My first visitor the next morning, other than Sour Cream of course, is for a change not Krystina but her mother. She brings a fresh jug with my feline companions favorite treat but doesn't stay to talk. Apparently they are quite busy down at the inn. Krystina as the local guild official even more so than her parents.

Thus I don't see her at the bath either. Agnieszka accompanies me there though. It seems she looks forward towards a good soak as much as I, after her rushed trip to the city. It is only when we both relax in the warm water that we at last have some time to talk.

“So, coffee. Had a cup when I got the beans for you. I'm surprised. Are you going to be serving hot drinks soon? Or are there other uses for them? It probably won't be to everyone's taste though. A little too bitter maybe.”

“I take it, you had yours black without anything then? That is one way to drink it. I have seen it served with generous amounts of sugar as well, to take off the bitter edge. And supposedly some people even add milk. But no, I'm not going to be serving it fresh. I have other plans.”

Agnieszka laughs out loud.

“A good thing too. I'm not sure our dear innkeepers would take kindly to the competition offered by a coffee house.”

Now I'm laughing as well.

“That is the last thing I would want. Maybe they could serve coffee though. If you have seen a coffee house in the city you probably are aware that it goes pretty well with all kinds of sweet foods.”

“Mhm. Maybe you should tell Krystina? She is the one you should approach with any new ideas since she is more open to those than her parents. Not that I'm saying that they are stuck in their ways, but they need a little more convincing and the convincing is a lot easier if you already have their daughter on your side.”

I nod and briefly submerge myself all the way up to my nose before getting out and drying off. As much as I would like to linger, I can't.

“First I want to try my hand at something a little different though. Something for which I'll need to do a lot more enchanting. And of course I still need to figure out how to best roast the beans.”

Agnieszka gets out of the water as well.

“Oh? You just need to figure out the roasting part? So you already know how to brew the coffee afterwards?”

I nod.

“We experimented with it at the academy. We tended to get our beans already roasted though. That isn't an option here, as you have to use them quickly after roasting or they will loose most of their aroma and the resulting brew will just be tasteless, dirty water.”

Once we are dried off and dressed we part ways and head back home.

I for my part am wearing my own clothes again and not those from grandma's trunk anymore. They aren't bad, but they don't quite fit like my own either. It is simple as that and that alone is enough to boost my mood considerably. That I barely feel my ankle anymore helps as well.

Happily humming to myself I open the shop. I just can't get those silly tunes about Ksawery the catfolk adventurer out of my head. Surprisingly enough I don't get a chance to enjoy the morning sun today.

A rather meek knock sounds out from the open door just as I'm about to open the last of the windows. It is the squire from yesterday.

I smile and motion for her to come in.

“Welcome! What can I do for you?”

She follows my invitation and looks around the shop. She appears a little lost, on her own without her knight present. Finally she finds the courage to speak up though.

“You were the one attacked by these crazy Pixies, right? I was wondering if you could provide any insights on how to deal with them.”

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Before I can answer she perks up as something else hits her. She pulls a folded piece of paper from her belt as she speaks up once more.

“Oh, and Ser Tadeusz wanted to know if you could brew up some of this mixture on short notice. Preferably today so he can set out with the adventurers tomorrow.”

I accept the piece of paper and look at the hastily scribbled notes. My eyebrows rise a little at what is written there. Oil, strong spirits, sugar, soap and rusty iron grindings as well as some other more esoteric but optional ingredients.

“Oh my! That can make for a rather nasty mix that burns long and hot. It is rather sticky as well. Is Ser Tadeusz certain he wants to use this mixture? Wouldn't normal oil be good enough? I'm sure that, as a man familiar with the tools of war, he knows what he is asking for, but I'm a little worried that it might do more harm than good in the hands of someone not familiar with the mixture. But to answer you question. The necessary ingredients could certainly be found around the village with some effort. And if they are provided I could mix this mixture. I just rather wouldn't.”

She nods, not bothered by my answer in the slightest.

“I will let him know about your concerns. About the other thing?”

Of course. This alchemical fire oil isn't the only thing she inquired about. I take a deep breath.

“There really isn't much I can say. It is for the better part thanks to Sour Cream and some of the other cats that I got away alive.”

As if the mention of her name is enough to summon her, the cat jumps on the counter next to me and promptly proceeds to rub up to me, until I finally start scratching her under the chin.

The squire nods, but inquires once more anyway.

“Nothing? Anything, even the smallest details could be helpful.”

I shrug, but give it a try anyway.

“Well, I'm not much of a fighter and my dagger didn't do me much good. In the end I had an easier time swatting the buggers out of the air with my bare hands. You might fare better with a sword or any other weapon though, since you actually know how to use them.”

I bit my lip and try to recall the nightly fight in question.

“What else. Hmm. Well, they have a nasty bite and use primitive stone weapons. Neither will pose much of a threat unless they can get at a vulnerable spot. You need to protect your neck among other things. They will try to go for the arteries. And if they can't get at those they might go for the face, and especially the eyes, instead.”

As she nods I point at the shelf with the healing potions.

“I only have lesser healing potions in stock right now. They are good for most minor injuries. If the buggers manage to open an artery though, they won't do you any good. You need to be careful and protect yourself.”

I tap my chin, trying to think of anything else. In the end only one more thing comes to mind.

“There is a halfling adventurer somewhere around. His name is Dario and I think he is a druid. He mentioned that he has some prior experience, minor as it may be, in dealing with feral Pixies. Maybe he can provide some more insights.”

Once again she nods and before she leaves again she gets two of the lesser healing potions.

I accept her coin and note the sale down in the ledger. Before she can turn to leave I point up at the sign above the counter.

“If you return the bottles intact and preferably at least rinsed out you can get some of your money back.”

She nods one last time and is gone again as quickly and quietly as she appeared. I don't hold it against her. She probably is pretty busy and doesn't have time to waste after all.

This is only the start of the day though. Several other adventurers drop by afterwards to get themselves some of the dwindling supply of potions.

I don't mind the sales, but the empty spaces in the shelves worry me a little. I really need to get brewing. For that I need some more ingredients though. Especially for the healing potions. Some I might be able to buy off the farmers. Others will need to be gathered, either by me or by adventurers who know what they are doing.

With a quiet little sigh I resign myself to spending more of my coin. Hopefully Krystina can make some time for me.