He let out a small huff.
I let out a shuddering exhale.
The room collectively took a breath.
Ginger straightened her cloak. “Well, that was a bit violating.” She furrowed her brows at the sprites, who were fluttering back to their places on the shelves. “I would’ve come in on my own.”
“Well…” I gestured to the dragon, who was right by Ginger’s ankles, staring longingly at the closed door.
Ginger jumped. Her hooves clacked when she landed, and she scurried back a few paces. She didn’t know where to stand. She was stuck somewhere between wanting to approach and wanting to flee. “Fates!” she shouted. “Why didn’t anyone tell me that you caught it? I’ve been looking all morning.”
She looked around the room, a slight hurt expression pinching her eyes.
“There wasn’t time,” Tandor said. “We haven’t been here long. It all happened so fast.”
“We would’ve grabbed you next,” Fiella added.
I nodded in agreement. We hadn’t left the woman out on purpose.
“Okay…” Her eyes settled on the small red dragon. “He’s pretty cute. Scary, too.” She glanced at me for a moment before her gaze flitted back to Ember. “I have the strangest urge to… bow?”
“It’ll pass,” I agreed. “I think it’s the ancient magic or something. You get used to it.”
She swallowed. “Okay. That’s—okay. Is it friendly? Does it have a name?”
“His name is Ember,” I supplied. “And… that’s to be determined. But nobody has been gravely injured yet, so that’s a good sign.”
“Sure! Good sign indeed.” She turned to Tandor. “You pet it?”
“Sure did, boss.”
She nodded. “I knew you would. And you lived to tell the tale.”
“I did indeed. Not a single burn.”
“Impressive.”
The orc grinned. “I have a thing for critters.”
Ginger snorted. “Don’t we know it. I actually came looking for you. Your order of cranberries arrived.”
Tandor straightened, wiping his palms on his trousers. “My cranberries! I almost forgot!” He glanced at me quickly before clearing his throat. “For… a pie. Right. That Ginger is helping me bake.”
I held down a smile. Tandor had never baked a pie in his life. I knew the berries were surely for a new flavor of cider. Tandor worked at the pub with Ginger, but he was in charge of the ciders, and he loved trying new flavors.
He wasn’t subtle at all, but I wasn’t going to call him out on it.
“You better go take care of that,” I said. “We’ll be fine here.”
“You sure?” He drifted over to me, placing a warm hand on the back of my neck and tugging me forward so he could plant a kiss on top of my head.
“Mhm. Go. I can handle things here. Besides, I’m sure we all have to prepare for Merry Day.” I patted him on the cheek as he stepped back.
Ginger grinned. “We sure do. Let’s go, Tandor. Bye, Kiz! Bye, Fiella and Redd!”
Fiella waved. “Good to see you, Ginny.”
Redd nodded his head.
