As they stepped ihe trio was greeted by not only the smell of roasted spices but also the soothing st of roasted meats and baked bread. The interior was simple yet inviting, with wooden beams crisscrossing the ceiling and tables crafted from polished mahogany arranged in snug clusters. A stoh dominated one er, its crag fire casting flickering shadows across the room empty of patrons. Shelves lined with books and jars of preserved spices gave the pce a homely, lived-in feel. It was pletely different from what Krion assumed most nobility would be caught dead in.
A portly, grey-bearded dwarf emerged from behind the ter, his eyes narrowing slightly at the sight of J-65 before softening as he apparently reized her. “Back again, eh? And with pany this time,” he remarked in a gravelly voice, gesturing for them to sit where they pleased. J-65 ined her head slightly but remained silent.
When none of the others moved, Krion moved to sit at a er table he fire. A bit more worn down thaher tables, and having mismatched chairs pared to the plete sets elsewhere, for some reason he just felt it was the right spot to sit.
Krion g J-65. “Thank you fing us here.”
She gave a small nod in response. “I’ll wait outside until you are ready to head to your residence.”
Exging a nod with the departing J-65, the portly dwarf approached the trio’s table with a swagger, his heavy boots thudding softly against the wooden floor. He wore a leather apron across his broad chest that had a dusting of flour on it.
“Well now,” he began, his deep gravelly voice carrying a pleasant tone as he stopped at their table. “What’ve we got here? A trio of fresh-faced young lrag The Hearth & Ember tonight, eh? Wele, wele.”
Krion g Valdre and Redrek, who exged amused looks before turning back to the dwarf. His bright greewinkled as he sized them up, clearly used to noble tele, but treating them with the ease of an equal. Perhaps their arrival with J-65, even if she had left to go outside, had something to do with that.
“Name’s Ordran,” he tinued, “owner, chef, and occasional bouncer for The Hearth & Ember. Now, what I get for ye? Specials tonight include a stew I’ve got simmerin’ that’d make an orc weep for joy, fresh-baked bread with butter to match, and roasted greens for those wantin’ somethin’ lighter. Drinks too, o’course — tea, ale, or something stronger?”
Krion took a moment to g the options scrawled on a chalkboard behind the bar before turning his attention back to Ordran. The dwarf’s expet gaze felt almost like a test of character, through his twinkling eyes suggested he’d be equally pleased no matter what Krion chose.
“I’ll have the stew,” Krion said, deg to go with somethiy. It had been a very long day. “And some of that bread you mentioned — sounds like it’s exactly what should be going with a stew like you described.” He hesitated before adding, “Just water for now.”
ave him a brief nod. “Solid choice, young lord. ’t g with the stew. Now, how ‘bout you two?”
Valdre, adjusting his gsses with a thoughtful expression, leaned slightly forward. “Do you have a vegetarian option for the stew? If not, I’ll just take the roasted greens and bread.”
“Vegetarian stew?” Ordran raised a bushy eyebrow. “I whip somethin’ up — might take a bit longer, but I’ll make sure it’s worth the wait. ”
“That would be perfect,” Valdre said with a smile. “And tea, please.”
Ordran had barely turo Redrek before the hobgoblin was already giving his order.
“Give me the biggest eat you’ve got,” Redrek said with a grin that put all of his sharp teeth on dispy. “And some ale to wash it down.”
Ordran chuckled. “A d after me ow. ing right up, young lords.”
The dwarf wasn’t kidding. Barely had they gotten their orders in before the food was already at their table. Sineither of his new friends seemed surprised, Krion put it down to some skill or ability that Ordran had, or perhaps magic of some sort. He could not wait until he finally got a better handle on what everyone else in his css would likely sider on knowledge. Regardless, it was easily the best stew he had ever tasted. The meat aables were spiced to perfe and practically fell apart in his mouth. The bread was eveer, especially with the sweetened, whipped butter it came with.
