Page 11 of Sorcery, Swords & Scones (Tales from the Tavern #2)

Eleven

“That explains why your ex is so eager to reclaim the amulet,” Lira said in a hushed voice, as she tentatively touched the stone that seemed to glow from within.

Thrain let out a gravelly laugh. “To be fair, the Trollbane clan is known for crafting jewelry like this. It’s beautiful, but not extraordinary for them.”

The group murmured appreciative sounds as they leaned in closer to the necklace, which seemed out of place on the rustic wooden table.

Lira gingerly touched the amulet. “Florin’s female, right?”

Sass nodded. “The strongest alliances in the Ice Lands are forged through the daughters. I’m the eldest and only daughter of my clan, and Florin is the eldest in hers. That’s why our families were so eager for the match.”

“So the dwarf who’s been hunting you down is a princess.” Lira sat at the end of the bench next to Thrain. “That explains the excellent taste in jewelry.”

Sass exchanged an amused glance with Thrain. “I’d never call Florin a princess to her face. ”

“Nor would I,” her friend said, as he shook his head and crumbs rained from his beard. “Not if I wanted to keep my head.”

Korl rested his hand on the hilt of his broadsword. “She sounds dangerous.”

Sass didn’t want to lie to her friends. Not anymore. “She is. Florin has always gotten what she wants, so she isn’t a gracious loser. Not that I believe she ever truly wanted me, but she’s also the type to only desire what she thinks in unattainable.”

“So by jilting her, you made yourself even more of a prize?” Vaskel asked. “I would congratulate anyone else for such a clever strategy.”

“If you ask me,” Thrain said, “Florin is looking for an excuse to take retribution. She’s always been bloodthirsty, even for a Trollbane.”

“Clearly, if she blinded her own sister.” Lira shuddered, picked up a cooled crumpet, and tore off a bite with her fingers. “Which brings us back to where we were. If Florin is itching for a fight, Sass running won’t make a bit of difference.”

“She blinded her sister?” Vaskel hissed to Thrain, who nodded with wide eyes.

Sass tried to ignore Vaskel’s horrified expression. “But we know that her catching up to me means I either go back with her or risk putting all my friends and family in danger.”

Lira popped the bit of crumpet in her mouth and made a face. “Definitely better with butter and jam.” She swallowed. “We can’t be sure that returning the amulet and negotiating will fail, especially if I can figure out some spells in my gran’s book.”

“You’ve got a spell in your book to make dwarves more agreeable?” Vaskel asked, which got him a scowl from Thrain and a roll of the eyes from Sass.

Lira ignored the Tielfing’s question and squinted at the amulet. “Are we sure this isn’t magical?”

“Aside from the stone being a valuable one that only comes from the Trollbane’s mountain?” Sass shook her head. “Dwarves are masters at metalworking, not enchantments.”

“What are we looking at?”

Everyone jumped as Val poked her head into the group and peered at the amulet.

Sass pressed a hand to her heart. “You nearly scared the life out of me.”

Val swiveled her head to Korl. “You said to meet you at The Tusk & Tail before work, so here I am. I didn't know I’d be crashing a secret meeting to look at a pretty necklace.”

“It’s a bit more than a pretty necklace,” Thrain said.

Val tilted her head at the dwarf and gave him a quick once-over. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”

Thrain stood and proffered his hand. “Thrain Rockborn. Sass’s friend.”

Val’s expression brightened. “From the Ice Lands?”

“The very place.” Thrain squared his shoulders and puffed out his chest, although he was still wearing nothing but a tunic and linen breeches.

“Any friend of Sass’s is welcome here.” Val cast her an affectionate smile and a slow wink, neither of which were missed by Thrain.

Sass’s cheeks heated as she avoided her friend’s eyes and flicked a grin at the blonde guard, then she scooped up the amulet and dropped it into the velvet bag.

“Val’s right. It’s time to get to work. I wanted to dust out the curtains before we opened.

” She shoved the pouch into her pocket and cleared her throat, making shooing motions at Vaskel.

“Don’t you have work to do behind the bar? ”

He grumbled as he rose, snatching a final crumpet from the plate and heading toward the long bar with a swish of his tail.

Sass felt Val’s eyes on her, but she couldn’t bring herself to meet them. Not when she hadn’t been forthright about herself.

It isn’t like you’re a couple, she reminded herself. You’re just friends .

Somehow, that was small comfort. She’d have to find a time to talk to Val and explain things, but the time wasn’t now.

“See you later?” she asked, her gaze sliding from Korl to Val and her smile uncertain.

Val grinned at her. “I haven’t forgotten your knitting lesson.”

Sass cobbled together a smile, but her stomach tightened at the thought of what she’d need to confess first.

Lira shattered the brittle moment by shoving the plate of remaining crumpets between Sass and Val. “Take a crumpet for the road.”

Val and Korl both took one, which gave Sass the chance to turn away and head for the windows and the curtains that she wanted to shake out.

“Wait up,” Thrain called out to Korl and Val. “You’re guards, right? From Castle Greyhelm? You mind if I walk with you and ask you a few questions?”

Sass had to stop herself from telling her friend not to bother the pair, but she didn’t want to be Thrain’s keeper.

“Fine by me.” Val patted the dwarf on the back as he fell in step with them. “What do you want to know?”

Sass noticed Thrain cut her a furtive glance. “We don’t have castles in the Ice Lands. At least, not ones above ground. I’d love a tour.”

“We could give you one now,” Korl said.

Now Sass did turn to Thrain. “What are you?—?”

“Nothing to worry yourself over,” he said, waving off her concern.

“We’ll take good care of him,” Val called to Sass as she munched on her crumpet.

Sass bit back the protests that were on the tip of her tongue., turning her attention back to the curtains. Thrain was up to something, she could feel it in her bones.

“You mind if I ask you what the deal is with the fancy necklace?” Val asked Thrain as they reached the door and Korl held it open.

“Amulet,” Thrain corrected before Sass could stop him. “It was a gift from Sass’s fiancée.”

Sass froze, all thoughts of what Thrain might be up to fleeing her mind, as she held her breath.

“Fiancée?” The confusion in the woman’s voice was unmistakable.

“Well, former fiancée, I suppose. Sass ran out on the wedding and didn’t stop running until she ended up here.”

Sass cringed, unable to look over her shoulder at Val. She closed her eyes and waited for more questions from the guard. But none came.

When she opened her eyes, the woman was gone.