Seraphina returned to the tavern a short while later. I couldn't help but smile when I saw her walk through the door. She looked refreshed and radiant, her long dark hair cascading down her back in soft waves. She wore a simple but elegant blue dress that complemented her figure perfectly.

"You look wonderful," I said as she approached me. "Did you have a good rest?"

Seraphina smiled, but there was a hint of seriousness in her expression. "Thank you, Varix. I did, but I need to talk to you about something."

I nodded, and asked, "Do we need to go upstairs?" In case she needed to use a silencing gem.

She shook her head lightly, and glanced around to ensure it was just us. "It's not about that."

I nodded, led her to a quiet corner, and sat at a table. I started to settle in but then popped back up. "Can I get you something to drink?" I asked.

Seraphina reached out and placed a reassuring hand on mine. "This will only take a minute," she said softly.

I sat back down, giving her my full attention.

She lowered her voice and said, "Glimmer and I need to slow down the gnolls and have them come in a few days, or possibly even a week from now. He wants to do some research, and I'm sure you don't need them clomping around here while trying to serve food. We should set up a specific time."

I let out a breath of relief. "Sounds good to me. I'm all for helping them, provided the gnolls are not up to anything nefarious. This was all pretty sudden."

"There is more, but I'll tell you about it later when we have more time," she lowered her voice to a whisper, "and more privacy." Seraphina glanced towards the door. "I should get going. I have some work to catch up on at the shop."

"You just got here."

"I know. Sorry. I'm going to find Alic or Mira and let them know. Then I have a lot of work to catch up on."

We both stood, and I pulled her into a warm hug. She returned the embrace, her head resting briefly on my shoulder.

"I'll see you soon," I said as she turned to leave.

Seraphina looked back over her shoulder with a playful smile on her lips. "Count on it."

Before we opened the food wagon for lunch, I hired Jessara's friends to come by and act as cheerleaders for the tavern. They walked the streets near the Shadow's Respite, talking loudly about the delicious food and encouraging people to try it. It was a good trick that got passing villagers to take notice. As the girls worked the crowds, I passed out small samples, leading to a line in front of the wagon.

To my delight, their efforts paid off, and we saw an uptick in sales. As we cleaned up from the lunch rush, Fie returned. She informed me that some local craft brewers were eager to feature their products in my tavern.

"Fie! That's great news."

Fie said, "I have to warn you. Not every brew will be good, but you should find a few decent ones."

Before I could think about it much more, I blurted out, "I have an idea. Can you help me invite the homebrewers to a one-evening event? I'll get a few bakers and cheese makers in here. The villagers can sample the local goods and maybe find items they were unaware of. I'll be able to judge the reactions to the brews and work out deals with the vendors of the favorites. It will be like a mini market day." Warming to the idea, I spun out an even broader plan. "We will have three judges, and an award will be given to the top three brews, which I will feature at the tavern going forward."

Fie smiled broadly. "That is a wonderful idea, Varix. I'll start spreading the word."

"Better yet, would you like to be a judge?"

Fie's eyebrows went up. "Truly?"

I nodded.

She grinned. "I'd love to. When would you like to do this?"

I thought about it and said, "Two evenings from now."

Another shrimp shipment was coming in, and I'd have to work overtime to turn it into finger food for the guests. My mind was already swirling with ideas.

"Thanks, Fie. I appreciate all your hard work."

"It wasn't that hard, Varix. I have a lot of connections."

After Fie left, I told my staff I needed to run an errand. The town steward, Roland Hightown, was the one man in town who could help make my event work.

"Hey, boss. W’as on the menu tonight?" Lady Churl stopped me and asked.

"Let's push the gumbo again tonight. And we need to get rid of as much shrimp as possible."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Right. I'll get the garlic ready. We gots lotsa butter. Sauteed it is."

I nodded at Lady Churl and set out. The sun was nice and high in the sky, and a few puffy clouds lazed their way across it. It was as idyllic a day as anyone could hope for. I was greeted by several villagers and waved to many more.

Along the way, I came across a tall man dressed in a finely tailored tunic of deep green silk, embroidered with intricate silver patterns along the collar and sleeves. His trousers were soft, supple leather in a rich brown hue, tucked into knee-high boots of the same material. A cloak of fine, light wool in a muted gray draped elegantly over his shoulders, fastened with a silver clasp in the shape of a leaf.

The man stood in front of a store, gazing up at the sign. As I approached, he turned his head. I stopped in my tracks, surprised by his appearance. "You're an elf!" I blurted out.

The elf glanced over his shoulder, then back at me, his features impassive. I apologized, explaining that I was surprised to see an elf in town.

With a hint of condescension, the elf stated, "My kind are not all that rare, now are they? Are you a bit slow, perchance?"