As they worked through their first bites, Valdre broke the sileh an observation. “You know, Krion, that Sentinel is… different.” He dabbed at the er of his mouth with a napkin before tinuing. “I’ve seey of Seoday, but none as engaged as yours. Esc us here? Waiting outside? That’s not typical, especially since, as far as I tell, their sole duties for the day were to get us all to the Amphitheater of Indu, take us oour, and then bring us to the socializing in that square we just left. That’s it.”
Krion goward the window where the faint silhouette of J-65 was visible, standing vigil outside the restaurant. He shrugged, a little self-scious. “Perhaps she just takes her duties seriously. She’s been helpful since I arrived.”
Redrek chuckled, his sharp grin fshing briefly. “Helpful, sure, but from what I noticed, Sentinels aren’t that friendly. While I admit to having limited experieh them, I don’t think they are supposed to linger or escort students to cozy taverns.” He leaned ba his chair, gesturing with his fork. “That Sentinel is almost ag like she’s got a personal stake in your safety.”
“Maybe it has something to do with me being from an Archducal House,” Krion suggested, though even he didn’t sound vinced. He had noticed J-65’s attentiveness but hadn’t given it much thought until his new friends brought it up. “I was just respectful. Isn’t that how you’re supposed to treat someone who is helping you?”
Redrek snorted. “Clearly you didn’t grow up hearing anything about the Sentinels of the Imperial Academy. They’re more like tools than people in the eyes of the administration here, let alohe nobility. Your Sentinel isn’t ag like a tool, though. She is ag… ied.”
Valdre leaned forward, pushing his empty pte aside. “It’s intriguing, to say the least.”
“Enough about Sentinels,” Krion said, eager to ge the topic. “Let’s talk about something less mysterious. For example, what do you two think of the Imperial Academy so far?”
Valdre sighed dramatically but obliged in ging the subject. “I’ve been here less than a day, and I already feel like I’m swimming with sharks. It’s all p and alliances. Holy, if it weren’t for finding Redrek, and now you, I’d have long ago goo hide in the apartme aside for me.”
Redrek ughed at the dramatic half-elf. “Hiding in your apartment? That doesn’t sound like the great Valdre, seeker of a knowledge.”
Valdre flushed slightly. “I’ll have you know that seeking a knowledge doesn’t require dealing with arrogant noble ss and their endless power pys.”
Krion chuckled at the duo. ”For my part, I hope that is the case. What about you, Redrek? Any grand ambitions at the Imperial Academy?“
Redrek smirked, pushing his owy pte away. “Grand ambitions? ly. I’m here because my father thinks it’s a good idea for me to ‘expand my horizons’ before joining the family business.”
“And what’s the family business?” Krion asked, genuinely curious.
“Information,” Redrek replied, his tone light but his eyes sharp. “We trade is, mostly beyond the territory of the Empire. My father thinks I o learn how to navigate Imperial politics if I’m going to help expand our work.”
“That sounds intense.”
Redrek shrugged. “It be. But I like it. People are fasating, and everyone has something they want to keep hidden. Finding out what that is? That’s the fun part.”
While Krion smiled and nodded in respoo what the hobgoblin was saying, he was already thinking that he would have to be extra careful around Redrek in order to protect his ows. At least until he knew him better and was sure he could be trusted.
“Remind me o tell you anything incriminating.” Valdre grinned.
“Too te,” Redrek shot back, his grin matg Valdre’s. “I’ve already got dirt on you, Valdre. Don’t worry, though. Your obsession with aombs is safe with me.”
The group burst into ughter, and Krion found himself truly rexing in their pany, the easy camaraderie a wele break from all the pressures he had experienced since arriving at the Imperial Academy.
As the versation lulled, Krion leaned ba his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. “You know,” he said slowly, “when I first arrived, I wasn’t sure I would be able to make any friends here. Everyone seemed so… intense.”
Redrek raised an eyebrow. “And we’re not intense?”
“You’re different, I’ll give you that, but genuine. I appreciate that.”
“Don’t get used to it,” Valdre chuckled. “Ohe semester starts, I’ll be too busy studying to be your friend.”
