The day was a success even though I had to spend time explaining and delegating tasks to Milo. I showed him around the kitchen, explained the cutting board in the center of the prep area, and told him that all food was cut there and only there. The tour included the new food wagon and what we would be cooking today.

He was eager to learn and eager to sample every bit of food. I had to warn him more than a few times that touching and tasting all the food wasn't hygienic, and he had a very apt response to that.

"What does hygienic mean?"

"I'll answer your question with a question. How would you like it if someone made you a cup of tea but kept dipping their fingers into it before you could drink it?"

"I'd be impressed. Tea is hot. Really hot. They would burn their fingers."

I stifled a chuckle. "Would you want to drink the tea after they had dipped their fingers inside? Say, for instance, it was one of the farmers, and he had just come back from cleaning up manure, and some of it was on his hands."

"I'd be really surprised, Mr. Varix. Most farmers know better than to run around with shit on their hands."

I blinked twice. "For the sake of this question. Assume the farmer is dumb and he didn't clean his hands. Now, he's dipping his fingers in your tea before you drink. Now, does that sound hygienic?"

"Oh. Oh! I get it. Good thing I don't have cow poo on my hands."

I blew out a breath and said, "Milo, do me a favor. Just try not to touch the food after it's been cooked."

"You got it, Mr. V."

I had Milo find a paper and pencil and write a shopping list while I showed him around my rapidly developing cooking area near the wagon.

"Shell has been nice enough to open a line of credit for me. You tell her you're helping at the tavern and to put it on Varix's bill."

I continued giving him things to pick up, including three dozen buns. I pulled out some money and handed it over. "Please write down how much you pay for everything. I need it for the books."

"You got it, Mr. V."

Once my new 'apprentice' was out of my hair, I went inside and started preparing for the day.

I considered making a vat of chili, but decided against it due to time constraints. I should have prepped for it last night and gotten up much earlier to start on the dish, but I couldn't help but smile every time my mind wandered back to the previous night spent with Seraphina. A smile tugged at my lips as I recalled our conversation, her laughter, and the warmth of her company. Damn. I was smitten.

Shaking off the pleasant memories, I focused on work. I broke out a huge packet of ground meat and formed fist-sized meatballs for burgers. After seasoning two dozen balls with salt and pepper, I placed them on a pan, covered them with brown butcher's paper, and returned them to the fridge.

Lady Churl popped out of the trap door, yawned, and stretched as she reached the kitchen, her arms going wide as she yawned again. Based on the pile of mushrooms and peppers on the kitchen counter, she'd had a successful night of foraging. Her yield sparked an idea in my head.

"Lady Churl, would you mind helping me prep for the cook?" I asked.

"Yeah. That Seraphina's alright, boss. I likes her."

I grinned. "She is pretty alright. She said you're also pretty alright."

Lady Churl shrugged. "Glad you got one of those human types. The other one had peculiar tastes."

"I don't need to hear anymore." I shook my head vigorously. "By the way, apparently, I now have an apprentice. There is no talk of Big M—that's what Seraphina and I call him, anyway—around this kid. His name is…"

Just then, Milo burst into the tavern, his arms laden with supplies. He bustled toward the kitchen, but the moment he caught sight of Lady Churl, his eyes widened. The bags nearly slipped from his grasp as he stumbled back, his voice rising in panic.

"Mr. V, there's a goblin here! Grab some knives. We can take her!" Milo exclaimed. "Probably."

I quickly walked to Milo and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Whoa, easy there, Milo. Calm down. Lady Churl is a friend. Lady Churl, meet Milo."

Milo's gaze darted between me and Lady Churl, confusion and fear warring on his face. "But... but she's a goblin! Aren't they dangerous?"

I shook my head. "Lady Churl has been helping me for a while now. She's been my friend since I met her over a month ago. I was on the road and ran into her in the woods. We got to chatting and struck up a friendship. The war is over, and all of the races need to live together. We only have one land, right? It's okay to become friends with former enemies. I bet you'll like her when you get to know her."

Lady Churl grinned, revealing her sharp teeth. "Aw, boss, yer makin' me blush. ‘Ere, I thought I was just another pretty face in the kitchen."

I chuckled before turning back to Milo. "See? She's harmless. Well, mostly harmless. Just don't get between her and a plate of mushrooms."

"I do likes me some mushrooms. Did you see the haul from last night, boss?"

"I did. Impressive. It actually gave me an idea for lunch today."

"Yeah? If it's all the same, keep them onions to yourself."

Milo's tension eased slightly, but he still eyed Lady Churl warily. "If you say so, Mr. V., I have never met a friendly goblin. Last year, we were attacked by a group of orcs, and goblins were running through the town stealing and fighting."

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

"Weren't me," Lady Churl said to Milo and shrugged. She sauntered over to Milo. "Nice ta meet cha."

Milo managed a nervous smile in return. "Uh. I'm not sure if I should be happy or scared."

"You ain't so much to look at, yerself."

Milo stepped back, shock etched on his face. Then he cracked a smile and laughed.

Milo and Lady Churl had a few uncomfortable moments over the next hour, but they mostly settled into a routine in the kitchen. I instructed Milo on what I needed done, and he kept notes, which impressed me.

"I need to run out and grab some cheese. Are you good in here? You'll get along?"

"You got it, Mr. V. Now that the surprise has worn off, she's not so bad."

"Yeah? I ain't so sure 'o you, yet." Lady churl said but cracked a smile.

I quickly made my way to the market. I weaved through the bustling stalls, scanning the wagons and carts, looking for a particular item. I found a small location with cheese that looked similar to what I was after.

The young woman watching over the goods smiled as I approached.

"Hello. Do you have samples of that?" I asked, pointing at the cheese I was interested in.

