.”
James nodded he bulbous little head understandingly. Suddenly, as he was about to ask another question, Elspeth checked the clock on the wall behind her. She smiled, and looked at James.