Page 29 of Never Been Gargoyled
For the first time since the text arrived, the confidence in his voice made me believe that we actually could.
Chapter 12
Feydin
The sky stretched endlessly above me, painted in the soft grays and pinks of early dawn. Wind rushed beneath my wings as I soared toward town, the estate growing smaller behind me. Flying had always been freedom, but this morning it felt different.
I was flying to see a friend.
The thought still surprised me. When had I started thinking of the orc baker as anything more than a gruff shopkeeper who made excellent bread?
I landed behind the bakery in the small alley where delivery trucks normally parked. The scent of yeast drifted from the open back door, telling me Dorvak was already at work. I folded my wings and walked around to the front, pushing open the door that chimed to announce my arrival.
“You're up early,” Dorvak said without looking up from a tray of bread he was arranging in the display case.
“Good morning to you too.”
His mouth twitched, the closest thing to a smile I'd seen from him. “What brings you here before the sun's properly up?”
“Breakfast for Dazy.”
“Ah, Dazy?”
“You met her.” It was all I could do not to growl at him to stay away. But that wouldn’t be right. She wasn’t mine. I wasn’t hers.
I ignored the bleakness that thought brought me and studied the loaves of bread on display, trying to decide if rolls or a rustic loaf might impress her. The woman had demolished what was left in her bakery box with sounds that made my wings twitch. “What would you recommend?”
“Depends.” He set down the tray and fixed me with a steady look. “Are you trying to impress her?”
Heat crept up my neck. “Maybe.”
“Hmm.” Dorvak crossed his arms on his chest and gave me a long look. “You know anything about winning a female’s heart?”
The question hit me like a stone to the head. “No.”
“Me neither.” He shrugged. “But I've been thinking about it lately.”
“You have someone in mind?”
“Maybe.” His green skin darkened. “There’s a female I have been…watching.”
“Have you talked with her?”
“Why would I do something like that?” he barked.
I shrugged. “That might make it easier to get to know her.”
He frowned, cocking his head. “You think so?”
“It works better than glaring. So I’ve heard.”
“Does it?” He looked genuinely puzzled. “How can you tell?”
I stared at him. Here was an orc asking a gargoyle for romantic advice. We were both clearly doomed. “I have no idea.”
“Yes.” He nodded gravely. “That means we're both hopeless.”
“Completely.”
