Page 91 of Tusks, Tails & Teacakes
“Vaskel and I might have knocked him out and tied him up to keep him from following us into the tavern.”
Sass nearly bobbled the tray of teacakes. “You did what?”
Korl shrugged. “He was gone when we finally came back out. Vaskel thinks he might have been helping Malek, or Malek might have been using him for information, which is why he left town after Malek was taken.”
Lira didn’t like the idea of the wyvern out there somewhere, but she hoped he was smart enough to steer clear of Wayside.
“Good riddance,” Sass said under her breath, as she backed out of the kitchen with the tray of teacakes.
“I’m glad you and Vaskel are becoming friends,” Lira told Korl as they followed Sass from the kitchen. “He’s as loyal as they come.”
Korl grunted. “Val likes him well enough too.”
Lira knew that Val’s opinion carried a lot of weight, and she was glad that Val had befriended the Tiefling. And despite her initial comment about how attractive he was, Lira was sure that Val would never fall for Vaskel.
Korl gave her waist a squeeze, before heading across the great room to give his dads some teacakes. Lira spotted Cali and Iris at the round table in the far nook with their heads bent in conversation. She crossed her arms over her chest as she surveyed the inviting tavern that was a world away from the place she’d stepped into that rainy night.
“Just the person I need to see.”
Lira turned to see Durn standing at the end of the bar, and for once, he wasn’t polishing a glass with a grimy rag.
She braced herself for complaints, even though she didn’t see Silas slumped at the far end of the bar. The grumbling old man had shown up less and less as the tavern had improved, and Lira wondered if he’d only been happy when there was somuch to complain about.
“Everything okay?” Lira asked, forcing a smile.
“I expect it is.” Durn rocked back on his heels. “I never thought it would happen, but I got an offer on the tavern.”
Lira’s blood went cold. He was selling The Tusk & Tail, after everything she and Sass had done to save it? She opened her mouth to argue, but he held up a hand to stop her.
“Before you get yourself into a twist, nothing is changing.” His face contorted. “Well, I’m moving on, but that’s for the best. You’ve done an impressive job bringing this place back, but it only reminds me that this tavern was never my passion. Selling this place means buying a proper home for Penny after we’re married.” His cheeks reddened. “She asked me to the Night Faire, and I asked her to marry me.”
Lira’s plan to get them to the Night Faire had worked even better than she’d hoped, and apparently Cali’s forgery had brought about an engagement. “I’m happy for you. Truly.”
He nodded gruffly. “This doesn’t mean you and the dwarf have to leave though.”
Lira blinked at him. “I don’t understand.”
“The Tusk & Tail is in your names now.” He held out a meaty hand. “That was the deal. I move on and you two keep the tavern.”
Lira shook her head, not sure what she was hearing. “Someone bought the tavernforus?”
Sass walked up, her eyes wide. “What did you say?”
Durn blew out a breath. “I was saying that the tavern is yours now. I sold it. But it’s in your names.” He pointed to Lira and Sass. “Both of you.”
Sass’s jaw dropped, which about summed up Lira’s feelings. She leveled a stubby finger at Lira. “Did you use your gold?”
Lira shook her head. To be honest, she’d thought about it but hadn’t gotten around to bringing it up to Durn. She glanced at the apothecary at the back table, who was the only person she could think of who would do such a thing. “Was it Iris?”
Durn shook his head. “I don’t know the fella, but he paid extra to keep his name out of it.”
Sass threw her arms around Lira as she simultaneously jumped up and down. “The tavern is ours!”
Lira joined her in jumping, even though the shock and joy of being the new owners of The Tusk & Tail was surreal.
The tavernkeeper snapped his fingers as he turned away, muttering so that Lira could barely make out the words. “I do know the fella who paid for this place was an elf.”
Fifty-Six
