Page 79 of Tusks, Tails & Teacakes
“But when?” Cali’s tail swished behind her as she paced a small circle. “There’s never a time when this village isn’t peaceful and quiet.”
Iris's face brightened. “You are a genius, love.”
“I am?” Cali looked to Lira, but the woman could only lift her shoulders.
“The village wasn’t always so quiet, especially not during festivals,” Iris said.
Lira snapped her fingers. “Does Wayside still have Night Faires?”
Iris's smile slipped, and there was sadness in her eyes. “Not in a long time.”
“Night Faires?” Cali asked.
“Celebrations that used to be held one night a month, on the night of the new moon. Luminaries lit the roads, the market was open and lit by lanterns, the shops set up outside, and special vendors sold decorated paper lanterns.”
“There was music and dancing and then at midnight, all the paper lanterns were released into the sky,” Iris added.
“Sounds like a good distraction,” Cali said.
There was a determined glint in Iris's eyes. “Now we just have to convince the village it’s time for another one.”
Lira thought about the moon cycle. “And plan it in two days.”
Forty-Seven
“Well, that’s it.”Sass sank into the chair usually occupied by Val and blew out a breath that ruffled the wispy curls that had sprung loose from her braid. “Everyone’s gone, Silas slunk off, and Durn wandered off to bed.”
Despite the night being a busy one with more patrons than ever, Sass had wiped down every table and swept the floor clean of all the dirt the new business dragged in. For Lira’s part, the dishes had been washed, and you never would have known from the spotless counters and worktable, that she’d turned out a record number of meat pies, courtesy of their new oven.
Iris cut her eyes to the back of the tavern, shaking herhead as she stood in front of the hearth and warmed her hands. “At least he isn’t complaining about all the changes. Before you came, I would have said he’d have been as excited to improve the place as a dire cat being tossed into a room full of rocking chairs.”
“I’m not sure if excited would describe him.” Lira understood Iris's point, and she wondered why the tavernkeeper had all but abdicated control of his place to their improvements. “He spends too much time listening to Silas, who doesn’t like me or Sass.”
Iris shook her head. “Silas is a harmless old fool.”
Lira wasn’t sure she agreed with that. She’d seen words work on people as effectively as any poison. For a second, she wondered if Silas could be the one who’d been in the cellar. But when? Besides, how would he know what she’d buried or where?
“Durn does seem to be enjoying Penny’s company, even if he’s neither here nor there about the tavern,” Sass said, her smile smug.
Lira hadn’t spent much time in the great room, but even she’d noticed that the chandler had been at the bar for a good part of the evening.
Cali leaned forward in the chair across from Sass and braced her elbows on her knees. “As much as I love discussing the romantic lives of grumpy men, tell me more about this festival and how we’re going to pull it off before I fall asleep from exhaustion.”
“It shouldn’t be hard to get the village behind it,” Iris said. “We used to hold the Night Faires monthly, so we’d only be reminding folks about them.”
“Why did the faires stop?” Sass asked.
“They were still happening when I left,” Lira said.
A frown tugged at Iris's lips. “A lot happened after you left, love. Your gran had passed, you up and left, Durn lost his wife and stopped serving food, the old haberdasher moved on and the shop sat empty for more than a few seasons, and the laird stopped sending crews to keep up the roads, so some of the vendors from outside the village stopped coming in to set up their stalls. If you ask me, I don’t think the village was in much of a mood to celebrate.”
“You think they will be now?” Lira asked.
Sass sat forward. “Sure, they will. Things have changed. Good things have come to Wayside.” She winked. “If I do say so myself.”
“I won’t argue with you there.” Iris twirled the usual strand of hair around one finger. “You girls have brought some energy back to the village. Why, you even inspired Pip to create lemon sweet rolls.”
“That’s worth a party by itself,” Cali said.
