Page 95 of Morel Dilemma

“You’re welcome,” Rylana said.

“Yes.” Jildarin raised his chin again.

“I’ll have them taken back to the enclave,” Tassani said. “To sort out later.”

“I suggest you lock them in confinement,” Jildarin said. “Until their loyalty to the queen can be determined.”

Tassani looked toward Sylin but didn’t point out that she had been the target of the turncoats. Besides, if she was indeed Fareesa’s daughter, shooting at her would also have been a betrayal of the queen.

“Confinement with nearby lavatory facilities,” Rylana added, not mentioning Sylin.

“I’ll take care of it all,” Tassani said sturdily and waved for his troops to follow him inside.

As they started carrying unconscious elves out of the diner, loading them into one of the peacekeeper wagons, the gnome captain came over again.

Jildarin eyed him warily.

“Considering the extenuating circumstances present tonight,” the captain said, waving toward Bixtok and the other gnomes who’d been enjoying their meal and had witnessed everything, “I will not issue fines to those who were engaged in self-defense and protecting the queen.”

“Good,” Jildarin said gruffly.

Rylana, opting to be more gracious, offered a heartfelt, “Thank you.”

“You are welcome.” The captain inclined his head toward them, then gathered his troops and ordered them to help the elves remove their slumbering kin from the diner.

Jildarin watched Bixtok and his hound amble off. “It was wise of you, Rylana, to entice that one to the rooftop for his complimentary meal so that he could observe the night’s events. The word of a fellow peacekeeper swayed the captain far more than anything you or I could have said.”

“I didn’t quite foresee everything that happened tonight, but it did occur to me that having a peacekeeper present might be a good idea.”

“Wise,” Jildarin said again.

Rylana beamed at the praise.

As the gnomes and elves carried the last of the unconscious diners out, Rolf picked up a few coins that fell from the pocket of one.

“Goblin tip,” he said cheerfully.

Ignoring him, Rylana said, “Thank you for making the special dishes tonight, Jildarin.” She was a little surprised that he had.

“The enchanted-morel-overdose dishes.” Jildarin shook his head, denying specialness.

“Yes. I know that must have been a hard decision for you, that it went against all you believe in and want as a chef.”

“To cause diners distress was quite unpalatable, yes. But…” Jildarin considered her. “You were clearly correct. The elves that sought to betray the queen—even putting her in the midst of an archery battle—deserved intestinal distress.”

Rylana thought they deserved worse than that, but she was content to let Captain Tassani and his people handle punishment.

“May it go on for many days,” she said, then felt compelled to add, “after they wake from their comas.”

Jildarin arched his eyebrows.

“Otherwise, it’s more of a punishment for those maintaining their prisons than for them,” she explained.

“I see, yes. But elves do not have prisons. I believe the enclave has a Garden of Confinement.”

“That sounds disappointingly serene, like you wouldn’t mind spending time there.”

“Confinement is a punishment, no matter how pleasant the surroundings.”