Page 56

Fifty-Five

It had been impossible to keep word of what had happened in the tavern cellar secret, especially when a dark mage was dragged out and carried to the castle dungeons in the middle of the Night Faire. But only those who’d been in the cellar knew about the book or that Lira had elvish powers, and they’d all sworn to take those secrets to their graves.

Lira hadn’t tried to use her powers again, but she’d noticed that her hands now fizzed with faint sparks when Korl touched her or even when she was humming with happiness in the kitchen.

The dramatic events had done nothing to dampen enthusiasm for the tavern, and some might have said having a dark mage cross its threshold had increased its appeal. Whatever the reason, The Tusk & Tail was busier than it had ever been in the days following.

“Tell me the truth,” Lira said as she held out one of the puffy, pale teacakes to Korl. “Do they need more sugar?”

Crumpet sat on the worktable next to Lira and nibbled on his own cookie, chittering at her.

Lira waved her wooden spoon at him. “I know what you think already, sir.”

Korl took the warm cookie. “Is that a trick question? Doesn’t everything always taste better with more sugar?”

Crumpet made excited sounds of agreement, and Lira could have sworn that the flutter-stoat was laughing.

She shook her head at him then turned to Korl. “I had no idea that orcs had such a sweet tooth.”

Korl snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “What else can I teach you about orcs?”

“Grognick’s beard,” Sass groaned as she entered the kitchen and spotted the pair. “Let’s not scar Crumpet for life.”

“This is perfectly wholesome,” Lira assured her as Korl reluctantly loosened his grip on her waist. “They’re testing the teacakes.”

Sass lifted a brow as she looked at the rows of cookies. “They don’t look like cakes.”

“That’s just what they’re called. Don’t ask me why. They’re actually cookies.”

Sass plucked one from the tray and popped it into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully for a few seconds before swallowing. “I was going to say that they’re too simple, especially compared to your scones or apple cider cake, but that’s their appeal, isn’t it?” She snatched another cookie and took a bite. “I could eat a dozen of these.”

“I think you have your answer,” Korl said.

“You mind if I take some out to our friends?” Sass started stacking the teacakes onto a tray.

“Who’s here?” Lira asked, since they’d made quite a few friends in Wayside and Lira had brought in a few from her past life .

She’d expected Cali and Vaskel to move along once Malek was handled, but neither had shown any signs of leaving Wayside, and Lira was in no hurry to see the backs of them. She figured they needed a warm, welcoming place like Wayside as much as she did.

“Korl’s dads are here for supper, Vaskel and Val are debating the best defenses when sword fighting,” Sass said with a sigh that told Lira this wasn’t the first time she’d heard this discussion. “And Iris and Cali are talking about the latest pirate romance Cali read.”

“Take your dads some teacakes,” Lira said to Korl.

He scooped several into his hands and kissed her cheek. “I should also talk to Vaskel. He’s interested in a custom blade, and I know just the right hilt for him.”

Lira would have put the cookies on a plate for him, but he seemed content to hold them in his massive hands.

“I’m glad you two are friends,” she said.

“We’re only friends now because I challenged him to a fight for your heart at the Night Faire, and the Tiefling almost keeled over with laughter.” Korl did not look pleased to recount this memory.

“You didn’t tell me this.” Lira frowned, not sure if she should be offended or not. The truth was, she’d rejected Vaskel long ago, and to his credit, he’d never seriously pressed his luck again. The two had become tight friends with not a hint of something more.

“I never told you that I saw you walking with him to the inn that night I bumped into you.” Korl didn’t meet her eyes. “I was sure there was something between you.”

“So, you challenged a Tiefling to a duel?” Sass hitched a thumb at Lira. “Over her?”

Lira shot the dwarf a withering look, which Sass ignored.

“He told me that there were many claims to be made about him, but that he would never risk his friendship with you. It was something he seemed proud of.”

