Georgio’s words pulled Urberer’s attention from the window. Georgio touched the finger tips of his hands together as his elbows rested on the table. He then offered in a lower voice “word is that there has been some problems in low-town. I’m not sure what exactly, but it needs investigating. And look, even here we don’t have the amount of guards that we need. I’m sure funds from our treasury could help. Beleive it or not, I’ve even gone to the guards a few times to inquire. They’ve not been helpful. I imagine a little more funds could buy better service. At least it does that for us in high-town. I need my workers safely working. Otherwise our businesses are effected. I’m sure you can understand that right Miss Hali”

Shelly looked pale. Through gritted teeth, “Yes Sir Wyncrest. The Hali family does understand that as an issue.”

“Good. We all need this issue resolved. As a Wyncrest, you will learn that honor, and the duty of protecting the weak is part of our ways.”

“Several Orders of Mercy for you Sir Wyncrest,” Eldre announced. Behind was another waiter with a tray in hand holding several silver topped containers and triangular folded white linen cloths of different sizes. . Eldre placed each canister in front of Georgio “Sir Wyncrest would you prefer I place napkins.”

“Yes, yes.”

Eldre, blinked twice and then nodded. “Of course sir.” He show Shelly a look before turning to receive the napkins. He placed two small napkins between the silver canisters and Georgio. Eldre then placed a large napkin over Sir Wyncrest head. “Sir Wyncrest. The meal is ready,” and then step back. He looked at Urberer, then Shelly, rolled his eyes and then quickly walked away.

The napkin was like a child’s ghost mask on Georgio’s head. It was odd seeing someone dressed some regal and with his years wearing a white napkin essentially as a mask. Georgio brought the canister up and underneath the napkins, uncapped its lid by, and then placed it on the table. Georgio fed himself whatever the item was underneath the napkin, evidently by the earthy roasted aroma and the smell of liqor.

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“That’s quite a smell. I’ve never smelled anything like that before. What type of hard drink is that? And why the napkin?”

I don’t think Stell ever served anything that smelled like that.

Shelly spoke up, drawing Urberer eyes her way. Her brow was narrowed and creases were showing inbetween her eyebrows. In a matter-of-fact tone she said “It is not a drink, but mores a meal. It is a cuisine once only available to royals and nobles. It was considered so good, that in their good graces, they decided to allow those who can afford it, to have it. There are two reasons for the napkin. The first reason is to keep in the aromatics of the dish, for better tasting purposes. The smell is a mixture of alcohol and and spices specifically chosen to compliment the dish.”

The sound of crunching and popping caught Urberer’s attention. He glanced over and saw a brown liquid falling from underneath the napkin to the table, staining it.

“And the wonderful sound you hear are not of roasted nuts. Those are the sounds of Ribs, Urberer. It is the sound of bones breaking. Sir Wyncrest is eating a Rhothian.”

A Rhothian? Urberer pulled deep from his memory. He vaguely remebrered a childhood story about a Rhothian. It was a story about an adventurer who got lost in dangerous territory. And one day they heard a beautiful bird song. They followed it, and found the bird sitting on some branches above a clean spring. The bird flew off shortly after the adventured watered themself. So, the adventurer followed the bird. And day after day the bird would sing, leading the adventurer to food, and safe resting places, until he was led to a small village and out of the wildness. It was story about kindness to strangers and that even the smallest of, or lowest of people, could lead another to good fortunes if they listened.

“A Rhothian? Isn’t that a song bird from the lands of Vylivan? A bird of good fortunes?” Urberer asked.