Page 43 of Sorcery, Swords & Scones
Lira came up behind Sass and put a hand on her shoulder. "Well, if we're going to be up late keeping watch, we're going to need something to drink." She pivoted on one heel and headed back toward the kitchen. "I'll put on the chai."
As Lira disappeared into the kitchen again, Val spotted Sass and abandoned her fire-tending to join her.
"Thank you for staying, but it wasn’t…” Sass’s words tumbled from her in a messy jumble. She cleared her throat and tried again. "I mean, you don't have to, but—" She paused, swallowing against the thickness in her voice. "But I'm glad you’re staying.”
Val's response was a slow wink that sent anentirely different warmth curling through Sass's chest. "We do have a knitting lesson to make up.”
The tingle in Sass's chest spread outward, radiating through her entire body like she'd taken a long swig of Lira's spiced chai. For the moment, she didn’t care if she still wasn’t sure about Val’s feelings. It was enough that she was here, that they all had stayed to keep her safe.
For a moment, Sass allowed herself simply to stand next to Val and absorb the scene. She breathed in the aroma of peat smoke, watched Thrain offer his advice to Korl on proper fire construction, and smiled at Cali curling up in one of the oversized chairs, her bow propped to one side and within easy reach.
Even the ring that had been a prickling reminder of danger seemed subdued inside the tavern, its magical warning reduced to barely more than a whisper against her skin. Whether it was because the immediate threat was not so dire, or because so much protection surrounded her, she couldn't say. What mattered was that for the first time since Thrain had arrived with his warnings, Sass felt something approaching peace.
Thirty-Two
The fire had burneddown to glowing embers, empty chai mugs scattered the tables and floor, and the air still held the lingering aroma of the crumpets that Lira had whipped up to dispel late-night hunger.
Cali had moved to one of the smaller tables near the hearth, her arms folded beneath her head as a makeshift pillow and her tail curled around her as she dozed fitfully, occasionally twitching an ear or whisker.
At a long table closer to the fire, Vaskel, Thrain, and Korl were focused on a collection of carved stone tiles etched with ancient dwarven runes. The tiles were sorted into neat piles, and each player had a small collection arranged before them on the worn wooden surface.
Thrain dragged his hand down his beard as he contemplated his tiles. “The key to the game is understanding that each clan rune tells part of a story. You don't just match them—you build legends." He selected a tile inscribed with what looked like a hammer crossed with flames and placed it deliberately on the table. "Forge Set. Three consecutive from the Ironforge clan."
Vaskel leaned forward, his burgundy vest unlaced and his blackhair falling forward. "There's no way you just drew exactly what you needed.” He gestured dramatically at Thrain's tiles. “Are you sure you’ve explained all the rules to us?”
“I hope you’re not suggesting I’m cheating.” Thrain’s eyes glinted sharply as he slid three Honor Stones into his pile.
Korl grunted and pulled a tile from Vaskel’s row. "You discarded the North Mountain tile I needed for my Direction Set, so I’m playing the grudge marker.”
“The grudge marker?” Vaskel sputtered, his cheeks becoming a deeper shade of crimson. “What is that?”
Thrain rocked back and clapped his hands. “And I’ll take that marker and double my Mine Lore.”
Sass looked up from where she’s been trying to sleep in front of the dying fire but had really been listening to the conversation, a small smile playing at her lips. For one of the few times since she’d met the Tiefling, he looked truly like a demon as he seethed and scowled.
"He's not cheating, Vaskel. That's how good Thrain is at Rune Stones. It seems like he must be using trickery, but he's good at reading the patterns and knows all the dwarf legends.”
Vaskel muttered something about the truth of dwarf legends as he selected a tile bearing the image of a wave. The kitchen doors swung open and Lira emerged carrying a steaming copper pot of fresh chai.
“How’s the game?” Lira asked as she moved between the scattered chairs and the tables, refilling mugs and sending steam curling to the rafters.
Vaskel pushed back from the table, accidentally scattering several of his Clan Runes. “Nonsensical.”
“What’s nonsensical?” Rog's voice seemed to precede him as the gnome entered the tavern and crossed the great room.
“Thrain’s teaching him how to play Rune Stones,” Sass said.
“It’s not going well.” Cali lifted her head long enough for a satisfied grin to stretch across her face before settling back down.
Rog chuckled. “Vask has never liked to lose.”
“Which is why our crew rarely did,” the Tiefling said under his breath.
Lira rested the chai pot on the nearest table, her own smile shifting into something more serious. “Is Rosie okay outside?"
Rog's expression softened at the mention of his wife. "She's fast asleep in the cart, bless her. The journey and festival wore her out more than she'll admit." He gestured toward where he'd stationed his wagon outside the front door. “I’ve been keeping watch, but it’s all quiet. Not a dwarf in sight, aside from the ones in here.”
The casual mention of the threat that hung over her made Sass's stomach clench. As much as she was touched by her friends staying in the tavern with her and even the gnomes keeping watch outside, the presence of so many people edged toward suffocating rather than comforting.
