Emily’s Grand Fare was the kind of establishment you’d never catch me going to. The two story building was grown from a beautiful camellia tree which was blooming with pink flowers against the rainy grey sky. Elegant carvings bordered the windows and the entryway had tall, flowing arches held aloft by smooth columns. The walls had intricate lattice-work attached to allow vines to artistically grow on the exterior.

  If it wasn’t for The Gnashing Teeth and Mira’s culinary skills, my preferred eatery is one that is open at 2Mor, has waitresses who will punch out a drunk customer and won’t close when a hurricane comes through town. Instead of the tantalizing odor of fake maple syrup and frying bacon, this place smelled of fancy foods I knew cost a fortune and served on tiny plates that would ensure I was hungry later.

  I felt severely out-of-place here.

  I wasn’t the only one. With my purple suit with gold trim, I was the best-dressed of our little party. Void had her usual grey-on-black attire with the turquoise vest to accompany it. Tizek was wearing his yellow shirt with dark slacks while Lia was in her blue shirt and had her butterfly mask to disguise her peach fuzz face.

  We were all soaked. Void was the only one partially protected from the rain because I insisted she wear my wide-brimmed hat. She looked surprisingly good in it. I’d have to buy her one, maybe in a darker blue to coordinate with her vest and grey fur.

  When we walked under a covered awning, a waiter came out of the restaurant and approached us. He was a deer-clan man wearing a deep black tuxedo so well-pressed it looked like it was carved from obsidian and sanded to a mirror shine.

  “Please, allow me to dry you and your entourage, Baron,” the man offered. He didn’t wait for a response before casting a spell and lifting all the water from our bodies into a floating ball. With a flick of the wrist, the waiter tossed the water into the street where it vanished on the wet stones.

  After drying us off, the waiter held open the door and bowed to bid us to enter.

  The interior of the restaurant was just as elegant as the outside. Men and women wore expensive attire and quietly sat around tables with white silk tablecloths and actual metal cutlery. Overhead, crystal chandeliers poking through overhead vines lit the room in a gentle glow. Beneath our feet, a lush, thick bed of clovers with purple flowers covered the floor.

  The interior atmosphere was accompanied by a live four-piece string band. The instruments included a harp, cello, violin and an unusual tubed instrument called a fruller. The fruller had 16 strings arranged around a long tube connected to a spinning array. The musician twists the instrument to access different strings for a wide range of notes.

  The most interesting part of the fruller was the musician could feed mana into the instrument and hold notes, add reverb, distortion or even alter the tone and volume of the notes. Currently, the frullerist was producing a slow tune similar to a harpsichord.

  Fun fact – I actually know how to play the fruller. It was something I spent a couple decades messing around with during my library research years. I could pull off a mean metal riff, but just one before my mana runs out. Not that people here appreciate that kind of music.

  Yea, I definitely preferred a place with peanut shells on the floor and a bluegrass band playing an upbeat song.

  The four of us were greeted by a host stand and a ma?tre d'h?tel behind it. The woman, I’ll call her a head waitress because saying ma?tre d'h?tel is a pain in the ass, was marmot-clan and she was wearing a fancy miniskirt, a dark jacket over a white blouse and a bowtie. She had a pair of polished mahogany glasses perched on her nose and she was staring at the four of us with a mild sense of displeasure.

  “Greetings, Baron,” the head waitress said as she sized me up and down. I could tell she was not happy with the attire of the others. We definitely didn’t look the part of high society and clashed with the fancy dressed people sipping on flutes of sparkling wine. Not Champaign because Aurelie would get all snippy about it and lecture me about how imaginary borders on a map change the flavor of alcohol. “We have been expecting you. Please, follow me.”

  We followed the waitress toward a set of stairs leading up to the second floor. I noticed the other patrons in the restaurant were trying to sneak glances in our direction. When we arrived, all conversation ceased as the people in the room focused on the kingdom’s newest Noble. Some were looking at me with opportunistic twinkles in their eye. A new noble meant a new avenue into the highest echelon of society.

  Atop the stairs were a pair of Royal Guards blocking the way. The head waitress announced me and the Guards split to let us pass.

  The top floor was devoid of customers. The tables were empty with the exception of one set with three place settings along with a number of Guards blocking each window and flanking a door to a private room in the rear.

  “Your entourage may eat here,” the waitress said and gestured at the table. “The Prince requested a private meeting.”

