It was exactly how Ellen had imagined it; before her stood a large wooden rickety tavern on a busy city corner, positively reeking of excitement. And nefariousness. 

It was just like the taverns that adventurers from her childhood stories would frequent. The lanterns in the windows glowed warmly from inside as the sun began to set and the gentle sound of lively music greeted them in the street. The tavern’s outdoor booths spilled out of the tavern and ran along the edge of the road with patrons and passers-by combining to make a  raucous chatter to compete with the sound of the music. 

“The Silver Spoon,” Ellen’s father stated disapprovingly. “Is this where we are going to be having dinner, then?”

“I have a special room booked out for us.” Viera replied pleasantly. 

Ellen tugged on her father’s sleeve, gave him a look, but said nothing.

He looked back at her unimpressed and frowned, “That sounds lovely, Viera.”

Viera inclined her head and took the lead as they walked to the front entrance.

The entrance of the Silver Spoon was a large double door entryway with both of the doors opened to invite them in. Just to the side of the doors, two guards stood with crossed arms and gave them an uninviting glare. Those who had booths outside came in and out of the tavern, carting large amounts of food and drink out out past the guards and received only a partial glare from those that held the door. A line of three people waited in front of the guards to be allowed inside. 

As Ellen drew closer, the smell of the food made Ellen’s stomach grumble noisily. Several of the passers by held what looked like a hearty stew in their hands. The bowl had pieces of meat and vegetables piled high up in the bowl and she watched as each of the patrons worked hard to keep their food from spilling over the bowl’s edge.

As Viera stepped up to the door, one of the large men at the door put out his hand to block her. He had a long beard that hung down to his waist and sat on the top of his sizable belly. On his belt were two particularly solid looking clubs and a set of silver ornate keys. 

“Good afternoon, folks. Have you been to the Silver Spoon before?” His voice was gravely and deep and his tone came with very little warmth. 

“I have, yes. I am Viera Courfelt.” Viera stepped up to stand before him.

“Good afternoon, Viera. Do you know the rules of entry then?”

Viera paused for a moment and said nothing. 

The man gave no indication he particularly cared and began talking again, this time in a more monotonous tone, “Welcome to the Silver Spoon Tavern, Famous Home of the Hiford Contract Boards. In this tavern, violence and gambling are forbidden and will be dealt with harshly.” Weapons are not permitted on premises and will need to be relinquished to the guards at the door, who today are Joun and Harold. Now, Viera, do you intend on committing any violent acts in the Silver Spoon today?

“Well, no. I hadn’t even considered it until just now,” Viera laughed.

He stared blankly at her in response.

“No, Joun.” she clarified.

“Good. Please place your weapons on the table to my left and please remember to give me both your visible and concealed weapons.”

Viera took off her belt and placed it on the table next to her and Joun gave her a token before turning his gaze on Ellen.

She fidgeted uncomfortably and tried to meet his eyes evenly.

“You with her, kid?”

Ellen nodded and cleared her throat, “yes.”

“And the rest of you?” He asked and waited for a second, “Ok, same for all of you. If you agree, take your weapons out and place them on the table.”

“Absolutely not.” Ellen’s father spoke up behind Ellen, not trying in the slightest to hide his outrage, “We are a family of the High House Thenfeld and we are permitted to retain our swords in any business, residence, and location that we so choose under the rightful rule of Queen Jarina.”

“And your verification?” Joun sighed and responded.

Ellen’s father pushed past Ellen roughly and stood face to face with Joun, “I am the Family Head of the Lightbrist Family of the House Thenfeld, third in line for the Househead.” Ellen’s father shoved his ring in the man’s face indignantly.

Joun looked him up and down, leant backwards to grab his drink and took a sip. 

“Right, keep your sword then, Sir. And welcome to the Silver Spoon.” Joun stood aside and her father pushed past him. Ellen moved to follow him but found the man watching her as she passed.

“If you don’t want to have someone nick it, don’t take it out, alright?” Joun warned her. 

Ellen thanked him quietly and moved into the tavern. The inside of the Silver Spoon was nothing particularly special compared to the taverns she’d visited before. There was a collection of tables dispersed tightly throughout the room and several busy servers moving between the patrons sitting around the room. Everyone looked remarkably normal given the reputation of the place. Six of the tables had sizable groups of people and only a few of them had the grizzled look of proper adventurers. 

