Her target clientele would mostly be from the upper class or nobility so she’d picked to open her shop in Kastoburg, the capital of Linsal and the home of the king and his court. Not just anyone could enter the palace, but she had a backdoor pass. Her eldest brother, Toraf, was one of the sorcerers of the court who worked directly for the king. By visiting him, she could rub shoulders with potential customers. Of course, she would never dream of pestering the noble ladies of the court. Instead, their maids and ladies-in-waiting were her targets. Happy with her plan of action, Philliya presented her pass at the servants’ entrance and the guards allowed her to enter. 

Toraf greeted her absentmindedly when she turned up, too focused on his work to really register her arrival, and waved her off in the direction of the door. Philliya took that to mean that the present time was not the right time to talk and left to canvas the palace. Dinnertime would pull Toraf out of his work and she’d catch him then. 

She spent a few hours wandering the halls frequented by the maids and managed to hand out a few fliers, but a guard took issue with her actions and firmly told her to mind her own business and please leave. Instead of leaving, she went back to Toraf’s rooms and found him finally not buried in his work.

“Tor!” She grinned cheerfully at him. “I came to see you now that my shop is complete.”

He poured himself a cup of tea from the teapot which hadn’t been there when she first visited. “I suppose you can’t be convinced to sell the shop and find a proper job for a sorcerer instead?”

“Now, now, we’ve had this discussion before, big brother. I’m sure my shop will be successful. That’s why I came here to Kastoburg.” Before he could interrupt, she continued, “I’m not good enough, and I don’t have a title high enough for work at the court. You’re the eldest so you have the title and you fit right in here. I wouldn’t like it. But, if you want to help your sister out, I have told you before that you could spread the word about my shop. The ladies of the court would love it. If only they knew it existed.”

Toraf closed his eyes briefly and sighed. “You always were stubborn once you set your mind on something. I will mention your shop if I have the chance, but I rarely interact with the ladies of the court. They prefer to consult with my female peers on affairs of sorcery.”

“That doesn’t mean they don’t come to visit you.” She giggled. “But anyway, here’s some flyers detailing what I can do. I would pass them out myself, but a guard kicked me out for doing so earlier.” She rolled her eyes dramatically and plopped the sheaf of paper onto the nearest table. “I should head back to see if any customers have come by while I was gone.”

Philliya bounded up, sure that she’d return to find customers waiting for her. Toraf rose to his feet more slowly.

“I’ll accompany you to your shop. I wish to see it now that it is complete and I have shopping to do. Mother and Father will want to hear news of you and your…venture.”

“Wonderful!” 

Toraf escorted her out of the palace through one of the smaller main gates, while Philliya chatted merrily. She explained all about her plans for the business and wrapped it all up with “Do you like my new hair and eyes?”

Toraf only grunted and nodded very slightly. “It certainly is very...unusual.”

“Exactly! I want people to ask about it. It shows off my work,” she burbled happily as they walked up the street to her shop. “Here it is! Wonderful, isn’t it?”

He stared up at the sign and examined the storefront. “It’s...small. But unique. The enchantments are well-crafted,” he added grudgingly. 

“Thank you! I can always buy a bigger shop later if needed, but doesn’t it add to the mysteriousness of a sorcerer to run a small shop hidden away where you have to hunt for it?”

“That is one way to look at it. Or it says you couldn’t afford the rent on a shop in the main shopping district.”

“Psshh, details, details. I won’t let you kill my happiness. Now, let me check the queueing enchantment.” She muttered a few words and a panel in the diagram lit up. But her face fell slightly as it displayed a zero. “Oh. But, I’m sure a customer will come by later today. Thanks for escorting me, Tor! I’ll come up to the palace often to see you.” She waved cheerily at him, and, after unlocking the door enchantment, vanished into her shop leaving Toraf staring after her with an eyebrow raised. 

“That youngest sister of mine is far too optimistic.” He sighed and retrieved a piece of parchment from his pocket containing his shopping list. Without a backward glance at the small shop, he set out for the larger shops in the main shopping district.