Page 39 of Tusks, Tails & Teacakes
“He’s not bad at holding tools.” Korl passed Crumpet a hammer, which was swiftly dropped into the caddy. The corners of Korl’s mouth twitched. “Maybe he’s better at putting them away.”
“If you’re sure…”
Korl gave her a flash of a smile. “Don’t worry about us. We’ll rub along just fine.”
And with that, he went back to inspecting the inside of the oven and emitting curious grunts.
Lira dropped back onto flat feet. “I guess we leave him to it?”
Sass patted her on the back, steering her into the great room and toward the enormous stuffed chairs by the fire. “You and I have been so busy cleaning and cooking that we haven’t gotten a moment to try out these chairs for ourselves.”
Lira hadn’t considered not testing out the chairs a great loss, but ifshe couldn’t be puttering around the kitchen, she might as well have a proper sit down.
The hearth was stacked with fresh peat—no doubt done by Sass the night before to make quicker work of her morning chores—so it took only the strike of a long match and teasing the fledgling flame under some tangled kindling to get the fire going.
Lira sank into one of the chairs, her hands curling around the wide armrests to keep her from vanishing into the cushioning. The fabric smelled faintly of dust but not enough to provoke a cough.
“When did you ask Korl to fix our oven?” Lira asked once Sass had made short work of the fire and taken the chair opposite.
Sass’s legs shot straight out, the chair too large for her feet to touch or even for her knees to bend. Even so, she wiggled herself to the edge of the chair and leaned forward. “Me? I was going to ask you when you did.”
Lira shook her head. “It wasn’t me.”
“He took it upon himself then.” Sass gave Lira a wry smile. “Isn’t that interesting…?”
Twenty-Three
When Korl emergedfrom the back of the tavern, Lira scrambled to rise from the chair despite the soft cushions’ attempts to keep her seated. Sass managed to get up quicker by vaulting the arm, which Lira had to admit wasn’t a bad strategy.
“All done?” the dwarf asked as she strode across the great room and met the orc halfway.
He set his tool caddy on the nearest table and gave a grim nod. “It’ll hold for now, but it’s on its last legs.”
Lira wasn’t surprised. She suspected the oven hadn’t been replaced or even repaired since the place had opened. Still, whatever patch job Korl had been able to do, it would be betterthan what they had.
“No more burned pastry?” Sass cast a look at Lira. “Assuming the baker keeps an eye on it.”
Lira scoffed and rolled her eyes at the dwarf as she reached Korl. “Ignore her. I won’t hold you accountable for the baking that comes from my oven, but I will insist that you let me make you something for your trouble.”
Korl opened his mouth, and Lira was sure he intended to protest. She held up a hand. “Do you have someplace to be?”
He clamped his mouth shut and shook his head. “Not yet.”
“Then you’ll let me make you some scones.” Then Lira added. “They’re my gran’s recipe, and I’m pretty sure I got it right.”
If Korl had any intention to protest more, Sass stopped him with a hand on the leather armor covering his forearm. “Please, let her make scones.”
Lira grinned at the dwarf’s dreamy expression. “I had no idea you were so fond of them, Sass.”
“You do remember that I’m used to gully dwarf porridge, right?”
Lira had forgotten how low the bar was for Sass. Korl’s expression had gone from pleased to confused, but Lira shook her head. “They’re significantly better than any type of porridge.”
She headed for the kitchen, pleased to see that the orc had cleaned up whatever mess he’d made while repairing the stove. Not that she should have been surprised. Soldiers were usually a regimented, orderly bunch. Now if he’d been a mercenary…
Lira shook off the shudder that swelled within her as she pulled out her mixing bowl and sack of flour. She’d barely tipped the flour into the bowl when Korl stepped into the room, his bulk seeming to take up half the space and a good deal of the oxygen.
“I’m notthatfast,” Lira said and managed a grin she hoped didn’t give away too much.
