Fenella felt her throat tighten. "I just tell silly stories."
"You do it so naturally, you don't realize the impact you have on people." He reached under the bar, pulling out a small, wrapped package. "I have something for you. For the trip."
"I'm not leaving until Tuesday, and even that's not a sure thing. We might leave later than that."
"I want you to take it." Atzil handed the package to her. "I don't want it lying around the bar."
Taking the package, Fenella had a moment of panic thinking that it was a parting gift, but then Atzil had given her so many compliments that it didn't make sense for him to fire her.
She unwrapped it carefully, finding inside a beautiful silver flask engraved with Celtic knotwork.
"For emergencies in the desert," Atzil said. "It's insulated to keep liquids either hot or cold."
"Atzil, this is beautiful. Thank you."
"I'm glad you like it." His voice roughened. "I also wanted to tell you that your job will be here when you return, even if you takea month, a year, or a decade. The Hobbit isn't the same without you."
It was a relief to hear him say that. She needed confirmation that her job would be waiting for her when she came back.
"Fates, I hope it won't be that long." She set down the flask and pulled him into a hug.
Atzil stiffened for a moment—he wasn't a demonstrative male—then returned the embrace.
"I'll miss this place," she said against his shoulder. "I'll miss you."
"Then you'd better come back quickly." He pulled away, clearing his throat. "Now go. Your professor is waiting."
She tucked the flask into her bag, gave the bar one last look, and headed for the back where Din was still pretending to grade papers.
"Everything alright?" he asked.
"Atzil gave me a beautiful present, and for a moment, I was afraid that it was a parting gift, but he told me to come back quickly."
Din frowned. "We don't know how long it's going to take, so Atzil should not count on you returning to the Hobbit anytime soon."
"He knows that." Fenella took off her apron and tucked it into her bag. "But knowing and hoping are two different things." She slung the strap of her satchel over her shoulder. "Ready to go?"
"Have been ready for a while." Din closed his laptop and slipped it into his messenger bag.
As they started the walk home, he gave her hand a light squeeze. "You were magnificent tonight."
"I'm magnificent every night."
"Yes, you are."
The moon was nearly full, casting everything in silver light as they walked through the village pathways, and except for the distant sounds of night birds and other nocturnal creatures, the night was quiet.
"Are you excited about Egypt?" Din asked.
"I'm a little nervous," she admitted. "I've never been there, and Jacki said that it wasn't safe. I'm not really worried because you will be with me, and hopefully, Max will come along, and Ell-rom will be there as well. I just don't want any unnecessary excitement, you know what I mean?"
He nodded. "The market incident has shaken you."
"It did, but more than that was hearing what was prevented by that chance encounter. Life is so fragile, Din, even for immortals, and there are a lot of bad people out there."
"I can't argue with that."
"And you know what's worse?" She turned to look at him.