Two women sat in the middle of the tavern and had several empty glasses between them. They had large bags at their feet and they huddled close while they talked. One had long hair down to her waist while the other had short cropped hair with one side of her hair shaved around her ear. They looked amazing.

Ellen looked back to find Wosche talking excitedly with his mother.

“Is it what you imagined, Ellen?” Alexia asked her brightly when she spotted her.

“It is quieter than I imagined.” she replied. 

“Quiet and decrepit.” her father added next to her.

Ellen followed Viera to the bar and stood patiently behind her once again. 

At the bar, a grizzled looking man watched them carefully and talked to Viera at the bar.  He was a severe looking man with short black hair tied up in a bun at the back of his head. He stood easily above 6 ft with solid shoulders and exuded grumpiness. He rubbed a dishcloth around an ale glass and openly judged them as they came inside. His simple tunic’s sleeves bulged with muscles while he cleaned the glass and he exuded a quiet power over the bar. Behind him, there was a large collection of bottles of spirits and wine sitting on shelves within a hand’s reach. 

Above the shelves was an extensive display of mounted heads of numerous different creatures high above the patrons in the dining room. Ellen knew the names of some of the creatures, one was a stag, another a bear, and another was what she thought was an axebeak. For her, the more impressive heads were the six she didn’t recognise. 

Each of them looked like a frightful monster with their faces contorted into snarls and roars. Ellen hurried excitedly towards the bar to see if she could get a look at the small plaques that sat on the mount’s base before one of the adults moved her along.

Instead of getting to read the plaques, Viera met her at the edge of the bar and gestured to a door down the opposite end of the tavern, “Very good, they have the room organised for us and our meals are being made as we speak. It will just be us today, sadly, but you’ll meet my associate another day soon, I am sure.” 

Ellen eagerly took the lead and strode along the bar. She watched the mounted heads as she moved past them but didn’t linger. She’d have to find out their names another day. 

Or she could ask her father for their names after the meeting if everything went particularly well. She moved through the dining room and glanced back to see Wosche and Alexia checking out another room set off to the side of the bar that had a billiard’s table. Ellen started to slow down and tried to get Wosche’s attention but when her father cleared his throat behind her, she focussed instead on hurrying along to the door. 

She found that the door was unlocked and she ducked inside. The back room was quite large and it had two tables adjourned with a selection of meats, bread, olives, and other small foods to graze on amidst an assortment of candles. There were two bottles of wine with seven glasses and a large jug of water next to a collection of wooden cups for the table. 

Ellen walked up to the table but chose to move around it instead of sit down. She wandered over to the back of the room with a large bay window that gave a stunning view of the surrounding area. Several large pedestals stood in a row along the side of the room and she moved back along them for a quick investigation. Each of them had an interesting treasure encased in a glass dome and they all sparkled tantalisingly at her.

The closest pedestal to her and read the small bronze label. The SixtyGutter. It was a small dagger with a blade that curved backwards from the top and down around the hilt. The blade was jagged and at the base of the hilt, another tip jutted out much like the matching point of the blade. It looked wicked sharp and similar to the daggers that Riu kept on her belt. But perhaps a bit more sinister-looking.

Ellen passed it by and onto the next pedestal. There were a pair of heavy gauntlets made of steel and three times the size of her hand. Next was a gorgeous ornate halberd sitting upright in a glass cabinet. She stopped at the halberd and tilted her head to read its name. Moonwind - The Runed Halberd of the late noble Family Head, Charlotte Hiford. It was a gorgeous metal head with a rich mahogany shaft that had been polished to a stunning sheen. 

Ellen brushed the side of the glass cabinet and felt a rush of energy surge through her hand. She let out a gasp and drew her hand back quickly. She could feel the magic pulse from even behind the glass. 

It was rare to find a magical weapon but to find one that was in such good condition was unbelievable. 

“Ellen. Sit.” Her father clicked and pointed at the seat next to him at the table. 

Everyone else had already sat at the table and were waiting for her, with Alexia and Viera already with a glass of wine in hand. She meekly hurried over to her father and took the seat on his left side, “Sorry father.” 

He ignored her and turned back to Viera, “I understand how the Institute will cater to their mundane classes but I don’t understand the additional costs. We have to pay the school fees as well as pay for lodging, food, and other expenses. It costs as much as having her attend the Academy or even a school in Sanctuary, frankly. And I question if the benefits outweigh the cost.”