  “Even my fiancé isn’t allowed in?” I asked and gestured to Void.

  The waitress gave a quick bow to Void. “Apologies, Baroninne, the Prince requested a private conversation with the Baron. We will endeavor to ensure your visit is pleasant.”

  Void didn’t know how to respond to that. I don’t blame her, I don’t either. This is a whole new world of manners. Then again, I really don’t care much and didn’t plan on spending much time frequenting restaurants like this.

  Tizek, however, didn’t seem to care. The mention of food was enough to convince him to sit at the table and examine the cutlery. He had instantly made a mess of the confusing array of utensils lain out. Why did you need more than one of each?

  When he put a small fork with two tines back in a different spot, the head waitress quickly whisked over and set it back in its proper place. She then silently offered additional seats to Void and Lia. After everyone sat, she picked up three menus set in silver rings on the table and handed them to each.

  “I can’t read,” Lia mumbled. Tizek stared at his and set it aside.

  “I’ll read the options to you,” Void said. When I glanced at the menu, I noticed it was written in Standard Vialinan. Even the wealthy didn’t have reliable fluency in High Vialinan.

  “This way,” the waitress said and guided me to the rear room.

  Inside, I saw the Prince along with six of his Royal Guards. Johann was sitting on a red cushion atop a raised platform next to a table. The table had gold cutlery arranged on it and the plates looked like they were made out of diamond. My chair had fancy carvings and was padded with a red cushion.

  When we entered, the waitress bowed low. “Your guest has arrived, Your Grace.”

  “Hey, Johann!” I said with a wave. Then I, once more, realized I forgot the decorum thing.

  One of the Royal Guards, a wolf-clan man with a brilliant red cloak and a red feathered crest on his metal helmet, looked at me with a glare. “Need I remind the Baron who he speaks with?”

  At least they weren’t preparing to introduce me to their blades this time.

  “Stand down,” Johann droned in a bored voice. “I find his manners refreshing. Guards? You may leave now.”

  The head guard looked like he wanted to object, but instead bowed and left the room with his squad. The waitress remained.

  I took a seat and the waitress followed. “May I take your orders?”

  “I’ll have the fish with the citrus beurre blanc, the seasonal salad with the vinaigrette and a bottle of your best wine,” Johann ordered.

  “As you wish, Your Grace. And for you, Baron?”

  I glanced at the menu and scanned over all the various foods I neither knew about nor cared to order. Then I saw a steak. “How big is this guy?”

  The waitress looked at the menu. “The bison steak with red wine and onion reduction? 68 grams, Baron.”

  “I’ll take, hmm, 18 of them suckers,” I ordered. Damned things were tinier than my thumb.

  “Baron,” the waitress responded. “Each order is 5 silver Sovereigns. Do you wish to proceed?”

  Ouch. Sure, I got the 4 platinum Sovereigns in my little goody bag earlier today, but that was steep. Mira’s roast with red wine and rosemary was priced at 25 copper Sovereigns.

  “Don’t concern yourself over the price, Baron. You’re my guest tonight,” Johann answered.

  I gave him a nod. “Thanks, Prince! I promise not to abuse it.”

  The waitress’ mouth twitched. “I’ll go put in—”

  “I’m not done,” I continued. “I’d like a big old salad with some yoghurt dill dressing, one yay big.” I put my hands out to show a good sized bowl.

  “Then I’d like some of those fried potato disks, enough to fill a plate the size of the salad three tall. For a drink, just a mug of good beer,” I finished.

  The waitress’ eyebrow raised and spoke with a tone of mild sarcasm. “Any dessert?”

  “Four of those chocolate cakes. I don’t want to go overboard; I’m watching my figure,” I grinned.

  Another twitch from the waitress. “Your order will be ready…shortly.”

  “Be sure to inform my other three guests outside they are free to order as much as they wish,” Johann said.

  “Yes, Your Grace.” The waitress bowed, backed out of the room and closed the door.

  When the door clicked shut, Johann stretched out and began laughing. “I knew I made the right choice with you. I hate coming to places like this. I always leave hungry and have to order snacks back at the castle.”

  “You’re free to sneak a few of mine if you want,” I replied. “Where I’m from, we’re used to taking some home. I ordered extras to give to Mira to compare to her cooking. Why not order more yourself?”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  A brief sneer crossed Johann’s face before returning to a happy expression. “The same reason I’m not permitted to enter a dungeon – appearances. I have to behave like a sovereign is expected – that includes starving myself on overpriced food. I have no doubt the fare at your newly purchased establishment is far superior.”

