The pair entered the Drunken Toad a little before midday. It was the most popular tavern in town by the nature of it being the only tavern in the town. Other places served food and drink, but they were mostly family homes or street vendors. If you wanted to go and eat at an authentic restaurant in Pattson, you went to the Drunken Toad. Clay was familiar with the place and its owner Jennifer from his stay in the tavern before he had decided to move in permanently. The food had always been good, and the room had been clean and comfortable. The restaurant portion of the tavern had several trestle tables in rows and a few smaller tables against the wall for smaller groups. A small fireplace was against one wall, currently barren, and several open windows allowed both light and a cool breeze into the shaded interior.

  A sever Clay remembered as Samantha came up and greeted the pair leading them to one of the few open spaced in the Tavern, a small table in the back corner. Once they were seated, Samantha asked what they would like; since it was before midday, neither was looking for anything too strong, and both settled on a cool apple cider as the day warmed up. They also both ordered lunch, a vegetable soup with thick cuts of carrots and a wonderful aroma served with crusty bread and yellow cheese. A small bit of Cassy's bread and cheese disappeared into Mac's greedy maw as he hid in Clay's bag.

  "So, Mr. Wizard," she said between spoonfuls, "if you don't mind me asking, why is it that you are here in Pattson? You seem to have money and talent enough to set up in much bigger cities if you wanted."

  Clay was taken aback by the question, but he recovered quickly enough. He sat his spoon down in his bowl and turned to face her; as he did so, his scarf pulled itself back over the bottom half of his face, "I suppose your right about that," he said, "I could have gone somewhere else, but I didn't want to go to a city." As the words left his mouth, he felt the edges of bad memories and fingers of regret at the edge of his mind. He took a deep breath and pushed those away it was in the past.

  "Really, I would have figured that the bigger cities would be the choice for any spellwright. All Harrison ever talked about was his time at the academy before he got ran out of town," she said before going back to eating her lunch.

  Clay felt a bit of anger in his heart at the mention that the town's old spellwright had been to an academy. There were a few across the country and while none were as comprehensive as his experiences at the Silver Tome in the capital, all had to meet certain standards. It just made the man's actions even more infuriating. Clay didn't love the academies, but he had worked hard to earn his papers, and knowing someone else with something even similar had tarnished that symbol irritated something within him. But he reminded himself that there wasn't anything he could do about it now the man was already gone.

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  "It certainly has its benefits, and I'm sure I'll have to make trips now and then, but I'm looking for a quiet life. Too much of my youth was spent either in the city or fighting when I finally left. I'm not looking for treasure or glory; I've had my fill of both. I'm just looking for a quiet place to set catch up on my reading, learn how to grow a garden, and maybe help a couple of people for reasonable pay," he said before going back to eating as well.

  A few moments passed while both enjoyed their food. Clay took the time to settle his mind from the unexpected line of conversation. It wasn't like Cassy was being rude, so he didn't feel a need to stop her. She was asking common questions; they had just happened to brush up on a few bad memories, is all. He looked at her from under the brim of his hat as he mopped up his bowl with the butt of his bread. After a moment, he figured it was his turn to ask a question, "What about you any plans to head off and start your own business," he asked?

  She looked up at him and swallowed her current bite, "No, I plan to stay and take over the shop once dad finally gives it a rest and retires. Hopefully, I'll either have a kid or get a couple of apprentices and leave it to them once I'm too old."

  "That sounds like a good plan if I've ever heard one," he said.

  The two of them stood a few moments later, having finished their lunch. The sun had climbed to eats peak while they had been in the shaded tavern. Clay could feel it beating town on his hat a warning for the hot summer to come. There was an awkward moment at the doorway as it was time for the two of them to part ways. Cassy reached into a small pouch on her side and withdrew a few coppers.

  "Here is your payment as promised, and thank you for the help. It is a very important ring to my family," She said, passing the coins over to him.

  "Of course, I'm happy that it went as smoothly as it did. Please do tell your friends that I am not like Harrison and am just looking to set up an honest trade."

  "I will, I promise. Have a nice rest of your day," she said as she turned and hurried off.

  "You too," he called after her before looking at the coins in his hand. He smiled to himself when he saw there were six instead of five and hoped it was a sign that things were turning up.