Viera delicately plucked a cheese knife off the table and moved her hand over to one of the cheeses on the charcuterie board, “It is a lot of money. But how much did it cost for her tutors and her trainers? How much did it cost to have her outfitted for the summer and winter events each year? And the stabling of her horse?” She sliced a piece of cheese off and placed down her knife.

No one spoke and Viera took a biscuit, matched it with her cheese and popped them in her mouth. She chewed, swallowed and took a sip of wine and no one interrupted her, “But for your family, money isn’t an issue. I would wager that you could save quite a lot of coin if you had her stay in one of the taverns instead of staying at the Hiford Estate if cost really is a concern for you?”

Reginald loudly scoffed and looked at Alexia and then back to Viera. Ellen offered a weak smile to Wosche who smiled back. Ellen should have insisted that Wosche and his mother didn’t join them. She should’ve known her father was on the warpath and should have known that Alexia’s idea to help sway him wouldn’t work. 

“Ellen will help earn her way when she begins contracts and she will be given free tutoring from me and my assistants. She is far ahead of the other children at the Academy and the Institute in the mundane subjects and there are no better teachers for the practical application of magic than those here in the south.” Viera wiped her hand on the napkin in front of her.

Reginald said nothing and took a piece of bread and dipped it in a bowl of oil before eating it.

Viera motioned to Ellen and Wosche. Ellen took a piece of bread and added meat and cheese to it before eating it.

Ellen wasn’t prepared for how delicious it was. The meat was well smoked and the bread was wonderfully soft. She had heard that the food was excellent in the south but this was a step above even the food that she had had on the way to Ol’Haran. She took another piece of bread and waited for her father to finish using the knife between them.

“Alexia, do you have questions about the program for Wosche?” Viera asked brightly.

Alexia made a slight chirp as she was caught halfway in drinking some of her wine. She finished her sip and covered her mouth to reply, “Oh no, so long as Wosche is happy, I trust his education will be in good hands. And I respect his decision.”

“Wonderful,” Viera smiled at Ellen warmly, “and Ellen, Wosche? Do you have any questions now that you are here? What do you think about the Silver Spoon?” 

Ellen avoided her eye contact and looked instead at her father before looking down into her lap, “I, um. I like the tavern. The meat is very well smoked.”

“And the bread is so fresh, did they bake it here?” Wosche followed up happily. 

“Oh, is it that good?” Viera responded lightly and reached for the bread and a piece of ham, “I am not sure but I have heard that the Silver Spoon chef is excellent. People have travelled from Ilreana to try their cooking, I have been told.”

She took a bite of the bread and gleamed happily as she chewed it, “And so, no questions?”

Before Ellen could catch herself, she blurted out, “Thank you for giving us this opportunity.” 

Her ears started burning and she felt herself turn bright red. Ellen hadn’t found time to thank her for offering them a chance in the Ol’Haran Institute . She had wanted to thank Viera for weeks now but had not found a time. 

Ellen looked around the table and stopped at her father. He had stopped eating and stared straight ahead. Ellen’s head started to spin and she felt instantly nauseous.

“It is my absolute pleasure, Ellen. Thank you for coming to visit me in Ol’Haran.” Viera smiled sweetly at her. 

“Thank you,” Ellen forced out and grabbed a cup for her to get some water. She poured out a long draw of water.

Her father took advantage of the pause and began again, “The contracts. How will you be able to assure the safety of the students if they will be engaging in dangerous activities?”

“Well, they will have chauffeurs who will help to ensure that the risks they take are managed. Their safety is obviously my priority and they will only go on bronze contracts that I have personally vetted. It is, undeniably, a dangerous job.” Viera explained.

Everyone sat and waited as Viera took a sip of her wine before she continued, “But your two children have been brought up for a life in the military. You have raised them to understand that violence is a matter of life in the north and they will be required by our country to do what must be done sometimes. See, you and I both know that there is another war coming. And we also know that sitting in school won’t prepare them.”

Ellen was struck by how serious Viera now looked, all levity gone in lieu of a dangerous gleam in her eye as she spoke.

“We weren’t prepared for the Ursa of Mahenia in the north ten years ago and we aren’t prepared for the oruks of Karitia in the south when they come in the coming years.” Viera pointed at Wosche and then Ellen, “But your children will be. And they will rise through the ranks thanks to what they learn here and now. None of their peers in Kudraul will be able to say the same.” 

