Luke stood at the entrance to the kitchen. He stared at the slip of paper in his hand.
“Plinth, I don't think Cophin is going to like this order.”
Plinth polished a wine glass. “So?”
“Should I give it to him?”
“Of course.” Plinth patted Luke on the shoulder then walked back into the dining room.
Luke looked down at the order, he looked up, he looked back down. He looked all around.
“But maybe if I can convince them to change their order…”
Luke slipped into the dining room. He approached one of the tables.
“Excuse me. You’re the person who ordered the tuna salad right?”
“That’s right.” The Curious Sightseer nodded.
“Our restaurant doesn’t have tuna salad. Is there something else that I could prepare for you?”
“Your server said that this restaurant didn’t use any complicated ingredients. What could be less complicated than tuna with mayonnaise. It’s only eggs and vinegar.”
“I suppose…” Luke turned around. “I’ll give the chef your order. But he’s really going to die over this.”
“What!?” The Curious Sightseer jumped back.
Luke shook his head. “Sorry. I meant, he’s really going to cry over this.”
Luke turned his head to look into the kitchen. The Curious Sightseer followed his gaze. Cophin could be seen next to a chopping board. He rubbed his face with his arm. There were tears running down his face.
“Mayonnaise has such a strong flavor. The chef is very passionate about his work. He really wanted you to taste the unique flavor of the dish he specially prepared for you without any distractions.”
“You said he specially prepared it for me?”
“That’s correct. Just for you.” Luke nodded.
“I’ve never seen a culinary artist so impassioned with their work.”
“He gets very emotional when it comes to food.”
The Curious Sightseer waved a hand. “Well I wouldn’t want to alter the chef’s special preparations. Tell him to make the dish however he thinks is best.”
“Right away.”
Luke jogged back into the kitchen.
Cophin looked up. “Luke! Where have you been? I’ve been in here chopping onions, garlic, and raw peppers all by myself.”
“Sorry chef. I was organizing the orders.”
“What were you gabbing about out there in tha dining room?”
“Nothing chef. Only making sure that orders were correct.”
Cophin frowned but didn’t say anything else.
“It’s knife to see the two of you working together.” Plinth said from the doorway.
“Get out of here Plinth!”
#
“How are you enjoying your cognac sir?” Plinth asked.
*Burp* “Very fine. An excellent flavor. I’ll take another one.” The Impatient Tourist slid his glass across the table.
“Another cognac then sir?”
“That’s right. I’ll take another one of those, one more time.”
Plinth blinked. “Is that one… or two?”
#
"Guys you won't believe what I found out."
"Did you find us some more flatbread?" Jack leaned back in his seat.
"No. But It turns out that Mr Plinth is a Combak.” Ted panted. “He told me in the kitchen when we were cleaning the plates. He’s certified and everything.”
Tasha put an elbow on the table. “Is that really a surprise? A lot of combat bakers open their own famous restaurants.” She looked around at the Eatery. “Or I guess, regular restaurants.”
“We have not met a lot of Combaks…” Jack picked at his nails.
“Star Town doesn’t really have the cachet to attract inspiring Adventurers.” Ted shrugged.
Jack smoothed his hair back. “But that’s only temporary. Star Town will one day be one of the most important towns in the future of the Kingdom.”
“Really? When?” Tasha asked.
“In the future.” Jack’s left nostril flared.
Tasha looked over Ted’s shoulder. "By the way, what did you do with the previous flatbreads? And with Tripillli?"
"With what?" Ted looked up.
"The roach thing."
"I don't know. I put all the dishes in the sink."
“Huh… can crabs swim?” Tasha frowned.
Ted tapped his foot. “I think so.”
“Okay. Good.”
“Or are crabs the ones that sink directly to the bottom. Maybe I’m thinking of jellyfish. All those wiggly legs? No, I’m thinking of jellyfish.”
"Oh crap!"
