The village of Everspring had clearly seen better days, but the warm welcome from the residents put a smile on my face. As we made our way through the dirt streets, Caden was greeted with hugs, handshakes, and even a few tears.

"Varix, come meet my family," Caden said, leading me to a group of people who shared his features. He introduced me to his parents, his sister, and finally, his brother Alic.

Alic was practically Caden's twin in appearance, but there was a certain smugness about him that set him apart. He puffed out his chest as Caden mentioned his recent promotion to captain of the guard. Who's guard was anyone's guess, but I assumed the Village's. Watchtowers dotted the corners, and a partial wooden palisade wall that faced north had been erected, but it appeared work on the fence had fallen off. I guess the defeat of Dark Lord Morthisal had put the country more at ease.

"Pleasure, Varix," Alic said, shaking my hand firmly. "So nice to meet a friend of Caden's."

I smiled politely. "Great to meet you, Alic. Cheers on your promotion. Caden mentioned you'd advanced to the captain of the guard. I'm sure you'll serve the position well."

"Thank you. It's well deserved," Alic said and turned to Caden. "He's so polite. The last time you were in the village, you were with that guy, Doan. Big as a house, and dumb as a rock. How's he doing?"

"He's behind me if you want to ask," Caden replied. "Hey, Doan. Alic wants to say hi. He said you're…"

Alic slapped his hand over Caden's mouth. Caden slapped it away. The two tousled for a few seconds, then broke apart and laughed at each other before tightly embracing and pounding each other on the back.

I chuckled, chiming in, "I was just about to say, nothing says 'heartfelt reunion' like brotherly attempted suffocation."

"What's that?" Doan asked as he joined us.

"Alic was just saying he remembered you from the last time you were in the village. I think he's a fan," I said.

Doan's eyes darted between the three of us. He pursed his lips and nodded once at Alic. “I can see that.”

Caden told me there was an extra room in the house, and I was welcome to stay in it for as long as needed.

I felt out of place. I was grateful for the kindness shown to me, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I didn't belong. Lucky for me, there was an entire village to explore. I told him, "I don't want to impose. I have some coin from the orcs and my soldier's pay from the healer's camp. I think I'll explore a bit, maybe find a place to stay."

Caden nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Of course, Varix. Just know that you're always welcome here. We are more than happy to have you. Why don’t you stop by later? We’ll have enough food to feed half the village.”

“I’ll do that, Caden. Hey. I just wanted to say that you have been a true friend to me, and I appreciate your kindness. I don’t know where I would be without you.”

“Oh, stop.” Caden blushed. “I would have done the same for anyone, and I have no doubt you would have done the same if our roles had been reversed. It’s truly been a pleasure traveling with you. Your cooking skills are something else, my friend.”

I thanked Caden again and pulled him into a quick embrace.

With a grateful smile, I set out to wander the streets of Everspring. The village had a quaint charm despite the scars of war. Some buildings on the outskirts had been reduced to charred husks, while others remained standing.

The cobblestone paths beneath my feet were well-worn from the countless footsteps. Despite the scars of war that marred some of the buildings, the village buzzed with life and activity.

There was a bustling market square, where vendors hawked their wares and the aroma of sizzling meats filled the air. Some of the stalls offered questionable delicacies, but I couldn't fault the enthusiasm of the cooks as they tended to their flaming grills. The sight of fresh fruits and vegetables, piled high, brought a smile to my face. It was nice to see so many people out trading and going about their daily lives. I imagined it would have been heartbreaking to see the village during the darkest parts of the war.

As I wandered through the market, a small hovel caught my eye. The sign outside proclaimed it an herbalist's shop, and I made a mental note to stop by once I was settled in. I was eager to peruse the shop owner's wares and perhaps glean some knowledge about the local flora.

What surprised me most, however, was the friendliness of the people. As I walked by, people called out greetings, their faces warm and welcoming. It was a far cry from my experiences in Seattle, where making eye contact with a stranger on the street was a rare occurrence.

I couldn't help but chuckle to myself as I imagined the reactions of my former colleagues if they could see me now. The once-mundane Vincent Logan, now traversing a fantasy world, being greeted by friendly faces at every turn. It was a surreal experience, but one that I was beginning to love.

As I turned the corner, I saw a tavern sign that read "The Shadow's Respite." The paint was chipped and faded, and the wood underneath had started showing through. One of the window shutters was barely hanging on, clinging to the frame by a single hinge. It shook in the wind, like it was fighting to stay attached. The roof had a few missing shingles, and it sagged a little in the middle.