Ellen leant back in her chair and took a breath. Her mind reeled at the idea of Viera talking about the south. She’d heard rumours about hostilities and Ellen knew the history but to hear Viera say there was going to be war without a hint of uncertainty in her voice was unsettling. 

Everyone but Viera ate food in the silence. Ellen grabbed a piece of bread and added oil and salt to try it out.

When no one spoke, Viera pushed on, her voice low and serious, “Or we could wrap our children up in cotton wool and pretend that things are going to be ok while we all hide in our homes.” 

Ellen watched her father tense up. He was furious but hid it behind a polite sneer and a blank stare. He hated not being taken seriously. Ellen could see him push the anger and hatred down, folding it deep down for later. He would say nothing but hold onto the resentment for years to come and rail at her mother when there was no one else around. He would call Viera any amount of horrible names while he strode around the Estate’s salon and tea room. He’d told Ellen to bear any indignity when she was insulted and wait for the time to get her flesh back when everyone else had forgotten. It was his way.  

Viera smiled politely at him and held his stare. She wasn’t just any lesser noble. Everyone knew who Viera was and while she was not in line to be the head of the House Mitome, she was so famous that Ellen was sure she could make a claim for control of Lead of the First Family if she wanted. 

Even her father would know not to go after her. He’d risk his Family’s position if he moved against someone like Viera. She had powerful, powerful friends. Deep inside her, a warmth spread throughout Ellen as she watched her father squirm.

Alexia broke the tension by brightly adding her own opinion, “With the adventurers now being used more by the Houses, it might even be that there will be a place in the military for people who can organise and orchestrate their contracts appropriately.”

Reginald scoffed and banged his glass on the table, “And they’ll be seen as little more than the mercenaries they cavort with, with chequered pasts and wide open coin purses.”

Viera sucked her teeth and interrupted him, “Let the gossipers whinge and complain and bicker while we make the world then, Reginald. Like it or not, the nature of war is changing. It is a fact that the adventurers are the ones with the best grasp at the moment of the ways we can use magic offensively, and that is coming from me of all people. I can only imagine that General Loui will be eager to have some new blood that can help to refine the mages of the Armed Corps. Even the Queen’s Guard.” Viera gave Ellen a look as she added the last sentence and Ellen’s heart soared at the idea. 

“Viera, please. Don’t indulge my daughter with that nonsense. If she is going to study here, she needs to not be coddled.” Ellen’s father stopped and turned to Ellen, “She is not going to be in the Royal Guard. She’s not going to be promoted nor will she rise through the ranks. She will join the army next year and if we are lucky, she might be able to become an officer down the line but only if she can outgrow the shame that she has brought on us all.” 

A hot flash burned through Ellen. He’d been on her case for weeks now. And to embarrass her in front of everyone, Wosche, and Alexia and Viera. She looked her father dead in the eye and said what she had been feeling for a long time, “Fuck you.”

It came out as a squeak. Her voice cracked as she said it and tears immediately welled up in her eyes. She was furious and how she wished she could hold back the tears. The first one fell and created a cascade of others close behind. 

Reginald shot up out of his seat and slapped her. She took the slap right on the cheek and the force propelled her forward towards the table. He raised his hand back up and she cowered beneath him. He clenched his fist and stared at her with a mad look in her eye. She could catch his hand if he tried again but then what she  - 

“Enough!” Viera commanded them and stood up, “Ellen, get out right now. Reginald, sit.” Viera had her hands on the table and no ambiguity in her voice.

Ellen bowed her head and ducked out of the chair away from her father. She circled the table and made her way to the door. She rubbed her face with the back of her sleeve and didn’t look at her father as she left. 

She hit the door hard and it swung open fast. She rushed through and caught it before it could slam. She shut it firmly and placed her head on the door. She sniffed up an errant booger that threatened to drop from her nose and forced out a long, steady breath. Her face stung from her father’s slap and she felt humiliated. She’d blown it. Yet again. 

After what felt like an eternity, she lifted her head off the door, wiped the booger on her sleeve, turned away from the door to accidentally step directly into someone. 

She collided with them headfirst with her nose hitting their chest. She flailed her arms and felt their arms clasped onto her shoulders.

“Daelos’ Dick, girl. Watch where you’re going.” Their voice was gruff and deep and their breath smelled like ale.

“Sorry, excuse me.” Ellen tried to twist out of their hands but they clamped down firmly and didn’t let her go. 

