The king was here?

I had a lot of questions—like why was he here? Didn't he have better things to do than skulk around a village trying to score a free hot meal? I wasn't sure if I'd get to ask him, because who was I? Just some lowly barkeep, and he was the damn king.

Around me, people dropped to one knee and lowered their heads. Mutters of: "The king!", "It's King Alister!", "What's the king doing here?"

I dropped to one knee, lowered my head briefly, but peeked so I could figure out how long I was supposed to stay like this. Around me, every person had taken up the same posture.

"No, no. Rise, citizens, please. I am here to honor you." The King's voice rose over the crowd.

Around me, people rose, so I did the same.

"Not you, baron," King Alister said sharply.

"Your majesty. Please understand that…"

"Not another word, Bertram!"

Alic breathed a sigh of relief and took a few steps away from me. That had been a close call. I'm sure it would have been awkward for both of us if he'd been forced to arrest me. I also felt relief because I'd had no desire to find out what the jails in Everspring were like.

Seraphina ducked her head and quickly made her way to my side with a big smile on her face. She grasped my hand and gave a quick squeeze.

"Did you know he was in Everspring?" I whispered.

"I had no clue. This is very strange. Why in the world would he be here?"

The king, with his guards standing close to him, made his way among the citizens. He spoke to a few, shook hands, listened to them, and was occasionally amused as some gushed. Those assembled buzzed with whispered conversation. Word must have spread quickly around the streets of Everspring because more people were arriving by the second.

The king cleared his throat, and the crowd fell silent. His strong and clear voice carried across the square. "Citizens of Everspring, I stand before you today filled with pride. Your actions, your willingness to embrace change and foster peace, have been nothing short of remarkable. You have chosen understanding and unity in a world often divided by fear and mistrust."

As King Alister spoke, I couldn't help but feel a strong dose of pride. His words resonated with the crowd, and with me. Cheers erupted sporadically throughout his speech.

"You've shown that peace is not just possible but preferable. That different races can coexist and thrive together. We should all strive for a future like this, and you, good people of Everspring, are leading the way."

"Pale king is right! Urzan and orc feel welcome!" Urzan yelled, which elicited a few laughs. I glanced around, and found faces lit up with pride. Even Urzan and his orc companions were nodding along, clearly moved by the king's words.

It was a short speech, but it was effective. Roland stepped toward the king with a proud smile on his face. "Your Majesty, if I may," he said, gesturing towards me. "Much of this progress is thanks to Varix, here. He's been instrumental in fostering peace between the races. Why, he's even employed a goblin in his tavern!"

"Ah, Roland. I wish to thank you for your communications over the past few weeks. Without your letters, I would have never known about the progress in Everspring. This place has truly become a bright spot in the kingdom. I hope it becomes the model for the future of our fair land. As for this Varix Vel'Naris. I should very much like to speak with him."

My face flushed as all eyes turned toward me. The king's gaze also fell upon me, his expression curious and intrigued.

"Uh. Hi," I said and waved like an idiot.

"Ah, Varix," King Alister said, his voice warm. "I've heard many good things about you. I understand you were one of the first to begin fostering peace between the races after the dark lord Morthisal was defeated."

"Well, Your Majesty, I believe in second chances," I said carefully. "Many of those who served the dark lord did so out of fear or necessity, not true loyalty. They deserve the opportunity to build new lives."

King Alister studied me for a moment, then broke into a warm smile. "That's a commendable attitude, Varix. It's exactly the kind of thinking we need to heal the wounds of the past and build a better future."

I relaxed slightly, grateful that he seemed to approve. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I just try to judge people by their actions, not their past."

"Well said," the king replied. "To new beginnings and second chances. Now, I wonder, might I trouble you for a moment of your time inside your tavern?"

I blinked, momentarily stunned. "I... of course, Your Majesty. It would be my honor." I turned quickly to Milo and Lady Churl. "Please, continue serving the stew to our guests," I instructed before leading the way into The Shadow's Respite.

I didn't let go of Seraphina. There was no way I was going to do this without her support, and she could hopefully keep me from any serious breaches of protocol.

As we entered, I couldn't help but study the king more closely. He was a handsome man, though strikingly pale, with piercing blue eyes that seemed to take in everything at once. His simple circlet crown was mostly hidden beneath his sandy blonde hair.

To my surprise, the king's demeanor was remarkably casual. He didn't seem to take his station too seriously, smiling easily as he looked around the tavern.

On the other hand, I was a little horrified by the state of my establishment. It was barely suitable for customers as we had made only moderate progress over the past few weeks.

The two royal guards who had accompanied us inside took up positions near the door, their eyes constantly scanning the room. There was something odd about them, but I couldn't put my finger on it. They appeared to be ordinary soldiers, but I sensed there was more to them.

