Well, dear reader, I finished my newest creation of Adventure, and I promise to tell you about it in a moment, but oh goodness, it seems almost to have been a foretoken of things to come. Until now the clues I had found and the discoveries I made were more than I could have ever imagined and they filled me with such hope… oh, but what I have learned this week has revealed a secret so wonderful I feared I would never find if it were true. Dear reader, I am not alone.
So as I said, I made the Adventure remedy for Lettie as a going away present and, like I thought, it is far different from anything I have created as an apothecary before. It inspires feelings as my others do, but so many more, some I do not even have words to describe. It feels thrilling and grand and daring all at once, and yet it has moments of stillness too that make the surprises all the more moving. It is the glow of the mushrooms, and the fires of Solmar; it’s splashing in the river with my sister and Flame’s squeals as he dives into a bush. I am so glad I was able to finish it in time. And when Lettie left, she held the bottle in her hands and wished that my adventures would bring me the answers I seek.
It was hard to say goodbye. When Elise saw me next she told me about the family she left in Renburg and how watching Lettie and me had reminded her of her two sisters. She invited me to spend the afternoon with her sometime when I was feeling up to it, and I think that would be nice. I feel very grateful for the friends I have made, and I would like to know Elise better. I also have Flame to keep me company now. He comes and goes from the cottage, but it is sweet to feel his head on my lap while I am working or hear him chitter when he wants a snack.
Life almost seemed to be returning to normal, and I was thinking of when I should speak to Mrs. Algar about coming to the library again. But then yesterday, well goodness, a most peculiar but fortunate meeting has opened up a whole new world of possibilities!
I was at market selling my goods as usual. The folks in the village do not seem to mind my strange looks anymore, and there were many people eager to buy new remedies and make requests. Maybe that is why I did not see them coming until they were practically right in front of me, that is Baron Rhodes, Alexander, and a tall man I did not know. Well, the baron greeted me loudly and of course everyone stared; a visit from the baron on market day is always news. He introduced the gentleman with him as Master Lorenz Leland of Alvena. Goodness, that’s the capital city. Alexander added that he had come to be his new tutor. I began to grow more nervous, especially when the man bowed and said he had very much wanted to meet me. Me? As I curtsied, I saw his eyes take in the leafy marks on my hands and my ears, and surely the green color of my skin. That is, of course, the first thing everyone notices, but he did not seem afraid or surprised like so many others. No, indeed his eyes sparkled, like he knew something more. I began to grow restless. Everyone around was still staring and he must have noticed too because he apologized for having interrupted me in the middle of an “obviously” busy market day, and said he looked forward to our next meeting, “perhaps somewhere less public?” he quietly laughed as he glanced about at the expectant crowd. At that, everyone turned away and pretended to go about their business. I think they hoped he would keep talking if he thought they weren’t really listening. But he and the baron moved away and Alexander said goodbye before running after them. Goodness, it was so strange, and I wondered about it until later that day.
It was late afternoon and I was just finishing a stroll along the edge of the forest when who should I see but the gentleman from the capital, the Mister Leland. He greeted me kindly and offered to accompany me as I returned to my cottage. It made me a little nervous but I accepted his offer. I did not wish to be rude to the new guest of Baron Rhodes and he seemed very polite.
I did not know what to say to him as we strolled along, but after a moment’s silence he began by asking me if I went into the forest often. I admitted I was rather fond of my walks there, but said no more. He smiled gently and told me that he had a particular curiosity about the forest and about me. At this my heart jumped to my throat and I froze. He saw my distress and begged my pardon; it was just that I was like the painting of his ancestor, his great-grandmother of so many generations ago. I asked him what he meant, and he said the lady in the painting was green, like I was.
Oh goodness, my breath caught in my breast, and then…then I was all questions! His ancestor had been green! Where had she come from?! Did she have the leafy marks like me!? Oh, I could hardly contain myself, but I was asking too many questions, wasn’t I? On the contrary, he seemed encouraged and answered me as quickly as he could. Yes, she had the exact same marks, and his great, great however many greats, grand uncle too. That was why he had come to Greenwood. Along with becoming Alexander’s tutor, Mr. Leland wanted to study the forest, to find what about it had made them green — for it was said they had not always been so. He said their story had been passed down through his family for generations. He laughed and joked that there was even an old folk tale about it. The Green Children of Woolden! He seemed surprised that I knew it, and I so wanted to talk with him more, but he stopped when he saw how low the sun was getting. He had promised to be back to the manor house before nightfall. I asked him when we would meet again, and he said perhaps when I came to the library next, as Alexander had told him all about my visits.
Oh dear reader, there are, or were, other people like me! But what about the forest made them so? Did it change me too? And what else does this Mr. Leland know? I cannot wait to learn more, but I shall have to wait until my next trip to the manor house. Oh goodness, I must write home! Lettie can tell Peter and Auntie Ember about Flame and the glowing mushrooms, but I must let them know there was a real sister and a brother who inspired the Green Children of Woolden!