Page 35 of Ogres Don't Play

He shrugged and held out a credit card. I stared at it, then at him. “What’s this?”

“Until I return gold, you need funds.”

I stared at him and then at the card again. It was gold with a pretty streak of blue through the center. “Funds?”

“Food once a week is not enough.”

I blinked at him and felt tears prick my eyes. I blinked them quickly away, because the last thing I needed was for Driver to think I was too weak for this morning’s errand. It’s just that I’d been living on nothing but music for such a long time.

“You don’t need to worry about me,” I said, raising my chin. I could take care of myself. I’d done well enough in the past.

He bared his teeth at me and tucked the card in the top of my light armor tunic. “Take care of yourself, and I won’t worry. You are too thin to trust. Cooks shouldn’t look like they’ll blow away in a wind.”

No matter how much weight I put on, I’d look like a leaf compared to an ogre, but I just took out the card and secured it inside the pocket on my harp case. “I’ll return it once you give me the gold.”

He smiled, showing nice white tusks. “Yes. You will spend money on yourself, not just the music hall.”

I nodded and turned towards Tiago. He was looking at me with a slight smile that disappeared as he held out the fliers. “Are you ready for today’s fun?”

Was I ready to hunt down Gavriel? If things went sideways, I’d end up very safe, permanently safe, with my father. I nodded and smiled brightly. “Every day is a good day to recruit musicians.”

It was quiet in Song, and no one refused to take a poster as I made my way through the commercial districts. I skipped Wonderland, because Driver didn’t park the car there, instead, skipped to the next block. That worked for me. I was getting tired, and the real reason I was there was coming up very fast.

I got out of the car, letting Driver help me, and walked slowly to the bakery that Gavriel had come out of. It smelled nice.Maybe I’d buy something for lunch. As soon as I went in, Driver growled low in his throat. Immediately, the green-skinned ogre woman behind the counter straightened up, eyes enormous as she stared at my companion, looking like her doom had come.

I put a hand on his chest and nodded at him to stay there. “Don’t scare my potential musicians, Driver. Do you think I’m in danger?”

He broke eye contact with the woman and studied me for a beat before he shook his head no. “Now safe.”

“Perfect. I’m going to order something for lunch. Do you want anything?”

“Empan.”

“Empan? Right. I’ll see if she has that. You stay here and try to look like a driver instead of a death machine.” Oops, that had been one of his names. He only turned and seated himself near the window so he could see everyone coming in and going out.

I headed for the counter to smile at the woman who was still staring at driver and trembling. “Hi. I’m the Music Master. Would you mind if I put up a poster in your shop about the upcoming Jubilee?”

She met my eyes and then frowned as she leaned closer to sniff at me. Ugh. Driver hadn’t done that, at least not that I’d noticed. In fact, I’d almost forgotten how much I disliked it because it had been a while since any ogres had sniffed me. “You Music Master?” Her voice had a very pleasant tone, much lighter and sweeter than most ogres, even Lanise, who was supposed to be the musician.

“That’s right. Also…” I drew a line on the counter and hummed a quick strain so our words would be blocked from Driver. “I’m looking for an archangel. He was in your shop.”

She blinked at me while I prepared a spell of compulsion to force her to talk. It wasn’t strictly ethical, but I had limited time.

“Yes. Sleep upstairs.”

I blinked at her. She’d just told me that? What kind of landlord was she, just telling anyone where Gavriel could be found? Didn’t she care about his security? “Oh. Good. That’s great. Could I get two empan’s for Driver and something more human for me? Not made out of humans, just for humans.”

She smiled slightly and nodded, turning to make two plates, one with these meat pockets wrapped in crunchy crusts, and one that was cheesy and gooey and filled with something delicious. I hesitated a beat before I handed her the card. She took it and then froze when she saw it. She looked at me, and her eyes were hunted.

“Do you have a problem with it?” I sked.

She opened her mouth and closed it, frowned at the card and then holding it like it might bite her, ran it through her machine. It beeped and went through. She hurriedly pushed it back to me, like she knew who it belonged to and didn’t want anything to do with him. Mm hm. Sounded like a chieftain was working in my hall as a stone mason. The plot thickens.

“Do you know what time the archangel will wake up? I’d like to talk to him about the Jubilee.” I spread out the poster so she could see what I meant.

“You talk?” She dried her hands on a towel, glanced at Driver, then nodded at me. “Sit, Eat. I get.”

“I wouldn’t want you to wake him up…”

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