Page 60 of Sorcery, Swords & Scones
“Florin knows nothing but fighting,” Thrain reminded her.
“Then maybe it’s time she learned something new.” Sass held Lira’s hand while she turned to face her friends. “We’ve uncovered Florin’s duplicity and her scheme. We can prove that I wasn’t the one who broke the agreement by running away. She broke it first by giving me a charmed amulet. If she doesn’t want me toreveal all, she’ll leave and release her claim and her threat of retribution.”
“That’s it?” Thrain blinked at her. “That’s the plan? You’re going to tell her she broke the rules and needs to go home?”
Lira squeezed Sass’s hand. “Being direct and honest is never the wrong answer.”
“It is if it gets you killed,” Thrain said, but mostly to himself.
Korl rose from his chair by the hearth and rubbed his dusky green hands together. “Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing. Reasoning with an enemy and attempting to broker a fair peace in order to save lives could never be a mistake.”
Thrain rubbed his forehead. “Am I losing my mind, or is an orc casting a vote not to fight?”
Lira beamed at Korl and winked at Thrain. “He’s not your typical orc.”
“I’m starting to think that none of the folks around these parts are typical,” the dwarf said as he sank onto a bench, muttering to himself about peaceful orcs and dwarves who’d rather talk than fight.
“I’m going to take that as a compliment,” Sass said.
Thrain pressed his brows together. “Then I must not have said it right.”
Vaskel huffed out a breath that actually produced steam. “When are we leaving on this diplomatic mission?”
Sass swept her gaze around the cozy great room and the friends who were putting their trust in her. “Tomorrow morning. I don’t want to give Florin the chance to get impatient and attack first.” Everyone eyed Sass without speaking, and the dwarf sighed. “I promise not to sneak out and go on my own.”
Lira gave her hand another squeeze before releasing it. “Then it’s agreed. We leave in the morning, which means we should all get some rest tonight. This might not be a battle, but we’ll need to be on our toes.”
“Tomorrow?” Thrain dragged a hand down his beard. “I suppose that’s enough time.”
“Enough time for what?” Sass asked as everyone pushed chairs under tables, and Korl stamped out the last embers of the fire with his boot.
Thrain’s eyes went wide before he cleared his throat roughly. “Enough time to think of a backup plan if Florin doesn’t go along with yours, of course.”
That made sense, Sass thought as she watched him shuffle off to bed. Then why did Sass suspect that her oldest friend was hiding something?
Forty-Six
Sass poppedher head into the kitchen the next morning, expecting to see Lira in her usual spot behind the worktable with a pot of chai bubbling on the stove and Crumpet chattering on her shoulder. But the flutterstoat slept soundly in his nest of dishrags, only sparing her a barely opened eye and a contented sigh before snuggling deeper into his bed.
“I suppose she doesn’t want to start her baking if we’re headed out,” Sass reasoned to herself as she backed from the kitchen and headed for the great room.
But that was empty too. The hearth yawned cold and dark, the tables were barren, and not even Vaskel was at his usual post behind the bar. Was everyone having a lie-in before heading out to deal with Florin?
Sass reached a hand into the pocket of her pants, her fingers brushing the velvet pouch she’d tucked safely away. She had no intention of wearing the amulet, but she didn’t want to keep it either. Something with such ill intent had no place in her new life.
She cocked her head and absorbed the quiet of the tavern, which was something she rarely experienced anymore. Even beforethey opened, Lira or Vaskel or both were usually around. It was never so silent.
Her ears pricked at the sound of voices, familiar voices. But they weren’t coming from outside the front of The Tusk & Tail. They were coming from the back.
Sass walked to the back door and pushed it open, blinking at the wash of sunlight splashed across the horizon and a sight she’d never imagined she’d see.
“Your powers don’t come from your hands, my dear.” Erindil held Lira’s hands in his own. “Your hands merely direct them.”
Lira had donned her old rogue’s clothes for the occasion, with a cloak draped over her brown pants and leather waistcoat. Boots replaced the slip-on shoes she’d taken to wearing around the tavern, and the glint of a dagger’s steel flashed at her waist.
Lira turned when she noticed Sass, her mouth quirking when she saw the dwarf was also wearing the outfit she’d had on when they first met. A cloak covered Sass’s shoulder armor and hid her blades, but it was a far cry from the dresses she now favored.
“Good morning.” Erindil flashed a bright smile her way. Although his attire was as ornate as usual, Sass didn’t miss the fact that the colors were more muted and an exquisitely carved bow was hooked to his back.
