I threw a little party for my close friends the night before opening day. Without them, I never would have made it to Everspring alive. Nor would I have been able to purchase The Shadow's Respite, and I never would have been able to find this much happiness in life.

I surveyed the transformed interior of The Shadow's Respite, admiring how far we'd come in just a few short weeks. The once run-down tavern now gleamed with polished wood and fresh varnish. New furniture filled the space, and the dingy corners, which had been layered with junk, had been updated with brand-new booths that could seat up to six. The old tapestry of a knight riding up a mountain trail had been replaced by a brand new wall. I'd moved the tapestry upstairs and hung it in one of the unused rooms. I hoped to open those up for overnight stays before much longer.

The bar top was now all smooth dark wood. New sturdy barstools had replaced the worst of the old seats. Overhead, a mix of candles and illuminating gems cast a warm, welcoming glow. Seraphina had supplied the enchanted gems herself, of course.

The windows, both inside and out, had been cleaned and now sparkled in the sunlight. The shutters had also been replaced, and they no longer banged against the tavern's side any time the wind picked up.

My fingers brushed against the pendant hanging around my neck, and I couldn't help but reflect on my own journey. Trapped in the body of Dark Lord Morthisal, I had struggled to come to terms with my host's evil past. But with the support of my friends and the purpose I'd found in running The Shadow's Respite, I'd made peace with my situation. I knew I could never erase Morthisal's deeds, but I could work to bring some good into this world, and that started with living alongside the green-skins in all their shapes and sizes.

Caden, Doan, and Alic had already arrived, and stood, leaning against the bar, their eyes sweeping over the tavern's interior. Doan let out a low whistle of appreciation, even though he'd been here for some of the renovations.

"Varix, this place looks amazing!" Doan grinned.

"It's never looked better, Varix. I used to come here when old Heron owned it, but even then, it never looked this nice." Alic nodded in agreement. "I'm relieved I didn't have to arrest you at the behest of Baron Swiftwood. I didn't want to, Varix."

I laughed. "Trust me, I'm happy about that, too. The baron had it out for me because he purchased The Wandering Boar, and his business hasn't been going well, or so I gather. He'd also tried to steal some of my recipes. Seraphina and I had a meal there. It wasn’t good."

"So I've heard. I understand you're going to have some interesting new things on your menu," Alic said.

"It's true. There will be a different dinner specialty three nights a week. Wait until you guys try my gumbo."

"Gumbo?" Alic asked.

"It's a spicy stew with chicken, sausage, and prawns."

I was waiting on the merchants to deliver fresh prawns to the tavern. With the hot sausage Shellen provided via her shop, I was going to blow some minds. I was planning another dish, but needed to get the protein together first. I had a feeling fish stew would go over well in Everspring.

I knew a tavern should be about cheap food and drinks, trenchers of stew served with little flavor that was meant to be filling more than anything else, but I had something else in mind. A real sit-down restaurant might have been a foreign concept to the people of Everspring, but they were accepting and had money to burn. The post-war economy was just beginning to boom.

The door swung open again, and Urzan and Moktar lumbered in. Urzan's eyes swept the room, and he grunted, "Tavern bright and shiny!"

"Thanks. Can you get you guys a drink?"

"Moktar and Urzan drink! Is okay with other human?"

Alic shrugged. Doan nodded once, and said, "Ain't the first time. Strange we were fighting each other a few months ago."

"Orc no fight human! Orc happy to be human friend! Never again … what is word!" Urzan put his finger on his forehead and tapped a few times.

"Enslaved?" I offered.

Urzan grunted and gave a sharp nod. "Never again slave!"

"Never again. We got your back, Urzan," I assured him.

"What is got back!"

"I meant to say. We're friends. We won't let anything like that happen," I said. "It's the same way we know we can count on the orcs to keep the bandits away."

"Orc happy with protect Everspring! Orc not sure how long stay!"

These guys needed jobs. They weren't content hanging out in the woods, but I wasn't sure how to go about getting them regular jobs in the village. I had considered hiring one for the kitchen, but realistically, they wouldn't make very good sous chefs, and I had a feeling they wouldn't be very good cooks unless I started serving rabbit haunches cooked over an open fire.

"I understand, Urzan. I wish you and your orcs could stay. I'm putting my mind to it, hoping to figure out how to get you all jobs."

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"Orc no need job! Orc fight and guard!"

That gave me an idea, but I'd have to run it up the chain of command, so to speak. It might not be well received, but I wondered if they could be hired to guard Everspring and the surrounding area. Their employment would fall under the guiding hand of Alic, the captain of the guard. Having a warband of orcs around had certainly kept bandits away from Everspring lately.

That was a plan for another day. Right now, I wanted to celebrate with my closest friends before the grand opening.

I went behind the bar and got drinks ready. "I have something for you guys," I said and handed the orcs each a huge mug, specially purchased for my large friends, filled with the dark, flat beer they favored. It tasted like cheap swill to me, but it did the trick.

Urzan and Moktar drank theirs and showed tusk, a sure sign that they liked something.

I went into the kitchen and found Lady Churl and Milo prepping food for later in the day. Churl happily chopped away with the new murder-knife Doan had created for her. "Hey, boss." She nodded at me.

"How's it going in here?"

"Eh. Lots'a prep. Gonna take a break soon. Reckon Milo can handle this lot." Lady Churl said.

"Wings ready?" I asked Milo.

"They are," Milo replied. He used a slotted spoon to fish out the two dozen wings I'd prepped by leaving them uncovered in the cooler overnight to develop a nice crispy skin. With some seasoning, and ten minutes in oil, they glistened, ready for the hot sauce. First, they got a quick dash of salt, pepper, and garlic.

