Ostara and Kalliroi kneeled at the sitting room table, pouring over books about wandlore. Their younger siblings, Frig and Ren, short for Laurena, stood next to their parents. Frig was outside practicing his magic with Irenaeus, while Ren assisted their mother in sewing. 

Moments after Ostara had flipped the page back to take another note, Irenaeus stormed into the room, shoving Frig in behind him. 

“When is dinner, Linaya?” he snapped. “Who’s gathering this week?” 

“Ostara.” She replied, finishing another stitch. “Laurena, can you assist me?” 

The eleven-year-old nodded and pulled more thread for her to begin another stitch. 

“Who needs what?” Ostara asked, her knees banging against the table as she stood up too fast. 

“Dole-flower and that blue root,” Kalliroi said, closing her book. “Mom tasked me with the potions again.” 

“You are better than us at them.” Ostara smiled. 

“All those formulas!” Ren grinned at Kalliroi. “How do you remember them?” 

“Need three of the blues if you want some flavor to your lamb stew,” Linaya said as she folded the stitchwork and set it aside before she followed Irenaeus into the bedroom. 

Frig rubbed the mark on his neck from Irenaeus. “Any healing mushrooms you find in the cabinet or the wild, I’ll take one.” 

“How was training, brother?” Ren asked as Ostara looked through the cabinets for a mushroom or two. She found a few in a jar labeled “healing properties” and walked back into the room, handing one to Kalliroi to slice. 

“Not the worst today,” Frig mumbled. “Father drilled some of the same lessons into my head as he kept attacking me.” 

“You’re not bleeding, are you?” Ren asked, looking at his arms. 

“At least he has a way to cool off,” Kalliroi said, handing him a few slices. “Hey, Tara, do we need to ground these, or do slices work?” 

“Slices should be fine,” Ostara called, buttoning her elbow-length cloak to her neck as Frig put the slices under his tongue. “I'm finishing the list now. You all want dole-flower, four or five blue roots, and more healing mushrooms. Is that right?” 

“Mom wants cilantro and red wine from their sellers,” Ren called, looking through the recipe box for lamb stew. “Is the market still open and do we have enough garum?” 

Frig looked up from the sofa. “What’s garum again?” 

“Ungutted fish sauce that’s fermented by the sunlight,” Kalliroi said, grabbing a leek for the stew and setting it on the counter for Ren. She looked into a tall cabinet and stuck her head out, gasping. “Yes, we have enough.” 

“The market should be open for another hour or two. Kal, can you run over if I'm not back by then?” 

Kalliroi nodded as Ostara laced up her boots and made her way out the door, slinging her gathering bag over her shoulder, everyone collectively ignoring the sounds echoing from the bedroom.