Cobwebs hung in the corners of the windows, and the glass was covered in dirt and dust, making it hard to see inside. A shape appeared in the top corner window: a regal-looking woman wearing a blue top that was lined with silver threads in small star patterns.

She looked at me. I looked at her. The woman’s eyes widened, and she ducked out of view.

I looked down at myself. Did I really look so strange? What a weirdo.

Even though it was worn out, the tavern still had a certain charm. The sign above the door had some fancy carvings, as if someone had put a lot of love into making it. The door was scuffed up and old, but it looked solid and sturdy.

A passing woman noticed my interest and said, "Sorry, love. It's been closed since the owner, Old Heron, passed away."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," I replied. "Did it happen during the war?"

The woman shook her head. "No, he was his own best customer. A large, jolly man, he was. Probably his heart gave out, poor soul."

"Is it for sale?"

"Don't know, but I imagine so.”

"Is there a realtor I can speak to? Er. I mean, someone to talk to about buying property in the village?

“Oh. You'd want to be speaking with an Estate Steward. That would be Roland Hightown.”

"Yes. That's what I meant. An Estate Steward. Where can I find Mr. Hightown?"

"That's an easy one. See this street? Follow it, oh, five or six blocks. Then turn left." She spun in place and looked the road up and down. "Nope. Right. You're going to turn right. Now go another three or four blocks and turn… Right. Yes. Right. Look for a large well in the center of the square. Now, there will be four streets that branch off. Count from your left and take the second."

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She droned on, and I tried to keep up, but I really missed my cell phone and Google Maps.

"Got it?" she asked.

"Yes. Got it." I had not got it.

"Looked like you drifted off." She eyed my beat-up leather jerkin and pants, with a dagger on the right, thanks to Caden. He'd said “you don't have to use it, just look like you know how to use it”.

"I just came off the road with the group of soldiers who arrived today. I'm tired, I'm not going to lie."

"Now, why would you lie about being tired after being on the road? Bit daft?"

"Head wound," I said, and pointed at the former knot on my head, that had thankfully left a visible red scar.

"Ohh. Sounds like you saw some action. Glad you're back with us."

The woman patted my hand and wandered off, turned, looked the way she'd come, shook her head, and went in a different direction.

I knew it was a bad idea, but I had no other options so I started to follow the directions she'd given.

As I continued my exploration of Everspring, I passed by more shops and what appeared to be tenement buildings. Clothing hung from ropes along the balconies. A bunch of kids were kicking a beat-to-hell ball around the complex entryway, a nice chunk of grass surrounded by low leafy shrubs and wavy fronds of lavender. The village had a charming, lived-in feel that I found comforting, despite my unfamiliarity with the surroundings.

A glint of light caught my eye, and I found myself standing in front of a jeweler's shop. The window display was protected by a set of heavy iron bars. My thoughts drifted to the gems I had taken from Morthisal's coffers. I wondered if I dared to have them appraised, but then the more practical question hit me: Would gems from a dark overlord's treasury come with a return policy or a curse? Decisions, decisions.

Moving on, I focused on finding a place to stay for the night. As I wandered, a flapping wood sign caught my eye: "The Jolly Cleaver." Curious, I peeked my head inside the butcher shop.

A young woman with curly auburn hair and a heart-shaped face greeted me from behind the counter. "Welcome to The Jolly Cleaver! I'm Shellen, but most call me Shell. How can I help you today?"

Various cuts of meat were on display, mostly sausages and what looked like cured ham. The aroma of seasoned meats filled the air, making my stomach grumble.

"Nice to meet you, Shell. I'm Varix," I said with a smile. "I just got to Everspring."

"A soldier, from the look of you. Are you from here? Did you see a lot of battles? Thank goodness the dark one was defeated. I’ve not felt this safe in a dozen years.”

"Oh, no. I'm from far away. I think. I was wounded and lost my memories." I pointed at my forehead for what felt like the hundredth time. “I think I saw some battles. It’s hard to remember.”

"Oh dear! Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Varix."

"Thank you. I arrived with a fellow named Caden and some other soldiers. I wandered off and wanted to see the sights. You have a lovely shop here."

"Lovely, is it? Most don't think of a butcher as lovely."

"I think this place is wonderful. The smell alone made it worth stopping in. So many spices."

"I love my spices."

"We have a lot in common, then," I said. I clasped my hands behind my back and moved around the butcher shop, looking over the cuts of meat. It was chilly in there. I wondered if they had some kind of medieval air conditioner.

