Page 36 of Tusks, Tails & Teacakes
“You know what I was thinking?” Sass asked then continued without waiting for an answer. “Durn needs a reason to get out of this place.”
“Like a hobby?” Lira could hardly imagine the man doing anything but hunching over the bar.
Sass’s lips curved into a wicked grin. “Like a love interest.”
“You want to be a matchmaker for Durn?” Lira shook her head. “Talk about a challenge.”
The dwarf did not seem dissuaded by Lira’s less than enthusiastic response. “It’s clear he misses his wife. It’s been two years. Maybe what he needs is a new love.”
Lira didn’t say that she wasn’t sure if Durn’s relationship with his wife could be classified as a great love, but maybe Sass had a point. The man did need something, and the refurbishment of the tavern wasn’t doing it for him.
“You have anyone in mind?”
“Wayside isn’t bubbling over with great options, but I noticed that the chandler is single.”
Lira had vague memories of the curvy gnome who had a shock oflavender hair and a bright smile. “Is she looking for someone moody and poor?”
Sass barked a laugh. “Durn is like his tavern. He just needs a bit of a spruce up.”
Spruce up?Lira mouthed to herself. More like a total overhaul, but Sass did seem to relish a challenge.
“Ahem.”
Sass swung her head to Lira, then they both looked toward the swinging doors. The polite throat-clearing came from outside the kitchen.
Sass pushed through to the great room and Lira followed her, too curious to stay behind and with no good reason to continue lamenting over raw pastries and the loveless tavernkeeper. Her head instantly dropped to the smartly dressed gnome who stood outside the kitchen, his wrinkled hands rubbing together.
“Yes, yes,” he said, peering up at Sass and then up even higher to smile brightly at Lira. “I wanted to bestow my compliments to the chef.”
Lira flushed, although she felt it was a stretch to call her a chef. “I’m glad you enjoyed your supper.”
“I hope you had enough,” Sass muttered, mostly for Lira’s benefit.
“Oh, yes. Plenty, plenty.” The fellow had an endearing habit of repeating himself.
“Thank you for coming,” Lira said, returning his smile although she got the impression that he hadn’t come to stand outside the kitchen just to thank her for the food. Then she remembered the chairs. “And thank you for the chairs. They go perfectly by the hearth.”
He bobbed his small head. “They do, they do.” He extended a hand. “Tinpin Thistledown at your service.”
Lira took his hand and shook it.
“As you no doubt know, I already met your charming business associate the other day.” He inclined his head to Sass, who preened at either being called charming or a business associate or perhaps both. “She has excellent taste in textiles. Excellent taste.”
Lira glanced toward the curtains, allowing that they did work well in the space. Then she looked down at the gnome again, registering his own sumptuous clothing. “How did you end up in Wayside, Mr. Thistledown? I would expect to see someone of your caliber in Hearthorn or even Frostmoor.”
His friendly expression registered brief dismay. “No, no. Call me Tin. Everyone does. Everyone.”
“Okay, Tin,” Lira said, even though the name seemed much too casual for someone so precise about his appearance. She waited for him to tell her how he’d landed in a tiny village and not a bustling town where there was plenty of call for dress breeches and elaborate gowns.
The gnome let his gaze dart around the tavern and back to Lira. “You’re right, you’re right. I’m not from these parts. I hail from Port Frey in the South of the Ageless Lands.”
Lira nodded, thinking of her own time in the seaside town. “Marshland and plenty of coastline. Not much like here.”
Tin rocked back on his heels, and Lira noticed that his brown shoes were polished to a high shine. “Not much, not much. Port Frey is a good place to be from, but it didn’t need me like Wayside does.”
Lira cocked her head at him, not sure exactly what he meant.
“Don’t get me wrong.” The gnome waved small hands that Lira knew without asking were deft with a needle and thread. “Wayside is a lovely village, but it’s lost a lot of its heart. I could sense it the moment I arrived. The very moment.”