The king nodded at Seraphina. "And who might you be?"

"Seraphina, your majesty. I'm an enchanter by trade." She pointed at me. "He had a head injury during the war. I've been helping him with finding his way. I guess I've acted as…"

I reached out and took her hand. "Yes. She's my... um..." I stumbled over my words, unsure how to define our relationship. "My advisor," I finished lamely.

Seraphina shrugged slightly, and looked me in the eye. "I think we're a little more than that." For a moment, I forgot the king was even here. Seraphina had this effect on me. Her eyes could hold me like no other had ever done before.

The king's face lit up with delight. "Ah, wonderful! Congratulations to you both. You make a lovely couple."

"Thanks, er, your majesty," I said. "We just started, um… I'm sure you aren't here to discuss our personal life."

"I am always pleased to discuss the happiness of my subjects. We've had a rough couple of years. Seeing this village, you two, and the other races living in close proximity to each other genuinely fills my heart with joy."

"I have to admit, your manner is a little, um, off-putting. I think that's the word?"

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"Oh?"

"That's not what I meant. It's, um. Refreshing. I haven't met royalty before."

"Well, now you have," King Alister said, clapping his hands together. "Might I trouble you for something to drink?"

"A drink drink, or water?"

The king chuckled. "I think a drink, drink is appropriate. Given what I have heard from Roland about your interesting menu and what sort of drinks you have to offer."

"I recommend an Orange Blush," Seraphina said. Despite its name, it's quite the lovely mix."

"Then I should like to try an Orange Blush." King Alistair clapped his hand against the bar top again.

Across from King Alistair, Lady Ophelia stared at him.

"New king, eh? Peculiar looking man. I do like his demeanor," Garin said quietly. I ignored him because it was a little early in the day to act like a crazy person within fifteen minutes of meeting the king.

I brought out a trio of glasses, placed them on the bar, and set about mixing our drinks. I added some chipped ice from the cooler while Seraphina and the king made small talk.

I mixed the Orange Blush drinks for Seraphina, King Alister, and myself, carefully pouring the concoction into each glass. The vibrant orange liquid swirled with a hint of pink. I had joked that this was a girly drink, but it had some serious kick, and was one of my favorites.

"Your Majesty," I said, sliding the first glass towards him. "I hope you enjoy it."

King Alister picked up the glass and gave it a curious sniff before taking a sip. His eyebrows rose in pleasant surprise. "My word, this is delightful! Quite refreshing, with an interesting blend of flavors."

Seraphina beamed at me. "Varix has quite the talent for creating unique drinks," she said. "And recipes."

"So I have heard. What was it, chicken wings?" the king asked.

"Yes. I call them hot wings, because they can be quite hot."

"Hot wings. Quite the interesting name. Did you come up with that, or is it something you ate in the past?" The king's eyes had a merry glint.

"It's possible, I suppose," I said, wanting to change the subject.

"Well, they sound as delightful as the drink. Would it be too much trouble to sample them?"

"It'll take me about fifteen minutes, but yeah. Er, yes, Your Majesty."

"It is a beautiful day out, and I am in no hurry," the king said, using one hand to motion toward his guards. “You're in no rush, are you?"

Both guards still had their hoods up. Both shook their heads.

"They don't talk much, huh?" I said.

"On the contrary. They can be quite chatty," he said and pointed at them. "The tall gentleman is named Thane Emberstrike."

The guard lowered his hood to reveal an older elf with short dark hair and cloudy gray eyes. "Greetings."

Thane's eyes wandered to the seats occupied by my ghost companions, but he said nothing further.

"Thane is a battlemage. He's quite powerful. They don't like me leaving the palace, but it's rather dull there. I have chancellors and advisors who can hear petitions and make decisions in my name."

"So you sneak out?" Seraphina asked.

"I do." The king chuckled. "But always with them. Isn't that right, Kara?"

The other guard lowered her hood, revealing a woman with dark blue eyes and near flawless skin, with the exception of a scar that started under her left eye, crossed her nose, and ran to her neck. Small ochre dots were tattooed all along its path on both sides, giving her a bit of a tribal look.

"Hello," I said to her.

She inclined her head slightly.

I went to the kitchen and removed a rack of chicken wings I'd put in the night before. I had intended to test a new recipe, but now I felt I had to try it with the king. How many chances would I get for an opinion like that?

Unlike my fried battered wings, these were simpler. The outer parts of the wing were dry and had an almost crusty feel from sitting in the cool air for over twelve hours. I took out a dozen and a half and placed them near the stove.

Lady Churl had gotten the fire going earlier, so I put a few inches of oil in a cast iron pan, placed it over the heat, and opened the vents to allow more heat in.