I laughed, trying to lighten the mood, and said, "I'm often slow. You got me there. I apologize for my strange greeting. I'm Varix. Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?"

The elf barely covered a sneer and replied. "I am Rylorn. I suppose it's not every day a human sees a member of the fair folk in this quaint little town."

"Listen. I own a tavern in town called The Shadow's Respite. Why don't you stop by? I'll offer you a meal for half price. I make some unusual dishes that are well-loved around here. Call it an apology for the misunderstanding."

Rylorn's lip curled in a sneer as he stated, "Tavern food? I'd rather not, if it's all the same. You humans have odd tastes."

This guy was a lost cause. It was time to take an L and move on.

I nodded once, and took a step away. His expression suddenly softened into a smile. I followed his gaze and spotted an older human woman emerging from a store. The elf gracefully strode toward her, hooked his arm in hers, and they left without another word.

I shrugged off the encounter and continued to Roland's office, weaving through the bustling streets of Everspring. As I approached the building, I peered through the window and found the town steward hunched over his desk with a pile of documents spread out before him.

I knocked lightly on the door before pushing it open. "Ah, Varix. A pleasure to see you," Roland greeted me, looking up from his work.

I stepped into the small office, taking in the solid wood desk that dominated the space. Piles of books and papers were precariously perched on every available surface, threatening to topple over at the slightest disturbance.

"Good to see you too, Roland," I said warmly. "Do you have a moment? I have an idea I wanted to run by you."

"Of course. Your ideas often lead to good food and ale."

"This one sure will."

I recounted my plan for the event night, explaining how I wanted to invite local craft brewers, bakers, and cheesemakers to showcase their products at The Shadow's Respite. Roland listened attentively, nodding along as I spoke, I told him about the contest I'd like to run, and asked if he would like to be one of the three judges.

"I would be flattered, Varix. This will be a momentous night," he said, patting his belly. "It's short notice, but I'll post a few flyers around town to help spread the word."

"Thank you, Roland. I really appreciate it," I said, grinning. "I'm also working on getting more Peach ale, but I'm afraid the baron has made it so I'm no longer receiving any."

Roland frowned. "That is a shame. I suppose we could report him to the king. You and he seemed to have hit it off."

I shook my head. "I can't go crying to the king every time I have a problem. I'll figure out how to beat Swiftwood at his own game."

"This contest will be a good start. The tavern will be packed."

"That's the idea." I nodded.

He jotted down a few details about the food and beverage event on a scrap of paper. "This could be a great opportunity for local businesses to showcase their products, and for the community to come together."

"That's exactly what I was thinking," I said, nodding. "Thank you again for all your help, Roland. It means a lot."

"It's my pleasure, Varix. I'm always happy to support new ventures that benefit our town."

With a final handshake and a smile, I left Roland's office, feeling optimistic about the upcoming event's impact on our bottom line. But one question remained. Who would I ask to be the third judge?

As I entered the tavern, I found Milo and Lady Churl already hard at work in the kitchen, preparing for the evening's dinner service. The rhythmic sound of chopping vegetables filled the air.

"How's it going in here?" I asked, poking my head into the kitchen.

Milo looked up from his cutting board and grinned. "We're making good progress, Mr. V. These veggies will be ready soon."

I glanced at the kitchen, then back at the door as a loud knock sounded there. "Grand Central frigging..." I muttered under my breath, then quickly slapped a hand over my mouth before I could complete the old Earth saying.

Milo looked up from his cutting board, a quizzical expression on his face. "What's that, Mr. V?"

I shook my head, waving off his question. "Nothing, Milo. Keep up the good work."

A second, more insistent knock resounded, breaking my thoughts. With a sigh, I walked over, unlatched and heaved the door open.

At the door stood an older man, and his heavy-lidded gaze scanned the space with what looked like a critical eye. Dust clung to his wrinkled suit, adding to his dour appearance.

"Good afternoon," I greeted him, trying to keep my tone friendly despite my growing unease. "How can I help you?"

The man cleared his throat and straightened his posture. "Greetings. I am Dulmore Thornton, and I am here on behalf of the Tavern Guild. Might I have a word with the owner of this establishment?"

I blinked several times. Tavern Guild? I forced a smile and nodded. "I'm Varix Vel'Naris, the owner of The Shadow's Respite. What's this about?"

He stared at me until it grew uncomfortable.

"Would you like to come in?" I asked finally.

"Of course, I would like to come in."

Frowning, I stepped aside, allowing Dulmore to enter the tavern. I could practically feel judgment radiating off him in waves. He extracted a folded packet of papers from his inner jacket as his eyes continued to sweep over the interior.

"Welcome. Can I get you a drink?"

"No. I don't want a drink. I don't want to be here. I would much rather be at home in the capital. But I've been summoned here because of you, Mr. Vel'Naris."