Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Owlsquatch Reins and Tapioca Pudding

“And that’s when I came back to the doors of the keep that actually ended up being a Scarsister bordello. I entered with the reins of an owlsquatch in one hand and a bucket of tapioca pudding in the other – “

Quincy cut himself off when he saw Nay take a stool at the bar, making her the only girl in the crowd listening to his raucous tale.

“And then?” the lumberjack stitchman leaned forward, needing to know what happened next.

“And then I let the owlsquatch loose and drew Samuel here,” Quincy bellowed, gesturing at the massive and cruel-looking crossbow hanging on the wall behind him. “He was already locked and loaded and ready to administer some justice. I let him fly and impaled two of the sisters of the night with one bolt. They did not like that. They transformed then, showing me and my party behind me their true forms. They ripped the bolt out with their poison-dripped talons and let loose shrieks that would turn your blood to curdled milk!”

He was animated while he talked, and there was a charisma about him that reminded Nay of her favorite volleyball coach during high-school.

Up close she could see that his forearms were covered in scars. That was probably a good indication that the rest of his skin was similar. He sported a salt and pepper mustache that would have certainly attracted attention back in Los Angeles. It was the type of facial hair that wins awards or is endemic to certain types of adult films. He had a prominent scar running from the corner of his left eye down past his lips and down his chin.

He had a bar towel over one shoulder and he started cleaning some flagons as he turned his attention to Nay. “I see you could use a top-off.” He put his hand out for the horn.

She gave it to him and he flipped a spigot on a barrel and filled it to the top. He handed it back. “I assume this is going on Alric’s tab.”

Nay nodded. “I heard you lost a cook. My condolences.”

Quincy poured a little ale out onto the ground. “Ol’ Pat, may Verity rest her soul. She kept this kitchen running and these mouths fed. I reckon I’ve lost some customers since she passed too. Gracie has taken over. She’s a good lass, doing the best she can, but Ol’ Pat’s shoes are big shoes to fill.” He nodded at a server who almost tripped and dropped a whole tray of food. Some diners helped her stabilize. “She works hard and hasn’t missed a day, so I guess that’s something. The lads like her well enough.”

“Well, not everyone can be like ‘Ol Pat around a pot,” Nay said.

“That’s the honest truth,” Quincy said. “None of the other servers have been interested in the position. We’re getting along but I am on the hunt for an experienced cook.”

“You know, Quincy,” Nay said. “It’s funny you say that. I happen to be a cook.”

As he shined a glass he turned to her to examine her directly. As he studied her she felt like she was being scrutinized. A prompt appeared.

---

[Aura Detected]

[Scryer’s Eye Aura Detected]

[Rank: Bronze]

---

Nay realized Quincy was a Marrow Eater. And he was Bronze level. Hadn’t Alric said anything above Iron was kind of out of the ordinary? Or was it Bronze? She couldn't remember. Either way, no wonder he was able to survive a life of adventuring. Now, he was using an ability on her. She wondered what kind of information it showed him.

“Odd,” Quincy muttered. “Where have you been traveling from?”

She tried not to let on that she knew he was using magic on her. “I came down from the mountain, near the abbey, with Alric.”

“But you’re not with the church?”

“Nope.”

“What were you doing in the mountains?”

“Mostly trying to survive the storm.”

Quincy prepared an order of ales and beers for one of the server tickets. His eyes were focused on the drinks but Nay could tell he was regarding her.

“Where are you from? Which city on The Peninsula?”

Nay thought about lying. But she was basically applying for a job here. She thought it would be bad luck to start things off by lying to a potential employer.

“I’m not from any of the cities on The Peninsula,” Nay said. “I’m from a place called Los Angeles.”

He nodded, not as if he knew what Los Angeles was, but as if she just passed the first part of a test. “It’s good you didn’t lie to me. I know you’re a Traveler. It’s very obvious. Written all over you.”

“It is?” Nay said. “I guess I just did tell you I basically traveled all of yesterday.”

He got closer to her then and leaned so he could whisper. “That’s not what I mean. I know you’re a Worldhopper.”

Nay tried not to freak out. It would not be good to have attention focused on them while they talked. She swallowed. “You do?”

“Aye. Those who have eyes can see. If they have the right eyes.”

Nay knew his Scryer’s Eye ability tipped him off that she was an outsider here. What an interesting and useful spell to have, especially when one was working in the food industry. She wished she could have had access to an ability like that in all of the kitchens she worked in back home. That would have especially been useful to a front-of-the-house worker.

“So you were a cook in Los Angeles?” Quincy asked. He placed a bowl of the nut and seed mixture in front of her.

She took a handful. “I was a Chef, yes.”

“So you have experience serving people food in a fast-paced establishment?”

“It’s all I’ve ever known, since I was a kid.”

“Is the Lodge why you came to Lucerna’s End?”

“Honestly? I was just trying to find other people so I could have a chance at surviving. Then Alric found me and he told me about this place. And after eating the food, I thought to offer you my help. Since I have the skill-set.”