  “You saying this place isn’t that good?” I asked.

  “Not particularly,” Johann replied. “You’ll find the more expensive the food, the less palatable it becomes. It’s all part of the grander game the kingdom’s elite likes to play.”

  I was suddenly dreading having ordered as much as I did. “You know, back in my world, we have places like this, but they serve a whole lot of different courses. Food looks small, but they have a variety that helps you leave satisfied. Still way too expensive for my tastes, though.”

  Johann removed a shoe and scratched at a spot between the pads on the sole of his foot. “I’ll see if I can subtly request that. I’m sure the fine dining establishments will like that; it’ll mean selling more dishes.”

  I snorted. “Always appeal to the bottom line. Now, with that out of the way, why me?”

  “Because you aren’t what you seem.” Johann slipped his shoe back on and stretched. “You know this city well, you’ve been involved with the criminal underworld and, now, you’ve exposed your ability to read a difficult text mere months after arriving. I need someone like you on my side.”

  I leaned against my chair back and felt the soft fabric against my hands. It was comfy. “What for? You come off as a politically savvy man.”

  “That’s precisely why I want you aligned with me,” Johann replied. “The moment you believe your position is sufficiently strong is when you lose.”

  I thought on that for a moment while Johann got more of his unprincely desires out while in my presence. I watched him scratch his underarm and the inside of his ear while I pondered his words. What did he want me for? I couldn’t be more than a vote on the council and, even then, I’d not amount to much.

  “Why should I ally with you?” I asked.

  “I can help you with your objectives,” Johann responded. “I received word of your little…incident with Gully Jack’s people earlier today. There is disorder brewing in my kingdom and I wish it quashed. You and I have overlapping goals.”

  “That’s fine and dandy,” I replied. “But that doesn’t mean I’m going to put myself in debt without knowing what I’m expected to support.”

  A smile crossed Johann’s face. “You’re wiser than you appear.”

  I shrugged. “Is what it is. What am I going to support?”

  “I wish my reign to be one of order.” Johann picked up a gold fork and twirled it in his hand. “Since you have a knack for getting involved in surprising affairs, I’d like you to be my informant. Whenever you come across something which threatens the orderly existence of our world, I’d like you to contact me. Such as, for instance, the unknown group in the cistern.”

  That was a big advantage. If I had this earlier, the cistern battle would have been far less stressful. I could use a powerful ally capable of deploying trained and competent troops. One that wouldn’t try and abduct me for his personal pleasure.

  “I think I can get behind that,” I said. “What do I get in return?”

  Johann set the fork back down in its place on the table and adjusted it slightly with a finger to align it with its neighbors. “Political cover. I, sadly, cannot directly assist you in your conflict with Gully Jack. What I can do is lay the groundwork for you to claim the slums as your territory.”

  “Uh,” I mumbled. “What if I don’t want a territory?”

  Johann’s eyebrow arched at me. “And leave the slums more chaotic? I wonder if I misjudged you.”

  “I was hoping to convince Lisa to leave me be,” I replied. “I don’t want to slot in as the next cartel boss.”

  A deep sigh flowed from Johann’s throat as he adjusted himself into a cross-legged position. “I thought you smarter than that. What makes you think Lisa will give up? She’s ruthless and, for some reason, has become obsessed with you.”

  “I’ll come up with something,” I replied.

  “Oliver,” Johann said in a disappointed tone, “What makes you think that’s even possible? I’m not sure what your world is like; Lisa won’t scream ‘I’ll remember this!’ and rush off never to be heard of again like a side villain in the early chapter of a children’s story. You’ll need to deal with her – permanently. It’s not like you are opposed to killing; you left two of Lisa’s people dead in the Laborer’s Quarters.”

  Johann spoke the truth. Once upon a time, I had a more idealistic view on things. Then reality came and bit me hard in the ass and refused to let go. I knew he was right; I couldn’t approach this and expect to avoid bloodshed. “I’ll think about it. By the way, why doesn’t the kingdom or a Noble take care of Lisa?”

  “Not profitable enough.” Johann readjusted himself into a lounging position. “I’m not suggesting you go take a loss on the venture. The slums can be self-sufficient with modest taxes and you’d be able to maintain a Guard. It won’t bring in opulent coin, so the other Nobles just don’t care.”

