Page 31 of Tusks, Tails & Teacakes
“Lira is making some fancy tea she tried when she was in The Wild Reach,” Iris said.
“Tea?” Sass’s eager expression fell.
“Spiced tea,” Lira said, trying to hide her disappointment at being interrupted “You’ll love it.”
Sass leaned closer to the brewing chai, drawing in another long breath. “Well, it has to be better than my uncle’s double fungus ale.”
Eighteen
Lira eyedthe dough as she cut the last triangle and transferred it to the baking sheet. She was reasonably sure she’d mastered the mixture for the scones, but her gran had never added cinnamon into her dough.
It’s the influence of the chai,she thought as she glanced at her earthenware mug on the table, steam still spiraling from the hot drink.
Then she caught sight of Crumpet holding the wooden spoon she’d used to mix the scone dough, dainty licking it. “You think it’s good?”
“The wee beast is the judge now, is he?” Sass asked as she and Iris walked back into the kitchen holding their own mugs of chai.
“Tease all you want, butCrumpet knows his pastry.”
Iris lifted her mug. “I have to say that I’m pleasantly surprised by the spiced tea. I can see why you love it.”
“Aye, it goes down easy.” Sass took a long gulp from her mug. “It doesn’t warm you like whiskey, but it doesn’t muddle your head either.”
“Let’s try to limit the whiskey drinking during the day.”
Sass shrugged. “As you wish.”
Lira picked up her own chai and took a wary sip, careful not to let it burn her tongue as she swallowed. She closed her eyes as the milky tea slid down her throat, the spices warming her from the inside out.
“The tavern looks as good as new, pet.” Iris put a hand on Sass’s shoulder. “I never thought I’d see it like this again.”
Almost,thought Lira. They might have given it a good spit-and-polish, but it still didn’t have the cheerful conversation spilling from the doors or mouthwatering aromas clinging to the air. Not yet.
Crumpet let out a shrill chittering sound, fluttering his tiny paws at the oven and flapping his wings.
Lira yanked open the door, waving a hand in front of her face as acrid smoke belched from inside. “Hells and cinders!”
She snatched a rag from the counter, using it to retrieve the hot pans and clang them onto the stovetop. Crumpet had flown out the window once smoke started to fill the room, and both Iris and Sass coughed as Lira shut the oven door again.
“This oven is a menace,” Lira said once she’d fanned away enough smoke to see that only a few of the scones were burned, and the ones at the other end of the pan were still pale.
“That’s the gods honest truth.”
The gravelly voice startled her into dropping the cloth, as she realized that Durn had entered the kitchen behind Sass and Iris.
“You gave me a fright, Durn.” Iris pressed a hand to her heart as she turned to the tavernkeeper.
“My Alma complained about that oven something fierce,” Durn said after acknowledging Iris with a tip of his head. “She said it would be the death of her.”
Iris's face constricted, and she seemed on the verge of comforting him when he turned and left as abruptly as he’d arrived. Once he was gone, she shook her head. “That man has been a right mess for too long.”
“It means he loved her,” Sass said, her own voice husky. “The price for sunlight is shadows.”
Lira wondered if that was another of Sass’s mum’s sayings, but she didn’t ask.
Sass drained her tea and set the mug on the counter. “I’d better get back out there. That bar isn’t going to polish itself.”
Lira slid the scones onto a plate and then started to tenderly scrape the bunt bits off the corners with the edge of her dagger. “I should be able to salvage most of these.”
