Page 21 of Wanted: Rogues and Bards

Hapi rolled his eyes and continued as if the warlock hadn’t spoken. “On the other hand, alchemists fall in line with artificers in a way, as they turn a natural magical ability within them to make other magical things. Where artificers make magical technology, alchemists often make magical potions, pills, and in your case, food. The reason your ability works so well with cooking is because it’s the correct medium to manifest. I do not understand why your cooking attempt ended in poison, however. You had no intention of poisoning us⁠—”

Maxie lifted both hands, alarm written all over his mobile face. “Perish the thought! I’d never!”

“I know,” Hapi assured him gently. “As I was saying, I do not know why your magic turned it into poison, as that was not your intent. Unless all your ability can do is create poison. It’s rare alchemists are confined to a singular ability, but it’s not unheard of.”

This was all news to Fenric, since he didn’t know the ins and outs of all the magical beings in the world, whether it was warlocks, sorcerers, paladins, or alchemists. He had a couple of magic tricks up his sleeve, but he was limited to those two tricks. Not like Hapi, who read books on the stuff for fun. “So…what does this mean?”

“It means we must continue to conduct more experiments to get a better understanding of Puppy’s abilities and limitations. I will say, Puppy, that having a very specific focus is not a bad thing. Those who do are generally quite powerful.”

Maxie’s expression was torn between excitement and nervousness.

Malfas spoke up. “Uh, I’d suggest taking a break from experimenting for the time being, mostly because we need to clean the place up, not like we can try to cook anything with the house a disaster like this anyway. Plus, after the way those spells flew about, it’s likely that all the food in the house is pretty much poison or trash at this point. Fen, can you go to the market⁠—”

“Fen would rather not,” Fenric denied mock-pleasantly. “My last trip might have included cheating at cards with the grocer, and I’m sure he remembers my face.”

“Ah. Right.”

“I will go to the market.” Hapi closed the book and handed it back to Maxie. “You two clean up.”

Probably for the best, yeah. And while this wasn’t Fenric’s mess by any means, he chose to pitch in and help. For one thing, he wanted to eat dinner on time, which would not happen unless he helped. For another, he obviously couldn’t trust Malfas and Maxie alone together.

Fenric took over dinner duties that night after they’d managed to get enough of the house put back together that they didn’t have to worry about it falling down around their ears. His cooking wasn’t anything to brag about, as he could only reliably make about four things, but most of the time, no one cared as long as they weren’t cooking. And the food wasn’t likely to kill them.

Since he had access to an oven for once, he made something he normally didn’t, namely blueberry muffins. He and Hapi might have come up empty on the elk, but they had managed to stumble across bushes of the fruit and filled their pockets as best they could. With the muffins, there was thick-cut bacon sizzling in the pan, omelets made from a few more of the neighbor’s “borrowed” eggs, and potato pancakes, which should be enough to fill even this gathering of stomachs.

Rain took a large step sideways to suddenly lean into his space, nose working like a bloodhound on the scent. “Are those muffins I smell?”

“They are,” he answered, turning the bacon over.

“You can make muffins?”

“Clearly.”

“Years I’ve known you. Years! And just now you’re revealing your muffins?” Rain put a dramatic hand to his heart, stumbling back in a theatrical way. “I feel betrayed!”

Fenric flipped the last piece of bacon and regarded his friend with exasperation. “We’re either camping out, staying at inns, or on the ship—which doesn’t have an oven—which means I wasn’t able to make them before today. Dumbass.”

Rain paused and then gazed at him hopefully. “So, if I get an oven on the ship, I can have muffins?”

“Yes, Rain, if you put an oven on the ship, I will regularly make muffins.”

The grin spreading across his face was not to be trusted. “I can do that.”

Fenric was one hundred percent sure, without even asking, that Rain would be stealing an oven from somewhere. As long as he wasn’t caught and didn’t ask Fenric to help him move it, it was also not his problem.

“Everything’s done. Rain, get the muffins out of the oven.”

“Sure!” Rain was all too happy to help.

“Dinner’s up,” Fenric called out, hearing assenting noises from the others.

Food was set on the table, people dug in, and Fenric felt pleased everything had turned out as intended. He even got three strips of bacon, which was a miracle because Malfas was, in fact, a large dog in disguise.

Maxie gave everyone a curious look. “Um, Rain, you said you’ve known Fenric for years?”

“Right, right, about…” He paused, brows furrowing. “Three? Four?”

Even Fenric wasn’t entirely sure. “Three sounds right.”