Page 68 of Horn in My Side
“Good evening, Karl.How are things tonight?”
Karl waved at the fully packed dining room.“Busy, but we’re all good.So, reservation for two, right?”
“Yes.This is Jasmine.”
“Hello, Jasmine.”The host beamed a smile at Jasmine then stage-whispered, “It’s usually a table for one, just so you know.”Karl winked at Mal, as if saying,I have your back, which he didn’t mind at all.Mal had been coming here almost weekly, and he liked the charming human.
“Should we wait?We’re a bit early—”
“No, of course not.”Karl clucked his tongue.“This way, please.”
He led them to a table in a cozy corner, which had been set up with a vase of red roses.“Here you go.Your server will be with you in a moment.Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“We’re good.”
“Have a great dinner, then.”With a final wave, he sauntered back to his station.
“Wow, look at you, already a regular,” Jasmine said, her tone lighthearted.
“Not really.I eat out a lot here on Main Street, though,” he replied.“I don’t cook.I mean, I can follow a recipe and everything, but I’m traveling ten months out of twelve, living in hotels and bunkhouses, so I never need to cook.”
“Oh, that’s right.You work all over the world.Must be exciting, seeing all those places.”
“I don’t get to do much touristy stuff, mind you.I get in, get the job done, and get out.”Saying the words sounded almost alien to him now and it had been a while since he’d thought about his mantra.Though he’d had extended jobs before, the most he’d ever stayed on one site was about four months.
“So all you do is work?”
“Yeah, I mean, that’s what they pay me for.”
“Do you have any examples of stuff you’ve done?”She placed her palms on the table and leaned forward.“That tank you made was amazing, but I’d love to see more.”
“Sure.”Mal took his phone out from his pocket and tilted the screen toward her.“Let’s see ...Here’s the last job I did.It was a mountain cabin for a warlock.He wanted it to actually float on top of a mountain.”He flipped to the next photo in the album.“Here’s a room I designed for a resort down in St.Lucia.”Mal had to smirk, thinking of that one.“It was a challenge because I had to make the furniture big enough for centaurs.”
“Centaurs?”she echoed.“They like going to the Caribbean?”
“Oh yeah.It’s a booming market.”He flipped through the album.“Ah, this one’s a bank in Switzerland.Not much to see, I’m afraid, as I mostly did anti-theft and security spells.They want me back next year once I’ve perfected my fraud detection wards.”
“Mal, I had no idea.”She leaned back in her chair, an astonished expression on her face.“Your work ...it’s amazing.I can see why you like it so much.You’re incredible.”
He put his phone away.“Thank you.But you’ve seen Vrig’s stuff.This is just standard for orc builders.”
“You’re too modest,” she admonished.“You should be proud.”
A young woman appeared and handed them two leather-bound folders.Based on her pale skin, green hair, and the fin-like appendages sprouting from her hair, Mal guessed she was a water nymph.
“Good evening, sir, madame.”Her voice had the soothing, bubbly quality of her people, almost as if she were underwater.“I’m Seren.I’ll be your server this evening.Please have a look at our menu.We do have some specials ...”She rattled off the list in a crisp, efficient manner.“If you don’t have any questions, I’ll come back in a bit to take your orders.”
“Everything looks good,” Jasmine said as she peered at the menu.“What should I order?”
“Whatever you want,” he replied.“Except for the cheapest thing on the menu.”
“But what if that’s what I want?”
“Then I’ll order another one and you can take it home.”
Her jaw dropped.“You wouldn’t.”
“What do you think?”he challenged.“I told you, this is my treat.So get what you want.”
