Page 51 of Tusks, Tails & Teacakes
"Shh!" Lira hissed, though the pair was too far away to hear. "He is not my admirer. He’s an old friend. Besides, he barely speaks to me.”
"Exactly my point," Cali purred. "A man who doesn't talk toomuch sounds perfect to me. And did you see how concerned he was yesterday when I showed up unannounced? He wasn’t sure if I was friend or foe, and he was ready to defend you.”
"He's always with Val.” Lira gestured at the tall woman. "And who could compete with that?"
Cali tilted her head, studying the broad-shouldered guard with her appraising feline gaze. "She is striking, and there's definitely some Goliath blood there, but I still think you could take her."
"I am not fighting anyone over—" Lira spluttered.
"Too bad," Cali said with a smile. "Because that would be worth watching."
Lira groaned. There was nothing Cali loved more than to tease her, and somehow Lira always fell for it.
“Morning!” Val called down cheerfully when she spotted them, pausing in her work to wave. Beside her, Korl gave a small nod of acknowledgment but kept his focus steadfastly on the task at hand.
"What brings you to our rooftop?” Lira asked, although she suspected she knew the answer.
"Oh, a little bird told us your roof might need some attention," Val replied with a knowing grin. "Or rather, a little dwarf mentioned something about nearly falling through it."
Of course, it had been Sass.
“You really don’t have to do that.” Lira’s protests felt hollow, and she didn’t want to sound ungrateful. “But it’s awfully nice of you.”
Val gave Korl a pointed look, but he was too busy ripping up thatch to notice. “We didn’t want either of you to be in danger. Besides, if rain starts coming through this thing, none of us down below will be happy about it.”
“Well…thank you.” Lira gave a final wave as she continued inside with Cali a step behind her.
Sass stood arranging chairs around the freshly scrubbed tables, her long brown braid swinging as she worked. She stopped when she saw Lira and Cali. “You’re back, and you brought your friend, the archer.”
Lira tapped a toe on the wood plank floor. “Are you the reason Val and Korl are on our roof?”
"Might have mentioned something to Val about my foot going through that soft spot when we were sitting up there," Sass said, not looking the least bit apologetic. "Pure coincidence they showed up to fix it, I'm sure."
Lira raised an eyebrow. "Just how often do you talk to Val?"
“She’s one of our regulars,” Sass replied with a shrug. “I have to make polite conversation. Besides, you weren't complaining when Korl fixed the stove yesterday."
A twinge of guilt tugged at Lira's conscience. The orc guardsman had already done so much for the tavern, and so far he’d only accepted payment in baked goods.
That reminded her of the sweet rolls she’d gotten from Pip. She glanced at the bag in her arms. "I should take them some breakfast at least."
“Breakfast?” Sass’s gaze went to the bag. “Is that what I smell?”
“Lemon sweet rolls,” Cali said reverently. “They’re heavenly.”
“Did you have something to do with the tavern sign hanging up straight, too?” Lira asked as Sass and Cali followed her into the kitchen.
Sass admitted to asking the ogre chair deliverers to hook it back up, then she set about ooo-ing and ahh-ing over the sweet rolls with Cali, as Lira briskly prepared two mugs of spiced chai. The dwarf and the Tabaxi shamelessly stuffed their faces with gooey pastry as the warming blend of cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger rose in fragrant clouds of steam from the pot Lira left on the stove.
She shook her head at the pair. “You’d think you’d never eaten before.”
Sass held up one hand. “Dwarf’s honor, I’ve never eaten like this before.” She put a hand to her stomach after her third sweet roll. “I cannot wait for afternoon scones.”
Lira laughed, then carefully balancing the mugs with two wrapped sweet rolls in a bag, she made her way up the stairs and to her room. Ittook some effort to balance herself and the hot drinks as she hoisted herself through the window and paused on the sill.
“Hells!” Val put a hand to her heart at the sight of Lira, her shirtsleeves pushed up to her elbows, exposing ropey forearms. “You scared me half to death appearing like that.” Then she saw the mugs in her hand. “But I won’t say no to a break.”
Lira handed Val a chai and examined the neat rows of fresh thatch. "This is beautiful work.”
