Page 15 of Dragon Heir

“Good work. Better than I expected. Now put them in the oven for eight minutes and make sure you watch them. The little scamps can burn at a moment’s notice!”

I did as she instructed and slipped the pan into the pre-fired oven. Their little tops glistened and rose as the air puffed inside of them. Vargas busied herself with the rest of the work and I thought she would scold me for watching my creations so intently, but she left me alone.

After seven minutes I opened the door and peeked inside. A shadow fell on my brow as I stared at the biscuits. “I think they’re done already.”

“Let me see.” Vargas came up to my side and leaned down. She inspected them for a moment before she nodded. “You are right. I must have set the oven too high and they thought they could burn while we were not looking. A good eye, Lady Thorn.”

I tried not to puff my chest out as I snatched the mittens. I was just pulling them out of the oven when I heard a strange rapping noise.

Chapter Ten

Vargas, too, stopped her preparations to look about the room. “What in all the lands is that noise?”

I set my perfect biscuits on the island and turned in a slow circle until I noticed movement at the window. One of the tiny Tenky folk balanced their ‘vehicle’ on the outside edge of the glass. The little man knocked his fist against the window creating the sound.

I hurried over and Vargas was quick to follow. The little guy looked so precarious that I opened the window. “What is it?”

The little Tenky rolled back and forth on the wide sill and his eager eyes scoured the kitchen. “Did one of us come this way?”

“If he has he would not dare show himself in my kitchen,” Vargas spoke up.

The Tenky scowled at her. “Maybe you just didn’t see him but he’d want what you’re cooking.”

The compliment somewhat mollified Vargas’ annoyance at the interruption. “We have not seen your friend but we will keep an eye out for him. What does he look like?”

The Tenky used a hand to gesture down at himself. “Like me and he was riding on a shell with a crack in it.”

I nodded. “We’ll remember that but what makes you think he’s missing?”

Our little guest wrinkled his nose. “We were supposed to meet up for a late lunch but he never showed. I figured he followed the scent to this place and maybe grabbed a bite to eat.”

I smiled and patted the bottom of the open window. “We’ll keep the window open and see if he comes this way.”

The little man inclined his head. “Much obliged for the help.” He tightened his grip on the ‘handlebars’ and the walnuts spun in place before whisking him off the sill. The strange little man dropped into the grass and soon zoomed out of sight.

Vargas shook her head and clucked her tongue. “What a strange gaggle of people Lord Thorn allows on his lands.”

“At least they’re useful,” I pointed out as I turned back to the kitchen.

However, I was alone in leaving the window.

Vargas hadn’t followed. I turned and found she stood close to the raised glass. Her gaze was captured by the early afternoon sky and her hands gripped the edge of the sill nearly bad enough to make the knuckles go white.

I sidled up to her. “Are you worried about him?”

Vargas shook herself and frowned at me. “Of course not! Why should I worry about him? That old fool always does such foolish things!”

“You look like you’re worried,” I persisted.

She pursed her lips and tightened her grip on the window sill. “Well, perhaps I am. He is not as young as he used to be and his wings are not as strong as they should be. They may fail him if he flies too recklessly.”

I set a hand on her shoulder and offered her a smile. “I’m sure he’ll be fine. If something happens to him the Tenky will be able to tell us about it, too.”

Her hands quivered a little as did her lower lip and her voice came out in a hushed, shaking whisper. “But what if the call comes too late?”

Her quivering tone pulled at my heartstrings. I set a hand on her shoulder and offered her a smile. “I’m sure he’ll be back in no time so why don’t we finish the food? If he has as good a nose as everyone says then he’ll smell what we’re cooking and come running-er, flying this way.”

Vargas used her fingers to wipe a few errant tears from her eyes and nodded. “Of course. You are quite right. The scent of food will most definitely draw him in this direction.” She pushed off from the sill and turned to face me. A faint smile touched her lips and for the first time since I’d met her, I didn’t detect any of the usual sardonic humor in her expression. “Let us hurry now! We mustn’t keep empty stomachs waiting!”

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