“Liar,” Redrek said, rolling his eyes. “It may have beehan a day since we met, but I know you are already pnning how t Krion into your tomb-raiding fantasies.”
Valdre opened his mouth to protest but paused, sidering. “Actually, that’s not a bad idea. Krion, what do you think? Want to go tomb raiding at some point?”
“If Caspian leaves me out of his games, I’ll be happy to join you.”
The mood of the table quickly grew somber at Krion’s words, and he kicked himself for it. He wasn’t sure where that response had e from. It had just fallen out. But he couldn’t deny the fact he was worried about Caspian, and the other Archducal House ss if they felt simir to House Bright.
“Games? They’re not games, Krion,” Valdre grimly said. “That’s real petition. House Bright and House Bcksword — rivals for turies.”
“Yeah,” Redrek added, a little too cheerfully, “House Bright doesn’t take kindly to anyone who might challeheir path to ever greater power, even if you haven’t done anything to them personally.”
Krio out a bitter ugh. “Well, that much I’ve gathered,” he said, staring down into his mostly empty gss of water. He mumbled, “I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t even know, but apparently my mere existence is enough to make me a target.”
Valdre and Redrek exged a ghen broke into ughter. At first, Krion didn’t uand why, and it only deepened his sense of isotion. “What’s so funny?”
“You’re joking, right?” Valdre asked, wiping a tear from his eye as he posed himself.
Krion looked at his new friends, their mirthful looks slowly starting to turn to fusion and as he did not respond at first. No. His reasoning from earlier still held. He liked them both, but he didn’t know enough about them yet. Perhaps ter he would tell them the truth.
“All I say is that I had an atypical upbringing for a s of House Bcksword, which is why I might not know as much as I might wish.” That was not quite a lie, but still not close to the dangerous truth he wao keep hidden. For now.
“Ah, I get it now,” Valdre said. “You’ve bee in the dark. Redrek?”
Redrek leaned in, nodding that he would take over. “See, Krion, there’s been a battle for influend power over this region of the Empire si was founded, but it has really surged in the past few turies as House Bcksword and House Bright went at it. The other Archducal Houses take part as well, just to a lesser degree. Regardless, whoever wins, House Bcksword or House Bright, will climb in rank and power, possibly even into a position higher than Archduke.”
“And that’s why they don’t only engage in honorable petition,” Valdre added. “Make no mistake: the animosity runs deep.”
Krion his stomach tighter unfortably, especially given the meal he had just eaten. He had never heard of any of this, though in hindsight, he should have expected it. Every bit of history from Earth that he knew of involving the nobility and royalty of Europe had focused on the stant flid wars between them over wealth and power. To expect it to be any different here would be best. He would o add to his ever-longer list of things to do the goal of shifting how he looked at other members of the nobility as being not just someoo make friends with or to avoid but also potential allies or threats based on their goals and desires. If he wasn’t able to do that by himself, he would o figure out if hiring a trustworthy tutor ossible. But that roblem for another day.
“So,” Krion said, his voice resolute despite the turmoil inside, “with peaot possible, I will o get stronger. If I don’t, I expect they will just keep pushing me around. e an act to take me off the board.”
“Unfortunately, yes, those are your options,” Valdre agreed. “It’s times like these I am gd I only stand to i a barony.”
At Krion’s frown, Redrek jerked his leg uhe table, causing the half-elf to yelp in pain.
“Of course, that is where we would e in, as your friends,” Valdre said wing, clearly rubbing his leg underh the table. “We are not a true fa yet, but I’d like to think I have a bit to offer.”
“We both do,” Redrek chimed in. “We might not be gmorous allies, but I think we be very resourceful. And I won’t miing my hands dirty,” the hobgoblin said with a feral grin. “I’m sure the experience of helping you out, Krion, will help me get that much closer to the goals my family seeks for me to achieve.”
“Yes,” Valdre hasteo add, pg both hands firmly oable. “I believe the same.”
“I appreciate that,” Krion responded, and he did. While he knew he had a long way to go to get strong enough that he would not worry about Caspia alohe threats ing for Earth, he felt just the slightest bit more fident with his new friends at his side. Time will tell if that would be enough.
