Chapter 740: Dinner (1/2)

Cless smiled, sitting on her high chair just behind the entrance to her atelier. The counter nearly hid her entirely.

She clapped her hands together when more people entered. They looked at Rock and Charles standing in the hall but came in regardless. A woman with a blue dress and lots of jewelry approached the smaller of the two men.

“Excuse me… this is the Cless Michaelson gallery?” she asked.

“It says that on the sign,” Cless said from behind the counter. She sat down and crossed her arms. People were frustrating. She had learned in her classes with the Shadowguard and Sentinels that people were able to read but maybe the ones wearing jewelry were different?

She had drawn the sign herself.

A giggle resounded in her mind.

“Not now, Violence. We have visitors,” Cless said and walked out from the counter. “All of my works are displayed. If you’re interested in buying one, there will be an auction in two days, before the grand ball.”

“In… deed,” the woman said, glancing between Cless and the Shadow. “I suppose we can have a look.”

The man who followed her rolled his eyes, giving Cless a stare.

Rude. She stared back until he stopped.

The gallery was set up as a roundabout, the entrance to the right and exit to the left of the entrance hall. She was quite proud of the progression in her art, the oldest ones coming first and her most recent pieces at the very end. She had called it The Journey of Ash, though there were quite a few pieces that didn’t have anything to do with Lilith.

She had never thought a gallery would be possible, especially with Claire putting her works away. But it was something she had wanted to do since seeing her first gallery in Ravenhall. Everything had suddenly happened after she had told her friend about it. The little Fae knew a lot! And it even got the paintings from Claire!

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The Golden Goose was inside one of the older buildings in Morhill, located on the slope that led up to the main governmental buildings and mansions of once influential families before the demon incursion. It had been decorated with various banners and entire bushes of flowers, all in a deep red. A carpet was laid out far into the square with a dozen guards standing at the ready. High level ones too, Dale noted.

It was one of the few four story buildings he had seen in the city, not that its towering presence was necessary to get a good view of the town and valley beyond. Its location was enough for that. No obstructing structures were in front of its large windows but he supposed the display of wealth was entirely on purpose.

Not only Shadowguards were present. He spotted a few Sentinels as well, and more individual guards armored or dressed in black, their Shadow badges displayed for people to see.

“This seems very exclusive,” Abby said in a hushed whisper.

“It does,” Dale said. He didn’t feel particularly comfortable but Abby seemed more than a little excited. Ilea had mentioned the best cook in the south after all.

Nobody stood in the queue but as they approached, a group of well dressed people landed, being led inside after a short talk with the waiter.

“Are we dressed appropriately?” he whispered to Abby, looking down on himself. Dale preferred his armor to formal clothing.

“We might stand out a little, but that’s fine,” Abby said. “We’re here for the food and atmosphere after all,” she winked at him and pulled him forward. His worries washed away with the gestures.

“Abby and Dale Langston, from Riverwatch,” she said to the waiter dressed in black.

Even he has a nicer set of clothes, Dale thought.

“Indeed, descriptions and levels match. A table on the fourth floor has been reserved,” he said and bowed lightly. Some of the guards looked at them now, previously uninterested.

The waiter rang a bell and a woman appeared next to him, dressed in a similar manner. He pointed at a line in his book of reservations.

“Welcome to the Golden Goose. Please follow me,” the woman said and curtsied.

Dale noticed the sound from outside vanishing as soon as they entered the hall. Instead he heard occasional laughter, the clinking of glasses and cutlery. A faint smell of roses remained in the entrance hall.

“I was told to inform you of a few things,” the woman said.

“Go ahead, darling,” Abby said.

The young woman continued without being fazed. “First, you have been invited by Lilith herself. Everything and everything you order or receive is free of charge. You will be dining on the fourth floor. We wish merely to inform you that very prestigious guests are present. Please refrain from starting any unnecessary fights or large scale battles. Such displays of magic would disrupt our ability to provide the experience you came here for.”

“Of… course,” Dale said.

“Does that happen often?” Abby asked.

“Not normally. However with guests present from various nations and factions, the head cook and owner deemed the notice necessary,” the waitress explained.

“I understand,” Dale said before they were lead up the stairwell and finally out onto the wood floor.

Oil lamps bathed the wood beams and walls in warm light, giving the restaurant a welcoming atmosphere.

Dale tried not to stare at the various present guests but he could feel the magic in the room. When they were sat down next to a broad window, he started breathing again.

“Are you okay?” Abby asked, touching his hand lightly.

He nodded and focused on the sights. Hundreds of lights were visible from the high elevation, the walled town sprawling before them, arenas and stands spreading out beyond. Dark mountains towered behind, the evening sky clear. Dale leaned forward. “She wasn’t joking with the prestigious guest bit.”

He didn’t know any of them but they were certainly eccentric. Most everyone he could identify was beyond his range. I could even identify the Shadows outside. The atmosphere however didn’t feel oppressive or tense. Nor were there a lot of conversations. People were focused on their food it seemed.

A waiter appeared a few meters from their table and walked the last few steps. “Welcome to the Golden Goose. Are there any preferences to consider or are you open and capable to try everything?”

“I don’t think there’s anything we wouldn’t try,” Abby said with a smile.

“Wonderful. Then we start with an appetizer. Glazed wyvern tail in a sauce of honey and herbs,” he vanished and reappeared with another waiter, the two putting down the plates before they came again and filled their glasses with wine.

Dale glanced at Abby. He understood why there was no tension in the room as soon as he started eating.

Eight courses later, Dale leaned back and sighed. He couldn’t do anything else but stare forward. When was the last time we talked so little during dinner?

Abby opened and closer her mouth a few times. She was about to talk again when the waiters reappeared and set down a plate with various sweets.

“Courtesy of Big ass Pastries,” the man said with a straight face as the other one refilled their glasses. Both vanished a moment later.

“Oh I’ve heard about that one… it’s a store in Ravenhall,” Abby murmured, though she was already looking at the various creations. Spheres of white, black, brown, berries cut into triangular shapes, fruits neither of them had ever seen.

“So this is the prestigious. Golden. Goose,” a deep voice resounded from near the stairwell.

“Sir, please follow me to your table,” the same waitress that had brought them up said to the man.

Dale looked over, as did some of the guests.

The man spread his arms and started laughing. He wore a dark leather coat, his chest near covered in belts. A red feather sat on his enormous leather hat, blue eyes taking everything in. Black rolling hair fell down his back, a twirled mustache below his nose, a thick beard going to his chest.

[Water mage – lvl ??]

“What happened to you all? Did the great Lilith cut off everyone’s balls?” the man asked in a challenging tone. He looked around before his eyes fell on a woman in a light blue dress. She didn’t look his way, instead focused on her food. He curtsied nonetheless. “Empress. How quaint. And her dogs are here too.”

He took a few steps and stopped before a table of two. A black haired man with gray eyes looked up from his plate. The short haired woman sitting opposite him had a worried expression on her face. She avoided looking at the tall man.

“And who… are you?” the water mage said.

“I could ask you the same. Please leave us alone,” the sitting man answered.

Dale glanced at Abby. He was ready to jump up and shield her. More people had interrupted their meals by now.

“Sir, please follow me to your table,” the waitress said but was ignored entirely.

“My name has gotten lost it seems,” the leather clad man spoke. “I’m the Destroyer. Scourge of the sea,” he said and looked up. “Uneducated rabble. Helena, why don’t you tell them who I am? You, Cecila? Or any of the Generals?”

Nobody spoke.