  I stared up at the sky and wondered. Grand Creator? Are you pushing me this direction? The sudden change of loop reset points? The aggressive attacks by Lisa? The slave thing? That strange fiction teller who got things unnervingly right?

  It’s making me swing away from the atheism thing in total. This is a different reality, after all.

  A knock at the door made me decide my musing could wait; I had a steak cut into 18 different parts to eat.

  The door opened and a cart laden with food was wheeled in by a black bear-clan man and the marmot-clan waitress. I had to give it to the chef, the food smelled amazing. My order was split between three different dishes. The meat dish was stacked like a pyramid with red sauce dripping down the steps. The potatoes were arranged in the shape of a flower on a plate and the salad had a nice dollop of dressing in the center.

  After they entered, they closed the door and wheeled the food over to the table.

  “Your order is—” the waitress began before she was cut off by the bear-clan man snatching a steak knife from the cart and slamming it hard into the waitress’ neck to cut her voice off.

  I sat there stunned as warm blood spurt over my face from the wound. The bear-clan man then turned on the Prince who was also sitting perfectly still in fear.

  “He Who is Eternal shall rise!” the bear-clan man growled then lunged at Johann.

  “Guard! Tizek!” I shouted and bounced from my chair to tackle the man away. His knife grazed the Prince’s face when I knocked him back.

  The man was stout but, based on how much of a fight he was putting up, he didn’t have an Advancement.

  It didn’t take long for the door to crash open, but by then I was already rolling with the assassin on the floor. I focused on keeping his dagger from plunging into me and sending me back to whatever the latest loop reset point was.

  We rolled until I was atop him and I took advantage of the position to ram my elbow across the man’s muzzle. The blow stunned him enough for me to wrench the knife away and send another elbow into his temple.

  I was roughly pulled away once the man was disarmed by the Royal Guard captain who immediately rammed his sword through the face of the bear-clan man.

  Man, even with centuries of experience, fights were surprisingly quick and brutal.

  I spun to check on the waitress and found Tizek hunched over her. He looked up at me and his face was distraught. He then shook his head.

  The other Royal Guards were already hustling Johann out of the room. The Prince looked back at me and dropped a paper on the table. “Instructions to contact me.”

  When he left, the Royal Guard Captain knelt before me. “Baron, please accept my humblest gratitude for saving the Crown Prince. You do a service to your station.”

  “I did my best,” I replied numbly. All I could do was stare at the waitress lying on the floor in a spreading pool of red staining the pretty green and purple clovers.

  Void and Lia had also come into the room and stopped to stare in shock. I looked up at them and slipped a Heartstop dagger out from under my purple and gold shirt. The three of them nodded in agreement at what I was about to do; there was no way in the Abyss I was going to let that waitress die.

  I prepared myself and jammed the dagger into my gut. The last thing I heard before the quick blip of darkness hit me was the Guard Captain gasping in surprise.

  “Your order—” the waitress began.

  This time I was ready. I suspected my reset point was going to change again, but not cutting it this close.

  I rocketed up from my seat and intercepted the steak knife with the palm of my right hand before the bear-clan cultist could bury it into the waitress’ neck. Searing pain coursed through my body from the impact, but unfortunately for the cultist, I was used to it.

  I clamped down hard on the man’s fist to keep the knife in-place and sent a left hook across his jaw. We tumbled and sent the cart of food splaying all over the floor. For some reason, seeing my pile of steaks and potatoes flopping to the ground pissed me off something fierce.

  The cultist was far more ruthless this time around. We traded punches as we rolled on the ground. He kept trying to get up to get at the Prince, but I pulled him back. The room became trashed as we punched each other. The blows were fast enough that I couldn’t risk pulling the knife out of my hand to use as a weapon.

  I knew the everyone had come into the room by this point, but I had to keep up the attack. Any break, even to switch with a Guard, could risk someone else getting hurt.

  We tangled on the ground where I had an advantage. Being centuries old, and having thousands of grappling battles when first meeting Tizek, gave me a lot of experience. I snaked around to his back to get him in a rear naked choke and flexed my arms.

  Unfortunately, that experience was insufficient when my stamina bar bottomed out and my muscles turned to jelly.

