If only Hyssop had been an August Witch, then the people of Afire would have believed her when she said that the lettuce she had received was contaminated.

But Hyssop was not an August Witch. Nutmeg, the witch who grew the lettuce, was an August Witch, so the people believed that Nutmeg’s lettuce could not have been contaminated.

Clove didn’t know when the lettuce had been contaminated. But she knew that it was wrong that Nutmeg was let off the hook just because she was an August Witch. And Hyssop was blamed just because she wasn’t an August Witch.

So Clove went to Hyssop’s small cafe and ordered a sandwich with lettuce. She had vowed to help the witches who didn’t have the August Witch name to protect them, and this was her first stop.

Clove was starting to see that being an August Witch was about more than good grades. She had to prove to Regina and to the dean that she cared about Afire and its citizens. She had to do more than to avoid saying the wrong things. She has to say the right things.

While Clove was taking a bite of her blt, Basil pulled out a seat at her table. He swept his red robes under him as he sat.

At first, Clove smiled at him. Basil was her best friend in Afire even though they weren’t supposed to be seen with each other. Then, Clove remembered that she was still chewing a bite of sandwich. She attempted to finish her bite before speaking, but she worried this would give Basil the opportunity to say a lot to her all at once.

“I saw you walk into the cafe,” Basil said. “And I followed you. What are you doing eating here? Is that lettuce? I heard the lettuce is bad? Don’t you keep up with the news, Clove? A young student like you really should—”

“Basil,” Clove said, feeling relieved that she could finally speak. “I do know about the lettuce. I came here on purpose.”

Clove explained her mission to Basil.

“Well,” Basil said. “I followed you here, and I’d follow you anywhere, Clove.”

Basil went up to the front of the cafe. He ordered a blt to go. He brought it back to the table, stood next to Clove, and took a bite.

“I’ve got to run, Clove,” Basil said. “But I’ll see you around. I would follow you anywhere.”

Basil left the cafe.

Clove thought it was strange that Basil had followed her into the store and that he kept saying that he would follow her. If she didn’t know him so well, she would wonder if he planned to stalk her.

Clove shook her head. She knew that Basil was just a strange person but that he usually had the best intentions.

Clove went to the front of the store and thanked Hyssop.

Later that night, she went online and wrote a glowing review of her sandwich.

The next day, Clove passed by the sandwich shop, and it was full.

Clove wondered if her review could really have that much power. “No way,” she said.

“Basil was right,” said a middle-aged woman who was leaving the cafe. “This cafe is delicious. August Witches really have the best taste.”

Clove froze. She suddenly knew what Basil had meant when he said that he would follow her anywhere, but she had to confirm it.

Clove walked up to the middle-aged witch and grabbed her arm.

“Excuse me,” Clove said, “Basil recommended this shop to you?”

“He was on the Flaming Show last night,” the middle-aged witch said. “Did you not see it? He said the bad lettuce was all a misunderstanding and that this cafe is so delicious, so we came here today.”

Clove let go of the woman’s arm and walked away.

She felt a little disappointed that Basil had packed this cafe with customers and not her. But she felt even more honored that he had taken up her mission and had followed her in recommending Hyssop’s cafe.

She wanted to find Basil. She didn’t know if she planned to thank him or to argue with him. But she knew that she would follow him anywhere too.