We worked through the day, and as it grew dark outside, I told the others I'd like to treat them to dinner instead of cooking.

Before we could leave, I had to step out again and buy ice blocks. Luckily, Doan knew where to buy them, and he helped me carry the huge blocks back. Each block had to weigh thirty pounds, making it awkward to carry.

I had ulterior motives and was pretty upfront when I told them I wanted to see what the competition was cooking. Caden suggested we try The Green Griffin, a public house with a varied menu and several ales. A public house sounded like a good place to test the local dishes and understand how to improve them for my own place.

Caden said the village had been without a tavern for months and was waiting for The Shadow's Respite or The Wandering Boar to open. I hadn't been by the other tavern since taking ownership of my own. As soon as they opened, though, I'd have to stop in to find out what the competition would be like.

The public house was a ten-minute walk from The Shadow's Respite and close to the edge of the village. Some work had been done on the village's palisade on this side, but it was still in a sad state of disrepair.

As we stepped into The Green Griffin, the lively atmosphere immediately enveloped us. The place was bustling with patrons, and laughter and chatter filled the air. Warm candlelight cast a glow over the wooden tables and benches, while the aroma of roasted meats and stews wafted in from the kitchen.

I led Caden, Mira, and Doan to an empty table near the fireplace. As we settled in, a server approached us, her light, curly hair bouncing with each step. She wore a simple, light-colored dress that complemented her youthful appearance. Despite her mid-twenties age, there was a hint of boredom in her eyes.

"What's on the menu tonight?" I asked her, hoping we'd get some menu I could review.

"Tonight's dinners are the roasted boar with rosemary potatoes, the venison stew with root vegetables, the herb-crusted chicken with honey-glazed carrots, and the lamb shank with garlic mashed turnips," she said, her voice monotone.

This girl didn't seem to like her job. I wondered if she was related to Milo.

I put on a friendly tone. "It all sounds good. What do you recommend?"

"I recommend you order something," she replied.

Caden covered his mouth, while Doan and Mira snickered.

"Okay, then. What kind of herbs are crusted on the chicken?"

"Whatever's lying around, I reckon," she replied.

"I'll…er. I'll try that."

"Sorry. We're out of the herb-crusted chicken."

"Are you screwing with me?"

"Pardon?"

Smile, Vince. Smile!

"Eh. Sorry. It's been a long day," I said.

"I'll take the boar," Doan interjected.

"Same," Mira added.

"Venison for me," Caden said, grinning at me.

"Boar?" I asked the server--more of a question just in case they had suddenly run out of it as well.

She shrugged, spun, and went to the kitchen.

"What are the chances the orders are correct?" I muttered.

"It will all taste the same, so does it matter?" Doan said.

I noticed a familiar face entering the public house. The poor, confused woman had given me bad directions a few times before. She looked around, her eyes darting from table to table, until they landed on me. She smiled momentarily, but there was no hint of recognition in her gaze. Just as quickly as she had entered, she wandered back out. Stay weird, Everspring.

Doan put away a mug of ale and called for another. I sipped mine. It was strongly alcoholic and had hints of honey and cinnamon and was surprisingly bubbly.

Mira drank hers with big gulps, but couldn't keep up with Doan. She slammed her mug down on the table and used the back of her hand to wipe her mouth.

Mira leaned forward, a mischievous grin on her face. "Remember that time in the Whispering Woods, Caden? When we were on patrol, and you got spooked by that squirrel?"

Caden groaned, covering his face with his hands. "I thought we agreed never to speak of that again."

"Oh, come on," Mira teased. "It was hilarious! Picture this," she said, turning to me and Doan. "We're creeping through the woods, on high alert for any signs of the enemy. Suddenly, there's this rustling in the bushes. Caden, head in the clouds, was closest to the bush. He yelps and jumps about a foot in the air!"

Doan roared with laughter, slapping his knee.

"It wasn't a yelp," Caden protested, his face turning red. "It was a manly shout of surprise."

"Sure, sure," Mira said, waving her hand. "Anyway, he's drawn his sword, ready to face this fearsome foe. And what should come scampering out of the bushes? A fluffy squirrel, and it wasn't happy about Caden wandering around its domain. This little toy of an animal started cursing out Caden, before it zipped away."

I couldn't help but chuckle at the image.

