After my initial shock wore off, I closed my mouth and took in this new information. Seraphina's parents were not only in town but also in my tavern, and I'm not certain either looked happy about it.

Seraphina pointed at her father and said. "This is Elixander Lioshan Brightstar, my father." Then she waved to the older woman. "And my mother, Delphine Brightstar. Mother and father, meet Varix Vel'Naris. My, um… My boyfriend." She put her hand out, and I grasped it.

I squeezed it tightly and took a breath, then said, "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Brightstar. It is truly a pleasure to meet you both. Welcome to my tavern. The Shadow's Respite. Would you like a table?"

Seraphina smiled and asked, "How about a booth?"

I nodded and pointed at the menu. "Please, pick whatever you like. The meals are on the house."

As I escorted them toward the back of the tavern, Seraphina pulled me aside and quickly whispered. "I'm so sorry! They sprang this on me when they found out about you. They practically dragged me here."

"Found out?"

Seraphina quickly shook her head and whispered, "Tell you later."

After they were seated, Seraphina shot me another quick "I'm sorry" look.

I told them, "I'll go grab some chicken wings. They're pretty popular."

As I approached the bar, Ophelia caught my eye. She returned her gaze to Elixander and said, "I know that elf."

I stopped and pretended to clean something off the top of the bar, but looked up at Ophelia.

"He's a magic user of some renown. You must be careful around this one, Varix. I fear he might be able to see through your amulet if he's close to you for too long a period."

"I'm familiar with him, as well. He fought during the Frostfire Rebellion. His skills are extraordinary."

I silently cursed and risked a glance over my shoulder. Exilander was watching me. His face was once again completely impassive. I would have hated to play poker against that guy. I also cursed the fact that I couldn't have a longer conversation with my ghost pals right now.

I hurried into the kitchen and ordered a big plate of wings. Milo jumped on it, while Lady Churl prepped some dipping sauces. What I wanted to do was get the hell out of here and talk to the ghosts. I wondered how weird it would look if I quietly went up to my room to chat with them.

Jessara must have noticed my distress and asked, "Varix, what's wrong?"

Grondak poked his head in to see what was going on.

I sighed and told them, "Seraphina's mother and father are here, and I haven't made a very good impression."

Grondak nodded, lifted his arms, and flexed his muscles. "Do as orc! Show strength! Always!"

I studied Grondak for a moment and then laughed, thankful my crew could still keep me chuckling even in stressful situations.

"Thanks, Grondak, but I don't think a display of physical strength is going to win over Elixander," I said, shaking my head.

Grondak lowered his arms. "Not know unless try!"

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Jessara looking at Grondak from under dark curls that nearly covered her eyes. She quickly looked away.

"Reckon you should just be yourself, boss," Lady Churl chimed in as she stirred a bowl of spicy sauce. "Ain't no sense in pretending to be something ya ain't."

"Lady Churl's right," Jessara agreed.

I took a deep breath and nodded. "Sure, I can do that. What's the worst that can happen?"

"Seraphina mother and father declare war on Varix! Have to fight to death! That is worst that can happen!"

"Thank you, Grondak. Sage words." I chuckled.

Grondak nodded sharply, and went back to the dishes.

Milo placed the plate of wings on the counter, and Lady Churl added a dollop of my ranch sauce for dipping. What was I doing? That nose in the air elf wouldn’t eat spicy chicken wings. Or maybe he’d feel like he had to. I considered adding a little something extra, like tossing the wings in a bowl of extra spicy hot sauce. See how long he could keep that aloof attitude when his mouth was on fire.

"Thanks, Milo." I grabbed the plate and headed back out to the main room.

As I approached the booth where Seraphina and her parents were seated, Elixander's eyes narrowed slightly. Delphine, on the other hand, offered me a warm smile.

I set the plate of wings on the table and said, "Here you go. Our famous spicy chicken wings. I hope you like them."

"They smell delicious, Varix," Delphine said, reaching for a wing. "I've never seen chicken cooked in this manner."

"It's new. I like to experiment. Think outside the box. It keeps my customers coming back."

Elixander's eyes swept over the tavern's half-empty tables and arched one eyebrow.

"Don't let this fool you. We're normally packed full of customers." Yeah. When we're not being driven out of business by another snooty asshole.

Elixander, however, didn't make a move for the food. Instead, he fixed me with a scrutinizing gaze and asked, "So, Varix, care to join us? I’d like to, well…”

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Seraphina elbowed him gently.

“I suppose I would like to get to know you. My daughter seems very fond of you. I’m sure there is a reason for that.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “I’m sure there is a reason, as well. I'm also quite fond of her, and it's honestly a pleasure to meet her mother and father. Give me a moment, and I'll get my staff to cover for me. Can I get anyone a drink on my way back?"

"Do you have a summer ale? I understand peach ale is a favorite in this area." Elixander said.

"We just ran out, but I can recommend my Orange Blush. It's popular."

Seraphina stepped in and helped. "Oh. My favorite." She turned to Elixander and said, "You'll enjoy it, Father. We should get them all around."

"I like the sound of that one." Delphine smiled.

I pointed at Elixander. "You, too?"

The elf inclined his head. I politely fled toward the kitchen to let my staff know I'd be unavailable for at least the next few minutes. I asked Jessara to come by and take orders when she could.

"How come they didn't order at the front?"

"I rushed them to the back to avoid putting my foot any farther down my own throat."

Once I had mixed a round of drinks for the table, I brought them out and joined them, sitting next to Seraphina. She again gave me what I can only term an apologetic look.

