Chapter 28 #2
Layothlee blinked a couple of times. “I’m not sure if we’re staying for lunch, and, as flattering and difficult to resist as your last offer is, I’m not looking for a mate at this time.”
“Are you certain?” Rolf asked. “Our children would be strong, agile, clever, and beautiful.”
“And green,” Rylana said.
“Elves don’t mind a little green tint in the skin.” Rolf waved toward Layothlee’s head. “It goes wonderfully with their hair.”
Rylana tapped his shoulder and pointed at a man in a booth lifting an empty mug. “That customer is personally requesting that you refill his drink.”
“He isn’t a gorgeous elf,” Rolf said without looking.
“No, but when he walked in, I heard him mention that he’s been blessed by the gods with a profitable business and he enjoys sharing his prosperity with others.”
“Oh?” Rolf’s head swiveled toward the gentleman. “I’ll refill his drink.”
“Good idea.”
As Rolf trotted toward the booth, Layothlee, eyes twinkling, asked, “Do you regularly practice mendacity with your staff?”
“To keep them from offending visitors? Every chance I get.” Rylana almost added that Rolf wasn’t her staff, but she supposed that wasn’t true.
When Jildarin had made her his partner, she’d inherited not only the profits and losses, and obligation to ensure the rent was paid, but the quirky employees.
Maybe she should have thought more than three seconds before accepting his offer.
“Wise,” Layothlee said, “though I’ve had far more offensive propositions.”
“Zilek hasn’t been bothering you with dragon-spiced offerings, has he?” Rylana thought Jildarin had been too busy to make any of his special soup since last she’d seen his brother, but that didn’t mean Zilek couldn’t have gone by to pester Layothlee with his advances.
“No, but he did inform me that I could look forward to sampling that soon.”
“I suppose you could look forward to sampling it—it is quite good—but you may also want to run the other way the next time you see him.”
“That will be difficult since he’s informed me that he has tickets to opening night for our upcoming performance, but he’s not so bad. He’s quite well educated and knows elves well.”
“He does attend a lot of cultural events, I understand.”
“I actually brought tickets for opening night in case you and Jildarin-grozanarav would like to attend.” Layothlee dipped a hand into her pocket to withdraw four forest-green invitations written in golden ink. “You’re welcome to bring a couple of friends.” She looked around the diner again.
Rylana couldn’t keep the niggling suspicion from returning that Layothlee was looking for Sylin. As if she would be present when Captain Tassani and one of his soldiers were in the building.
“Like Rolf?” Rylana asked.
“If you wish.” How impressive that Layothlee could say that without cringing. “Whoever you’d like to enjoy the experience with, should you be available to come.”
“This way, this way,” floated Jildarin’s voice out of the kitchen.
Tassani held the door open as Jildarin walked out with plates balanced in his arms. Zalani followed with two more plates, and the plant master and the landlord trailed after them.
As he passed, Jildarin nodded toward Rylana, then seated the elves at a booth.
He set plates of mushrooms—mushrooms sautéed with ingredients that included coffee, perhaps?
—on the table, then waved for them to enjoy their meals.
Zalani looked nervous about being around so many full-blooded elves, but she sturdily stepped up to take drink orders.
Gniknik came out with a plate filled with similar fare, though strips of bacon were stretched alongside the mushrooms. Aztor rubbed his hands together and seated himself at the bar as Gniknik placed the meal in front of him.
When Jildarin joined Rylana, he looked smug. “The landlord has approved the addition of a rooftop seating area as long as the elves are involved in the design.”
“That’s good news,” Rylana asked. “Do you usually serve bacon with sautéed mushrooms?”
“No, but he requested both. Since both items share the same special ingredient, I believe they will pair satisfactorily.”
“Is the special ingredient coffee?”
“It is.”
“I’ll trade you a ticket to the elven aerial ballet for a plate like his.” Rylana pointed the green slips at the bar, where the landlord was already digging in.
Jildarin eyed them. “My brother is going to that.”
“Is that all right? These seats probably aren’t next to his.”
“I have not been pleased with him since he threatened to slay you.”
“I appreciate you not approving of that, but I don’t think slayings are allowed at elven cultural events.”
“Certainly not,” Jildarin said.
“Besides, he should be busy being enraptured by the agile acrobatics of Layothlee and the other elves.”
“The other female elves. He is overly preoccupied with mating.”
“A flaw you’re lucky that you’re not tempted to succumb to.” Rylana smiled a little wistfully as she waved the tickets again, wanting a plate of bacon more than she cared one way or another if Jildarin attended the event, but it did seem wise to stay in good favor with the elves.
“That is correct.” Jildarin gazed at her. “You will also attend?”
“Yes.”
“Very well.” Jildarin took one of the tickets, then strode back to his kitchen.
“Are you going on a date with Chef Jildarin?” Zalani asked, pausing before heading back to retrieve drinks.
“Yes, and so are you.” Rylana handed one of the tickets to her. She would offer the other one to Mya. She wasn’t going to take Rolf. Gniknik might deserve to go, but he would probably prefer an invitation to a venue filled with mechanical constructs rather than elven acrobats.
“That should be interesting.” Zalani smirked and accepted the ticket.
“I expect so.”