Page 97 of Morel Dilemma

“I trust they won’t be a threat to diners and will only defend against enemies.”

“They didn’t object to anyone present last night until the fight broke out, not even a dog noshing on a bone on the moss over there.”

Aztor nodded, as if he’d expected that. “It’s a wonderful area. I’d like to come sit up here when the sun is out, the leaves are providing shade, and there’s a hint of a breeze whispering in from the lake.”

“I’m sure that could be arranged, providing we aren’t evicted.” Rylana risked broaching the subject, hoping that his appreciation of the terrace would make him less inclined to go through with his threat. “We would, of course, have to take the pergola and garden with us if we were forced to leave.”

Rylana had no idea how feasible that would be, but they had asked Chalora to use potted trees and shrubs so it would be possible to at least move them. The mossy slate tiles with tables growing out of them… Rylana was less certain about those.

“I suspected,” Aztor said sadly, then rested a hand against a tree trunk. “I can’t let this go.”

“You’d be foolish to do so.”

“I believe people will come up here regardless of the food; they’ll want to see its beauty.”

Rylana thought they would come because of the food and also enjoy its beauty but didn’t correct him.

“I own other buildings in this area,” Aztor continued. “Having this wondrous spot in the neighborhood, with those interesting vines and flowers dangling enticingly from above, could increase traffic to nearby businesses.”

“The diner meals, coffee beverages, and erotic pastries are sure to flow.”

Aztor blinked at that but went on with his thoughts. “You’ve been good tenants. Well, the dragon was a loathsome tenant, but now that you’re paying the rent promptly, the situation is far more agreeable.”

“We’re striving for agreeability.”

“And since your business is doing so well, I’ll be able to raise the rent for this prime—almost waterfront—location as soon as the lease allows.”

Though Rylana was relieved it sounded like he wanted them to stay, pressure from Frodin notwithstanding, the businesswoman in her couldn’t help but point out, “We’re a block from the waterfront, and it’s the section full of sweaty ogre, dwarf, and orc dockworkers. This isn’t the hoity-toity area where the rich moor their yachts.”

“The elf queen’s island ship was right there yesterday.” Aztor pointed, though, after Fareesa had been whisked away the night before, it had taken off and was floating far out in the lake now. “And from this elevated perch, you have a beautiful view of the water between those other buildings there.”

“One of those other buildings is a tavern, where the drunken sailors and dockworkers regularly amble out into the alley to relieve themselves when they can’t be bothered to wait in line for the indoor lavatory. The breeze from the lake wafts the odor this way.” Fortunately, that was an exaggeration, and that alley backed the bakery, so it was more of a problem for Mya, but this was a negotiation.

“Sailors and dockworkers—drunken, sweaty, and otherwise—are often hungry at the end of the day and come looking for food. This location is perfectly positioned to take advantage of that. Your dragon chef should thank me daily for having rented this place to him. I even gave him a discount out of the goodness of my heart.”

“Was it the goodness of your heart or the fear that he would roast you with flames if you irritated him?”

“I’m not that worried about that.” Aztor pointed toward the intersection with the pillar that had gonged ferociously during the battle and Jildarin’s changing. “Don’t worry, Bookkeeper. I’ll only raise the rent three percent when the lease renews. The dragon insisted on an escalation clause with clearly defined terms.”

“Ah? Good for him.” Rylana hadn’t expected a dragon largely unfamiliar with human business practices—and without a lot of interest in such minutiae—to know what to look for in a lease. But Jildarin was, as she’d noted before, no dummy.

“Yes,” Aztor said with a sour lip twisting. “At the time, he told me that his business would inevitably thrive and that he had to plan ahead for its vast success. I thought he was full of goblin glerkik, but little did I know.”

“He’s always been confident in his abilities.”

“Indeed.” Aztor patted the tree again, then headed for the stairs.

“Does that mean you won’t let my brother pressure you into evicting us?” Rylana asked.

“It does, but I’ll expect a complimentary meal on the terrace now and then. Due to my extremely reasonable and gracious nature.”

“Those are words I never thought to apply to him,” Rylana muttered to herself, but she couldn’t feel disgruntled, not when they were getting to keep the diner where it was. She might yet have trouble with her brother and the rest of her family, but… those were problems for another day.

With clouds low over the lake and a hint of mist hiding the distant mountains from view, Rylana didn’t know if people would show up for breakfast any time soon, but if Aztor had been by, others might be too. Clinks and clunks floated up from below, promising some of the employees had arrived to help ready the dining room.

Before heading downstairs, she looked around, making sure the tables and chairs were all upright and the mess sufficiently cleaned. She spotted someone standing in the shadows of one of the trees at the back of the pergola and jumped in surprise.

“Your new terrace looks at my rooftop table above the coffee shop,” Sylin said, stepping farther into view.