Page 42 of Must Love Scones and Secrets
“Perfect!” she exclaimed, finally turning to face me. “Oh! You must be Bjorn, Rosalyn’s Rune elf. I’m Tansy.” She wiped her hands on her leather apron then extended one to me. Her grip was firm, her smile open and friendly.
“I…”
Tansy chuckled. “Welcome to Moonshine Hollow, Bjorn.”
“Thank you. Sorry to bother you, but I need to speak with Kellen. We may have a clue about the problem with the unicorns, but I would appreciate his perspective and help. Rosalyn said you would be able to reach him.”
Tansy nodded, her expression turning more serious. “He’s been concerned about the magical disturbances for weeks. I can summon him for you.” She moved to a corner of the workshop where a small potted tree sat on a pedestal. Its trunk was no thicker than my wrist, but its branches spread wide, its leaves dancing with an almost sentient awareness.
Tansy whispered something to the tree, stroking its bark gently. The leaves rustled in response, though there was no breeze. She paused then and bent to listen, her eyes closed. After a moment, she pulled back and said, “He’ll meet you at the arched stone bridge by the river in an hour. It’s not far from the marketplace.”
“Thank you,” I said, genuinely grateful. “I appreciate your help.”
Tansy studied me for a moment, her head tilted slightly. “Rune elf… There are only a few of us elves here in Moonshine Hollow. I forgot how we sometimes sense one another a bitdifferently.”
She was right. With other elves, we could often feel their emotions and intentions more clearly than with other races. For instance, Tansy felt inquisitive but not distrusting.
“You’re a Sylan?” I asked.
She nodded. “Newcomer to Moonshine Hollow myself. I was on the road with my caravan for years, but Moonshine Hollow—and its residents—called to me. It’s a special place.”
“It is,” I replied, feeling her sincerity.
Tansy crossed her arms on her chest and gave me a thoughtful look. “You know, Rosalyn is a romantic. She flirts, charms, and makes everyone feel special, but she also guards her heart carefully.”
I shifted under her scrutiny. “I’m not sure what?—”
“I’ve known her long enough to recognize when she’s truly interested in someone. And when she speaks of you, I see something that feels like…glimmer.”
Glimmer. For us elves, that word had a special meaning.
“She’s very special,” I said, the guilt that had been gnawing at me all morning intensifying. “I don’t want to hurt her.”
“Then don’t,” Tansy said simply, as if it were the easiest thing in the world.
If only it were that simple. I gave her a soft smile. “By the Nine Gods, I swear I will do everything in my power to keep her from harm.”
At that, Tansy gave me a genuine smile and nodded. “I believe you.”
“Thank you,” I said, then added, “I should get going.”
Tansy nodded, then stepped back to her workbench. “Nice to meet you, Bjorn. If you need anything, one elf to another, I’m always happy to help.”
“Thank you, Tansy.”
She gave me a warm smile and then returned to her work.
Downstairs, I found Juniper mixing a pale blue liquid in a small vial while Smoke watched, fascinated.
“Everything okay?” she asked, looking up.
“Yes. Thank you for your help.”
“Of course. You are welcome here any time,” she told me, then turned to Smoke. “And you too. He’s a very well-mannered boy.”
“When he wants to be,” I said with a laugh. “Thank you again.”
She merely smiled, and then Smoke and I headed off.