She reached over and grasped my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"It's nice to meet you both. I'm sure Seraphina has already told you a little about me, but let me introduce myself. My name is Varix Vel'Naris, and I own this fine establishment. I reached Everspring a few months ago after joining a number of villagers on their way back from a healer's camp outside of the dark lord's lands. I was injured and have no memory of my life before that," I said and pointed at my head as part of my well worn cover.

"We have heard a great deal about you," Elixander said.

"All good, I hope."

"I was exaggerating," he replied. "Today is the first we have heard of you. Seraphina has been quite tight-lipped. I’d wondered if this was at all serious."

"Father," Seraphina warned.

"I am merely concerned," Elixander told her.

"I get that. She's your daughter, and I'm just some guy who owns a tavern, but not his own memories. I can assure you. I'm very, very fond of Seraphina. She's the first thing I think of when I wake up and my last thought before I go to sleep at night."

Delphine sighed and smiled softly, but her eyes darted to Elixander's face.

He remained cool. Something was on his mind, but he wasn't bringing it up. I hoped it wasn't The Heart of Shadows. Besides our little run-in the day before, I couldn't figure out what he might have against me, except the obvious. Maybe he was overly protective of his daughter.

"Varix," Seraphina whispered, pulling my hand into her lap to squeeze it tighter.

"What? It's true."

Delphine cleared her throat. Now that I was sitting across from Seraphina's biological mother, it was easy to see where Seraphina had inherited her looks. Delphine must have been an astonishingly beautiful woman in her youth. Ironically enough, her eyes were a delicate blue with elfin-shaped eyes that dimpled ever so slightly in the corner. I would have told her she looked like Cate Blanchett, but that would have sounded very confusing. Her hair was still dark, but it was also worked through with gray and silver streaks. I'd thought her age to be around the late sixties, but now I wasn't so sure. I knew that people on Mythralon lived longer than we did on Earth. I'd met a few spry individuals pushing a hundred years old. She seemed to have a timeless beauty.

Elixander, on the other hand, appeared to be my age or younger.

"How old are you?" I blurted out.

Elixander's face remained cool as he stated, "Eleven hundred and forty-seven years."

Holy shit!

"That's… yeah. That's old."

Seraphina had once told me she wasn't sure of her age. It would have been strange to ask her parents how old she was, and Glimmer had come to the old Seraphina when she was an adult. He couldn't place her age, either. Or, as he had said, "Younger than me, yet older than a candle's flame." That dude can get weird.

Elixander sipped his Orange Blush and nodded. "This is a fine drink. It's not too sweet. There is something in it that I can't place."

"It's called Pixie's Giggle." I almost said it reminded me of gin, but stopped myself in time.

"Ah. I have not had that in some time." Elixander took another sip and looked at me. "Varix. Join me at the bar, if you would."

"Sure," I said.

Seraphina leaned over and whispered, "I don't know what he's up to. Please be nice."

"I'm always nice," I whispered back and kissed her on the cheek.

This wasn't the first time I had worried that my cover was blown. If he was such a renowned magic user, he might be able to sense my real body under the mask of The Heart of Shadows. I hoped that wasn't about to happen. Lady Ophelia seemed to think the worst, which was also normal for her.

Old Man Guslan hadn't come in tonight, so I sat in his usual spot while Elixander sat beside me. He'd carried his Orange Blush and placed it on the bar. He touched the surface and ran his hand over the lacquer coating.

"This is fine work."

"Thanks. I found some amazing craftsmen here in Everspring. This place was a mess when I purchased it." I turned and pointed at my new wall with its fresh wood and coats of varnish. “Check out that woodwork.”

“You have done admirable work here, Varix.” He paused and finished his drink.

“I have some beer available, but I’m fresh out of ale. We’re having an event featuring several local craft beer and ale producers tomorrow night. There will be judging, and the top three drinks will be featured exclusively at The Shadow’s Respite. You should come. There may even be a bard in attendance."

"Perhaps."

Lady Ophelia rose from her barstool and approached Elixander. She leaned over and studied his face. The elf’s eyes momentarily narrowed, and he looked right at her, then back and forth as if tracking a fruit fly. Had he seen her?

Ophelia looked taken aback. She stepped away and crossed her arms while her spectral form studied him. I watched her from the corner of my eye but did my best not to acknowledge her.

“This is an interesting establishment,” Elixander said.

I nodded and played along. “The previous owner died about a decade ago. His wife barely kept it up before she put it up for sale. I got a good deal, thanks to the town steward Roland Hightown.”

Elixander looked me in the eye and said, “Varix. You seem to be a decent fellow with a good head on his shoulders. You also seem to care about Seraphina a great deal. I can see your affection for each other. I remember that feeling well.” He turned his head and nodded toward Delphine.

“It’s wonderful that you are both happy after all these years.”

“That is what I wished to discuss with you,” Elixander said and sighed gently.

“Discuss what?”

Elixander lowered his head. “I have known Delphine for almost fifty years. She has been my wife for forty-five of those.”

“That’s amazing. Congratulations.”

He turned his head to regard me. “I suppose it is wonderful from your point of view. But you must understand something. I dote on my wife at every opportunity. I love her and she loves me. Yet it breaks my heart that she will leave me. Every day, I cannot help but contemplate how sad my life will be when she is gone. I will look like this,” he looked down at himself. “But she will be gone.”

“Oh…”

Elixander did something unexpected. He placed his hand on mine and gently squeezed it, as Seraphina had just a few moments ago. “In some ways, we elves are cursed with near eternal life, which has come with a terrible price.”

As Elixander looked at Delphine, he reached for his drink with a slight tremor in his hand, his eyes glistening under the tavern lights. “I have this advice for you and Seraphina. Do not let this relationship grow. It will lead only to despair for both of you.”