Page 45 of Sorcery, Swords & Scones (Tales from the Tavern #2)
Forty-Five
The lute player had long since left the tavern, and even the rowdiest patrons had drunk their fill and devoured the last of Lira’s meat pies.
Only Pip and Tin rested on a back table, their heads cradled in their folded arms and their snuffling snores wrapped up in the hiss and sigh of the dying fire.
Even Rosie and Rog were tucked away in their wagon, and Iris had returned home in the moonlight with a sleepy Cali accompanying her.
Sass stopped swiping at one of the dirty wooden tables and put her hands on her hips. “I’ve made a decision.”
Vaskel glanced up from where he was swabbing the bar, and Thrain woke with a start, jerking so straight he fell off the barstool.
“Orc’s blood!” He caught himself before he landed on his face, snapping to his feet and swiveling his head as if searching for an incoming attack.
Val stopped knitting by the fire, and Korl’s mouth gaped into a yawn.
“What was that?” Lira emerged from the kitchen, untying her apron as she walked.
Vaskel cocked a thumb at Sass. “She’s decided what she wants to do. ”
“About Florin?” Lira’s face brightened. “Whose plan are you choosing?”
Vaskel’s blue eyes flashed heat. “Should I prepare to sneak into the dwarf camp?”
“And attempt to get the amulet onto Florin without her or any of her guards hearing you?” Sass shook her head. “Absolutely not. I’m not sending you on a suicide mission.”
Vaskel braced his hands on the bar and leaned forward. “You have no idea how stealthy I can be.”
“I have never doubted your ability to be sneaky, Vaskel.”
The Tiefling frowned, not sure if he was being flattered or insulted by the dwarf—or a bit of both.
“I’m not ignorant of everyone’s talents and skills,” Sass continued. “I know Lira can pick any lock, and Cali can shoot a fly through the wings at fifty paces. I’m vague on all the things Vaskel can do, but I have no doubt it’s an impressive list.”
The Tiefling preened at this, and Thrain cleared his throat.
Sass tipped her head at the dwarf. “And I know all too well that Thrain can swing an axe with the best of them.”
“Too right,” he rasped, sleep still blanketing his voice.
“It doesn’t matter if we can defeat Florin,” Sass said, her gaze meeting Val’s for a beat. “I can’t risk losing any of you in the trying.”
“Let us defend you,” Lira said. “Don’t think for a moment that we’ll let you do this alone.”
Sass crossed to Lira and took her hand. “I’m not suggesting I go alone. I’m suggesting I don’t go to meet Florin with battle on the mind.”
“Florin knows nothing but fighting,” Thrain reminded her.
“Then maybe it’s time she learned something new.
” Sass held Lira’s hand while she turned to face her friends.
“We’ve uncovered Florin’s duplicity and her scheme.
We can prove that I wasn’t the one who broke the agreement by running away.
She broke it first by giving me a charmed amulet.
If she doesn’t want me to reveal all, she’ll leave and release her claim and her threat of retribution. ”
“That’s it?” Thrain blinked at her. “That’s the plan? You’re going to tell her she broke the rules and needs to go home?”
Lira squeezed Sass’s hand. “Being direct and honest is never the wrong answer.”
“It is if it gets you killed,” Thrain said, but mostly to himself.
Korl rose from his chair by the hearth and rubbed his dusky green hands together. “Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing. Reasoning with an enemy and attempting to broker a fair peace in order to save lives could never be a mistake.”
Thrain rubbed his forehead. “Am I losing my mind, or is an orc casting a vote not to fight?”
Lira beamed at Korl and winked at Thrain. “He’s not your typical orc.”
“I’m starting to think that none of the folks around these parts are typical,” the dwarf said as he sank onto a bench, muttering to himself about peaceful orcs and dwarves who’d rather talk than fight.
“I’m going to take that as a compliment,” Sass said.
Thrain pressed his brows together. “Then I must not have said it right.”
Vaskel huffed out a breath that actually produced steam. “When are we leaving on this diplomatic mission?”
Sass swept her gaze around the cozy great room and the friends who were putting their trust in her. “Tomorrow morning. I don’t want to give Florin the chance to get impatient and attack first.” Everyone eyed Sass without speaking, and the dwarf sighed. “I promise not to sneak out and go on my own.”
Lira gave her hand another squeeze before releasing it. “Then it’s agreed. We leave in the morning, which means we should all get some rest tonight. This might not be a battle, but we’ll need to be on our toes. ”
“Tomorrow?” Thrain dragged a hand down his beard. “I suppose that’s enough time.”
“Enough time for what?” Sass asked as everyone pushed chairs under tables, and Korl stamped out the last embers of the fire with his boot.
Thrain’s eyes went wide before he cleared his throat roughly. “Enough time to think of a backup plan if Florin doesn’t go along with yours, of course.”
That made sense, Sass thought as she watched him shuffle off to bed. Then why did Sass suspect that her oldest friend was hiding something?