NOVEL NEXT Book 3 Ch 21: Gerda - Megan's Tea House
The mayhem had died down by the time I made my way to the Hall of Inventions.
“Please stay seated until you’re cleared to leave.” A guardswoman shouted over the croaking.
“[Cure].” Countess Julia, the Paladin of Light, was systematically picking up frogs and then bopping them on the nose. She would stop to take a mana potion every other frog.
Her build was for battle, not healing.
Necromancer Chloe was handing out antidotes and checking the condition of the cured. She was the perfect example of a calm, composed and professional paramedic. She only came up to my chin, but she was a force to be reckoned with while working.
“Gerda!” Henrietta waved from her spot on the stairs beside Rufus. Bronwynn was sitting on a statue of a dragon at the base of the stairwell into the Hall of Inventions. Duke Julian, who was speaking with his shadowy assistant, stopped to shoot me a look. It was a very intense look.
“Excuse me miss,” an elven guard stepped forward to waylay me. “But we have closed down the street and no one is allowed entry.”
“I am with Her Majesty.” I waved back at Henrietta.
“Then I will ask you to stay here until the area is cleared.” The guard instructed.
I accepted the directions and waited, taking up a seat in one of the patio chairs outside the cafe. This was the nice thing about not being in charge; If something happened, I didn’t have to clean up the mess.
It took an hour.
“You missed all the fun,” Bronwynn joked when I rejoined them. The guard from earlier had kindly escorted me.
“So it seems…” I shook my head. “Do we still have time to tour the Hall of Inventions?”
It was well past lunch at this point, and I almost regretted knocking over the poisoned snack trolley earlier. There wasn't anything in there that an Antidote couldn't fix.
“The guards are doing a final sweep before letting anyone into the buildings on this block. Just in case.” Rufus informed me. “but it shouldn't take much longer.”
“Any news why the Blackfog Spies turned people into a bunch of frogs?” I asked.
Even as I spoke, my perception let me know that people were coming up behind me. Chloe’s voice answered, “To be a menace?”
“It'll be fine, love, “ Countess Julia tried to cheer up her angry fiance. I stepped aside so everyone was facing each other.
“We were supposed to be reviewing the cheese plates! And our final dress fitting starts in thirty minutes.” Chloe crossed her arms and huffed. “Anyway, Rufus, I need you for the fitting.”
“You do not.” Rufus reached out and took Bronwynn's hand.
“Bring your wife, I don't care, but you will come try on the suit we've prepared.” Chloe pointed at Rufus. “And then we have the rehearsal dinner.”
“No use fighting it,” Countess Julia chuckled, she turned to Lady Amy. “There is a missive from your father back at the palace.”
The woman deflated noticeably. “Then I’ll return with you.”
Rufus sighed dramatically. “Fine.”
“I guess we'll see you later,” Bronwynn took her beastman's arm. She could have decided to stay, but there was a gleam in her eyes as it followed Rufus that said she wanted to see what his outfit looked like.
The pair bid us farewell and I was left with Henrietta on the steps of the Hall. They stopped at Duke Julian where the man was taking statements from the few remaining victims. They were all wearing aprons with the logo from the cafe, and appeared visibly shaken. Duke Julian protested, but eventually was convinced to leave with them.
He turned to stare at me once before he left.
“Shall we, Your Majesty?” I offered Henrietta my arm.
She accepted with a smile and said, “Actually I'm wondering if you want to grab something to eat. I'm famished.”
“Absolutely,” We turned to walk down the street instead. The cafe wasn't an option, but a block down there were three restaurants we could visit.
“Let’s go to Megan’s Tea House. I’m in the mood for something sweet.” Henrietta nodded, “And you can tell me when you fell for Duke Julian.”
I didn't trip. I didn't flinch. In fact, I was incredibly proud when I simply raised an eyebrow at my friend and asked, “What makes you think I like His Grace?”
“You can’t see yourself,” Henrietta squeezed my arm gently, so as not to break it. “But it’s the way your eyes follow him. You look like you want to eat the man.”
“I don't eat elf.” I deadpanned and the Heroine swatted me playfully on the shoulder.
“You can't fool me, I know the feeling.” She blushed a bit, her cheeks pink. “You can't keep your eyes off him, and you get this playful smile like you have a secret and you aren’t going to share it with him.”
I attempted to refute her claims. “He’s the person in charge, of course I’m going to check back and see what he’s doing. And I’ll have you know I’m naturally this sassy and we all know it.”
“You are a curmudgeon who delights in trolling people.” Henrietta countered, “Pun intended. But it’s not the same. What secret do you have on the duke?”
“Ha ha, make fun of the bridge troll.” I mocked offense. “How would I know any of his secrets? I live in the Dark Enchanted Forest and he lives in the Untamed Ice Fields.”
“So that’s not a no.” Henrietta smiled slyly. We’d arrived at the tea house and I opened the door to escort her inside.
“It’s an implied no.”
Megan’s Tea House was large enough for ten small tables of two and a pair along the street window. Climbing vines hung from the walls, and plants were happily living their best life in every corner of the establishment. Since it was past the lunch rush, there were only two others in the eatery.
The entire place smelled like freshly baked cookies. A faun stood behind the counter, her ears flicked once when she saw us.
“Welcome to Megan’s.” Her voice was soft and welcoming. “Please place your order with me and I’ll be happy to bring it to your table.”