Page 66 of Sorcery, Swords & Scones
“I take it this means you aren’t returning home,” her mum said with a heavy sigh, “even if marriage to Florin is off the table?”
Sass shook her head. “Leaving was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but finding a place that welcomed me for who I am and didn’t care about my lineage made it worth it.”
Her mum’s eyes shone as she nodded. “All we have ever wanted is for you to be happy, Sarsaparilla. Even if it didn’t always seem that way. Sometimes parents become blinded to what we think you could be, and we forget to see you as you truly are.”
“A dwarf should never be so enchanted by the gold thatmightbe in the rock that they forget to be grateful for the gold in their bucket,” Sass told her mum.
Lady Thornshield threw back her head and let out a belly laugh that shook her entire body. Finally, she swiped at her eyes. “So you have been listening to me.”
Sass blinked away tears. “Your dwarf wisdom has been a faithful companion all this time. Every time I got stuck, I remembered something you’d told me.”
Her mum elbowed her husband in the ribs. “I told you she was listening.”
Sass’s father rubbed his side. “You’re as clever and capable as we always knew you could be, and you don’t need us to tell you how to live your life.”
Sass knew how hard it was for her father to say this. “That doesn’t mean I don’t need you at all.”
A grin flickered on his face. “You are always welcome at home, even if only for a visit. As are all your friends.” He swept his arms wide and turned to the group. “Lady Thornshield and I would be honored to host you at our palace under the mountains.” His gazelingered on Erindil. “And we would be delighted to host you for another visit, Erindil.”
The elf and his battle ostrich dipped into a low bow, as the rest of the group—and Sass—gawped. Erindil knew her parents?
“Anytime,” her mum added, giving Val a special wink.
“Now we need to get this dragon back to the Ice Lands,” her father said as he patted the creature’s side. “Dragons don’t do well in the south, and they technically aren’t allowed in the Ageless Lands.”
Before Sass could ask him again how he’d sourced a willing dragon, he was pulling her into a brusque hug and climbing back onto the dragon. Her mum lingered a bit longer over her hugs and goodbyes, waving at everyone and blowing kisses before joining her husband on the gilded saddle perched behind the dragon’s long neck.
As the dragon slowly beat its massive wings and lifted off the ground, Sass tipped her head back to watch her parents fly away.
“I guess we’re stuck with you good and proper now,” Val said.
Sass smiled at her. “Aye, you are.”
Forty-Nine
Sass stifleda yawn as she walked into the kitchen the next morning. As she’d hoped, there was a pot of chai bubbling away on the stove, but there was no Lira.
She rubbed her eyes at the flutterstoat dutifully stirring the aromatic tea. “Sweet simmering cauldrons! She left you in charge, eh, Crump?”
Crumpet chirped something, but didn’t stop swirling the long wooden spoon. She supposed she could get used to Crumpet taking a more active role in the kitchen, but she did a double take when she spotted the raccoon sitting on the open windowsill. Sass eyed the pile of pears inside the window, along with a brown hair ribbon that looked remarkably like one she was missing.
“Oy.” She walked past the wooden worktable to the counter, picking up the ribbon and giving the raccoon a stern look. “I have no objection to your bringing us things you’ve foraged, but no foraging in my room.”
The creature rubbed his black hands together, his eyes luminous, and Sass was sure he understood her. The raccoon didn’t look enchanted, but she couldn’t be sure he wasn’t magical, andshe wouldn't chance being on the wrong side of an enchanted animal.
Sass pulled her thick braid forward and tied the ribbon around the end before grabbing a nearby mug. “Any chance I could get some chai before I start work?”
Crumpet bobbed his white, furry head, stepping aside so Sass could lift the pot and pour herself a cup of the spicy tea. She winked at him and backed out of the kitchen. “Thanks, lads.”
Sipping her spiced chai, Sass walked to the great room, which was empty and quiet. She and Vaskel had done a good job of leaving the place tidy from the night before, so the tables gleamed and the air that drifted in through the open windows was cool and fresh. Even though the temperatures were dropping, she enjoyed the nip in the morning air and was in no rush to light up the peat in the fireplace.
She curled her hands around the earthenware mug, letting the warmth seep into her fingers as she walked out the back door of the tavern, where she suspected she’d find Lira again.
Sure enough, the woman was sitting beside her uncle as his various companions and attendants drifted around the ornate collection of tents that looked more like miniature palaces than temporary structures. The lute player sat on a purple tufted ottoman, strumming as he blinked away sleep, and what Sass could only assume was a strolling poet wandered around the perimeter speaking in verse. Glen stood next to the most impressive tent, grooming his feathers with his beak and sparing Sass only a cursory glance.
“You’re awake,” Lira said when she spotted Sass. “I haven’t seen Thrain yet, but I assume he’s having another lie-in.”
“He does like his sleep.” Sass also knew that he liked his late nights over ale and runes, and he’d lurched up to bed long after the rest of the tavern patrons had left the night before.
