Khaeris Dawndancer

The Alchemist Knows

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Another week set. The gelatin capsules were swept into a small wax paper envelope and sealed. The flicking motion of her wrist with the counting stick were practiced and controlled. Khaeris never moved without the fascinating blend of precision and languid grace. People often got lost watching her move, just as she was lost in this steady count-capture-seal work fixture.

These little capsules had a tangy spiced smell and Khaeris enjoyed it. Filling the capsules had taken an hour, now filing them away to be sent to the client would take a few minutes more.

Other paper bags with prescriptions and requests were lined up on the basket on her desk. The cipher she used to label them was something her mother had taught her as a child. No one--well, almost no one--would be able to read and understand the packaging labels. Not anonymous, but protected and concealed.

Anxiolytics.  Antiemetics and folic vitamins. Chelators and hormone replacements. Analgesics and anesthetics. Treatments and placebos. Follow-ups and side effects recorded. Working around dietary needs. Interactions between medications.

The alchemist knew so many of your secrets.