Page 87 of Ale Storm

Shebly was nodding before Rylana finished the sentence. “I thought immediately of them when you mentioned people claiming to represent the king. We’re affronted by the gang’s criminal activities and have driven them out of our own cities, but it’s naturally harder for us to enforce dwarven law in far-off coastal ports controlled by other species. Anyway, King Ekton has heard of your diner and looks forward to trying the fare with about fifty of his dwarven retinue.”

“Fifty?”

“Yes, those who came along with the wagon train and are close allies, relatives, favorite guards, preferred drivers, and, oh, the armorer who makes sure his iron boots are in good order. The king likes a lot of people.”

“Glad to know he’s not aloof and surly.”

“Hardly that. He enjoys food as well. Most dwarves do, and everyone who’s heard of the diner is eager to try it. Can you accommodate that many on short notice?”

“We should have thought to put in the grotto earlier,” Rylana murmured.

“I did come by this morning to attempt to give you more warning, but the diner was closed with many disappointed people out front, muttering in dismay as they alternately looked at the menu and peered in the windows. A particularly crestfallen ogre walked away, muttering, ‘No bacon?’ in a desolate voice.”

“Our regulars depend on us. Unfortunately, there was a dragon incident.”

“Those are always fraught.”

“Tell me about it. Yes, we should be able to accommodate that many dwarves. Jildarin saw that the king would arrive today and anticipated that he might be hungry. He’s preparing dinner now, and the dwarf baker across the street is going to create desserts to accompany his meal.” Rylana watched the diplomat for a reaction, wondering if she knew about Mya—and about the ostracization.

“Ah? I’ve long wanted to try her baked goods, even though I’ve heard they can be… dubiously shaped.”

“All the shapes she bakes are fantastic. And there are normal goods too. I’m sure she won’t serve the king a boob cake.”

“No?” Shebly’s lips twitched. “He might enjoy that. He has a sense of humor. Can the baker and her food be trusted? I’ve heard she came here because… Well, after her husband passed, there were rumors, and then she left the city abruptly.”

“From what I’ve heard, she was driven out by the cruel gossip of a woman with standing in the dwarven court.”

“Lady Hymika. She does have a sharp and vengeful tongue.”

“Mya is a sweet grandmotherly dwarf. She wouldn’t harm anyone or drug her food.”

“I didn’t think so, but one never knows for sure what people who believe they’ve been treated unfairly will do.”

“Earlier, Mya spoke of making shield-shaped stonebread in case the king needs to protect himself. She’s on his side.” Belatedly, Rylana realized she shouldn’t have suggested the dwarven ruler might be in danger at the diner. Had Shebly heard about the attack the night the elven queen had been there? Those elves had been trying to take out Sylin, not their monarch, but the newspapers had printed a less-than-accurate version of the story.

Shebly chuckled instead of appearing concerned. “She must be loyal if she’s willing to bake stonebread. If the pan isn’t greased multiple times, it sticks to the sides, and you have to use a hammer and chisel to get it out.”

“Dwarven food has interesting characteristics.”

“Dwarves have interesting characteristics.”

“I won’t argue with that. Do you want me to get the horn so you can give it to the king to check out now?” Rylana asked casually, tilting her thumb over her shoulder toward the diner and trying not to show that she was eager to make it someone else’s problem. While glancing in that direction, she noticed Sylin leaning against the corner of a building, her arms folded over her chest.

Shebly hesitated. “The king said he’ll have his antiques expert along for the dinner. I didn’t bring guards or an armored wagon with me so I’d better leave it in the care of one with a dragon mate to protect one’s belongings.”

“He’s my business partner, not my mate,” Rylana said, though if one of their interludes actually ended up leading where she wished it to go, would she still be able to say that?

Did she even want to deny being Jildarin’s mate? Not really, but it might be wiser if the world didn’t know about it. Of course, it could be too late to keep their relationship secret. If even a dwarven diplomat they’d only met once before knew…

“If he’s not yet, he will be,” Shebly said. “I saw the way he stood beside you and looked at you. During the war, a dragon shape-shifted into a dwarf for diplomatic relationships with our people living near the joint kingdoms in the south, and I was on the ambassador’s team at the time. We eventually figured out the dragon was merely seeking intelligence and not that interested in a truce with our people, but, while he was visiting, he had a scandalous relationship with Princess Devloka, whom I was close to at the time.”

Rylana listened to the story with some horror, promptly wondering if the dragon had been Zilek.

“From what I recall,” Shebly continued, “it was quite the passionate affair. Even though the dragon meant to betray our people, the princess couldn’t be angry with him afterward. Everything was apparently quite torrid and scorching hot. How otherwise with a dragon? I’m a little envious of you.” She clasped her hands to her chest. “Dragons are such fantastic beings.”

“They’re not bad.”

Shebly chuckled, then lifted a hand. “The king and his retinue will aim to arrive an hour before nightfall.”