“For a Tiefling, that’s probably saying something,” Sass said. “So, you didn’t fight? ”

“We didn’t fight. But we did follow the wyvern to the tavern and prevent him from entering.”

“I’d almost forgotten about Rygor.” Lira picked up a warm teacake and bit into it. “Is that why he hasn’t been around?”

“Vaskel and I might have knocked him out and tied him up to keep him from following us into the tavern.”

Sass nearly bobbled the tray of teacakes. “You did what?”

Korl shrugged. “He was gone when we finally came back out. Vaskel thinks he might have been helping Malek, or Malek might have been using him for information, which is why he left town after Malek was taken.”

Lira didn’t like the idea of the wyvern out there somewhere, but she hoped he was smart enough to steer clear of Wayside.

“Good riddance,” Sass said under her breath, as she backed out of the kitchen with the tray of teacakes.

“I’m glad you and Vaskel are becoming friends,” Lira told Korl as they followed Sass from the kitchen. “He’s as loyal as they come.”

Korl grunted. “Val likes him well enough too.”

Lira knew that Val’s opinion carried a lot of weight, and she was glad that Val had befriended the Tiefling. And despite her initial comment about how attractive he was, Lira was sure that Val would never fall for Vaskel.

Korl gave her waist a squeeze, before heading across the great room to give his dads some teacakes. Lira spotted Cali and Iris at the round table in the far nook with their heads bent in conversation. She crossed her arms over her chest as she surveyed the inviting tavern that was a world away from the place she’d stepped into that rainy night.

“Just the person I need to see.”

Lira turned to see Durn standing at the end of the bar, and for once, he wasn’t polishing a glass with a grimy rag.

She braced herself for complaints, even though she didn’t see Silas slumped at the far end of the bar. The grumbling old man had shown up less and less as the tavern had improved, and Lira wondered if he’d only been happy when there was so much to complain about.

“Everything okay?” Lira asked, forcing a smile.

“I expect it is.” Durn rocked back on his heels. “I never thought it would happen, but I got an offer on the tavern.”

Lira’s blood went cold. He was selling The Tusk & Tail, after everything she and Sass had done to save it? She opened her mouth to argue, but he held up a hand to stop her.

“Before you get yourself into a twist, nothing is changing.” His face contorted. “Well, I’m moving on, but that’s for the best. You’ve done an impressive job bringing this place back, but it only reminds me that this tavern was never my passion. Selling this place means buying a proper home for Penny after we’re married.” His cheeks reddened. “She asked me to the Night Faire, and I asked her to marry me.”

Lira’s plan to get them to the Night Faire had worked even better than she’d hoped, and apparently Cali’s forgery had brought about an engagement. “I’m happy for you. Truly.”

He nodded gruffly. “This doesn’t mean you and the dwarf have to leave though.”

Lira blinked at him. “I don’t understand.”

“The Tusk & Tail is in your names now.” He held out a meaty hand. “That was the deal. I move on and you two keep the tavern.”

Lira shook her head, not sure what she was hearing. “Someone bought the tavern for us?”

Sass walked up, her eyes wide. “What did you say?”

Durn blew out a breath. “I was saying that the tavern is yours now. I sold it. But it’s in your names.” He pointed to Lira and Sass. “Both of you.”

Sass’s jaw dropped, which about summed up Lira’s feelings. She leveled a stubby finger at Lira. “Did you use your gold?”

Lira shook her head. To be honest, she’d thought about it but hadn’t gotten around to bringing it up to Durn. She glanced at the apothecary at the back table, who was the only person she could think of who would do such a thing. “Was it Iris?”

Durn shook his head. “I don’t know the fella, but he paid extra to keep his name out of it. ”

Sass threw her arms around Lira as she simultaneously jumped up and down. “The tavern is ours!”

Lira joined her in jumping, even though the shock and joy of being the new owners of The Tusk & Tail was surreal.

The tavernkeeper snapped his fingers as he turned away, muttering so that Lira could barely make out the words. “I do know the fella who paid for this place was an elf.”