Page 21 of Sorcery, Swords & Scones
Fourteen
The tavern'sdin washed over Sass in waves: the clink of pewter mugs, the scrape of chairs across worn floorboards, the rumble of conversation punctuated by bursts of laughter. The evening rush had settled into a comfortable rhythm, and the tavern was alive with the glow of flickering lanterns and the rich aroma of roasted meat encased in buttery crust. Sass moved between the crowded tables with practiced ease, her tray laden with foaming tankards of ale and steaming meat pies.
Yet even as she smiled and traded jokes with the regulars, her gaze kept drifting to the heavy oak door. Each time it swung open, her heart lurched. Part of her watched for Val's tall silhouette, but another part braced for a band of armed dwarves to pour through the doorway.
"Another round for table seven," Vaskel called from behind the bar. His crimson horns gleamed in the lamplight as he pulled pints and slid them across the polished wood toward the end of the bar, where they miraculously came to a stop with only the smallest amount of foam cresting the lips.
Sass nodded and collected the drinks, weaving her way through the crowd toward the corner where Tinpin and Pipcontinued their animated debate. The halfling baker leaned forward conspiratorially. "Wait until you taste what I'm preparing for the Harvest Festival. Something special, something that will make even the most stubborn gnome admit that halfling baking is superior."
Sass plunked down their drinks with a slight smile, intrigued despite her distraction. "Planning something spectacular for the festival, Pip?"
The halfling baker’s grin widened. "Let's just say I've been experimenting with some new recipes.”
“And you?” She asked Tin. “Any special decor planned?”
The gnome rubbed his small hands together. “Yes, indeed. I understand the village hasn’t held a Harvest Festival in years, so I’m going to make sure it’s memorable. Very memorable, indeed.”
“I look forward to it.” Her gaze swept the room, noting that Val’s chair by the fire remained empty, and she excused herself with a distracted nod, moving on to the next table where Thrain held court with a group of fascinated listeners.
He’d been less than forthcoming when he’d returned from his tour of the castle, only saying that Sass didn’t need to worry. Knowing the dwarf the way she did, she was sure he was up to something. He also hadn’t been able to tell her if Val had seemed upset. Not that Sass expected the Thrain to be as sensitive to the guard’s emotions as she was.
What was not surprising was the crowd gathered around her old friend. He’d always been skilled at weaving a tale. Whether it was entirely true was another matter.
“There we were, fifty feet below the surface in the crystal caves, when boom.” Thrain slammed his palm onto the table. “An ice troll comes crashing through the cavern wall like it was made of parchment!"
The villagers gaped as they hung onto Thrain’s every word. Words that weren’t exactly accurate, Sass thought as she paused at the edge of the group, recognizing the tale. It was one of the childhoodadventures they’d shared, though her memories were a touch different.
“The beast was enormous—easily twice the size of any troll you'd find in these southern lands. Its breath could freeze a dwarf solid from twenty paces!" Thrain's eyes found Sass in the crowd, and he gave her a conspiratorial wink. "Course, it didn’t freeze me.”
“That’s because you were running too fast,” Sass said, setting down a fresh ale at his elbow. “Although your screams might have also frightened it. I hear tell that trolls are afraid of banshees.”
The table erupted in laughter, and Thrain clutched his chest in mock indignation. "Screaming? I was merely alerting you to danger."
“Loudly and repeatedly as you raced ahead of me,” Sass added.
“Aye, but you have to admit," Thrain continued, raising his tankard in a toast, "we alerted the rest of the mountain to the danger."
Sass shook her head at him but couldn't suppress her own laughter. For all his exaggerations and dramatics, Thrain had been her closest friend, her childhood partner in countless adventures. As an only child, he’d been the closest thing she’d had to a brother. The thought of what she'd put him through when she fled made her stomach twist with guilt.
She made her way to the bar, grateful that Iris and Cali sat nursing their drinks with their heads together as they talked. At least with these two, she knew they weren’t sharing exaggerated stories. At least, not ones in which they played a starring role.
“I’m telling you, Cali, you have to give it a chance," Iris said with a wave of her hand that jingled her bangles. "The heroine is a sea witch who falls in love with a common merman. The romance is absolutely swoon-worthy, and the underwater palace descriptions are gorgeous."
Cali's dark, pointed ears twitched. "Mermaid romance, Iris? Really?"
"Don't knock it until you've tried it.” Iris pushed the red leather book across the bar. "Besides, you said you were looking for something different to read."
“Only because I’ve read all the pirate romances you own.”
Sass bit back a sigh. Here were two more friends who would need to know the truth about her past. The thought of seeing disappointment or, worse, fear in their eyes made her chest tighten. How many people would she lose when word spread that she wasn't just Sass the dwarf turned tavernkeep, but a runaway princess with dangerous enemies?
She slipped behind the bar to collect more drinks, trying to push the dark thoughts away. The familiar routine of serving guests usually soothed her, but tonight even the simplest tasks felt heavy.
"You're worrying so loudly I can hear you from here.” Vaskel stood next to her, his head facing forward, but his piercing blue eyes cutting to her. The pointed tip of his tail quivered, a sure sign that he was picking up on her distress.
Sass straightened and dragged the back of her hand across her forehead. "I'm fine, Vaskel. Just a long day."
The Tiefling studied her with an intensity that made her want to squirm. "Listen, Sass. I know you're worried about unwelcome visitors. But you should know that nobody's taking you anywhere on my watch. You’re part of my crew now, and I never let a crew mate down.”
