Stone… Err, Knife Soup 2 of 2

#Fanfic #WanderingWitch
#Wss366 redolent

“Now for the first ingredient,” I said as I looked about for a stone. What met my eyes were cobblestones filthy with cow manure. That would never do. Even I wouldn’t eat something made with such a foul ingredient.

I quickly opened my bag and produced… “A knife the fairies gave me,” I said. “It was used to cut the heavenly fruit served to Queen Mauve. In acknowledgment, she blessed it with the property to infuse broth with the most wonderful flavors.”

"But alas, it will just be broth—flavorful, nutritious, but thin," I said, dropping the knife into the pot with a flourish and stirred the water. "If only we had a few potatoes."

A thin woman nudged the man next to her, whispering something in his ear.

He nodded, ran off, and soon reappeared with a few potatoes. “Been saving them, just in case. But if you can feed us all, then it’s worth it.”

I took the potatoes and frowned. My knife was in the pot. "Can someone lend me a knife?"

A boy soon produced one, and the potatoes went into the pot, skin and all.

“It’s a shame,” I said. “A good potato soup requires carrots, but this will be filling even without them.”

Another farmer ran off, and soon, I had a bunch of carrots, which also went into the broth.

“Perhaps someone has some leeks or onions,” I said. “Oh, what a wonderful stew it would be with just a few.”

As before, I soon had my ingredients, as well as a head of cabbage, mushrooms, and a rutabaga.

I took a sip. "Wonderful! The flavors imparted by the knife blend so well with your ingredients. It needs only one more thing.”

I made a show of checking my robes, revealing empty pockets. “The fairies took off with my salt and pepper. What is soup without those?” They might as well take the blame, I thought, for lack of spices.

Several people turned on a man who was slightly better dressed than the rest, and I do mean slightly. “Well, Mayor?” they demanded.

“Yes, yes, of course,” he said and headed off, soon to reappear with the requested items.

“I have some rosemary,” a young woman approached, offering me a sprig.

“And I have sage,” someone else said, thrusting it into my hands.

“Mm, this smells good,” I said, adding the seasoning. Indeed, the air was #redolent with the savory smell of soup.

Taking one last stir, I announced: "It should be ready by the time someone fetches bowls."

And as for me, belly full, I was content. I scooped up my knife, saying, “Your generosity fills my heart with gladness. There will be no need to erect a monument to me,” and left town.

And who was this fabulous cook? This modest genius? A procurer of ingredients from thin air and thinner peasants?

It was I, Elaina, the Wandering Witch!

#TootFic #MicroFiction #FairyTale #Mythpunk #NMFic

#TimeTravelingGhost EP 5 Part 65: Jurassic Era

#TimeTravelAuthors 31. Author's choice #Wss366 Redolent #MastoPrompt Melt

The inner sea, surrounded by pyramids, was calm. It wasn’t until we reached a corner that we encountered significant debris: piles of seaweed and logs, as well as a huge squid #melting back into the primordial ooze. The air was #redolent of decay. The buzzing of insects over the corpse underscored the absence of larger living creatures within the inner sea.

We skirted the corpse, rounded the corner, and found steps carved into the pyramid's side. They rose gradually, switching back and forth as they climbed. Emily scouted ahead and reported that the stairs ended at a tunnel leading into the pyramid about two-thirds of the way up.

“It’s a long, exposed climb,” I said upon hearing the news. “I think we should decide where we’re going next in case we need to escape quickly.”

Learn more about the rabbits
Learn more about the illuminati
Learn more about Bjou’s past
Visit Emily’s Grandmother
Take a break and go somewhere safe and cozy.

#TootFic #MicroFiction #NMFic