“If you think it’s enchanted sandpaper that can smooth even the toughest of wood in mere seconds, then you’d be correct!” I declared.
He nodded in my direction. “This is amazing. I didn’t even know enchantments like that were possible. Thank you.”
I brushed it off. “It’s easy, now that the magic is back, and all that. No big deal.” But secretly, I was pleased.
His next gift was a collection of tiny knives from Tandor that would be perfect for carving critters out of wood, just like his Pa. Redd had actually been speechless at that gift. Tandor had thumped him on the back, insisting that Redd had to make him a dragon sculpture first.
And then it was my turn to open gifts.
Fiella had knitted me a giant blanket that was unbelievably plush, and by far the softest thing I had ever touched. My awewas impossible to contain. “You made this?” I gasped, stroking my fingers over the even loops and swirls.
She nodded smugly. “I sure did. It’ll keep you warm while you’re reading those raunchy?—”
I interrupted her before she could embarrass me in front of Mayor Tommins. “I love it! I didn’t realize you were a knitting expert.”
She laughed it off, but I could tell she was happy about the praise. Fiella loved a compliment more than anyone.
Tandor’s gift wasn’t something he could hand over, but it was something even better.
He had worked with the witches and the farmers and figured out how to grow pumpkins in Moonvale, right on the edge where the Barren Lands met the Greenwood Forest. He promised to make me pumpkin ciders year-round.
I had actually teared up at that one. I threw myself at him, wrapping him in the biggest hug I could muster.
And Redd and Ginger had worked together to make me a plant stand that would elevate the pots, allowing me to cram even more of them in front of my shop windows. It was perfect.
And then it was Tandor’s turn.
He received a sweater that had “I love critters!” stitched onto the front, along with a giant barrel, larger than any of the others in the pub, for brewing his ciders. Ginger had to teach us how to make the barrel acceptable for brewing, fixing it up and adding the necessary attachments. He was ecstatic. The orc had gone around the room, pulling everyone into a bear hug. Even Mayor Tommins, who accepted the hug with a bewildered look on his face.
And then it was time for Fiella to open her gifts. The boxes on the table began to dwindle.
The first was from me. She opened it, and then smiled. “A goblet! Wow, it’s gorgeous. Is that my name engraved on the front?”
“It’s enchanted. So your drinks will never get cold.”
Her jaw dropped. “No fucking way.”
“Yes fucking way!”
She had squealed with excitement, immediately transferring the remnants of her cider into the new goblet to test it out.
Tandor and Redd rose, slipping to the back room. They returned, each lugging a huge gift in front of them.
Fiella cried out, slapping her hands over her mouth. “Is that what I think it is?”
Redd smiled, glancing at Tandor, who was also grinning. “Your own barrel of lavender blueberry cider. It’ll stay here, of course, but it’ll always be filled,” Tandor said.
Redd tore the paper from his own gift. Gasps echoed around the room. It was a mailbox, similar to the ones in town, but made of wood instead of stone. On the front was her shop name, Fiella’s Finds. He had made Fiella her own mailbox.
We were all familiar with how they liked to correspond by letter, even now.
It was way better than my gift, damn it. I could admit when I had been defeated.
Fiella had promptly burst into tears, of course. She sobbed, blubbering out unintelligible thanks to the men.
As the chattering died down, Mayor Tommins cleared his throat. “I have a gift for you folk,” he said quietly, reaching into his pocket. He pulled out three bells. One red, one blue, one green. He set them on the table in front of him. “They are dragon bells. Kizziah, you might have to lay an enchantment over them, but they should be able to summon your dragon, no matter how far they wander.”
Again, I was fighting tears. Tommins, who was so resistant to the dragons at first, had now found a way to ensure that we would never lose the dragons again.