“So you think there’s something wrong with my food?”

“There’s nothing wrong with the food. The fish and potatoes are solid. The ingredients are simple and fresh and in my experience that’s what you want. I just think it would help to offer your patrons some variety. It’s clear you already offer them passion. Also, did you know you've been serving the fish without descaling them?”

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“A little bit of scales stuck between the teeth never hurt anyone.”

“Also, it would have been nice, as a customer, to have had a choice. Another option for dinner instead of the fish.”

“But that’s what we had ready. The fish here is always plentiful and fresh.”

“Yes, that’s the nice thing about being next to big lakes and rivers. But surely there’s gotta be other proteins that are just as plentiful and fresh.”

“Proteins?”

“Meat.

“Oh, right. The problem with that is that ‘Ol Pat would handle all of our stock. The Two-Headed Trout Inn swooped in and took advantage of her passing. Since then it’s been hard to make a deal with the vendors and I haven’t had time to go out personally to convince them. There’s already enough to do around here as is.”

“Let me handle the vendors. I’ll make sure your kitchen is properly stocked so you can offer your diners both passion and variety. If you give me a chance, I’ll show you the possibilities.”

Quincy grew silent and looked out over his half-packed house. The light of the hearth cast a warm glow on his face. He looked towards the stage where the stitchmen troupe of bards was performing. The music hadn’t been enough of a draw to keep the place packed. Seemed like he was imagining what it would be like to have all the seats filled again.

After a moment he spoke again. “Okay, Renee of Los Angeles. This is how this is going to work. I know you need a place to live. A means to survive while you learn how my world works.”

She stammered but he held up a hand.

“I’ll give you lodging. You have a week trial where you run the kitchen for Quincy’s Lodge.”

“And after the week?”

“If my customers like your food, then we’ll talk about more permanent arrangements and the matter of pay. Until then, it’s a test. It’s sink or swim time. For both you and your pet.”

Nay stiffened and she felt Nom go rigid. He knew about Nom.

Nom spoke from inside the blanket, “I’m not her pet, sir.”

Quincy raised an eyebrow.

“He’s definitely his own…person,” Nay said.

“He’s not a nuisance or a threat is he?”

“He’s a bit odd-looking and has a goofy personality, but no.”

“Odd-looking?” Nom said. “Who’s odd-looking?”

“Good,” Quincy said. “This is a drama free establishment. For my staff at least. We get enough from the diners and lodgers. I don’t need it from my own team.”

“I don’t like drama either,” Nay said. “Nom is actually my sous chef.”

“Really?” Quincy smiled, his bushy mustache bristling like a hairy caterpillar. “So I’m getting two cooks for the price of one.”

“Oh, we shall talk about the matter of pay after our first week!” Nom said.

Quincy chuckled. “That we will, strange one. And I’ll warn you now. If you get monstrous with any of my customers, I’ll be the first to show you the edge of my axe.”

He nodded at the massive, wicked-looking battle-axe that hung over the hearth and gleamed in the firelight. “Gertrude hasn’t seen any action in a few years, but she was my secret weapon when I took down The Laugher in the Lac. Lots of tentacles that one had. Gertrude just loves tentacles. Loves 'em. She loves the way they feel when her edge cuts through them.”

Nay felt Nom swallow. His Cyclopean eye peaked out from the blanket to look at the axe named Gertrude hanging over the hearth. “The Laugher in the Lac?” Nom asked. “Why was it called that?”

“Because of the way it laughed as it devoured men.”

“Sounds like a pleasant fellow,” Nom said. “Don’t worry boss-man, you’ll have no problems from me. I don’t eat people. I prefer pizza.”

“After you finish your meal,” Quincy said, “Hilde can show you to your room. You start tomorrow, before first light. Breakfast right now is more of a self-serve arrangement we have setup. Lunch isn’t too busy, because most of our clientele are in the forest or in the mines. Dinner is the big draw and that’s when we’ll be the busiest.”

“Wait,” Nay said. “You guys do a complimentary continental breakfast?”

“I don’t know what that means,” Quincy said. “But the breakfast is oats and bread and fruit people help themselves too.”

Nay chuckled to herself. “Where I’m from that’s called a continental breakfast.”

“Why is it called continental?”

“So it was coined on this island called Britain. It was a meal that resembled what a breakfast would look like on the continent closest to them. As most of the travelers staying in their hotels were from that continent and that’s the type of breakfast they were used to.”

Quincy grunted. A bit indifferent to the linguistics lesson. He scooted close to her again. “One last thing. And I’m sure you already realize this. Don’t let people know you’re a Traveler. If anyone asks, tell them you’re from across the Vancian Sea. And then be extremely vague.”

“What’s across the Vancian Sea?”

“A kingdom called Reith. Just mention the harbor city of Emphyrio. You traveled here because with the recent developments in changes within the Goreheim royal family, things have become too dangerous for your kind.”

“And what’s my kind?”

“Women with a bit of color in their skin-tone.”

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