Page 49 of Morel Dilemma

“He wants to make an epic mushroom dish for the queen in the hope that she’ll grace our establishment. He’s thinking of putting up a plaque mentioning famously important people who’ve dined with us. Since we didn’t find the right mushrooms, he’s still on his quest, and he didn’t mind flying me over here while he contemplates how to complete it.” Rylana didn’t mention that Jildarin had left to chat up a gnome and perhaps offer meat bribes to his canine log inspector.

“So, you’re saying that he does not feel romantically inclined toward you?” Tassani faced her fully.

“Nope. Dragons don’t believe in romance.”

“It’s true that they’re not known to write poetry, share delicious morsels, or plant a garden for a potential mate that they’re wooing, but some of them do pair-bond for an extended time to bring hatchlings into the world and raise them.”

“Since I can’t hatch anything, no dragon should be interested in me for that reason.” Rylana shifted her weight on the pebbly beach, wondering at Tassani’s choice of a conversation topic. He was more pleasant than most of the elves she’d spoken to since arriving in Tranquility, but she didn’t long to discuss her unrequited feelings for Jildarin with him.

“Then you must be correct. It’s the mathematics.”

“You would also experience feelings of camaraderie for someone who achieved the removal of the many hard, angular ovens prodding you in the scales while you sleep.”

“Of course.”

“But not more than camaraderie.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I’m quite partial to sleeping comfortably. My reason for asking these questions… other than determining if you and those around you are in further danger from his clan…” Tassani glanced toward the boathouse before finishing. “I was curious if you would be interested in visiting the coffee shop for a beverage one day.”

“I visit it every day.”

“With a companion,” he added.

Rylana almost made a comment about Sylin before it dawned on her that Captain Tassani might be asking her on a date. “You want to have coffee with me?”

“It’s not my favorite beverage, as elves generally find tea more palatable, but I would not mind consuming it while in the company of a warrioress who is fearless in the face of fire-breathing dragons.”

Rylana opened her mouth, but a witty comeback didn’t come to mind. Maybe because all the male elves she’d encountered lately—and for most of her life—had been more interested in seeing her as an enemy, or at least an obstacle, nothing came to mind.

“Dragons aren’t the only ones who admire such traits,” Tassani added with a shrug.

“Oh. Uhm.”

“Your response assures me that you’re delighted by my suggestion.”

“I’m just… surprised by it.”

“But not offended or repulsed?”

“No.”

“Well, that’s a promising start, anyway.” Tassani bowed again to her. “Feel free to decide at your leisure if you’re interested in meeting at that coffee shop. Perhaps after the queen has departed. The present quiet moment aside, I am being kept quite busy, and I need to remain alert. Layothlee is a relative of mine as well as my charge to protect this evening.” He nodded toward the boathouse.

A soft white-blue glow was now visible through the doorway. A magical light that Layothlee had created? It shone onto the tip of a kayak inside—Rylana didn’t think it had been there before. And were those voices coming from within? Rylana hoped so. What Sylin did with her life had nothing to do with her, of course, but she would be happy if Sylin, after being orphaned for as long as she could remember, found her family, especially if they were open to having a friendly relationship with her.

“A relative?” Rylana asked. “Does that mean you’re elven royalty too?”

“Hm, enough that I’m invited for dinner at the elven palace when I visit but not so much that I would be in line to inherit the scepter if fewer than one hundred other people died ahead of me.” After a pause, Tassani added, “I’m not important enough that my family wants to arrange a marriage to a well-blooded elf lady or anything like that. As long as I generally do what my mother wishes, I’m not pressured insofar as choosing a mate goes.”

“Such as staying out of erotic bakeries,” Rylana said, not commenting on the rest, that he was letting her know he was available.

Tassani snorted again. “Indeed. That would be frowned upon. Both by my mother and the female elves in her gardening club.”

“What about the male elves?”

“They’re less disturbed by sexually evocative baked goods. They would only tease me because there’s a stereotype that desserts made by dwarves tend to be heavy enough to club ogres with.”

Since Rylana had used a bag of their rock candy to knock out a bad guy at the Golden Whisk competition, she couldn’t argue with that, but she did say, “I think Mya makes things that appeal to a lot of palates, not just dwarven. Like Jildarin—who’s willing to cook vegetables and sweets, even though he doesn’t see the point of them personally—she’s adapted to effectively serve the many peoples who call Tranquility home.”