Page 40 of Scales ’N’ Spells: Volume One

“It’s not healthy.” Cameron shook his head and got them back in motion. “When Cassie was about thirteen, and puberty started, she hit this stage where her stomach pooched out a bit. All the hormones and changes, y’know? But she was getting flack about it from everyone, and it really hit her hard. I started telling her she was beautiful on a near daily basis. And because I did, I started to notice no one else really complimented friends and family. And I thought, there’s no way that’s a good thing. So I did it with everyone. And y’know, it made people really happy.”

“I see why he’s drawn so much,” Baldewin murmured in a rhetorical sort of tone.

“Sorry?”

“I hope you compliment Alric especially. He doesn’t think of himself as an attractive person.”

It was Cameron’s turn to stop dead. “Excuse me, what?! Okay, that’s just wrong. That’s a fucking crime against humanity. Alric’s so hot that my sister, who’s very gay, volunteered to call him Daddy.”

Baldewin snorted a laugh, eyes twinkling. “You’re kidding.”

“I’m so not kidding. I will compliment that man until words pour out of his ears.”

“Do it,” Baldewin encouraged. “And next time you’re lost, call him. I’ll of course come to your rescue too, but he likes to help you.”

Cameron really didn’t like the idea of making a bad impression but…well, it was true that an easy way to connect to someone was by either helping them or accepting help. Maybe Baldewin had a good point there. “Yeah…yeah, okay. In the meantime, lunch?”

“Certainly.” Baldewin led him through a doorway, into a hallway showcasing more wood carvings than white walls, and pointed to a doorway at the far end. “Dining hall is through that door. See? I told you, you were close.”

“Okay, that’s just embarrassing.” Cameron growled in disgust. “I was literally two hallways away.”

“While we eat, I’ll try to draw up a quick map for you,” Baldewin promised as he led the way.

“I’ll take it.” Cameron wasn’t too proud to ignore a map when offered.

He shook the melancholic thought off and went to a more immediate concern—namely his stomach. The food was good here. Cameron recognized only some of it, but the smells were always enticing. As he queued up at the buffet table, he glimpsed through the open door leading into the massive kitchen and saw a familiar face. “Oh hey, Gisa, I didn’t know you were back there.”

“My day to cook,” she called back to him as she carried a tray of freshly baked rolls out. “We all take turns here. Well, almost all. Gunter is absolutely not to be trusted in the kitchen.”

“Bad cook?” Cameron guessed.

“No, he’s excellent when he’s paying attention. But he’ll often get an idea mid-process and abandon everything on the stove. After he set off the fire alarms for the third time, we let him buy us dinner.” Gisa pushed short blond hair out of her face, tucking it behind an ear and smiling at him. “How’re the magic lessons going?”

Gisa was one of his practice partners when Lisette taught him a spell. She was one of the youngest mages in the castle (not including Cameron) although he hadn’t dared ask her age yet. Much older than him, regardless. He answered her as he loaded up a plate with anything that looked delectable. Which was pretty much everything. “Going good. You up for practicing more tonight?”

“Hmm, I actually have plans. But Carla made noises about helping you learn a few things.”

“Carla?” Cameron had no idea who that was. He’d met most of the mages in the clan so far, but not all. He was given to understand they had six in total; he’d just not met the others.

“I’ll introduce you to her,” Baldewin offered, snagging two of the rolls. “She’s sitting right over there. Let’s get some more names and phone numbers in that phone of yours, shall we?”

“Sounds great.”

Gisa shooed him on with a smile. “I’ll help you train tomorrow, though, okay?”

Remembering at the last second, he used one of those German-English crossover words. “Super.”

Gisa high-fived him for that.

“Hallo, Carla, Velten, can we join you?” Baldewin inquired as he strode for the nearest table.

“Sure, do. I haven’t had a chance to meet Cameron properly yet.”

Cameron took in the woman that had answered—Carla?—and gave her his best smile. “Yeah, I got brief names and faces and nothing really stuck. Hi.”

“Hi yourself.” The man waved him to the chair across the table from him. “I’m Velten. Wilkommen, young mage. We’re very happy to see you.”

“Dankeschön,” Cameron responded and was proud of himself for mostly saying that correctly. From what he could see, Velten was definitely dragon, and another one of those good-looking types. He stole a few glances as he set his plate down on the table and got situated in the padded chair.