"You're getting good at this, Milo."

"Thanks, Mr. V. I've had a lot of practice."

That was true. We'd been testing recipes for days.

Thanks to Lady Churl, we had truffles. I grated them into my homemade hot sauce, and it gave it extra layers of flavor. The truffles, being like a pungent garlic, made the wings perfect.

I tossed the wings in a bowl with a healthy dose of hot sauce, then plated them and took them to the main room. "Alright, all. Please give these a try, and I'd like your honest opinions."

"Don't need to ask me twice," Caden said, walked over and picked one off the plate. He ripped it apart, allowing steam to escape, then carefully pulled the meat off and devoured it, going so far as to lick his fingers. That was a good sign.

The others assured me the wings were amazing, and that was all I needed to hear. These would be on the menu on day one.

Urzan grabbed one and popped it into his mouth, chewed, bones and all, swallowed, and proclaimed. "Varix need cook whole chicken same! Wing too small!"

The room erupted in laughter, and I couldn't help but join in.

"I'll get on that for you, Urzan. Meanwhile, I have some cooked chicken breasts for you and Moktar. Extra spicy. In fact, I'm scared to touch them with my bare hands." I chuckled.

"Too hot to touch! Sound like good start!"

I brought out the platter and the two orcs sat down and went at them with enthusiasm. Before long, I saw something that I'd never seen before. A line of sweat actually developed on Urzan's forehead. He coughed after inhaling the second chicken breast, pounded his chest, and slammed most of his beer.

He looked at me, eyes wide in…awe? "Varix make best heat! Too much heat! No! Perfect heat!"

Moktar nodded along but also wiped his forehead.

"Never seen an orc sweat. I'm not brave enough for that." Caden grinned.

The door bounced open and a familiar and welcome voice declared, "You're not brave enough to face down a rabid squirrel on the blighted plains!"

"Mira!" I exclaimed.

She strolled in, dressed from head to toe in dusty leather armor, wearing a thick leather belt with a broadsword attached and banging against her leg. Mira's longbow poked over one shoulder, and a quiver with feathered arrows sat over the other.

She had taken a job guarding a caravan. I was happy to see her safely returned to Everspring. Caden and Doan leaped up to rush to Mira for a hug, but Alic somehow beat them all. He drew up in front of her. She grinned at him, and he grinned back. He leaned in and they embraced warmly.

"Wait! When…? You didn't say anything, Alic!" Caden said and punched his brother in the shoulder.

"What?" He backed away and put his hands up. "We're just–" He turned to Mira.

Mira looked at me and said, “We’re certainly not work friends!”

I burst into laughter as my face turned red.

Mira was a fan of my Orange Blush, but she was an even bigger fan of a good tall mug of ale, which I served up for her. Mira gave me a quick hug, then accepted the drink, took a long pull, and wiped the foam from her lips.

"That's good, Varix. And cold. Love what you've done with the place. Did you come into some money?"

"You haven't heard? Our Varix caught one of the most dangerous people in the world and got a huge reward. King Alister came here, in fact," Caden told Mira.

She looked at me, then at Caden. Her mouth curved up in a grin. "You're having a laugh at my expense. Very funny."

"It's true," I said.

"Of course it is, and I was declared a long-lost princess of Mythralon."

I reached into my pocket, extracted the special coin the king had given me, and held it out for Mira to inspect. Her smile fell as she took the coin. "No… Is this…"

"Yes, it is."

She handed me the coin, clapped me hard across the arm, and declared, "Drinks first, then I want to hear everything."

Chuckling between sips of ale, she went to join Caden, Doan, and Alic at their table.

“Another platter of wings!” I yelled into the kitchen.

“Coming right out, Mr. V.,” Milo answered.

Lady Churl left the kitchen and hopped up on the bar. She swung her legs over the side, not knowing that she sat directly between the ghostly figures of Garin and Ophelia.

“Rude,” Lady Ophelia muttered as she looked the goblin over.

Garin only laughed.

Seraphina appeared at the top of the stairs and swept gracefully into the room. Her hair was wet and she’d changed into a lovely red dress with a black bodice that she’d left unlaced to about the middle of her chest. It made me happy to see her so comfortable among my friends.

“Hello, Seraphina,” the others greeted her, and she greeted them in return.

“Did you, er, move in?” Mira asked Seraphina, eyeing her wet hair.

“Oh, no. It’s too loud here. But Varix has something unusual upstairs,” Seraphina said as she feathered out her wet hair between her fingers to help it dry.

“I don’t know if we need those details.” Mira laughed.

Seraphina grinned, and said, “Varix has hot water and a tub.”

Mira slammed her mug down, sloshing ale everywhere, and shot to her feet. “He has what?”

“I helped with the heating mechanism. It runs on enchanted gems.”

Mira took her mug and sipped it. She looked at me, then at the stairs, and then at me again. “I have to see this to believe it.”

Mira walked to Seraphina, leaned over, and whispered something. Seraphina whispered something back that I couldn’t make out. Mira put her bow, quiver, and sheathed sword next to the stairs. She cleared her throat and said, “Right. I’ll be back in a little bit.” And ran upstairs.

“Hey! That’s my private bathroom,” I protested.

"Excellent. I won't be disturbed," Mira called back as she went upstairs.

Seraphina shrugged at my incredulous look.

Shellen arrived a few minutes later, and the party was complete. For the next few hours, I enjoyed the camaraderie of my friends and tried to not to worry too much about tomorrow's grand opening.