"I do," she said and produced a knife to cut a small piece off.

I tasted it and couldn't help but grin. It was so good, and resembled Swiss cheese, but it had a little more bite, almost like a sharp cheddar.

"This should do the trick," I said, and had her cut off a large chunk. I thanked the merchant and paid for my purchase.

As I returned, I spotted another vendor and had to make one more stop. The jovial older man had a fine selection of large glass bottles filled with crisp, green pickles swimming in brine.

With the cheese and pickles secured, I hurried to my final stop: the herbalist. As I entered the shop, the aroma of dried herbs and medicinal concoctions surrounded me. The owner, an older man with wispy white hair and a kind smile, greeted me warmly.

“Good morning, sir! What brings you here today?" he asked.

"I'm in need of a couple of restoratives," I replied, browsing the shelves. "My friend Caden Ashfall buys them. The vials for when you've had a fun night out, if you catch my meaning."

The old herbalist chuckled. He reached behind the counter and produced a basket of small vials filled with a rich green liquid. "These should do the trick, my friend. Just remember, moderation is key."

"Thank you. I plan to keep these on hand. I agree with you. Moderation is a good way to live. But, just in case," I said and winked.

I thanked him, paid for half a dozen restoratives, and hurried back to the tavern.

As I walked back, I thought about how I'd been improvising outdoor cooks over an open fire. It made the most sense to keep doing it, for now. The smell of food over an open flame would be some of the best advertising in the world. I made a mental note to ask Doan about crafting a large outdoor grill. It would be perfect for cooking lunch, and even better, a grill with an offset smoker would come in handy.

I'd need to save money for it, but my mind was already swirling with things I could cook on the outdoor grill.

Lunch went even better than the day before. We sold out of the chicken sandwiches before the burgers, but once word spread about the shroom melts, the smell of the melting cheese, sautéed mushrooms, and seared meat brought out ever more customers. Some stopped to look but appeared to be in a hurry. I informed them that they could have their food to go in a paper bag. Thanks, Milo.

We’d prepped for over fifty meals, and within a few hours, they were all gone.

Shell and Caden made it for lunch, but Ragna and Doan were busy working and couldn’t break away.

I was ushering the last customers out of the dining area, except for Shellen and Caden, who were chatting animatedly, when Mira appeared. She had a pack on her back and was armed with her sword, bow, and arrow. She waved as she approached.

“Mira. Are you off on an adventure?” I asked her.

“I’m heading out as a caravan guard for a few weeks. I need to stretch my legs.”

“Will it be dangerous?”

Mira shrugged and grinned. “With any luck, it will. It’s a short trip. We’re heading to Stormcrest Bay, then onto Emberholt, before passing through Ironcliff and heading back to Everspring by way of Shadowfen.”

The location names meant nothing to me except Stormcrest Bay. Roland had spoken fondly of some of the beers from the city next to the water. A lot of trade came in from there, including my ice blocks.

“Stay safe out there,” I told Mira.

She grabbed me and pulled me in for a bear hug before I could think. I quickly returned her hug. She pulled away and hit me with a huge grin. “You’re a great work friend, Varix. I wish you nothing but good luck with Seraphina. She’s a wonderful person. For as long as I’ve known her, she’s been an asset to our little town.”

“Thanks, Mira. I’m fond of her,” I said.

“I know. You two are going to have some good-looking babies. Alright, Varix. I must say goodbye to Caden, Doan, and Alic.” She lowered her voice and looked away. “I’ll miss him the most.”

“Alic? Is there…”

“He’s not a work friend. You figure out the rest.” Mira turned and shouted, “Caden! You dog. I’m heading out for the road…”

I waved to my friends and went inside with the money to find Milo working in the kitchen. He’d put the dishes in the sink and was busy boiling water. I pointed at the pan. "What's that?"

“It’s to clean with. My mom taught me that the hotter the water, the cleaner the dishes.”

“Your mother is smart.”

Milo understood about cleaning with hot water, but not about sticking his fingers in the customer's food, which had been a mystery. You win some, you lose some.

I'd saved some food for my two helpers. I quickly whipped up two melts for them both, with a massive pile of extra mushrooms. We'd turned a tidy profit, but not enough to make significant changes to the tavern. I paid Milo for his time, and he was thrilled.

"Just until we figure out a salary. Don't spend it all in one place."

"What if I find a nice hat and a shirt with puffy sleeves? I'd have to spend it all in one place."

"Never change, Milo," I said, clapping him on the shoulder.

The next few days were a blur as we fell into a routine. Up with the roosters, shopping in the marketplace, setting tasks for Milo, and Lady Churl's quick wit and assistance for morale and actual work. Before long, I had a bit of money saved up.

I sought out the local bank and opened an account. A manager came out from a back room, looked me over, and asked me a few questions about my business and place of residence. He didn't even blink twice when I told him I'd purchased The Shadow's Respite and lived on the second floor. He looked me over again, squinted a few times, and then told me to sit and wait.

He returned about fifteen minutes later and presented me with an interesting identification card adorned with embedded pieces of lapis lazuli and accented with sun and moon designs that moved like a slow, magical clock. In the center was a blurred spot.

"Alright, Mr. Varis. Please hold the card in hand. Hold it tightly."

He took my hand in both hands, closed his eyes, and whispered something. I thought I could make out the words but could not recall a single one seconds later.

"Very good, Mr. Varix. We have an accounts manager who will take over from here. Have a wonderful day."

I looked the card over and found my face surrounded by a faint glow staring back at me. Instead of asking questions about the card and how it was made, I decided to save those for Seraphina, especially since her shop was my next stop.

I couldn't wait to see her, and I needed to check in on the solution for masking The Heart of Shadows.