She had her own standards to adhere to.
* * *
* * *
Feeling sick to her stomach, Tressa waited until almost the end of the day to touch Mariah’s arm and whisper, “I need to talk to you before you leave. After we close the shop. Alone.”
Her mentor and boss tilted her head before nodding. A few minutes later, she sent Inga home early with another basketful of goods for the family—just to make sure all was well. The two of them worked together to close the shop after she sent Soren off with the leftover donations.
When they got to the end of the cleaning and Mariah came back in from throwing out the trash, Tressa didn’t know if she could go through with it. She scrubbed the clean floor all the more, trying to find the words.
“Well, then,” Mariah asked, “what is it? Are you getting married to our favorite Herald?”
Tressa shook her head. She couldn’t find it in her to smile at the jest. “It’s . . .” She took a breath and looked Mariah in the face. “It’s Soren.”
“Yes?”
“He’s selling the temple donations. He said he was doing it for money for his family. I caught him a couple weeks ago. He promised to stop.”
The older woman crossed her arms, her face a neutral mask. “But?”
“But he didn’t.” Tressa shrugged. “I . . . couldn’t trust his word. I don’t know why not. I followed him yesterday. I’m sorry. But I found him doing it again. Just in a different place.”
Mariah nodded. “I thought there was something between you two. Why couldn’t you trust his word?”
“He said his dad was sick. That’s why he needed the money. But we both saw how good you were to Inga and her mom. If he was actually sick . . . Soren could’ve talked to you. Should’ve talked to you.”
“Would it matter if his da was sick?”
Tressa felt her cheeks flush. “Yes! No. I mean . . . not really. He should’ve done things the right way. He’s taking advantage of you and your generosity. If his dad was sick . . . or is sick, we could help. He should’ve told us. Told you. As it is, he’s stealing from those who have nothing to give. I don’t care if every bakery in Haven gave all they had left over to the same temple. You bake enough to donate to them every night . . . and he stole it from them. From you.”
Mariah nodded. “Why are you so upset about this?”
“Because it’s against everything you’ve ever taught us. To have integrity in everything we do. To be honest with each other and ourselves.” The tears came despite her trying to keep them at bay.
“You did the right thing.”
“Then why does it feel so terrible?”
The older woman’s face softened, and she sighed. “Because you are friends. Because you want everyone to work to your same level. Because sometimes doing the right thing hurts.”
Tressa looked up when Mariah took her by the shoulders. “What’s going to happen now?”
“What I had already decided to do when I first discovered what Soren was doing more than a month ago.”
“You knew? You were testing me?”
Mariah nodded. “I did. And I was. Now that you have told me, I have several things I need to do. Thank you for not letting me down.” She sat at the kitchen table. “But first, we need to talk.”
Fury rose and fell in the space of a heartbeat and the blink of an eye. Fear replaced it. Mariah looked old and sad. Tressa sat on the edge of a stool. “About what?”
“Your future, much to my sorrow.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I know. I didn’t plan to test you, but when the opportunity presented itself, I had to. For a couple of reasons. The first of which was for my own sake. Soren doing what he was doing made me question everything I’d ever taught you apprentices. Had I not imparted the importance of personal integrity? Had I failed?”
Tressa shook her head. “You didn’t fail.”
“I know. With you, I didn’t. With Soren, I did. But he isn’t who we’re talking about now. It’s you. Are you angry with me?”
Tressa blinked and opened her mouth to say “no” then closed it again. After a moment’s thought, she shrugged. “A little. But it also took me weeks to tell you. I’m sorry. You must think the worst of me.” She realized how tired Mariah seemed.
“No. Of course not. Even if you hadn’t told me. However, if you hadn’t, we wouldn’t be having this talk.” Mariah lifted her chin. “Tomorrow afternoon, you are going to go to the Palace to meet with the head chefs—Jala and Enri—and you will go there with a written recommendation from me. I’ve known them for years, and they’ve been looking for a couple of senior apprentices to train to bake for the Palace . . . but every person who works at the Palace must be above reproach. You’ve proven to me that you are.”
“The Palace? Me?”
She smiled. “Of course. Why do you think the Heralds stop here so often? They love your baking. The Palace would benefit from someone like you. For both your skill and your integrity. You rose to the occasion, and I am so proud. I knew there was something special about you when you came back and asked for work. Now, I know you’ll excel at the Palace—personally and professionally.”
Tressa bowed her head. “Thank you. I learned from the best. I am your legacy.”
“You are, and I will miss you . . . but not just yet. Tomorrow, you’ll help me open the shop.”
Tressa smiled. “Yes, ma’am. There are Heralds who can’t do without our cheese biscuits, and we don’t want to let them down.”
A Nursery of Raccoons
Elisabeth Waters
He’s really cute.
The words echoed in Maja’s head, causing her to turn to glare at Stina, the girl who had been making the most comments about cute boys. Fortunately, before Stina noticed the glare, Maja realized the comment had come not through her ears but through her Gift, which meant an animal had made it. The horses they rode and the crows flying overhead didn’t think that way, and the raccoon riding on the front of Maja’s saddle was male. Female raccoon? she wondered, but she decided not to worry about it now. She had more urgent problems. She was on a horse, in charge of a group of people—several of whom probably wouldn’t obey her—in a part of Valdemar she had never seen before, and it was getting dark. Already some of the crows who had been scouting for her had decided to roost for the night. The only bright spot was that she thought they could reach their destination before full dark.