Page 63 of Sorcery, Swords & Scones
Florin’s left eye twitched, and her lips became a tight, white line. “Ridiculous.”
Sass let the pouch swing from one finger. “What’s ridiculous is my ever thinking that you cared about anything other than power. What was your plan, Florin? What were you going to make me do once I wore the amulet and you could control me?”
Florin’s jaw clenched, but she forced a smile. “You can’t prove anything.”
“Actually, I can. My elf friend used a revealing spell on the amulet to determine the magic in it.”
Florin’s hands twitched, but she curled them into fists, as if she was keeping herself from lunging for the pouch. “It doesn’t matter what you know or think you know. I’m still going to return to the Ice Lands and tell everyone that you broke the arrangement. Then the Thornshield clan will pay.”
Thrain pushed through the crowd to stand next to Sass. “Not if I tell everyone at home what really happened.”
Relief coursed through Sass at her friend’s courage, and she scolded herself for ever thinking he could be anything but loyal.
Florin’s eyes flashed malice but then she laughed. “One dwarf?” She narrowed her eyes at Thrain. “You’ll never make it back alive.”
As if moving as one, the villagers and friends closed in on Thrain and Sass.
“You’ll have to go through all of us,” Val growled.
Florin bared her teeth in a menacing grin. “With pleasure.” She flicked a finger at her guards, who assumed battle stances.
Cali's arm was a blur as she whipped out an arrow and notched it, and Vaskel suddenly held a throwing dagger in each hand. Even Erindil swung himself onto Glen’s back with the grace of aseasoned warrior, and the ostrich narrowed his eyes, emitted a terrifying scream, and extended his neck as if ready to charge.
“You take the dwarves on the left, and I’ll take the ones on the right,” Vorto said to Klaff, his burr of a voice loud enough for the dwarves in question to exchange wary glances as the orcs shifted their grips on they smithing irons.
The ring on Sass’s pinky finger burned, but instead of spurring her to violence, it reminded her that Iris had given it to her to keep her safe. Iris, who’d become like family to her, just as so many of the villagers had.
Sass held up her hands. “This isn’t the only way, Florin. You’re the future ruler under the mountains. You have the power to choose another way, just like I have.”
“You ran.” Florin spat out the words.
“I did, and I should have chosen a better way.” A breath hissed from Sass’s chest. “I should have told you that my destiny wasn’t to rule. Maybe that would have saved us both a lot of trouble.”
Florin choked back a bitter laugh, but some of the rage drained from her eyes. “It would have saved me a trek through these hot, godsforsaken lands.”
Sass took a tentative step forward, even as Val and Vaskel tensed beside her. “I don’t know why you gave me a cursed amulet, but you don’t need to control me to be a powerful leader. You don’t need to start a war to have your name recited into dwarf lore. You don’t need to be brutal to be a legend.”
Florin swept her gaze across the motley villagers. “As if you know anything about making a mark.”
Sass shrugged. “I’ve chosen to make my mark here. I’ve discovered that I don’t need to fight epic battles or sit on a throne to matter. What matters to me is forging friendships and being loved. That’s my legacy.”
Florin’s expression flickered, and something like regret flashed in her eyes before they hardened. “And you never intendto return home?”
Sass twisted to smile at her friends. “This is my home.”
Erindil nudged Glen forward, the ostrich’s ornate harness jingling. He leveled a severe gaze at Florin. “And I suggest you return to yours. Unless you think the Trollbanes would welcome a delegation from Lananore.”
It clearly wasn’t lost on Florin that the warning came from an elf or his steely implication that the delegation from the elf kingdom would not be a friendly one. Doubt wavered her haughty gaze, as she cut her eyes across the orcs brandishing irons and the Tiefling’s fiery glare and slashing tail. She clocked the Tabaxi archer pointing an arrow at her head and Val with her broadsword ready to strike. Finally, the dwarf princess lifted her chin. “It would be a waste to battle an unworthy opponent. If this is what you choose, Sass, so be it.”
Sass sensed bristling outrage from her battle-trained friends, but they quelled whatever urges they had to protest Florin’s insults. Relief, instead of outrage, coursed through her, but she didn’t dare show it.
Instead, she touched a finger to the now-still ring and gave a curt nod. “This is what I choose. I wish you luck in ruling under the mountains.” She pulled the amulet’s pouch from her pocket. “As promised, here is your amulet.”
Florin stomped closer, snatched the velvet pouch from Sass, and turned on her heel. She motioned to her crew. “Let’s go. There’s no need to stay in the Ageless Lands a moment longer than we must.”
Sass didn’t wait to watch the dwarves pack up their campsite or tromp off through the forest. She didn’t want to linger around Florin or give the dwarf a chance to change her mind.
Pivoting toward the village, Sass waved for her friends to follow, still in a state of shock that her plan of reasoning with Florin had worked—with the added assistance of Erindil’s threat and several fierce fighters at her back.
