Page 7 of When the Baker Met the Dragon
“You mentioned the curse?” Rustion asks.
“I did. But their leader appears to have ignored my warnings. At least, that’s what it seemed like to me. I figured it might be worth a look.”
“I’ll send a few of my guards up to keep them off the grounds,” Rustion says.
“If you want a hand, let me know. I can ask Halvard to join them if you need me to. I’ll be at Two Cats all afternoon and probably into the evening if you need to find me.”
The mayor gives me a funny look. “Really?”
I narrow my eyes.
The beekeeper clears his throat and says, “All right. Well, I’ll be off then.”
“What is going on at Kaya’s?” Rustion asks quietly.
“A fairy named Lady Egrettington made a massive order for the queen’s tea.”
Recognition lights Rustion’s eyes. “Ah, yes. I’ve met her. That is good news for Kaya certainly, yes? The lady offered to pay appropriately? I’ll set her to rights if she is trying to get something cheap from our folks.”
“She offered plenty, yes. But it’s a lot for just Kaya to bake.”
“She has Rosalind part time still, doesn’t it?”
“Aye, but this is a complicated order. And I think Rosalind might be gone for a while. Her sister is having twins.”
Rustion nods. “It’s kind of you to help out. Now, I must be going. I have a meeting with the Western Front Bridge Builders to improve the pass upstream.”
“Thanks for watching out for the tourists,” I say. “Their leader is a tall, thin human. A man named Rickon DeFleurtis.”
I bid him good bye and hurry to Kaya’s bakery. The sun is already sliding toward the last half of the afternoon and I should have been there already.
Chapter 4
Kaya
It’s nearly three in the afternoon and Cyrus still hasn’t shown up. My stomach sinks. I already bought the ingredients I need. I honestly didn’t think I expected Cyrus to show, but I guess I had my hopes up. It’s all right. I’m not angry with him. That’s just how he is. You can’t nail that dragon down. He is fun and kind, but he is flighty. I chuckle sadly at my own little joke. He belongs in loud places full of folks; he belongs in the skies, finding adventure. A dragon shifter like him can’t be happy in a quiet bakery with only quiet old me to keep him company.
I roll my eyes at myself, throwing off my self-deprecating mood. I am enjoying my time in the kitchen and I refuse to ruin it by being mopey. I closed up the bakery early so I could get to work on this massive order so the place is serene and smells of cherry blossom tea and cinnamon.
I taste the honey I am about to add to the dough. It’s sweet and almost fruity. I measure out a tablespoon and work it into the spongy dough. Sio circles my ankles and purrs in his odd, overly loud and staccato way.
“You’re tickling me, Sio.” I laugh and use my foot to nudge him gently toward his basket of toys in the corner
He takes the hint and trots over to retrieve his favorite item—a stuffed version of a shrub gryphon that my weaver friend, Laini, made for him last year. He tears into the toy like he is destroying a vicious enemy.
“Ooo, you are so strong, taking down the scary gryphon.”
I use the wooden paddle to adjust the coals in the oven, then slide the next batch of scones in to bake. At the back of the kitchen, I open up the carved wooden chest that Tully made for me. The chest’s magic keeps baked goods fresh as the moment you set them inside and it’s as priceless as Tully’s doubling spell. It would be impossible for me to make a living without them since I haven’t been able to hire enough staff. Wheat flour, butter, and sugar have all been too expensive to make it work.
The bell on my door chimes, making my heart jump. I close the keeping box and head toward the front. Did I forget to lock it?
“I’m sorry I’m late, Kaya.”
Cyrus is walking briskly toward me, a soft look of contrition in his handsome face. With shining scales highlighting his skin and spring-green hair—and those horns!—he is stunning. I have always wanted to touch his wings, too…
“Of course, he is,” a low, scratchy voice says.
I whirl around to see Sio stepping out of my magical chest.