Tasha jumped up from the table and rushed into the kitchen.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Jack ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t see what the big deal is. Combat bakers? *Sniff* My father always said that they’re over-glorified Adventurers that get an undeserved reputation because they feign an appearance of high culture. Any soldier can swing a sword. Being able to bake a pie at the same time doesn’t make you special.”
“Ka-thunk*
A bowl of cooked lentils landed on the table in front of Jack and Ted. Chopin stood at the edge of the table. He eyeballed Jack.
“You must be one of tha bravest men to ever live.” Cophin said.
“Huh?” Jack looked around.
“Talking shit about the man that helped prepare tha food you’re about to eat while sitting under his roof.” Cophin leaned over. “That takes guts.”
“I didn’t… I wasn’t…”
*Whistle*
Cophin looked up. Plinth was on the other side of the restaurant whistling to himself as he uncorked a bottle of wine. He wasn’t looking at Cophin but his whistle was loud and clear across the crowded dining room.
Cophin looked back down at Jack.
“How old are you boy?”
“Uh, seventeen.” Jack replied.
“You ever been outside your hometown before?”
“Yes.”
“Besides this time.”
“... no.”
“You ever broken a bone before?”
“What? No. Are you… are you threatening me?” Jack tried to remain composed.
Cophin smirked. “Nah. I’m only reminding myself that I shouldn’t hold a grudge against a boy barely out of his training pants.” Cophin nudged the bowl of lentils in Jack’s direction. “Eat up kid. Enjoy your meal. You need ta eat healthy if you want to grow up.”
Cophin turned around and walked back into the kitchen.
Jack let out a breath he hadn’t realized that he had been holding in.
#
“For only being hired yesterday I think that we’ve all done a wonderful job.” Rosy said.
Ash, Eins, and Rosy stood next to the kitchen window. They looked around the dining room full of tourists.
Tasha walked out of the kitchen. She wiped Tripillli off with a dishrag then tucked the trilobite back into place on top of her braid.
“I never thought a restaurant without a theme would actually be able to pull in this big of a crowd.” Tasha said.
"Yeah. Tonight is going really well." Ash looked around the room. He saw Jack and Ted hunched over at their table. "Hold on, I think I have an idea how to make it almost perfect."
Ash shuffled over to the table where Jack and Ted were seated.
"Oh Ted?"
"Yes Ash."
"Why don't you show Plinth your harmonica skills?"
“Wha-?” Ted panicked.
Plinth looked at Ted. "You're a musician? You should play for us."
"I don't know. I'm not very good." Ted shrunk into his sweater.
"Then it's even more important that you play. Passion is no substitute for preparation. You'll never know if you're a good musician or not until you practice to the point of your own incompetence." Plinth said.
“Wow. That’s so wise. But I’m afraid that I didn’t think to bring a harmonica with me.” Ted frowned.
Ash snapped his fingers. A magical circle materialized on the table.
*Clunk*Clunk*Clunk*
Ten misshapen mouth organs dropped down in a pile of wood and metal.
“Here you go. I summoned you some harmonicas.” Ash interjected.
Jack held up one of the irregular instruments. “All of these are crap.”
“Then here’s ten more.” Ash bared his teeth.
*Clunk*Clunk*Clunk*
“What are we supposed to do with twenty garbage harmonicas?” Jack waved the half formed harp in Ash’s face.
“Pick the best one and play a song for crap’s sake!”
Ted gripped the edge of the table with his hands. He looked up at the crowd of tourists. His cheeks blushed.
“Okay! I’ll do it.”
Jack turned. “What? Really? Ted you don’t have to-”
“I’ll do it!”
Ted jumped up. He grabbed the least damaged harmonica and walked to the front of the dining room.
Rosy cleared some space by the door for him. Tasha brought him a stool to sit on. Ted took a seat. He turned the harmonica over in his sweaty hands. He brought the instrument to his lips.