“You’ve got a sword on you. No weapons in the bar, didn’t Joun tell you?” He was a similar size to her but surprisingly strong. He had dark jet black hair that was tied back into a ponytail. He wore an ornate red singlet with no sleeves covering his bare, well-toned arms. His trousers were loose and in the same colour as his singlet and his shoes were a dark maroon to match. Even his deep black beard had beads of a strikingly similar colour to his boots. He was old, older than her dad, and looked like he’d recently been caught up in a world of trouble. He had two black eyes and a wonky nose with a splint attached to it. With his gaudy outfit and the beat up face, he was a fascinating-looking vagabond to Ellen. She looked him up and down and choked back an unexpected laugh. He frowned back at her and stood perfectly still.

Ellen grabbed his left hand and twisted it sharply to break his grip. He shifted her suddenly and Ellen used the space she created between them to step sideways and out of his reach, “That is my business.”

“Just keep it in the sheath.” he warned and stormed back towards the dining tables.

Ellen moved back towards the bar and stopped in the middle of the bar near the barkeep. Several others waited by the bartop and talked happily with the barkeep who slowly made them drinks while he chatted. Ellen took a seat at the bar and used the time to compose herself. She wiped the tears from her face with the back of her sleeve and rubbed her hands on her face in long strokes to put colour back into her face. 

“Nobling, what would you like?” the man behind the bar asked her.

“One glass of ale and a bowl of soup please,” Ellen stumbled over her words at the beginning but forced the words out. 

“Make it two of each, my good sir.” Wosche declared confidently beside her. 

“Just barkeep. And 1 silver, 50 copper each.” 

Ellen searched in her pouch for two silver and put them on the bar. Wosche put in two silver of his own and then winked at Ellen as he returned one of her coins to her.

The barkeep swept the coins up and moved over to the taps. 

“Sooo, what in the hells was that?” Wosche began playfully. 

Ellen glared at him and considered slapping him. He was never serious about anything and it pissed her off. 

“What do you think?” She could hear the petulance in her own voice but refused to dwell on it. She was furious. Furious at the world, furious at her father, and furious at Wosche who followed her out here.

Wosche put his hand on his chest and acted shocked, “I just don’t think I have ever seen you cry and then as soon as you step into the Famous Silver Spoon Tavern, you start welling up. In front of all these burly, scary looking adventurers.”

Ellen let out a laugh but held onto the anger, “I just hate how he controls my life. Like it is his life and I am just here as a passenger. I hate that I can’t make my own decisions, even at nineteen. I just hate,” She stopped and composed herself before she said too much, “I am going to just focus on adjusting to life now. Wherever my life might lead.” 

She rubbed her face with her hands and by the time she looked up again, the barkeep had returned. She smiled weakly at him, “Like, starting now, I will stop crying in front of the burly adventurers.”

“Ain’t nothing wrong with crying, girlie.” He flashed her a small smile and dropped the drinks onto the bar, “Two ales. Grab a seat on the tables; it will be a bit until you get your stew.”

Ellen watched the man head over to others who waited to be served and nearly burst into tears again. She clenched her jaw and hissed out a breath through her teeth. She grabbed her glass and swivelled on the barstool. The dining room was busier now but there were still plenty of good options for a place to sit.

In the far back of the tavern, the man she had bumped sat with two others. His companions, one human and one oruk, looked battered like him and regarded her openly curious. Ellen shifted her gaze away from them quickly and looked for somewhere at the opposite side of the dining room to sit.

Wosche tapped her lightly on the shoulder as he hopped off his stool and moved towards the tables near the windows with his ale. He squeezed between the tables with his beer held up high and shared several comments with those he passed by. The two ladies laughed as he said something while he side-stepped through a small gap and almost spilt his drink. He checked back on Ellen and beckoned her forwards into the chaos. 

Ellen felt awkward being in the tavern, like she had walked into another world that she had always wanted to visit but had never been welcome in. It wasn’t a festival or an event, but the tavern bustled with energy and quickly overwhelmed Ellen’s senses. But Wosche, well ahead of her and sprinting towards one of the last tables that was free, already belonged in the crowd somehow. She chased after him and kept her drink close to her chest while she moved past those coming and going around her. A dribble of the ale cascaded over and stained the front of her shirt with a little oval stain. She sighed and accepted yet another disappointment for the day. 

Wosche sat down in a comfortable booth at the side of the tavern and looked at her smugly with his arm covering the front of the table. He gestured to the seat opposite him and grinned proudly, “I got the booth.”

