Page 28 of Sorcery, Swords & Scones
Cali cleared her throat softly and gave Lira a pointed look. "Remember what happened when Malek got in over his head with magic?"
The room fell silent at the mention of their former companion. Sass knew all about Malek, the mage who had been part of Lira and Cali's adventuring crew before dark magic had corrupted him beyond redemption. The memory of his transformation and ultimate fate cast a shadow over the cozy room.
Lira drained the rest of her tea in one gulp and set the cup down with finality. "We should probably head back to the tavern. I’ve got scones to bake." She smiled at Iris, who was wringing her hands. “You don't need to worry about me trying magic. I’m far too busy with the tavern to do much else."
As they headed for the curtained doorway, Iris caught Sass's arm gently. "Don't worry too much, dear. I’ll keep thinking about ways to keep you safe.” She darted a glance at her stuffed shelves. “There are more options than you might realize."
Before Sass could respond, Iris slipped something into her pocket with the practiced skill of someone who had once been a rogue herself. The bundle felt soft and crinkled slightly, smelling of dried herbs and something floral that Sass couldn't immediately identify.
"What's this?" Sass asked, touching her pocket.
"Just a little something for luck," Iris said with a wink. "Lavender for peace, rosemary for protection, and a few other things Lira’s gran taught me about. It can't hurt to have a bit of extra fortune on your side."
Sass felt a smile tug at her lips despite her worries. "I've been pretty lucky so far finding Wayside, Lira, and all of you, but I'll take all the helpI can get."
"That's the spirit, pet,” Iris gave her arm one last reassuring squeeze. "And remember, you're not facing this alone. The support of true friends carries more power than any enchantment.”
As Sass followed Lira and Cali from the back room, she touched the wee bundle in her pocket again. She wasn't entirely sure she believed in the protective power of herbs, but there was something undeniably comforting about carrying a token of luck made for her by a friend.
Then, a chill slipped unbidden down her spine. Freeing herself from Florin was going to take more than luck.
Nineteen
The afternoon chaiand scone service at The Tusk & Tail was winding down as Sass made her final rounds, gathering empty mugs and crumb-scattered plates. The late afternoon light filtered through the tavern's windows and illuminated dancing dust motes that Sass suspected were mostly sugar and cinnamon.
Sass paused when she noticed that Korl and Val remained in their usual chairs by the hearth. The sight of Val sent a flutter through her stomach, made even more pronounced when the guard caught her eye and gave her a sly wink that sent a flush of heat slinking up her neck.
She still wasn’t entirely sure where she stood with Val, but the fact that the woman was here meant she could breathe easier. She’d hated the thought of Val being upset with her, and clearing the air meant she could face whatever might come for her with all her friends by her side.
Lira emerged from the kitchen with Crumpet perched on her shoulder. The flutterstoat stretched his white wings as he chittered softly, apparently pleased to be out of the steamy kitchen now that the day's baking was complete. The creature was so adorable, with dark markings around his eyes that made him look like he was atiny bandit, that Sass couldn’t imagine any of their patrons having an issue with him, but Lira had made a good point that not everyone was open-minded about enchantments. The last thing any of them needed was unwanted attention on the tavern and the village, especially since Crumpet wasn’t the only enchanted creature in Wayside.
"Just us left then?" Lira asked, looking around the nearly empty tavern as she wiped her hands on the front of her apron.
"Just us," Sass confirmed, settling the last of the mugs onto the bar. "And our favorite guards, of course."
Lira immediately crossed the tavern and perched on Korl's lap, which made Sass's heart twist with a mixture of happiness for her friend and longing for the same love Lira had found with the orc. Some might say they were an unusual pairing—a half-elf former rogue and a strong, silent orc guardsman—but they complemented each other perfectly. And Lira made a point not to mention any of her law-breaking adventures when Korl was within earshot.
Vaskel stepped from behind the bar where he'd been cleaning glasses, walking with Sass to join the others at the hearth. His tail slashed behind him, which meant that there was something on his mind, something that worried him. “Lira mentioned there was a stranger in the village this morning.”
Korl and Val immediately straightened, their relaxed demeanor shifting in an instant.
“What stranger?" Val asked, her gaze darting to Sass.
Korl leveled a look at Lira. “You did not mention this.”
Lira shrugged. “I’ve been busy. It’s not like we’ve seen each other since this morning.” She nudged him. “You were still tinkering in the shop when I left.”
Korl cleared his throat. “I got distracted fixing a contraption Tin brought me.” Then he frowned. “But that doesn't mean I don’t want to know if there are threats to the village. I am still a guard.”
“I know, I know.” Lira patted his chest. “But it’s not like the stranger was a threat. He wasn’t even a dwarf.” She glanced at Sass. “Sass didn’t seem worried, so I didn’t want to make a big deal about it.”
Everyone looked at Sass as if asking if this was true.
She flipped her braid off her shoulder. “He wasn’t a dwarf, but I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t been thinking about him.”
She described the well-dressed man she'd seen at Pip's bakery and the fact that he’d purchased more bread and pastries than one person could eat. Most importantly, she told them about watching him leave the village and detour into the woods.
"It just struck me as odd," she concluded. "Why would a traveler buy that much bread and then head into the forest unless he was returning to a group camping there?”