One thing I noticed was a number of plucked chickens hanging over the counter. I nodded at them. "Do you sell chicken parts or just whole birds?"

Shell shook her head, her curls bouncing. "I can do either. With the war over, chickens were one of the easier animals to maintain. Everyone kept them for eggs, and now we have more than we know what to do with! I have chickens coming in every day, and I can barely keep up."

I grinned. "Really. Too many chickens could be a problem, but not for an enterprising young business owner."

Her eyes lit up. "You have need of chickens?"

"I will. I intend to open a place, and chicken will be my specialty. That and drinks. Ale and the like, I'm sure. This may sound like an odd request, but what do you do with your chicken wings? Would you be willing to sell them in bulk?"

"I'd love to!"

"As soon as my business is up and running, perhaps we can strike a deal."

"Oh," she said, and her face fell. She clearly thought I was all talk.

"No. See, I have the money. More importantly, I have the vision."

"I wish you luck, Varix. I truly do."

I nodded thanks.

The abundance of chickens in the post-war economy was going to be an absolute boon.

"Question. Do you have a cooler? How do you keep the meat cold?"

She gave me a quizzical look. "Same as always. Blocks of ice arrive weekly."

Perfect!

"Tell me about your sausages." I nodded at the hanging assortment.

Shell grinned. "Well, if you're looking for something tasty, I can definitely recommend them. They're made with a blend of spices that'll make your taste buds sing!"

I couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. "You know what? I think I'll take a few of those sausages. They sound delicious! Do you have any that are extra spicy?”

“I do. But I warn you, they might make you red in the face.”

“Now that sounds like a challenge I can get behind.” I grinned.

I was already thinking about gumbo, and one of the main ingredients would be some kind of andouille.

I pulled out some of the coins and realized I didn't know how much things cost. In fact, I had no idea how the monetary system worked.

"Eh. How much do I owe you?"

"That'll be four silver shillings for the bundle."

I had quite a few silvers. I pulled out four and compared them. They were oval-shaped and bore the face of an older gentleman regally looking to the side. The back had a simple 1 Silver Shilling, backed by the crown, stamped on it.

I held up the coins. Shell held out her hand and accepted the payment without hesitation. Score one for me! I’d gotten one right.

"I'll see you later, Shell. Have a nice rest of your day."

She smiled brightly. "You too, Varix. Good luck with your venture. Oh, and might I ask a question?"

"Of course."

"You mentioned a Caden. Would that be Caden Ashfall?"

"As a matter of fact, it would." I snapped my fingers. "Wait. Caden mentioned you."

She gasped and smiled. "He did?"

"He did."

"That..." She straightened and patted her hair. "That is good news. I hope to speak with him. It has been a long time since I last saw him."

"I'll let him know you would like to say hello."

"That would be nice, Varix. Thank you."

I waved as I closed the door and began walking in the general direction the older lady had pointed out before she’d become lost and confused.

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in lovely hues of orange and pink, I realized I had been walking in circles, still unable to find the elusive estate steward. My feet ached, and my patience was wearing thin. Exhausted and frustrated, I decided to swallow my pride and ask a passingby for directions.

I approached a figure walking down the street, their face obscured by a woven basket filled with fresh produce. "Excuse me," I called out, "I was wondering if you could help me find the estate steward’s office?"

The figure turned, and to my surprise, I found myself face-to-face with the same woman who had given me the convoluted directions earlier. Her eyes sparkled with recognition, and a grin spread across her face.

"Well, well, look who it is!" she exclaimed, setting her basket down. "You look like you could use some help, dear. Let me tell you how to get there..."

The woman gestured animatedly, pointing down streets and describing landmarks I was sure I'd never be able to find.

As she rambled on, I couldn't help but wonder if I was destined to wander the streets of Everspring forever, chasing after a realtor's office that may or may not exist. The woman's directions grew increasingly convoluted and left my head spinning.

The woman finished her spiel and looked at me expectantly. "Got it?" she asked, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Yes, got it," I lied. "Thank you so much for your help."

As she picked up her basket and continued on her way, I stood there, staring at the winding streets before me. I took a deep breath, steeling myself for another round of exploration.

"Well, Varix," I muttered to myself, "let's see where these directions take us this time."

I set off once more, hoping that this time, I'd find my way to the estate stewarts office before the sun completely disappeared. And I still needed to get back to Caden’s home for the feast.

Spinning around in a slow circle, I wondered if I would be able to find his family’s house.