  The cultist flipped me off his back, sending me crashing through a decorative table. The vase perched on it shattered under my weight and buried shards of ceramic in my back. When I was down, the cultist lifted a foot and prepared to crush it into my face. “He Who is Eternal shall rise!”

  No big deal, I’ll just learn from the tussle and do it better in a minute.

  Then I was saved by a rapidly moving grey blur crossing the room and absolutely cold clocking the cultist across the jaw. My avenging angel was Void. She had a teeth-bearing snarl on her face and her eyes figuratively burned with rage. I could see her triceps bulging under her shirt sleeve as she followed through with a beautiful driving punch. Damn, that woman is sexy.

  “Capture him!” Johann shouted.

  The Guards quickly followed orders and mobbed the cultist. They easily pressed him to the ground and bound his arms. Once secured, the Guards hustled him out of the room.

  “Are you hurt?” Void asked.

  I waved the hand with the knife sticking out of it. “Tis but a flesh wound.”

  “Tizek!” Void shouted.

  Tizek rushed over and, after coordinating with Void to yank the knife out of my hand along with picking the shards out of my back, Tizek hit me with a few heals. I flexed my hand and saw there wasn’t any grey in my health bar. Good, none of the tendons or ligaments were hit.

  Tizek and Void helped me up into a sitting position while I gasped for air to recover my stamina. I looked over at the waitress to see if she was alright. The waitress had her knees curled to her chest and she was rocking on the floor. Lia was with her, trying to comfort the poor woman.

  “Baron!” Johann called out. “I’ll send you a missive once we interrogate the prisoner. I’m afraid I must cut this short, my Guard is insisting we return to the castle.”

  I gave him a wave. “Do what you gotta. I’m gonna sit here and recover for a bit.”

  Johann tossed a letter on the table. “Sorry I couldn’t prime you for your speech at the Low Council meeting in five days. I’ll send a carriage. The letter has instructions to contact me if needed.”

  With that, the Guards hustled the Crown Prince out of the room, leaving only the Captain. Once more, he fell to a knee and bowed his head before me. “Baron, I offer my humblest thanks for saving the Prince. It was because of my failing that you suffered an injury.”

  “You must train to restore your honor,” Tizek growled. I could see the Captain hang his head even lower in agreement.

  I stood up. “Up with you, Captain. None of us could have guessed an employee here was in a cult.”

  “I also must offer my apologies,” the waitress said as she stood and adjusted her clothing. “Belton was part of our staff for nearly a decade. None of us suspected he harbored such proclivities.”

  “Don’t sweat it,” I said.

  The Captain got up and gave me one more bow. “Baron, I must take my leave. We have to ensure the Prince’s safety.” He rushed away without waiting for my response.

  I stopped and looked around the room. The place was a mess and my blood had gotten all over the floor and furnishings. I also saw some teeth lying on the floor where Void laid into the cultist. Then my eyes landed on the food and spilled beer all over the floor. I felt a sense of grief wash over me; all that meat gone to waste.

  “I’ll have the chef make some more to take with you,” the waitress offered.

  “Thanks,” I replied. “And box up my companions’ as well? I’d like to get out of here for the day. Sorry about the mess.”

  The waitress bowed. “No, I must apologize, Baron. You suffered an injury to protect me, a commoner. The nobility should not suffer on our behalf.”

  This was getting out of hand. “No, head up. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the other way around.”

  Her eyes darted up and looked confused. “Baron?”

  “We’re the ones in charge of things,” I said authoritatively. “That means it’s up to us to ensure the people of the kingdom can live safe and prosperous lives. A government exists to serve the people, not the other way around.”

  I think I blew her mind with that, along with everyone else for that matter. Lia and Void didn’t know what to say to that and Tizek looked like he was chronicling my every word for a book.

  “I…” the waitress stammered. “I’ll get your orders in,” she finished and rushed out of the room.

  When we were alone, I nodded to the door. “Lia? Mind closing it, we have big problems.”

  After Lia closed the door, Void spoke. “You want to talk about it here? Why not wait until we’re back at the Teeth?”

  “We have some time while waiting for the to-go order and—Tizek! Put that down!” I shouted.

  Tizek was bending over and scooping up some of the potatoes that had been soaked by the beer and wine when they fell off the cart. Most of it had absorbed into the clover floor covering, though enough was in the potato crisps to get a buzz.

  “Sorry, my lord,” Tizek mumbled and dropped the piece in his hand. I tell you, addiction is not a pretty sight.