Our laughter was interrupted by the arrival of our food. I dug into my roasted boar, savoring the tender meat. However, I realized the dish was rather bland after a few bites. It was filling, but lacked a lot of flavor.

I caught the server's attention as she passed by. "Excuse me. Could I trouble you for some salt and pepper?"

She looked at me in confusion. "Salt and pepper? Do you want to bring your food to the back and add some yourself?"

I shook my head, smiling politely. "No, that's alright. Never mind." I couldn't help but ask, "Do you know a guy named Milo?"

"Milo? Works at The Whistling Kettle? I know him. He's my brother."

I nodded politely as it all came together. I wondered if the confused woman was their mother. I had to fight back laughter at the image.

As she walked away, still looking puzzled, I made a mental note to make some salt and pepper shakers for The Shadow's Respite.

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

I paid for our dinner and thought about my finances. I was spending a lot of money getting The Shadow's Respite ready, and I needed to devise a plan to start generating some income. The open outdoor area outside the back of the Tavern was fairly large. It was on a patch of ground that backed up to an alley. I hadn't met the neighboring shop owners and needed to rectify that soon.

The open space gave me an idea of how to start making some extra money. There was no way to make a food truck, but I might be able to make the next best thing: a food wagon. I contemplated this plan, sipped my ale, and enjoyed my friend's company.

The next time the server came around, I asked how much the damage was, got a confused look, and asked how much I owed for the meal.

I'd counted out a couple of silver when something drew my attention.

A bell sounded in the distance.

I glanced up, but my companions were in the middle of another war story, pointing fingers and laughing at each other.

Mira was the first to glance up.

An older man at another table stood.

"Do you guys hear bells?" I asked.

Doan's face went from mirth to stock still in a split second. Others hadn't caught on, so Doan stood and bellowed. "Quiet!"

The talk and laughter in the large room died down.

More bells broke out, ringing from every direction.

I also stood because I wasn't sure what else to do. All I knew was that this didn't sound good.

"Green skins?" One of the men yelled in a questioning tone.

Doan, Caden, and Mira were on their feet. I was close behind them and followed them out of the door, meal only half eaten. At least I'd already paid.

The room became a bustle of activity as others stood and hastily tried to pay the suddenly overwhelmed server.

I raced after my friends as they hurried out into the night, wondering what in hell was happening. I hoped that it wasn't orcs that had set off the alarm.

More bells began to chime, echoing through the streets and adding to the growing sense of unease.

"East wall. Bandits!" Someone’s voice carried over the din.

My heart sank as I realized I was completely unarmed, not even a dagger at my side. I hadn't thought to grab a weapon after working all day in the tavern. Glancing at Caden, Mira, and Doan, I noticed they were similarly unprepared. What could we do against bandits without arms? But despite my doubts, I couldn't bring myself to run and hide. Not when my friends were heading straight into danger.

We reached the wall and found a group of village guards already mustering, their faces grim. Alic was among them, barking commands as he organized the defense. Caden stood beside me, panting from the exertion. He quickly assessed the situation, his eyes darting from the guards to the wall and back again.

Alic's gaze fell on the four of us, and he frowned. "Where are your weapons?" he demanded.

"We were eating!" Caden called back. "Didn't have time to go home and get them. Wanted to find out what was happening first."

Alic nodded. He turned to his men and ordered them to spread along the wall. More guards arrived on the scene, their armor clanking as they hurried to take up positions.

"Bandits are raiding homes and businesses," Alic informed us, his face set in a grim line. "We must stop them before they cause more damage or hurt anyone else."

Alic pointed at a cart being quickly dragged up the road by two soldiers, one on each arm. "There are weapons in there."

Doan didn't wait for the cart to arrive. He raced behind it, grabbed the rear, and pushed, propelling it up the street directly at our group.

More people were arriving by the minute. Most were armed, but some were still in their night clothes and looked confused. A woman screamed, and there was a flash in the dark ahead. I was already heading for the cart to either help Doan or grab a weapon.

I quickly joined Doan and the other soldiers, picking up the wagon's side and helping them drag it to the hastily forming front line. The weight surprised me, but I put my back into it. Sweat beaded on my forehead despite the cool night air.

As we neared the wall, torches were being lit among the soldiers. The flickering flames cast long shadows across the ground.

