Page 24 of The Poison of the Earth
As my eyes adjust to the dim light, I see a huge stone fireplace, around which sit many comfortable looking chairs, most taken up by older Fae who are having a lively conversation. I turn and see the oblong bar with stools around it and a heavy-set Fae with yellow skin. His hair is a shocking green and he has a friendly smile on his face.
“Tazi!” He calls, waving.
“Alfie!” She counters, tugging me up to a stool. “This is Allie. She’s my new friend.”
“Um, hi,” I say.
His face is so open and amiable that I can’t help but feel at ease.
“Good afternoon, child, and what can I get you?”
“Uh–”
Tazi cuts me off, “There’s only one kind of beer and you only offer a daily special from the kitchen, ya lemon.”
He chortles merrily, “Right, right, lemme grab those for ya,” and he heads to the back.
I turn to Tazi just as a pretty woman with rose-red hair sits down next to her.
“Rosetta!” Tazi chirps. “This is Allie!”
Her sparkling green eyes take me in. “Ahhh. So Lilac was exaggerating when she said the new maid was ugly as a tuber.”
My mouth drops open but Tazi snorts. Rosetta leans to pat my hand. “Don’t worry, dear, I didn’t believe her.”
“Lilac would call the Goddess herself ugly compared to Rosie here,” Tazi teases.
Rosetta blushes. “I’m very content with my heart mate. Perhaps if you found a mate you’d be less of a pest.” She sticks her tongue out at Tazi and I laugh in surprise.
She turns to me, “So, you’ve met Tazi, and Lilac, and Cas is who found you—lost and bedraggled if rumors are true. Kaiis never far from the Commander, so surely you’ve had thepleasureof meeting him. Have you seen much of town?”
I smile at her easy manner, “No, Tazi here is the first Fae to spring me from the kitchen.”
She frowns. “Working you hard already? That won’t do.”
Alfie returns with rounded bread loaves filled with savory-smelling soup and two foaming mugs of beer. My stomach rumbles.
“A round for you, Rosie?” Alfie asks and she nods enthusiastically.
I start to dig in as she offers, “I’d be happy to show you around a bit. There are some lovely hidden spots in the woods or on the bay if you need to get out and away from folks a bit.”
I swallow a bite of the—frankly incredible—soup. “That would be so kind of you, Rosetta. I would appreciate that.”
Tazi wrinkles her nose, “We’ll all go together after this pint. I just gotta get her back this evening so Cook doesn’t blow a gasket.”
I look at them both, smiling back, and nod happily.
“Best way to spend an afternoon,” Rosie says cheerily.
“Outside?” I suggest.
“Outside in the company of friends,” she grins at me.
I WIPE OFF MY HANDSand remove my apron, making sure my emerald green dress is laying right. This one has enough shape that it doesn’t require a corset and I think the idea that a mere layer separates his hand from my flesh will egg Lonan into touching me.
“See you in the morning,” Cook grins, a barely repressed smirk on her face.
I huff, “Quit, you rotten old matchmaker.”
