They arrived at the small town of Evanaide just before dusk. Nestled at the base of a mountain.
Regina was grumpy for the entire day, though with steadily decreasing snide remarks. Whatever healing progress Regina had made the previous night seemed to completely drain from her with each laboured step during the day.
The chill air of fog nipped at their heels. Rolling in with soft sticky tendrils. The sky had turned grey, and rain had begun. A light, insistent drizzle.
"Great, just great," Emma said. Cold steam expelled from her lips with each breath. She shot a glance at Regina. Emma was amazed at the woman's inner strength. She still managed to walk even though each step was obvious agony. Regina leaned heavily on Emma, her walking stick, less so on Grex. Emma noted the mistrust Regina gave him. She maintained a tense tolerance of his touch, only out of necessity, let alone anything he said or did.
Emma could feel Regina slump in her arms at the prospect of rest and some relief from pain. Evanaide greeted them with a narrow, neatly paved main street, lined with timber shops, each with faded colourful banners, and square lanterns swinging in the night air breeze. A few residences were above the shops, most sprawled out behind them.
Hidden behind the shops on the south-side was a stream and hot springs.
"Do you, would you like some gold pieces? You'll need them for trade here. That and a bed at the local inn." He fiddled in his pocket, jangling gold.
"Oh, no thanks. We'll be okay," Emma said. "We'll work something-"
"What on earth would make you think we are penniless?" Regina almost spat the words at him. "We so appreciate your food, which has made me feel a thousand times worse, and to direct us to this hovel, which is meant to be our salvation-"
"Thank you. We couldn't have done it without you." Emma flashed an angry look at Regina. Then gave Grex a pained smile. "Really, thank you."
He shrugged, a surly look on his face. "Well then. I'm off to the Inn then the local, ah, den of," he searched for the right word.
"Iniquity. I'm sure you are quite familiar with it too. Now, if you'll excuse us we have a minor need to get the bones back in my body," said Regina.
He growled then sauntered off ahead of them, down the road.
"God Regina, could you have been any nicer?"
"I think not. He's alive isn't he?" She limped forward and gripped Emma's arm for support.
"You do know, that's going to bruise, right?"
"Sorry Miss Swan," Regina loosened her grip. "Shall we? The creepy little man did mention an alchemy store, hopefully reputable, with a qualified alchemist or thaumaturgist."
"A what now?"
"Doctor Miss Swan, doctor."
"And we are going to pay with what exactly? I don't think they'll take your Amex. We need allies Regina, not more people pissed at us."
"Here," Regina snapped. She twirled her hand, purple vapour twirled with it. When she opened her palm to Emma, there was a small velvet pouch filled with gold and silver coin.
"Your magic is back? Hundred percent?" Emma breathed a sigh of relief.
A sad smile formed on Regina's lips. She shook her head.
"That's just a trick. Requires little to no effort."
Emma reached out and touched Regina's face. The wound had split open and a tear of blood seeped out.
"No effort hey?" Emma asked rhetorically.
Regina remained silent. Emma saw her flinch.
"Come on your highness. Lets get you to the al-thing-a-ma-jig."
"Alchemist Miss Swan," Regina corrected. She sounded tired and withdrawn.
The store was barely wider than its rickety door, and the man that ran it was luckily a wiry, short, skinny man. His age indeterminate. He had young skin and jet black hair but to Emma there was something old about him. His piercing eyes, his yellow teeth, his knowing smile, and deep deep voice.
"Good evening," he said. His eyes instantly rested on Regina. Insisted she sit in the only chair in the shop. A shop lined with shelving, floor to ceiling, packed with herbs and vials. He and Regina then proceeded to argue over what was best for broken bones, healing damaged ribs, and removing the gaping scar on her face. They settled on some sort of wax from a creature Emma had never heard of, drink a vial of something that smelled like feet, and an hour in the hot springs.
The man was generous enough to give Regina some of his clean outdated clothing, for an additional modest fee. Regina showed him no mercy for his kindness and haggled till the man simply gave up.
"Okay, okay, take them. And here," he said. He handed Emma a stack of clean bandages and proceeded to instruct her, three times, on proper bandaging techniques.
"What was wrong with my bandaging?" Emma piped. "Look, they're doing a brilliant job of keeping Regina's bits in place."
Both Regina and the little man turned in shock. Regina's shock quickly turned to barely contained anger.
"Bits?! Which bits might they be?"
"The good bits, or the bad bits, just the bits that needed fixing," Emma said, confused and flustered.
"Miss Swan-"
"Ah, dear ladies, I must ask you to leave. My store closed twenty minutes ago." His ears pricked up. He gave a nervous glance at them and stepped forward. "Now, my wife just called me to start our dinner. I have quite the flair with spice and cooking. Remember, vial, wax, hot spring. You'll be fine young lady. Don't dawdle in the fog. Doesn't seem to be good for anyone's health." He ushered them out. Rambling as he did.
He locked the door behind them, and flipped the 'closed' sign over. The light went out and left Regina and Emma standing in the cobbled street, the moonlight clouding over.
"You do have an effect on people, don't you?" Emma surmised.