Page 44 of Tusks, Tails & Teacakes
Cali’s ears were no longer flat against her head. “And I wouldn’t say no to one of those scones.”
“Sit, sit!” Sass called over. “I’ll get it.”
Lira noticed that the dwarf was no longer manning the tray of scones and chai at the bar but was hurrying to the tray from the hearth, patting Tin on the arm as she passed him. She also noticed Silas watching her and Cali with narrowed eyes, but she took Sass’s advice and ignore the curmudgeon.
Korl grunted again. “If everything is okay here…” Then he turned and left them for his chair by the fire.
Cali twisted her head to watch his retreating back. “He’s an interesting one. Quiet for an orc.”
“He’s on the shy side, but he’s been a big help today. He fixed our oven and won’t take any payment aside from free food.”
“No doubt.”
Lira wasn’t sure what Cali meant by that or why her whiskers quivered when she swung back around.
“Too bad he’s a guardsman,” Cali said. “He’d make a great addition to a crew.”
That thought made Lira bristle. “He hates fighting.”
Cali made a face like she didn’t believe her. “An orc who hates fighting?”
Lira held up one palm. “I swear on the souls of those who have gone before us. He’s good with gadgets and prefers tinkering with things to killing.”
“Hence the oven repair.” Cali sighed. “Well, it was worth a shot.”
Sass swished over, balancing a plate on her arm and holding two mugs. She dropped the mugs on the table before sliding the plate down the length of her arm. “Chai and a scone for our guest and for the baker.” Sass winked at Lira. “I figure you didn’t get to eat one yet.”
Lira hadn’t, and she was grateful that the dwarf had thought of her, even over their profits. “Thanks, Sass.” She gestured to Cali. “This is Cali. We used to work together.”
Sass’s brows lifted. Lira hadn’t told her much about her past work, but she knew the dwarf had figured out a good deal on her own. She eyed the quiver of bows on Cali’s back. “An archer, eh?”
Cali smiled. “I try.”
Lira shook her head at the misplaced modesty. “She’s as good as they get.”
Cali took a bite of the scone, and a purr rumbled her chest.
Sass grinned as if she’d come up with the recipe herself. “Good, aren’t they?”
“I had no idea you could bake like this,” Cali mumbled around her bite, sending a shower of crumbs cascading onto her pants.
“Your loss is our gain,” Sass said with a wink as she spun around and headed back to the fire where Val was draining her chai and Korl was making little secret of watching her and Cali.
Cali took a gulp of her chai, her purring nearly rattling the plate off the table. “Why didn’t you ever make these for us?”
“You mean over our campfires or in all those dodgy inns?” Lira leaned forward. “I know you didn’t come here to sample my baking or even recruit more members for your crew. I also know that as much as you like me, you didn’t come here for a social call.”
Cali gave a curt nod. “Perceptive as always, although you’re wrong about how much I missed my friend.” The purring stopped. “But I did come here to warn you.”
“Warn me?” Lira sat up straighter, instantly more alert.
Cali’s ears folded. “Pirrin is dead.”
Lira stared at her for a few beats as she thought about the Ranger she’d run with, the man who been as fierce a fighter as he’d been a loyal friend. “How?”
“No way to know. There wasn’t a mark on his body.”
Fear iced Lira’s skin, and for the first time since she’d returned to Wayside, she wanted to run and not look back.
