Page 41 of Of Potions and Honey
“I see.” Yoni’s brows sharply pulled together. “Maybe it’s time to see the mayor during business hours.” She sighed. “Ah. Not like we can do anything about that now.” Her smile, as pointed as everything about her, was a little thin. “Do you still want to have dinner?”
“Why not?” Mira tapped the paper on the table, Emilia’s handwriting decorated with flourishes. “Matteo made a roast tonight, and I am not leaving here without trying it.”
“Fair enough, the roast is always worth it.”
Which meant that they both ordered it as soon as Emilia stopped by their table, looking equal parts cheerful and tired. Mira tried not to envy her. For everything that was going wrong in Emberglen, the inn seemed to be doing just fine. The optimist in her wanted to attribute that to the quality of the food. The realist wondered if it had anything to do with people trying to ignore reality and find some solace at the bottom of a glass.
“You should ask him to do your deliveries.”
“Hm?” Mira glanced back at Yoni. “Who?”
“Kayden, I mean. Seems like it would take up a lot of time to do that all yourself.”
“Well, this time, apparently Cassia was supposed to come by and pick it up, which neither I nor Cassia were told about, it seems.”
Yoni snorted. “That sounds about right.” She traced the rim of her glass. “Still, Kayden would be happy to do it, and I promise his fees are fair.”
“I don’t doubt that.” Mira felt a little warmth rising into her cheeks. “I just sort of. Didn’t think about it.”
Which once again showed why she had been much better off working for someone else’s business rather than managing her own. Well. Live and learn. She dug through her pocket and pulled out the small, battered notebook she’d taken to carrying around and made a quick note. When she put it away, she found Yoni staring at her.
“What?”
“Do you just have that in your pocket?”
“Of course. How do you think I manage to remember anything?”
“I don’t know. Memory?”
Mira tapped her head. “Not enough space up there to hold it all, I’m afraid.” She rested her elbows on the table. “Besides, sometimes I need to write down a quick paragraph for later.”
“Right, you write.”
For a moment, Yoni seemed to wrestle with something. Couldn’t quite look Mira in the eye when she spoke again.
“Would you mind if I found a book of yours and read it?”
Mira blinked owlishly. “What do you mean, book? And why would I mind?”
Now Yoni did look up. “Don’t you write books?”
Mira laughed. “Flattering assumption, but no. I write shorter stories, mostly for magazines, and sometimes a serial for a paper. A book…” She snapped her teeth shut, a bout of self-consciousness making her face hot. “I’m working on one. It’ll be a while.”
“Oh. I see.” Yoni cleared her throat. “Where would I find those magazines?”
“Around here? Maybe Harper can order them, but they’re mostly based in Willow Harbour, I’ve only ever seen one at a news stand at the train station in Heartfield.” It took a little effort to continue. “I usually get a copy from the editor. If you want to borrow one some time.”
“Yes,” Yoni replied, somewhat abruptly. “I’d like to.”
Something exceedingly awkward hung in the air between them. Before Mira could examine it further and try to diffuse whatever it was, she was saved by the arrival of Emilia and – more importantly – their dinner.
“Here you go.” She put down a small plate with fluffy white bread. “For the gravy. Enjoy!”
She hurried away to answer a call from a neighbouring table, leaving Mira with the most delicious looking roast she had ever seen. A thick slice of perfectly cooked meat with a side of equally perfect vegetables, drizzled in the thickest, smoothest gravy she had ever seen. No, the optimist was probably right, whatever happened to Emberglen, the inn would outlast them all.
“Mhm, this looks amazing.”
Mira bent down to inhale deeply, and it smelled just as good as it looked. Opposite her, Yoni huffed out a laugh.
