Chapter 53 Roots Of Resolve

• Gray light seeped through the frosted panes before dawn, casting Lucy’s kitchen in pale, trembling shadows. Snow lay ankle-deep on the windowsills, and the world beyond her walls was silent except for the distant hiss of freezing wind. She rose quietly, pulling on layers of wool and fleece before stepping out onto the rooftop.
• Above her, the greenhouse stood like a glowing lantern against the storm-dark sky. Inside, tender shoots of winter thyme and scarlet woundleaf pressed against frosted glass, their leaves still strong despite the cold. She unlocked the door and slipped inside, breathing in the slightly humid warmth. Her hands, wrapped in fingerless gloves, moved deftly among the planters.
• Today’s task was lomari root—a bitter, glistening tuber known for its warming properties. She dug gently around the base, freed a clump, and cradled it in her palms. The soil was rich, warmed by her grandmother’s sigils buried beneath the clay. She cleaned the roots with a soft brush, then carried them to the drying rack: thin bamboo slats strung across a wooden frame in a sheltered corner of the greenhouse. Already, bundles of woundleaf and winter thyme dangled side by side, their aromas weaving into a calming perfume.