Page 50 of Morel Dilemma

“That’s wise.”

Whistling came from the path leading down the slope to the beach. Was that… Jildarin in his human form? Whatever tune it was supposed to be sounded off-key but cheerful.

Tassani hadn’t been standing close to Rylana, but he clasped his hands behind his back and stepped farther to the side as Jildarin approached.

Jildarin walked down the slope easily, dragons having good night vision, and nodded to the elf without surprise. He looked to Rylana.

“Whistling is the proper human behavior when a task has been satisfactorily achieved, yes?”

“It can be,” she said. “I like to reward myself with chocolate or cookies, but to each his own.”

“The whistle is versatile for your kind. And for gnomes as well. The canine handler whistled to call to his dog when it grew distracted sniffing bodily regions on a passerby in a manner that I gather was not germane to a log inspection.”

“Ah.” Rylana could imagine and didn’t ask for further details. “What task did you achieve?”

“I’ve accomplished two tasks while I’ve been gone. I returned to prepare several dishes for the dinner service, getting them far enough along that Zalani and Gniknik could handle the rest. And I also spoke with the redheaded gnome we saw on the ferry. Through bribery with meals, I’ve secured his assistance, and also that of his hound, for the day after tomorrow. It is likely to rain tomorrow, and he believes the next day will be superior for foraging. After our success, the handler does, however, wish for his dog to join him inside the diner for their meals. I suggested the alley behind the storeroom might be a more appropriate place for a canine to eat, but he looked blankly at me and said handlers do everything with their dogs to ensure a close bond.”

“I suppose as long as it’s well-behaved, it wouldn’t hurt for a dog to eat in the dining room a couple of times. But maybe we can suggest that the gnome come by after the main meal hours.”

“Yes. I will do that. We wouldn’t want a dog sniffing the queen’s… non-germane areas.”

“Definitely not,” Rylana said as Tassani touched his chest and leaned back. Appalled by the idea? “Though I have a feeling a dog in a diner full of sumptuous scents would be more distracted by sniffing the food.”

“The gnome and the canine will only be given meals if they can lead us to enchanted morels,” Jildarin said.

“That’s the deal? You won’t compensate them for their time even if they can’t ultimately find them?”

“Certainly not. Employees must be properly motivated to perform. But the gnome was confident that his hound could locate enchanted morels in the forest. A simple matter, he even called it.”

“Good.”

Though Jildarin had glanced at Tassani before, he looked more fully at the elf captain now. “You are here to protect Lady Layothlee? Not to attempt to interrogate my partner or set traps for her comrade?”

“I’ve been instructed by the queen herself not to ensnare the, uhm, assassin. Her orders supersede those of the enclave elder who originally instructed me to find the one known to target her own kind. I, ah, have actually been speaking with Sergeant Falcon about… other matters.” He eyed Jildarin.

“You can call me Rylana,” she said. “Especially if we’re going to get coffee together.”

“Are we? You haven’t accepted my invitation yet.”

“I…” Rylana also looked at Jildarin. She doubted he would mind, or even quite grasp that Tassani was asking her on a date, but did she want to go out with someone else? Maybe she should. It had been almost a year since Mav had passed, and she’d started a whole new life in Tranquility. It might be good for her to seek out companionship. She enjoyed spending time with Jildarin, but she couldn’t help but feel longing and a little frustration that they’d kissed and then he’d essentially rejected her. If they were destined to be nothing more than platonic partners, it would be healthy for her to seek another for physical companionship.

When she didn’t answer right away, Tassani asked Jildarin, “Would you mind, Lord Dragon, if I took Serg— Rylana to the coffee shop across from your establishment?”

“Certainly not. She has coffee there frequently, and it is of no concern to me. After her recreational consumption of the flavored waters, she always returns to finish her work and to plan the further successes of our diner.”

“He wants to know if you mind if he asks me on a date,” Rylana said.

“A date.” Jildarin’s tone sounded flat, and she couldn’t tell if it was a question or a statement.

“Because she sleeps in your lair with you,” Tassani said, “I am uncertain about your relationship and if you believe she is available for another male to court.”

“I’m the one who has the say in whether I’m available or not,” Rylana said dryly, though she could understand a potential suitor wanting to clarify things before possibly offending a dragon. That would be even worse than offending a young woman’s overprotective and weapons-owning father.

“Yes, of course.” Tassani bowed to her in apology, but he also kept an eye toward Jildarin.

Movement at the boathouse drew Rylana’s gaze in that direction. The glowing light had extinguished, so she almost missed the kayak gliding silently out and maneuvering along the dock toward the open lake. Sylin sat alone in it. Her dark clothing made her hard to see, so it was difficult to tell, but she seemed to look back toward Rylana before paddling away without a word.

“Rylana sleeps in my lair because she is my business partner,” Jildarin told Tassani, “and could not find available lodgings when she arrived in the city.”