The day after the king left, I met Seraphina for an afternoon walk. After the excitement of the day before, I decided to close the food wagon for the day. Plus, we were low on supplies since we had thrown a feast for Everspring. Thanks to the king’s gift, I now had a small windfall, so I could easily restock and begin the tavern's restoration in earnest. I needed a day off before that madness began.

We strolled hand in hand through the fields of lavender, following a path that led towards some woods in the distance. The sweet scent of the flowers filled the air, and a gentle breeze rustled through the purple blooms.

We walked alone, and no one was in sight, so there didn't seem to be any reason to use Seraphina's silencing stones. We spoke together quietly.

As we walked, I couldn't help but talk about the surprising revelation concerning King Alister. "It's fascinating to learn that the king came from our world," I said. "No wonder he showed up. It didn't make a lot of sense for him to come to our little village just to check up on how the races were getting along. He had ulterior motives besides a free meal."

Seraphina nodded, her eyes scanning the woods ahead. "I've been thinking about that," she replied. "Do you think more people like us might appear?"

I considered her question. "It's possible. The king seemed to think so."

"He was right about one thing," Seraphina mused. "the tavern could become a beacon for others like us—a haven for those who find themselves displaced in this world.”

I squeezed her hand gently. "That's an intriguing thought. It would be nice to help others who might be as lost and confused as we were when we first arrived, but I suspect by the time they find me, they will already be used to this world and what it has to offer."

"True.

We walked in comfortable silence for a few minutes, enjoying the scenery and each other's company. Then I remembered something. "Oh, speaking of the king, did I mention he gave us some coins?"

Seraphina's raised her eyebrows. "Did you look them over?"

I shook my head. "Not really. I assumed they were just platinum sovereigns."

A smile played across Seraphina's lips. "They were, except for one coin in particular."

Curious, I stopped walking and pulled out the coins from my pocket. I examined them closely, and sure enough, one stood out from the rest. It looked similar to a platinum sovereign but was brighter and felt slightly heavier in my hand. Along the edge, I noticed tiny gems that resembled diamonds engraved into the metal. On its face was an intricate engraving of King Alister himself.

"What is this?" I asked, holding up the unique coin.

Seraphina grinned. "That is a very rare coin. It's probably worth a fortune."

I whistled low, turning the coin over in my hand. "Really? How much are we talking about?"

"I'm not entirely sure," Seraphina admitted. "Maybe you could stop by Quibble's place to get it appraised. He'll be able to tell you."

I nodded, carefully tucking the coins back into my pocket. "Did you receive one of these special coins too?"

"I did," Seraphina confirmed with a nod. "It seems the king is quite generous with his gifts. I'm tucking mine away for an emergency.”

We resumed our walk, the woods growing closer with each step.

"You know," I said after a while, "if this coin is as valuable as you say, it could really help with the tavern renovations. Maybe even allow me to expand sooner than planned. I might need a larger place if I always have orcs hanging around."

Seraphina laughed. "They are larger than your typical clientele. Are you worried they will keep business away? Some prejudices will be hard for many to get over."

"I hope not. I would love it if this were the kind of place where all races can gather."

We spent the rest of the afternoon walking, talking, and holding hands. We stopped near the stream where I had found Urzan and Moktar attempting to fish the other day. She laughed when I told Seraphina how they had tried to catch tiny fish with their bare hands.

"I wonder how hard it is?" she said as she peered into the clear water that trickled by.

"Let's find out," I said with a grin.

We sat close together on the edge and attempted the feat, but neither of us came up with a prize. At least it was worth a try, and more than a few laughs.

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Later that day, I strolled over to Quibble's shop. I opened the door, and the bell above the door announced my arrival. The gnome sat behind his counter, open book in hand, and peered at me with his monocle.

"Ah, Varix. It's been a while. I need to stop by your tavern. I understand you have some interesting menu items," he said, setting aside his book.

"Wait about a week, maybe ten days. The Shadow's Respite is under renovation."

