Page 11 of Must Love Scones and Secrets
“This is Smoke, my firewolf.”
“Handsome boy,” he said with a smile. “We are so glad to have you here. As I mentioned in my letter, we are dealing with a mysterious illness that has afflicted our unicorns. They graze deep in the valley, out in the hills,” he said, gesturing toward the window, “but we’ve brought in a mare and her foal, who seem particularly affected. They’re in the stables. Let’s have a look…after breakfast.”
“Given the urgency of the situation, perhaps I should?—”
“Nonsense, my boy. I can’t expect you to work on an empty stomach. And you haven’t lived until you’ve tried the baked goods from The Sconery. Rosalyn—she’s the baker—has magic in her hands. Come. It’s been a long voyage. Come and eat. And we’d best hurry up. The other elders have already gone in. They may be all prim and proper, but they eat like wolves when the Sconery is involved,” he said with a laugh, then turned to Smoke again and added, “No offense to your good boy here, of course.”
I had to admit, I was feeling very hungry. I had not eaten since the ship from Frostfjord, and the food had been meager fare even then. “Very well. Lead the way, sir.”
“Good. Good. Come,” the elder told me, taking my hand. “Onward, my boy, to love at first bite!”
CHAPTER 5
ROSALYN
Istood beside Primrose, my arm linked with hers, as we surveyed our work. The bright Whisperbloom sunflowers Winifred had provided brightened the room and added a calming, peaceful atmosphere that encouraged cooperation. Enchanted peace candles from Lilibet, our local candlemaker, added to the atmosphere of peace. Primrose had stationed an enchanted harp in one corner. It played pleasing, calm songs. At the center table, I had set out the baked goods, all imbued with enchantments for team-building, camaraderie, cooperation, and humor. On a stand in the corner, I’d placed the beverages, blends mixed for concentration and elevated intelligence, alongside my favorite teacups I’d brought just for the occasion.
“Everything looks perfect,” I told Primrose.
Primrose, a half-elf with a human father and Sylvan elf mother, had an unusual form of magic. She created comfort. As well, she was able to synthesize others’ gifts, melding them together. That ability made her the perfect caterer. Even now, a soft golden glow hung in the air.
“Are you sure?” Primrose asked worriedly, chewing the corner of her lip nervously.
I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her close. As her best friend, I knew very well that Primrose always felt uncertain. She felt like everything she did was too much or not quite right.
“It’s perfect. Just like every event you manage. My heart feels perfectly at ease,” I told her in truth. “I need you to come by and fix my apartment again.”
Primrose chuckled, then exhaled heavily, releasing some of her tension.
The doors to the meeting hall opened, and the elders entered, all talking in a loud hubbub.
Primrose gave me a knowing look, then flicked her fingers toward the harp, enhancing its volume just a little so it could be heard over the gabbing crowd.
The semi-heated discussions and disagreements soon faded when the elders started to take in the room, the enchantments working on them. Their bickering was replaced by pleasantries and warm smiles.
“And that’s my cue,” Primrose said. Patting my shoulder, she left my side and went to greet the elders. “My illustrious elders,” she began, welcoming them to the brunch.
Leaving her to it, I went to the tea station once more. I began adjusting the cups and saucers, ensuring I had everything ready.
“You don’t see me,” a voice said jokingly from beside me as Emmalyn, Elder Thornberry’s daughter, appeared. Grinning at me, she filled a traveling canteen with Pink Blossom tea. “I’m risking having to socialize because of the lure of your scones. I just wanted you to know.”
I grinned at the pretty blonde, whom I knew to be far more interested in her horses than anything her father might wish her to attend to, as she wrapped one of my scones into a napkin and slipped it into her hip pouch.
“Good to see you too, Emmalyn.”
Emmalyn laughed. “Everything smells amazing, Rosalyn. Tell Primrose I said it looks beautiful. I’ll see you at book club tomorrow?”
I grinned and nodded. “Did you likeCrown and Crumpets?” It had been my turn to select the book for our group, and I had gone with my absolute favorite classic.
“Chef’s kiss,” she told me, gesturing in tandem, then let out an “eek” when, from the other room, I heard the sound of her father’s voice.
“Must escape,” she said, then snapped her fingers, suddenly turning translucent.
“I can still see you with my pixie vision.” Which was true, even if it was a vague shimmering outline.
“Good thing halflings don’t have that,” she said with a grin. “If my father asks, you never saw me.”
And with that Emmalyn disappeared down a side hallway and out of sight.