Ellen sat down opposite him and cleared several dishes in front of them both and piled them on top of each other at the end of the table. She looked out of the giant windows that lined the wall of the booth. Several outdoor tables were set at the edge of the street and fit seamlessly with the busy street beyond. Life passed Ellen by with little regard while she sat in the famous Silver Spoon Tavern.

“How cool is this?” Wosche asked her, “Doesn’t this feel like the start of something awesome?” 

Ellen tried to hold onto the anger but found herself grinning, “You ass.” 

Wosche sipped at his drink and grinned back. Ellen took a sip and winced. She had no idea how people liked the taste of ale. Yuossaf, her brother, told her it was a taste she would grow into but Ellen couldn’t bring herself to enjoy it, “Delicious.”

“It is actually a good ale,” Wosche informed her, “but I’ll drink yours if you can’t handle it.”

Ellen pulled her glass closer, “You wish. If it is an acquired taste; I just need to acquire it.”

“You’ll have a good amount of practice next year.” Wosche responded enthusiastically, “Look at us. Imagine every weekend down here. Talking about contracts with real adventurers.”

Ellen felt a sudden heat rise up from within her again but she forced it back down, “You know the rest of us are being punished, right? We didn’t have a choice except to be down here.”

Wosche leant back in his chair, “I know I know. I won’t be so flippant with the others when they’re here. But Ellen. This is a blessing in disguise. We talked about how sick of the Academy we were. Now, look at us.”

“It’s different when you get expelled, Wosche. You can head back to Kudraul next year and no one bats an eye. You did some gap year bullshit, gap year bullshit for the second time in your life I might add, and then you come back to regale everyone with your interesting stories of travel again.” Ellen could tell she was venting at him but now she was going, it was impossible to stop, “I got expelled. Teon, Riu, Olive and I got expelled and there’s no place for us back in the capital.” 

People looked at Ellen and Wosche from the tables nearby when her voice started to become raised. Ellen cleared her throat and calmed herself down, “Just be careful when you see them. You choosing to join us isn’t the same.”

“Alright, yeah. I understand. Sorry for being a dick.” Wosche responded, slightly dejectedly.

“Apology accepted.” She forced a smile and offered her glass to cheers. 

Wosche feigned surprise, “You’re meant to tell me that I'm not being a dick?”

“Not a chance, just take the peace offering.” 

Wosche glared at her for a second before tapping her glass and joining her to take a swig. Ellen forced another mouthful down and put the drink back on the table. 

Wosche downed nearly half his drink and plonked the glass back down on the table, “Have you heard from any of the others recently?”

“Not yet, I have been stuck in the study every day.” Ellen scrunched her face from the bitter taste of the ale, “My father found a way to get the lesson notes from the teachers at the Academy and he has made the tutors teach me everything that they are studying back in the capital. Some part of him is convinced he can find a way to force them to let me back before the Exams happen.”

Wosche said nothing and watched her. Ellen looked around them and found the tables were filled with commoners. She’d never sat in a tavern without her parents before. She’d never been without a chauffeur outside of Kudraul. Ellen took her drink and poured as much of it as she could into Wosche’s drink before moving the glass to the far table to join the rest of the used dishes. 

“Olive hasn’t responded to any of my letters yet. But I know Riu is definitely moving down south. Her parents were trying to convince mine to split accommodation for some fancy tavern near the Hiford Estate but my father refused. And then, Teon is moving with her aunty and uncle in town so she’ll be here with her family.” Ellen summarised distantly.

“Oh yeah, Teon’s aunty lives down here. It will be nice to see her.” Wosche took another large sip from his drink, “And where will you stay if you are staying?”

“Apparently, my father has organised a room with the First Family of the Hiford Family in the Estate. I am meant to play nice with them because there was some discussion that I could be marrying one of their sons someday. Or I might have been before.” Ellen had been told the summer beforehand. Her father had planned out the next five years of her life long ago, both the professional and personal path she’d take.

“They really had it all planned out, hey? With a southern noble.” Wosche looked out the window distantly. Wosche had told her before that he’d planned to never marry but even his parents could only be so flexible. 

“And you? Where will you be staying?” Ellen adjusted herself in the seat, fighting her scabbard as it refused to sit nicely in the booth. She shifted it and unclasped the sheath from her belt to lay her sword out on the seat next to her. 

