Page 34 of The Orc and the Innkeeper

With that, he strides purposefully out of the inn, the door swinging shut behind him, the sound echoing in the sudden stillness. I slump back against the loveseat, my racing heart slowly returning to its normal rhythm as I stare unseeingly across the room.

I’m still reeling, trying to process everything that just happened, when the creak of hinges makes me jump. I twist around to see Laurelle emerging from the back room, a sly smile on her face.

“Damn, Mariah!” the older woman exclaims, her voice pitched high with excitement. “What aman! I mean, did you see the way he was looking at you? Like you hung the freaking moon!”

She plops down beside me, the loveseat cushions bouncing under her enthusiastic weight. I groan, burying my face in my hands as mortification floods through me.

Of courseLaurelle was eavesdropping. I should have known better than to have this conversation anywhere near her supersonic elf ears.

“It’s not...we’re not...” I sputter weakly, but Laurelle just cackles, throwing an arm around my hunched shoulders.

“Oh honey, don’t even try,” she says, her grin nearly splitting her face. “I haven’t seen chemistry like that since I accidentally mixed salamander spittle and dragon horn dust and nearly blew up my house!”

Despite the inner turmoil still churning in my gut, I can’t help but snort out a laugh at that mental image.

I lean into Laurelle’s half-embrace as I stare down at my hands twisting restlessly in my lap. “I don’t know what to do,” I admit quietly. “It’s all so...complex.”

Laurelle hums, giving my shoulders a comforting squeeze. “Of course it is,” she says, her tone suddenly gentle. “The bestthings always are. But you can’t let fear rob you of a chance at real happiness, sweet pea.”

I glance up at her, my brow furrowing. “But how do I know it’s real?” I whisper, the words tasting like broken glass on my tongue. “How do I know I can trust him after...everything?”

Laurelle is quiet for a long moment, her expression uncharacteristically somber as she seems to mull over my question. Finally, she shrugs.

“You don’t,” she says simply. “That’s the whole point. Love is a risk, babe. A leap of faith. No one can ever know for sure how it’ll turn out. But if you don’t jump, you’ll never fly.”

She stands, reaching down to boop me playfully on the nose as a mischievous twinkle returns to her eye. “Just don’t forget a harness, if you know what I mean.” She waggles her eyebrows suggestively. “Safety first and all that jazz.”

“Laurelle!” I swat at her, my cheeks flaming, but I’m laughing too.

Before we can continue the conversation, Kingsley walks over to us, a sheepish expression on his face.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he says, his voice hesitant. “But I was wondering if you could give me some advice on where to go sightseeing today?”

Grateful for the distraction from my windmilling thoughts about Thorak, I nod and stand up. “Sure thing. Let me show you a map of the best spots in Elderberry Falls.”

I lead Kingsley over to the reception desk, where I keep a stack of colorful brochures highlighting the town’s attractions. I unfold the map across the polished wood surface and Kingsley leans in, his brow furrowed in concentration.

As I point out spots in town that he hasn’t seen yet, Kingsley’s demeanor begins to shift. His posture relaxes and the lines of his face soften, as if a weight has been lifted from his shoulders.

“You know,” he says, his voice tinged with wonder, “I never thought I’d say this, but Elderberry Falls is starting to grow on me.”

Surprise flickers through me at his admission. “Really?” I ask, my eyebrows arching upwards.

Kingsley nods, a hint of a smile on his mouth. “Seeing the way Thorak’s parents reacted last night...it made me realize that I’ve been a little closed-minded myself.”

Wow. I never would’ve taken Kingsley as a person willing to confront his own biases and preconceptions. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to challenge ingrained beliefs.

“I’m going to really explore the town today,” Kingsley tells me as he folds up the map. “Try to take it all in and understand the culture here.”

My smile grows as Kingsley turns to leave. “That’s great, Robert,” I say sincerely. “It sounds like you’re becoming a changed man!”

He glances back over his shoulder, a look of slight embarrassment creeping onto his face.

“Oh, I don’t know about that,” he says, waving off the compliment with a dismissive hand as he reaches the door. “If I’m going to be importing goods from Elderberry Falls, it only makes sense to have a better understanding of the place and its people.”

I know he’s trying to downplay it, to frame his newfound interest in the town as a purely pragmatic decision. But I can see the truth in his eyes, the way the charm of Elderberry Falls has begun to work its way under his skin.

It’s time for me to follow Kingsley’s example. Or take Laurelle’s advice.

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