“Yeah. Doesn’t have to be fancy.”
“Maybe more than one.” Fern’s eyes lit up as the idea took root in her mind. “Tie them up with string. Like little presents.”
“Maybe write a few words on there. Give people some idea of what they’re in for.” Viv thought aboutTen Links in the Chain. “Swordfights. Beheadings. Betrayals?”
“Mmm. Maybemoist,” suggested Fern with a wicked grin.
Viv laughed aloud. “Wonder how many of those you’d sell? Maybe you should put that oneverypackage.”
Addis exited the shop without so much as a wave, the door banging shut behind him.
“Bye, Addis!” Fern called after him.
Viv shook her head in annoyance.
From within the box on the counter, Satchel’s sepulchral voice issued, brimming with sudden interest.
“Moist books?”
“Use the heels of your hands.”
“It’s sticky,” grumbled Viv, trying to shuck globs of dough from around her knuckles.
“That’s why you can’t use your fingers,” said Maylee, with a laugh buried in her voice. “Yeah, that’s the way. Now fold it over and do it again. Keep it up. You got the arms for it.”
Sea-Song was locked tight for the day, but according to Maylee, there was still plenty to be done. Viv had offered to lend a hand, with the vague notion that this might mean scrubbing or sweeping or something equally straightforward. The dwarf, however, had other ideas.
She looked at Maylee askance as the shorter womansprinkled flour in front of the ball of dough in an easy arc. “Are you trying to domesticate me?”
“You said you wanted to help, and I’ve got bread to bake. Besides, you seem to be domesticatin’ yourself just fine at Fern’s place.”
Her tone was teasing, but the words made Viv tense, like she expected a manacle to snap onto her wrist. A ridiculous reaction, she knew, and yet she couldn’t help but infer something hopeful in Maylee’s gaze.
“That’s different.”
“Oh, yeah? How d’you figure that?”
“Well,” said Viv, grunting as she folded the dough and pressed into it. The countertops were built for dwarven stature, and she had to really hunch to bring her weight to bear. “Ididget tossed in jail over a street fight, there’s been at least one dead body, and we have a talking bagful of bones, so I think there’s a lot more adventuring going on than you’d expect.”
“You seem to be gettin’ a lot of aggression out on that poor dough, too. Though maybe it’s just you. Either way, flour looks good on you.” She tossed a playful pinch.
Viv bared her teeth in a mock growl, only to get a faceful.
“D’you figure he’s goin’ to bring trouble?” asked Maylee, suddenly serious.
“Satchel?”
She nodded, then touched Viv’s hip to move her to the side, taking over kneading the dough. The easy press and release of her hands and the sway of her body were unexpectedly sensual.
Viv tried not to stare.
Dusting flour from her arms, she parked her butt against the counter. “Honestly? Yeah. I do.”
The dwarf sighed. “So do I. I’ve just got that feelin’.”
Viv knew exactly the one she meant. Like the sound of a battle three hills over.
She was reminded that Maylee wrestled dough with hands that had once wielded a mace. There was some safety in that which Viv couldn’t untangle just yet.