“My parents have a few friends down in Ol’Haran so I will stay in one of their rooms to begin with, I believe. But then, once I can move out, I want to get myself a house down here, something quaint for holidaying in the future, you know?” Wosche looked back at her and then over her right shoulder with his face suddenly lighting up. 

He reached out and met the waiter as they brought their stews to the table. 

The waiter held Wosche’s stew back and fixed him in place with a look, “It’s hot.”

Wosche placed his hands at his side and smiled at the waiter as he placed both of the stews on the table. 

“Thank you,” Ellen offered her hand up and grabbed the utensils, “So a house? How much do they cost down here?”

“I have a bit of money saved up but my parents will probably want a place to stay when they visit me and a good house is worth the money for traders like us.” Wosche explained taking a large spoonful and shovelling a chunk of potato into his mouth. His face convulsed and he spat the stew back, “Oh, that is too hot.”

“She told you.” Ellen tutted him as she blew on a spoonful of her own stew. She went to take a bite but decided against it, “A house up on the hill then? I’m not sure how the Hiford Families will feel about that.”

“Oh, they like us plenty. They’ve offered a few shops to my mum before. I’ve asked them to not buy a store with an apartment for me if we do end up getting a place.” Wosche took another swig of his ale and then went about stirring his stew, “You’d be welcome to stay over if you’d like.”

Ellen picked up her spoon and chuckled at the idea, “That would go about as well as a sack of stones with my father. Something something chastity, something honour. Even down here, I doubt he’ll give me much freedom.”

Wosche held his spoon up, “I don’t know, we’re a long way from the capital now. This might be quite a new exciting world for you.”

Ellen pursed her lips but said nothing. She gingerly ate the spoon of stew and she was surprised by how delicious it was. With hearty chunks of carrots and potatoes soft from hours of simmering and pieces of beef that fell apart in her mouth, she relished the bite. It was a good idea she enjoyed the stew while she could, considering she probably wouldn’t be eating dinner later.

No doubt in a few minutes, her father would stride over and tell her to pack her things and they’d head back to the Estate. He’d be furious all night but she could maybe apologise in the morning and let him cool over the next week. One advantage of travelling to Breisachia afterwards was that there would be plenty of time for her to make amends. 

“The whole house to yourself, but Wosche, who is going to do the chores?” Ellen forced herself to push the conversation forward and spooned out another mouthful of stew to cool.

Wosche was midway through dipping his spoon but stopped and gasped, “I will be looking after the house, thank you very much. You know I can cook.” 

Ellen blew on her spoon, put the stew in her mouth and watched Wosche while she ate. Her comment seemed to genuinely affect him that time. She put her hand over her mouth as she chewed and relished the flavour, “well, yeah sure, but the cleaning and the clothes and the dishes. I just assumed you’d get a maid is all. Some nice old lady or a nice strong man to do all the housework you don’t want to do.”

Wosche’s eyes narrowed and he took another sip of his ale. 

Ellen risked another bite of her stew and let Wosche be mad. Both of them were nobles, Wosche was Housed in all but name. His parents were rich and had servants. It wasn’t a stretch to imagine he’d fork out for servants if he was buying a house on Haran Hill as well.

It was no matter, Ellen let him stew and grumble while she suddenly found her appetite coming back in full force. She popped a chunk of steak in her mouth and enjoyed the sensation of breaking it into small pieces with her teeth. It was wonderfully fresh and the stock oozed out of the piece with every bite. It was a pleasant surprise for a day so overwhelming. 

Ellen looked back out over the tavern and watched the patrons inside. As Ellen got more settled, she found there were more fascinating groups around them than she’d wagered. A multitude of tables had people that didn’t have fantastical gear or armour but looked weathered and held secrets beneath their ordinary attire with bags filled with travelling gear sitting at their feet. Some groups packed two whole tables as they talked raucously. 

On other tables, there were traders, villagers, and townsfolk scattered amongst the tavern. Everyone seemed to be milling in the tavern with most having some food or drink to help pass their time. 

Close to Ellen were two mousey looking individuals who had large bags stacked on two other chairs that surrounded the tables. They huddled next to each other and spoke quietly while they kept a vigilant watch on the room around them. Their clothes were dusty and their hair was dishevelled and spoke quietly amongst each other, “told me that the Board would be back in a few hours. I told them it was an emergency.” 