"I look forward to the grand opening." The gnome inclined his head. "Now, what can I do for you today?"

I approached the counter and reached into my pocket. "I was hoping you could take a look at something for me," I said and pulled out the odd coin the king had given me.

As soon as I placed it on the counter, Quibble's eyes widened. He leaned forward, took off his monocle, put it back on, and nearly toppled out of his chair in shock.

"By the gods," he whispered, peering at the coin. "Do you know what this is?"

I nodded, trying to keep my expression neutral. "I know it's valuable. It was presented to me by King Alister himself."

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Quibble's hands shook slightly as he picked up the coin, turning it over carefully. "This... this is extraordinary," he said. "I've only ever seen one of these before, which was behind glass in the royal treasury."

"Wow. So, it's worth quite a bit, then?" I asked.

Quibble nodded. "Oh yes, quite a bit indeed." He set the coin down gently, as if afraid it might shatter. "I'm afraid I can't cash it out for you right now. It's worth too much. I'd have to drain most of my on-hand cash."

I raised an eyebrow. "How much are we talking about here?"

The gnome pulled out a small abacus from under the counter, sliding beads back and forth, muttering to himself. After a few moments, he looked up at me, his expression serious.

"I'd have to do more precise calculations based on the current exchange rates at the capitol," he said, "but I suspect it's worth about ten thousand gold."

My jaw dropped. "Ten thousand?" I repeated.

Quibble nodded. "Give or take a few hundred. It's not just the materials—platinum and those tiny diamonds—but the rarity. These coins are minted personally by the king for special occasions. They're as much a work of art as they are currency."

I leaned against the counter. With that kind of money, I could do much more than renovate the tavern. I could expand, hire more staff, maybe even open a second location.

"What are my options here?" I asked Quibble.

He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Well, I could give you a portion of its value now and the rest later. Or, if you're not in immediate need of the funds, I could hold onto it for safekeeping and give you credit against its value. That way, you could draw from it as needed."

I considered this for a moment. "The credit option sounds good," I said. "But I have to be honest. I don't know if I want to part with it…yet." I looked at the delicate artwork. The image of King Alister was genuinely remarkable. It was as detailed a likeness as could be captured.

"Be careful with that coin. If word gets out, you have one; well, many less than honorable people are out there, if you catch my meaning."

"I have a great security system. Her name is Lady Churl. I pity anyone who tried to steal from The Shadow's Respite."

The gnome laughed, and then his face turned serious again. He picked up the coin, turned it over and over, felt the edges, and sighed. "If you change your mind, Varix, please bring this to me first. I would dearly love to have this in my coffers."

"I promise this will be my first stop if I decide to part with it."

I took the coin, put it back in my pocket, then thought better of it and hand-carried it back to the tavern for safekeeping.

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The next ten days were a whirlwind as I used my reward money to finish paying for repairs and breathe new life into The Shadow's Respite. I replaced the furniture and upgraded the kitchen, including a pair of cabinets that needed new doors and shelves.

It was a wonder the upstairs had a bathroom with the novelty of running water, but it had been in a sad state of disrepair. I was informed that I could put in a water heater and inquired how that worked. It involved magically infused gems to keep water at a steady temperature in a large container. I considered how much it would cost to upgrade to this level of technology, and decided it was worth it, even if it was for my comfort alone. The heating gems would need to be regularly recharged, but luckily for me, I knew a local enchanter who might give me a discount.

Caden organized most of the repairs. He brought in a couple of helpers, including his father, Orinn, who looked just like an older version of Alic and Caden, but with salt-and-pepper hair and a big bushy mustache that hung over his bottom lip. With the extra help, they soon tore out the old burned-out wall.

They brought in new oak planks and hammered them in place, giving the room a refreshing scent of fresh wood.

"You've got a real talent, Caden," I said, admiring his handiwork. "Your dad is good with any tool."