All around us, the village was coming to life. Men and women of Everspring began appearing in doorways, each armed with whatever they could find - pitchforks, kitchen knives, and even rolling pins. Others held lanterns, their soft light spilling out onto the street to chase away the darkness.

We finally got the wagon into position, and I took a moment to catch my breath. My eyes darted over the weapons piled inside, assessing our options. There were swords, spears, and a few bows. Without hesitation, I reached for a short bow that looked like it had seen better days. The wood was scratched and worn, but it felt sturdy in my hands. Next to it was a beat-up quiver of arrows. I slung it over my shoulder, hoping the arrows were in better shape than their container.

"Weapons! Here!" I yelled, grabbed a sword, and pumped in the air to let everyone know where to find a sword or spear.

The folks were quick. I imagined they had become used to this during the war. They quickly crowded around to pick up swords, spears, clubs, and a few maces, and one tall guy grabbed an absolutely massive halberd. The thing was at least a foot and a half taller than me.

I stood there, bow in hand, as the chaos unfolded around me—the sounds of clashing steel and shouting filled the air ahead. I wanted to do anything I could to protect these people who had welcomed me into their community. But as I raised my bow, uncertainty gripped me. How could I be sure I wouldn't shoot an ally by mistake in the confusion of battle?

I set out toward the loudest fighting but was interrupted by an older woman in a long nightgown stumbling towards me, clutching her shoulder. Blood seeped between her fingers, and her face was contorted with pain. I lowered my bow and rushed to her side.

"Here, let me help you," I said, guiding her back to the area where the people were mustering. I helped her sit on the ground, quickly tore a strip from my other sleeve, and bunched it up. "Keep this pressed hard. This should stop the worst of it."

"Thank you," she whispered. "I got one of them. I got him good. I didn't even see his partner. They were dressed in black. That one hit me."

"Were they human bandits or green skins?"

"Human. Animals if you ask me."

"I'm sure you gave them hell."

As I finished tending to her, I spotted another injured person nearby. I hurried over and helped them sit next to the others. "Stay together," I instructed him. It'll be easier for the healers to find you."

Suddenly, two children came running towards me, their eyes wide with fear. I knelt, held my hands out, and gestured for them to hurry over. Speaking softly to calm them. "Hey, there, it's okay. Let's wait here together for your parents, alright? They'll be looking for you."

"I’m scared!” the little boy cried. He couldn’t have been more than six or seven years old.

"Look at all the big, strong warriors around us. You’re safe."

The boy glanced around. His sister clutched his hand.

"Here. Sit with us. You’re Theo’s children, right?"

The boy nodded. He and his sister went to join the injured pair, looking a little calmer seeing someone they knew.

I might not be much use in combat, but I wanted to help. I began organizing the injured and frightened civilians, creating a makeshift triage area away from the fighting. Thanks to the skills I had picked up in the healer's camp, I think I made a difference.

A man and woman appeared from the gloom and rushed toward the injured. I quickly told them about the injuries. They were grateful for my help and went to heal the worst of the wounded.

More people gravitated towards me, seeking help and direction. I found myself delegating tasks, asking uninjured people to assist with bandaging wounds, and comforting the scared.

It didn't take much longer for the fighting to die down.

Doan, and Mira returned. They both seemed to have sobered up. Doan appeared to be wounded, but he waved me off. "Probably not my blood. Help someone who needs it more than me," he said gruffly. "And Varix." He nodded once at the wounded. “Good work, my friend."

"Were the bandits driven off?"

"Aye," Doan said and nodded sharply. "But they'll be back. They were organized, and this wasn't the first raid. They've launched smaller forays, but this was bold. Too bold."

A plan began to form in the back of my head, a risky but potentially effective solution to Everspring's woes. The village needed protection, and I knew a group who might be able to assist—a group that most would consider unlikely allies at best. The question was, could I make peace between the people here and Urzan and his band of orcs?

I rubbed my chin thoughtfully, weighing the potential outcomes. It was a gamble, to be sure, but one that could pay off in spades if successful. The trick would be in diplomacy, in finding common ground between two groups that typically viewed each other as enemies.

I lent a hand tending to the injured until dawn broke. As the first light of morning touched Everspring, I finally took a moment to breathe.

I prepared to return to the tavern, thinking about Urzan and his orcs. Maybe this unlikely alliance could secure Everspring’s future. One thing was certain. I was ready to fight for this new life, for my friends, and for Everspring.