((this post worked out jointly in a gdoc))

Alicia looked up from behind the counter where she was carefully measuring a powdered substance into small glass vials. and smirked, “Good morning, sir, glad I could help. Was there anything else I could help you with today?”

Nigel smirked. Quick witted, this one! “Well, I was hoping for something a little more convenient. Something I could take back home with me.” He said, continuing to stride closer to the counter with his hat on his chest. He had to keep the conversation going while he figured out how he was going to tackle this.

Alicia tapped her chin thoughtfully for a moment then pulled her recipe book out from under the counter and began flipping the pages.

“You’re not from around here, are you? I’ve seen your type before.” Her eyes narrowed for a moment as a memory of dealing with past hunters flitted through her mind. “Your…services…are unnecessary in this little town. The people here are in no danger other than what they cause for themselves by stepping off a ladder the wrong way or getting into a fight with their neighbor.”

She made a mental note of the recipe she’d found in her book and went around the counter to a shelf of various dried flowers. “As for your ‘issue,’ I do have a solution.” She gathered a few blue flowers then returned to her side of the counter. She dropped the flowers into a small stone bowl and began grinding them with a pestle. “This should do the trick, but it’s very strong. Add three pinches to your food or drink about an hour before activities.”

Nigel tried not to react. She was as intuitive as she was intelligent, unfortunately for him. “Ah, you’ve got me there, miss.” He said in defeat, but with a light smirk. As she put together the concoction for him, he put his hat back onto his head, freeing up both his hands to pull out his coin pouch. “Thank you kindly. How much do I owe you?” He asked, opening it a bit and seeming to thumb through. Though, it was just to buy a little more time for a bit more ‘small talk’. “You hear what happened with those killings recently by chance? So many women pinned up on trees. What a world we live in, right?”

“Four gold pieces, please,” she answered as she placed the powder into a small glass vial with a cork. “I heard. I’ve also heard the rumors. They’re wrong. That kind of carnage speaks of either something or someone beastly, out of control, or simply cruel for cruelty’s sake. If such a person or creature is still nearby, they are hiding extremely well.”

She looked up and saw one of the other hunters peering in through the window. “On another note, if any of those zealots outside my door harm any of these innocent people, they will regret it for the rest of their miserable, severely shortened lives.”