Ordran appeared at their table again, carrying a cloth and a pitcher in one hand, his other hand ready to gather their emptied ptes. His approach was apanied by a jovial grin that kled the ers of his eyes.
“Well, would you look at this!” Ordran excimed, his voice full of good humor. “Three empty ptes and three young lords lookin’ tent. Warms an old dwarf’s heart to see ers appreciate the food.”
“Everything was excellent,” Krion said early, lifting his bote toward Ordran. “The stew was exactly what I needed.”
Valdre nodded in agreement, lifting his owo be taken as well. “I really appreciate you aodatih the vegetarian option. It was incredible.”
“And the meat erfect,” Redrek added, setting his pte on top of the others in Ordran’s hand. He then leaned back, hands going to his stomach, which swollenly pressed through his school uniform. “That’s the kind of meal I could eat every day.”
ave a chuckle as he took their ptes. “You’re wele, young lord. Splendid ers you’ve been, not like most first-year nobles who e st in here.”
“Oh?” Krion asked. “What do you mean?”
Ordran leaned in slightly, l his voice. “Most o’ the young ss that wander ioo busy throwin’ their ranks around. Act like they own the pd try to order folks about. Always ends the same way — someone knocks ‘em doeg. They usually learn quick, or they don’t st long.”
Ordran straightened back up. As he did, his sleeve slipped slightly, revealing a faded tattoo on his forearm. Though light, it still was unmistakable in appearan the light of the tavern — a shield surrounded by a urel wreath with fifty written below it. Krion had no idea what it meant, but given how both Valdre and Redrek grew still at seeing it, he guessed they had some idea.
“You served in the Legions?” Valdre asked, his tone respectful but curious.
Ordran caught the dire of their gazes. He pulled back down his sleeve but gave a brief nod. “Aye, that I did. Fifty years too. Saw more than my fair share of battlefields and learned just as many lessons the hard way.” His gaze lost focus for a sed, as though remembering his time in service to the Empire. Shaking his head, he focused ba the ss. “But that was a long time ago. These days, I keep my bde sharp i.”
Redrek shifted in his seat, his tone full of respect. “Fifty years of service. That’s impressive.”
“Not much to it,” Ordran said modestly. “Just doin’ my part. Same as any dwarf of the Empire worth their salt. But enough about me.” He topped off their gsses with something that had an amber hue, then gave a sly grin. “You three have been fine pany tonight, and I’ll remember that. If you ever find yourselves of a quiet meal or a friendly face, just know you e back to The Hearth & Ember any time.”
“Thank you,” Krion said sincerely. “For my part, I will defiake you up on that.”
“You’re a rare find,” Valdre added, smiling. “It’s not every day I meet someone who treats young nobility like people and not titles.”
“Here’s to Ordran,” Redrek said loudly, raising his gss. Both Krion and Valdre quickly followed suit. “The best chef and barkeep in the Imperial Academy!”
Ordran chuckled, but he was clearly pleased. “Fttery will get you everywhere, ds. Now, enjoy the rest of your evening.” The dwarf turo leave, carrying the stack of ptes back to the kit.
Krion took a gulp of what Ordran had poured, expeg it to be a different ale than Redrek had tried earlier. He nearly sputtered when it turned out to be a bit harder than that. He could feel the heat going to his face already. It was certainly good though.
Valdre and Redrek chuckled in amusement at his face, clearly having thought to try a sip of the drink befoing for a full gulp like Krion. For a few mihey just ehe taste of a good, stiff drink and the pany that came with it. But as the gsses emptied, Valdre raised his gss in aoast.
“To unlikely friendships and surviving the Imperial Academy.”
Redrek ked his gss against Valdre’s. “And to making life just a little harder for House Bright.”
Krion joined him, his smile the most ge had been all night.
“To new beginnings.”
Alright, this puts me over the top for the Writathon. I put together some additional notes, but I think I am done for the night.
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I think just one more chapter, and then it's time to get down to the first day of css. Stay tuned!!
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