♪♯-
Ted winced. His hands dropped
“Yeah! Keep going.” Luke clapped from the kitchen.
“First note is done! Now play the rest.” Ash shouted.
Ted’s face turned bright red. But he brought the harmonica back up to his mouth anyway.
♪♫♪♪~~~
♪~♪~♪~♫♪~~~
♫♪♫♪♫♪~~~♪♪♪~~~
Gradually the chatter in the dining room died off. Conversation fell to a hush. Tourists took care not to clatter their silverware or clink their glasses. Tasha and Rosy cleared plates from tables. Plinth refilled glasses. Tourists on the street outside stopped ever so briefly in front of the restaurant’s open front windows.
#
Ash leaned against Jack’s table.
“Look at Ted up there all by himself. He’s really good. He probably should have been a musician. Didn’t the two of you used to practice together?”
Jack frowned. “Yes. I don’t see what that has to do with-”
“He was always better though wasn’t he?” Ash snapped.
“If you’re trying to make me angry then-”
“What would you call that?”
“What?”
“Ted up there all alone, playing for a room full of strangers. I would call that selfless. Think about if he had someone to share that embarrassment with?” Ash waggled his eyebrows.
“...”
“It would look really good if you went up there and played with him. Think of how noble you would look. Maybe even Mayoral one might say…”
“Piss off Ash.” Jack raised his pinky finger and flashed it Ash’s direction.
Ash flashed him a pinky finger back.
The two boys crossed their arms and avoided eye contact.
Notes drifted over the conversations of the other guests all the way to the back corner of the restaurant.
♫♪~~~♪~♪~~~
*Sigh* Jack grabbed a random harmonica from the table and stomped up to the front of the restaurant.
#
Ted finished his first song. He wiped some sweat from his forehead. Polite applause filled the dining room. Tasha set down another stool next to him at the front of the restaurant. Jack walked up and took a seat.
“Jack? What are you doing?” Ted asked.
“I’m here to play with you.” Jack huffed.
“Are you sure?”
“Are you saying that I can’t do it!?” Jack pouted.
“No no, not at all. Let’s play.”
“Okay… good.” Jack fidgeted on the stool. He turned the harmonica over in his hands. “What, what do we do now?”
"Let’s pick a song to play next. Let me think. Do you think Mr Plinth would like Hammers over Halcyon?" Ted asked.
"Why that one?"
"I hear that adventurers like worldly music. Plus he seems like he likes Franzès culture."
Jack looked down at the harmonica in his hands. He licked his lips. "Let's play Tallyman’s 3rd March instead.”
"Why do you say that?"
"Because it’s a Blolklanld folk music song. And besides… those are the ones that you’re best at anyway."
Ted smiled.
♬♪~♬♪~♬♪~
♪♪♪
♬♪~♬♪~♬♪~
♪~~~♬~♪♪~
#
Ave set down a bundle of shallots on the kitchen counter. She leaned over to peek into the dining room. Jack and Ted played on as Rosy, Tasha, and Ash cleaned plates.
Cophin silently waved at Ave. He mouthed the word
Ave nodded her head. She stepped back out of the kitchen into the courtyard. Trying not to make too much noise she opened the door to the side street, slid out, and quietly closed it after her.
Ave came face to face with a stern looking Llama.
“Oh hey, it's you.” she said.
#
Two harmonicas played down the evening as the sun drifted down below the horizon. As dusk drifted in on the dry wind candles dimed the small windows at the edge of the city. Shadows climbed the spiraling hill at the center of Kaseihgaeu. Lanterns lit the hotels and boulevards of the city keeping tourists company as they strolled the darkening streets. As evening turned to night the Ocean's Bounty blazed to life at the center of the town under the luminescent brilliance of a thousand upon a thousand electric lights. Even as the first stars peeked out from the sky the city shone like a beacon. Radiantly oblivious to the darkness around it.