Chatterbox: Blab About Books

Chapter One

As a baby, Ashlie could make a rose bloom in seconds. Her rose garden was much admired, and some even took the trip into the deep forest to see them. Her tomatoes were the jewel of the market, causing much envy from other sellers. But most of all, her magic was above all even as a child, and many wondered about her. Who was this girl's mother? She had never been seen, and when asked, Ashlie would only say that she was dead, but in the graveyard, she had no grave. And no respectable woman would have no grave. 

As Ashlie grew, rumors about her grew, too. Was she too powerful a witch for the small town of Loskwin? But most rumors were kept from her ears, and crowds sometimes fell silent when she passed by. And if she noticed, she didn't mention it.

~~~

Ashlie tied her brown, wavy hair back, ready for a day in the marketplace. The sun shone down at the old cottage in patches, sometimes blocked by the lush greenery overhead. She climbed onto her horse, Shatty, who was lugging a cartful of tomatoes and potatoes. 

Shatty, though young, was fast and strong. Ashlie had just got her last year from the Wanderers, but the two had already formed a strong bond. As she rode out of the forest and into the marketplace, she couldn't help noticing the looks people kept giving her, and the whispers, but she was used to them. 

She slid down from Shatty and into her stall, setting up the tomatoes and potatoes, waiting for the customers who were sure to come for them. The first one was an old lady, the second a young boy, the third a mother and her two children, and they kept coming and coming, like Ashlie knew they would.

"Your tomatoes are mighty big," The town miller bellowed at her, "You sure you didn't mix yer magic in there?"

Ashlie shook her head surely, but inside she wasn't so sure. It was true that her tomatoes were bigger than most, but did that mean she had magic mixed in there? Hopefully not, "No, sir, of course not! You want to buy some?" 

"No, I don't buy food poisoned by witchcraft," He spun around and sauntered off, leaving Ashlie staring. Magic was one thing. Witchcraft another. 

"I'm dreadfully sorry about that, dear," Ashlie looked up, and saw an old woman with a cane standing near her, "It's just that his young son, Jimmy Miller, just caught a new kind of disease, and he's blaming it on magic. You see, he never got magic, and he's still bitter because of it."

Ashlie nodded, "Thanks. Do you want some tomatoes or potatoes?"

"No, dearie." 

"What's your name? I don't believe I've seen you around."

"I'm Kathrine Weaver, the new weaver here," She smiled and hobbled away. And Ashlie couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something strange about her. She just didn't know what. 

~~~

So do you like it? Should I continue? And try to guess me! And can you give my suggestions about a title for this book?