So much for even basic party chivalry. “Okay, well, I think I’ll go get some lavender lemonade.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“That’s all right. I can find you again later.”
“No. I will come.”
Why? Why, gods, why?
“Okay,” I said with a smile as we made our way to the drinks table. There, I ladled myself a glass of lavender lemonade. The children had gathered around the bowl of flaming bloomberry punch. The drink had been mixed with a sweet, candy-like elixir that made the punch glow bright pink and glittery and had pink flames on the top. Nothing tasted more like summer. They giggled and laughed as they drank, the punch turning their lips bright pink.
“Are you sure you don’t want any?” I asked Kevin, gesturing to the punch. “It’s always a fun treat.”
“Bloomberries give me diarrhea.”
“Alrighty, then,” I said then took a sip of my lemonade and scanned the crowd, praying I would see any excuse to flee Kevin. Unable to find a polite escape route, I faced the inevitable small talk. “So… How is your work?” I asked.
“Fine.”
“Have you been busy?”
“No.
“No?”
“Slow.”
“Oh, I am sorry to hear that. Was there an unexpected downturn?”
“Downturn?”
“You said things were slow.”
“Yes. Doing the work is slow.”
“So, the business is all right, then?”
“Yes, why?”
Please, just kill me.
“No reason. Oh, look, there are Granik and Juniper. It would be rude of me not to say hello. I have to go. See you later,” I said then hurried off, not waiting for him to insist to come with me.
Granik was an orc who owned the farm next to Cousin Annie Beth, one of the biggest lavender farms around. No wonder he and Juniper, the local herbalist and my dear friend, had made their own fast friendship. I smiled to see that Granik had brought all the workers from his farm with him. Everyone had been festively dressed in their fancy overalls.
“Juniper, Granik,” I called merrily with a wave.
Juniper gave me a soft smile while Granik waved to me as he good-naturedly patted his workers on the back before they headed off into the party.
“Good to see you, Primrose,” Granik said when I joined them. “Is this your handiwork?” he asked, gesturing to the party.
“Not at all. This is Annie Beth’s all-natural magic.”
Granik laughed. “I see. Well, as long as she has her famous fifty meats and cheeses salad and lemon shandy, I don’t care if any magic is involved.”
Juniper chuckled.
“I’m headed there,” Granik said, pointing to the massive barrel of beer that had been hauled in on a wagon. “What about you? What would you like, Junie?” he asked Juniper.