He grinned, wiping sweat from his brow. "Thanks, Varix. I learned from the best. I'm still apprenticing to him, but I'll have my own business one day."

"I have no doubt. I'll help you in any way I can. Just say the word."

"Might take you up on that." Caden grinned.

Next came the furniture. I scoured the local markets and shops, picking out sturdy tables and chairs to replace the scorched and broken ones. A few cozy booths found their way into the corners, thanks to Caden and his crew. They would be perfect for intimate meals.

The bar itself also got a facelift. I commissioned a local woodworker to fix the bartop. The bones were good, but the surface had been marred and damaged from years of use. She flattened the surface with a wood plane, sanded it smooth, and applied multiple coats of varnish until it gleamed. I'd already replaced or restored most of the barstools, but I left the ratty old ones on the end for my ghostly companions, though I doubted their seats would remain free during happy hour.

Doan and Ragna were godsends in the kitchen. They tackled the stove, replacing worn-out parts, hammering doors into hinges, and applying oil to keep everything nice and quiet. The difference was night and day—suddenly, cooking felt less like a battle.

"This beauty'll serve you well for years to come," Ragna said, patting the stove.

Doan nodded in agreement. They had also made new pots and pans for me, which now sat in the cabinets, ready for use.

But Doan wasn't done yet. He presented Lady Churl with a custom knife, its blade razor sharp and perfectly balanced. The handle was a work of art, ergonomically designed for her smaller hands and finished with a dark stain with red worked into the wood to give it a wicked look.

Churl's eyes widened as she took the knife, testing its weight and balance. "Well, ain't this a right deadly bit o' cutlery?" she said, a rare smile gracing her features. "Thanks, ya didn't have to do that, but I reckon I'll put it to good use."

"It's nothing, Lady Churl. You helped save the village. It's the least I could do."

"Weren't much of a saving. Just a little throat slitting."

Doan swallowed loudly.

The last addition to the kitchen was a much larger cooler. We had to move the old one out in pieces, which took three of us. Doan was interested in the old one for scrap. I happily gave it to him since leaving it on the curb with a "Free to good home!" sign probably wouldn't win me any fans.

The new cooler was magically enhanced, with larger and thinner walls. It was organized much like a modern refrigerator on earth, with an actual freezer on the bottom and storage for fresh food on top. I could fit a few days' worth of food inside.

With the kitchen sorted, I turned my attention to the finer details. I tracked down a number of traders coming from Tidewater Harbor. I made deals to keep a steady supply of fish, shrimp, and a few ales and beers, as well as hard alcohol coming. My first orders were slow, but I told the traders I hoped to expand quickly. It remained to be seen if I could pull it off. Thankfully, the baron didn't try to interfere. I don't know what the king said to Bertram, but it probably wasn't nice. He'd mentioned he could take away a barony, and I'm sure the baron had heard that loud and clear.

We loaded up on new plates, bowls, and utensils, choosing sturdy pieces that could withstand tavern life. Glassware came next—everything from simple mugs for ale to delicate stemware for the mixed drinks I planned to serve.

One area remained, and that was the open space behind the tavern that was being utilized for the food wagon. There was a lot of wasted space, and I wanted to start a small garden in the back to grow hot peppers and other spices. That meant building up an area that could support rows of planters, but it would have to wait as I was running out of time. If I continued doing nothing but expanding and upgrading, the place would never open and begin to make a profit.

By the time I'd finished, my coin purse was considerably lighter. Lady Churl had been reluctant to take much of the coin after I offered her a third of the king's reward for capturing Thalindra, so I'd invested it in the tavern. She'd told me to keep most of it as future rent. She had made a few purchases and was turning part of the basement into her own room. I promised her she would always have a place to live, no matter what.

The tavern was shaping up to be everything I'd dreamed of. The sense of accomplishment was like nothing I had felt before.

"We're almost there," I murmured, running a hand along the smooth bar top. "Just a little more, and we'll be ready to open for business."