Page 73 of Cauldrons, Charms & Chai
Tin produced a floral handkerchief and blew his nose loudly into it as Pip patted him on the arm. Vorto and Klaff were sitting on the front bench sobbing, their massive shoulders shaking as they tried to stifle the sound with handkerchiefs the size of tablecloths.
As Erindil passed Lira to Korl and the couple took each other’s hands, even the elf sniffled as he took his seat.
“Welcome, everyone,” Rosie said, poking her head around Korl’s massive form to be seen. “I’d like to open this celebration with a gnome hat ritual, but since you aren’t gnomes and don’t have hats to tie together, I suppose we’ll skip straight to the vows.”
Then Rosie recited some unusual weddings vows for the couple to repeat, Glen warbled more protests at being denied flowers to eat, and then the couple was kissing and walking back down the aisle.
“That was fast,” Cali said to Sass as Glen trotted behind the newlyweds.
“Aye, a dwarf ceremony would take at least an hour. And that’s if the couple are fast tunnelers.”
Cali started to ask Sass to explain how tunneling was a part of a dwarf wedding ceremony but decided against it.
Once they’d all recessed to the back of the tavern, Vaskel slipped behind the bar and started pulling pints of ale. “It’s time for a toast!”
Iris followed him, handing him clean tankards and slipping him sweet smiles as the couple worked together to pass out drinks to everyone. Cali took the pewter tankard that Sass handed her, but her attention was snagged by the front tavern door opening, bringing in a squall of snow and along with a cloaked figure.
The archer instinctively reached for her bow, cursing that it wasn’t on her back.
The lone figure tossed back her hood and shook out a mane of glossy, black curls. “I’m looking for the folks who delivered some hellkins to Eldu.”
Val stepped forward, her shoulders squared. “That would be me.”
“And me,” Korl added.
Vaskel stepped from behind the bar. “Has something happened?”
The woman shrugged off her cloak to reveal leather pants tucked into high boots, a blousy shirt topped with a loose vest and a red sash cinching her waist. “You could say that.”
Cali’s mouth went dry as she eyed the stunning woman’s clothing and thought about her favorite books. She pulled Lira closer to her and whispered, “Is she a pirate?”
