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Ruugar joined me inside not long later. He shot me a panicked look, and my heart sank.

Before he could speak, voices made us both turn.

All four of our guests stepped into the gazebo, their eyes shooting from Ruugar to me. A strange energy crackled between them, like they were waiting forsomething amazing to happen. Was there an event about to take place, and I just hadn’t heard about it yet?

They sat at the table and stared at me. Their interest made my stomach knot. Why were they looking at me that way? Oh. Maybe they were hungry. Thirsty. I was the helper who wasn’t doing much to help them right now.

Ruugar slanted the group a long, penetrating glance, and something flickered in his expression. Annoyance, maybe, or hesitation. His ears darkened before he turned back to me, stuffing an object into his pocket as if he'd been caught doing something he didn’t want anyone to see.

“We’re making brimberg tips,” he announced, his shoulders tense. “With salads and potatoes. The fixings too.”

“Sounds wonderful,” Pete said brightly.

Mary grinned and rubbed her belly. “Sure does. I can’t wait.”

“Brimberg?” Joel leaned forward, interest lighting his face. “Is that another orc meat?”

Ruugar nodded. “It's similar to steak. It comes from the southern caverns, raised by raevik herders. The meat’s richer, more tender than human beef.”

Mary clapped her hands, her eyes twinkling. “Sounds heavenly. I can’t wait. Fresh air and being in the outdoors sure awakens the appetite, don't you agree, Ben? Appetite for almost anything.”

Um, sure? I realized frowning probably wasn't theright answer and smoothed my face and pressed for a smile. “It does. I'm starved.”

Ruugar's jaw dropped. “Truly?” he gulped out.

“Y—yes. I mean, not, like, not exactlystarved, though I'm hungry.”

“You need food, and you need it now!” He bolted to the fridge and pulled out slabs of something with a pink tinge, laying it on the counter beside a loaf of bread he said his brother, Sel, had made in his new bakery. Nothing beat fresh bread. I'd had two thick slabs with butter for breakfast this morning. Ruugar, of course, covered his with ketchup and mustard.

Ruugar sliced a bunch of bread and some slabs off the pink block and held a chunk and what I hoped was cheese out to me. “Eat this now. I cannot have you starving.”

Carol sighed sweetly, and a glance her way showed her staring at Ruugar as if he was the hero from her favorite movie. If it wasn't clear she was into Pete, I'd be worried.

I thanked him and took the bread, staring down at it long enough he nudged it from below, pretty much urging me to take a bite, which I did. Itwascheese, and it was amazingly creamy. Like a combination of cheddar and brie. I could eat this every day for the rest of my life, but we were talking cheese here, the food of the gods.

“Thank you,” I said around a bite, mostly because he was watching me with so much concern on his face, I wanted to ease whatever was bothering him.

Oh,starving. Had he taken me seriously?

It was sweet that he was worried that I could truly be famished. I was sure he'd do the same thing for anyone, though.

“I love any steak.” Pete chuckled. “Long as it’s cooked right. You know the secret to a good steak’s in the sear.”

Carol nodded, beaming. “I’ve never had orc dishes before this trip, but I may never go back to eating regular food.”

Ruugar gave her a twitch of a smile and grunted, which they seemed to take as agreement.

“I can handle the salads,” I said, needing to contribute something. Anything.

Another grunt, his version of permission.

As I gathered ingredients, Ruugar busied himself with the meat. But he kept sending me strange, panicked looks, like he was trying to figure out how to say something and couldn’t quite get the words out.

Unease clawed its way up my spine. This was it. After I'd made him rescue me in the woods and endanger himself with the chumble, he regretted letting me join this group. Hewasgoing to send me back.

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and feigned casualness as I turned to the tourists. “Anyone want something to drink?”

Mary smiled. “Iced tea, if there’s some.”