Page 72 of From the Edge

“As long as they avoid the gardens, things will be fine.”

The driver stacked a series of boxes, and she paused him and asked the owner, “Is the truck for me?”

“Yes. No other orders inside.”

She smiled and lifted her finger. A glittering band wrapped around the boxes and worked itself into the truck. She walked back toward the kitchen entrance, and a parade of meats followed her.

“How will you prepare the meat?”

“It is going to be a low, slow barbeque for the large cuts and a few chickens. Stuffed hamburgers for the ground beef. Marinated skewers for the pork and chicken chunks, and I am just keeping the bacon to snack on.”

He grinned. “I am very grateful for the invitation. I supply for the fancy events, but I am not invited. This will be the first time I get to see my meat in action.”

Rowan got to the door and opened it. “Rephrase that.”

He snickered. “No.”

She sighed. “I am going to tell my grandpa on you.”

“Who is your grandpa?”

“You would call him Vasoric.”

The man stumbled, and Rowan laughed. “He’s awake and here in the building. I mean, he’s currently balls deep in my grandmother, but I am sure he wouldn’t mind meeting another one of his people.”

She lined up the meat and sorted it by species and purpose. “I might have enough for steaks.”

He said, “I can get you some cuts and drop them by tomorrow. Thirty will do?”

“Sure. You have my card on file?”

“Ah, the new palace called, and they are picking up the tab.”

She got trays and racks out, then pulled the pork rub out. The butcher said, “May I?”

She nodded, and he opened the jar and inhaled.

“This is going to be a very good party.”

“It’s not over until everyone has the meat sweats.”

“That is my kind of party. Did you want help?”

“Nope. I am good. I have done this before when I was playing with sauces.” She shrugged. “Then, I donated all of the food to a homeless shelter. They filled out cards on preferences, and then I did it again with those preferences in mind.”

He stared at her. “So you tested your sauce on the homeless?”

“Yup. I work with food shelves, and they held summer parties so the meat was served there. I also did veggie dips, and they were well received. They are the veggie dip cream or vinegar-based lines.”

He chuckled. “If they are as good as I think, I am going to have to start carrying them.”

“Don’t strain yourself.”

He nodded. “See you Friday. If I hear of any more packs coming, I will bring some sausages and rolls.”

She snorted. “Sausages will be in common reference.”

The orcs laughed. One of the mages asked, “Do you have any additional female friends?”