As we sipped our drinks, King Alister's expression grew more serious. "Capturing Thalindra was a risky endeavor. You say she was here for something dangerous?"

Seraphina stepped in smoothly. "A few days ago, I sensed a powerful magical presence near the village. I suspected it might be someone after this." She pulled out her staff, topped with the brilliant Star of Luminas.

The king's eyes widened as he examined the gem. "Remarkable," he murmured. "And you believe Thalindra was after it?"

Seraphina nodded. "The Star of Luminas is quite valuable, both monetarily and magically. It can amplify spells. She would become more dangerous than imaginable if she possessed this. When she entered the tavern, her eyes were immediately drawn to the staff. That's when the fight ensued."

Seraphina continued her tale while I tested the heating oil. I found that it still needed a few more minutes to reach the correct temperature.

King Alister nodded sagely. "I see. Well, it's fortunate that nothing came of it. You should know that she is no longer a threat. She can no longer cast spells." He put his fingers near his mouth and made a snipping motion.

I winced. Had they cut out her tongue? At least that saved me in case she started blabbing. Not that anyone would believe her.

I got out the salt, pepper, and dried garlic, along with some of the smoked peppers I'd made a few days ago. As I prepared the ingredients, I listened to the king and Seraphina's conversation, occasionally chiming in.

"So, Varix," King Alister said, swirling his drink, "I hear you've been quite the peacemaker in Everspring. How did you manage to bring such diverse groups together?"

I chuckled, thinking back on the past few weeks. "Honestly, Your Majesty, it was more about good food and drink than any grand plan. Everyone loves a tasty meal and a cold drink, regardless of race or background. There's also the matter of getting the orcs to assist in running off a pack of bandits who threatened Everspring."

"Remarkable," the king said and smiled.

Seraphina nodded, adding, "Varix also has a way of making everyone feel welcome. He's quite the smooth talker."

"It's not like that." I chuckled, but I couldn't think of a better defense.

I tested the oil and found it was finally hot enough. I carefully lowered the wings in and stood back so I didn't get splattered.

"And what about you, Lady Seraphina?" the king asked. "Roland mentioned you're quite the gem enchanter. How did you end up here in Everspring?"

Seraphina smiled, her eyes meeting mine briefly before turning back to the king. "I… well. I found this place to be almost magical as soon as I came here. The fields of lavender initially drew me. I have found this to be a warm and accepting community. It has not always been that way."

"Elven?" the king asked.

"Half," Seraphina answered.

"That would have been my guess. I understand. I wish I could rid the kingdom of its many prejudices."

I kept the chicken in the hot oil for about ten minutes, then pulled one out. Trying to avoid getting burned, I placed the wing on a platter and pulled it apart. It was perfectly cooked.

I pulled the rest of the wings out of the oil and shook them off, placing them on a rack to let the excess oil drip off.

"Your Majesty," I called out, "how do you feel about really spicy food? I can adjust the heat level if needed."

King Alister laughed heartily. "Varix, my friend. I've faced down armies. I think I can handle a bit of spice."

As the wings cooled, I generously seasoned them with salt, pepper, and garden spice, dumped them in a large bowl with my homemade salsa, and tossed them to coat them.

I arranged the wings on two plates trying to ensure they looked as tasty as possible. I pulled out the container of my version of ranch dressing from the cooler and put a generous dollop on each plate. As I brought them out, I felt a little nervous. It's not every day I got to serve my cooking to royalty.

"Your Majesty, Seraphina," I said, placing the plates before them. "I present to you Varix's Spicy Wings. I hope you enjoy them."

King Alister leaned over, closed his eyes, inhaled, and sneezed into his sleeve. "Well, these do have some heat to them. And they look absolutely delightful, Varix. Shall we, Seraphina?"

"This is so good," Seraphina said as she pulled the meat off the bones.

The king ate one, put the bones on the plate and immediately dug into another, then said, "Incredible. Simply incredible. Roland said you make something else with onions. What was it called again?"

"Oh, uh. Onion burgers. It's a special recipe," I said and described how they were made.

The king was quiet for a moment as he ate one more wing, then amusingly, licked the hot sauce off his fingers.

He lowered his voice and leaned forward. "You came up with these recipes on your own?"

"I must have learned them here and there," I said, which sounded lame. I really needed to work on my story.

"These are indeed marvelous. Onion burgers, eh? Are those served with fries?"

"The fries I make are more like steak fries…"

I pulled back sharply, and my mouth dropped open in shock.

"Fries? Did you say fries?" Seraphina asked sharply.

The king nodded. "Yes. Some call them chips. It makes me long for fish and chips with mint peas. What does that mean to you?"

Seraphina and my eyes met, but I was the first to say it.

"Are you fucking kidding me right now?!"