Ellen decided not to sticky beak and let her eyes wander across the tables. She settled on a table further back that sat two quite clearly drunk individuals who were loudly yelling to each other about a matter of a fight they’d had years before and openly discussed having the fight once more. The tables directly around them had emptied but much of their obnoxious conversation was easy to pick from the rest of raucous noise around her.  

Without her realising, she began to watch the man in red again. He sat with his back to her and a giant maroon bag next to his chair. He boomed out a laugh at what one of them said and his drink sloshed dangerously in his hand as he replied animatedly. There was something about him that fascinated Ellen. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it but there was something she knew about him. He had dark olive skin that was more common in the eastern human lands but many people in Weidenland had the same complexion. He was muscular and loud but so were many Weidenfolk. She pursed her lips. It could just be that he was wearing a full red outfit, it was bizarre that she was the only one in the tavern that was staring. 

Then, he stopped and turned to stare at her. Ellen was startled when their eyes met. She reeled back slightly in her chair but didn’t look away. He watched her with a mad look in his eye, daring her to flinch first. 

He swivelled in his chair to properly square up to look at her, matching her gaze unabashedly. He took a swig and Ellen had a spoonful of stew. His friends continued to talk until he leant backwards and tapped on the table to get their attention. He said something and then pointed over to her and the other two looked directly at her. 

Ellen caved and she jerked her head to the side to look back at the bar. She scratched the back of her head and tried to ignore the feeling that she was still being watched by the three of them.

Ellen spotted a familiar face in the crowd around the bar. Viera waved across to her and said something to Alexia who was by her side. The two of them walked over happily walking around the side of the tables and through the main thoroughfare of the tavern. Ellen searched for her father behind them but couldn’t make him out in the crowd. 

Viera walked confidently up to Ellen and Wosche and then looked over to the group of people staring at Ellen and gave them a wave as well. Ellen looked back to find the intimidating man raising his glass to her with a grin on his face.

“Unbelievable,” Viera muttered to herself darkly before her tone changed back to being warm as she approached Ellen, “There you two are, set up nicely in the booth. A wonderful choice.”

Ellen shifted further down the booth and Viera took a seat next to her, “And some stew and a nice drink. Wonderful, but would you like to bring the food into the Boardroom or stay out here?” 

“Out here, please,” Ellen jumped in first before Wosche, “but we can go back.”

“I like it out here more.” Wosche agreed and Alexia took a seat next to him and took a sip out of his drink. 

“Excellent, the Boardroom was more for your father anyway, Ellen.” Viera concluded. She turned and waved down the waiter and pointed back to the room they were in before and then their booth, “It feels more spirited out here, which I can say I am quite the fan of. I can just picture what it is like to be a contractor out here. Or adventurer, I mean.”

“Viera, where is my father?” Ellen couldn’t see much of the dining room so far in the booth but tried to casually peer past Viera to catch sight of him. 

Viera twisted in her seat and put her hand on Ellen’s shoulder, “He needed to head off and he asked us to help you back to the Estate later. He thought he might have some time to rest after such a long trip. You’ll see him tomorrow; I am sure.”

Ellen nodded but felt sick at the idea, “Maybe I should head back now and see if I can talk to him.”

She tried to get up but Viera didn’t move to let her pass and Alexia put her hand up in front of her, “Dear, let him cool down. It is getting dark out there and Wosche and I will take you back to the Estate later. Sit back down and have dinner with us, ok?” 

Ellen hesitated then relented. Her mouth went dry and she felt her chest tighten but she knew that Alexia was right. She knew her father and even if she caught up with him, he wouldn’t want to talk to see anyway.

She grabbed her spoon and ate more of her stew. The waiter returned and carried two platters and the jug of water from the Boardroom placed them gently on the table for them.

Viera organised the platters so they covered the table and took the last plate from the waiter, “Thank you, Heul. We’ll get the ale and the glasses here and two stews like the children and then the other platters, and this one here, can go over to Harlea’s table over there.” She pointed back to the same terrifying man with the broken nose in the back of the tavern.

Heul looked over at the man in red, “Harlea?”

“Yes, Harlea. And please give him the message that he is disappointingly late. Thank you.”

“Absolutely, madam.” Heul faced them again and gave a slight bow before leaving again.

“Veira?” Ellen asked quietly, “Who is Harlea?”

“Ah, Ellen.” Viera began and smiled widely, “That man is one of your chaperones for the year. The leader of the infamous Red Damnables, no less.”