Over the following days Vella set in with Zelma as comfortably as the accommodations could be. The space she provided Vella was modest indeed, less so than Vella afforded her concubines. Suppressing a crinkled nose she merely thanked the old woman for her generosity and made do with it. She was afforded a comfortless narrow cot with a trunk for her clothes and things underneath. There was some privacy with a curtain around her space she could draw around but that was it. The two women shared facilities down the hall. Behind Zelma's store was a good sized greenhouse where she grew most of her herbs and roots. Others she needed and could not grow herself were harvested in the appropriate seasons throughout the year about the outlying areas, and stored appropriately inside.<br/><br/>Zelma very meticulously showed Vella where all of her supplies and tools of the trade were kept. She went over pricing of the measurements of herbs and curatives provided. The woman was nothing if not organized and Vella had little trouble catching onto her system. Vella continued to impress Zelma with her knowledge of herbs and their uses and names, drawing curious looks from the woman.<br/><br/>Vella spirited away that evening back to the castle and collected some additional clothes as well as a cache of the important youth potion. She stashed these away in the borrowed trunk under her cot and made sure she was taking a dosage of it each night.<br/><br/>The following day Vella was watching the front of the store while Zelma was in the back fussing about and mumbling to herself. With the snows coming fewer people were out and about the town, the first blanket of powder chilling the citizens. That would change as they accustomed themselves again to the reality of many months  of much more of the same. Winters in Arges were long and arduous but the stock of people hardy in these parts. Out from behind the counter Vella busied herself with mundane chores, chores she had not done, really forever. She wore a shopkeepers' smock over a forest green dress, her hair tied back in a pony tail with a red ribbon. She could not recall a time she had ever picked up a broom to sweep a floor, but there she was, Witch Queen of Arges, sweeping up the floor at Zelma's Herbs.<br/><br/>A blast of cold air gust in as the store's front door opened, the wind scattering the once neat pile of dust and fine dirt Vella had carefully gathered. She looked up to see who had entered through the door. Most of the women that came into the store were much like Zelma, or very young girls led by their mothers. Thus far Vella had seen few women that seemed likely prospects for realistic romance.<br/><br/>The entrance of this woman however caught Vella's interest. The auburn hair was unique in these areas, and while not unheard of rare. Most were colored in black and brown shades or various hues of darker blond, the red coloring was eye catching. She was quite pretty and seemed to have a wistful air of wanderlust about her. Her auburn curls cascaded over her shoulders, her skin, what was exposed in this unforgiving weather, was fair and flushed with the health of youth. Her eyes were equally alluring and bespoke of lighthearted merriment as well as sincere thoughtfulness. Vella was a good judge of character, having hand picked all over her close advisors, having an eye for intelligence, maturity and loyalty.<br/><br/>The woman looked back at her curiously as Vella seemed lost in momentary thought and had yet to greet her.<br/><br/>"Welcome young la-", Vella began, blinked and restarted, "Welcome to Zelma's miss, perhaps I can be of assistance?" Vella felt her cheeks flush and warm.<br/><em><br/>I'm blushing? Blushing like a love-crossed girl, that is just splendid.</em>Vella berated herself silently.