  “Anyway,” I said as I kept an eye on Tizek, “The bear-clan man’s a cultist of He Who is Eternal.”

  Lia gasped. “The leader at the cistern wanted to kill you. Was he here to make you loop again?”

  I shook my head. “Surprisingly, no. He was after the Prince and, for some reason, killed the waitress before attacking.”

  “That makes no sense,” Void mused. “Why them?”

  “It’s something we’ll have to figure out,” I replied. “Lia? Tizek? Any insights?”

  Tizek wasn’t going to answer because he was too busy lamenting the spilled beer-soaked potatoes he wasn’t allowed to eat.

  “Maybe the cult wants to cause chaos. Killing the Prince will have more impact than killing you,” Lia suggested.

  “I think Lia’s idea has merit,” Void said. “Criminal groups frequently have cells operating independently toward the same goal.”

  I agreed with Void there. The cult leader in the cistern was made aware of my looping, but he and the rest of the cult there were wiped out. From the leader’s behavior, communication with the invaders wasn’t easy – he had to cast a difficult spell just to briefly talk.

  “Hopefully the only ones who know I’m looping are not in our reality at the moment,” I commented.

  “Can we leave?” Lia asked. She was staring at my blood trailing over the green clover floor from my former wound.

  “We can.” Lia had a rougher day than I did. She killed a person, again, and now had to watch me spray my blood all over the room while fighting a cultist. Lia didn’t have centuries to become numb to violence like I did.

  We exited the room and waited in the restaurant. While the food was cooking, Tizek made it a point to finish off his meal. I couldn’t blame him, I was famished and still fuming at the cultist for wasting my dinner.

  “You’re going to need to repair your shirt.” Void ran a hand across my back and I could feel the leather pads on her fingers brush my skin through the fabric.

  “Great,” I groaned. “First my steaks get dumped on the ground and now I have to fix my brand new shirt. What a day.”

  Void rolled her eyes. “Your priorities are straight, huh?”

  “I agree with my lord,” Tizek hissed between bites of his porkchop. “May the abyss take the cultist for his affront.”

  Lia, however, was quiet again. I could see her pondering something in her mind as she stared at her uneaten salad. I waved to catch her attention and I mimed putting my head on the pillow then pointed at her. She nodded in agreement. It looks like we’d have a guest again tonight.

  “Lia? You suggested going to a dungeon. You still up for that?” I asked.

  Lia nodded. “Can we go to Silk Caverns? I want to help Void get spider silk for her wedding gown.”

  There were two strong and opposite reactions to that. Tizek instantly stopped eating and looked at Lia like he was betrayed. Void, however, was ecstatic. “Yes!”

  Void quickly pulled out her Guild ID card and activated it. She ran her finger across the back and then frowned. “It says we have to see the Guild Admin. Is it the same for you?”

  I nodded and so did Lia. We then looked at Tizek.

  “Do I have to?” Tizek mumbled.

  “I think it’s time to get over your fear of spiders,” I said.

  Tizek turned away from me and fluttered his frills. “It is not possible.”

  I sighed. “It is. I know you have it in you because you’ve done it before.”

  That got his attention. He turned to me and blinked. “My past self defeated his fear?”

  “Sure did,” I said. “And you’re stronger now than ever. I think you can handle it.”

  Tizek stared down at the remnants of his meal. I could tell he wasn’t fully on-board with the idea.

  “It would also make Lady Void happy,” I suggested.

  That did it. Tizek pulled his Guild ID out and energized it. He frowned. “Mine does not work, my lord.”

  I sighed. One more thing to deal with. “Alright. How about we swing by Maicee’s, pick up my order then head to the guild first thing in the morning?”

  Everyone nodded in agreement.

  We didn’t have to wait long for the waitress and another waiter to come up with a set of boxes with handles on them. I could smell my steaks inside one of them and the waitress informed us they made fresh orders for Void, Lia and Tizek.

  We thanked them for the order and, after receiving a lot of bowing and apologies, we left back into the rain. Returning back to the pub was nice. I gave Mira and Doun one of the orders to check the competition and, after eating a bite, I agreed that Mira was better. We wouldn’t be serving expensive, small foods anytime soon though.

  Then it was off to bed. We had another day ahead of us and more mysteries to solve. Hopefully we’d make some progress and not spin our wheels for years on end.