“I’d like to, Thimble, but I don’t know how we could fit it in. It’s already getting pretty tight back here.”
Thimble looked downcast for a moment, but he nodded in reluctant agreement.
“If only they could keep longer,” mused Tandri aloud. “If they didn’t have to be fresh, then we could hold them in reserve and take some of the pressure off.”
The rattkin stared at her, tapped his lower lip thoughtfully with a claw, and blinked a few times. He slowly meandered back to his dough, rolling out a fresh sheet, but Viv noticed that he paused every once in a while to stare into the distance.
* * *
When Cal droppedby for the first time in days, Viv immediately handed him a cinnamon roll. He examined it curiously, then took a modest bite.
His response was entirely predictable.
“Hm.”
But it was the good sort ofHm.
He nodded at the busy dining area while he chewed and swallowed. “Looks as though things are tickin’ right along. And this….” He looked at the roll appreciatively. “This is mighty fine. Told you that stove might show itself worthy. Don’t s’pose I could have one of those lattes to go with?” He examined the menu and slid six bits onto the counter top.
Viv slid them right back. “You keep those. And I’ve got some more for you if you can think of something to do about the heat in here. It’s hot as the eight hells when the stove is going.”
He chewed another bite, closing his eyes with a pleased sigh. “Well. I may have a thought, but might need a piece of time to see if it’ll work. Somethin’ I saw on a gnomish pleasure craft. Very clever.”
Viv was intrigued. “Some kind of window?”
“Nope. Not a window,” he said. “Don’t want to get your hopes up if it ain’t workable. You give me a day or two, I’ll see what I can see. Try not to burn the place down between now and then.” He favored her with one of his thin, but genuine, smiles. Then he took his drink and his roll and ambled into the dining area.
* * *
Later in the day,business held steady, with customers trickling in and out often enough to keep them occupied but not harried.
As Viv dried her hands for what must’ve been the eighth time after washing mugs in the basin, a big fellow with the look of a farmhand entered the shop. Viv was perplexed to see some kind of lute tucked under one arm. Thick sheaves of yellow hair kept falling over his eyes, and his hands were as enormous and rough as her own, which seemed odd for a musician.
“Help you?” she asked.
“Er, hello there. I wanted to ask if I… wait, um. Uh, hello,” he stammered, starting over. “My name is Pendry. I’m a….” His voice dropped very low, almost to a whisper. “Abard?” It sounded more like a question.
“Congratulations,” replied Viv, in an amused tone.
“I was… was wondering if I could, maybe… maybeentertain?In here, I mean?”
Viv was taken aback. “I hadn’t really thought about anything like that before,” she admitted.
“Oh. Oh, well, um. That’s… that’s fine.” He nodded hugely, his hair flopping against his cheeks.
She couldn’t be sure, but she thought he might berelieved.
“Are you any good?” asked Tandri, coming around the counter and crossing her arms.
“I, uh. Well, I….”
Viv snorted and nudged Tandri gently in the ribs.
“Tell you what,” said Viv, thinking of the Scalvert’s Stone and that feeling ofsnapping closedshe’d experienced, everything slotting into place. “Why don’t you go ahead. You’re not asking for anything but permission, right?”
Pendry looked a bit sick to his stomach. “Yes. I mean no. I mean… okay.”
Then he just stood there.
