Chapter 168: Don't go in the Basements!

Chapter 168: Don't go in the Basements!

Suzette was hurrying downstairs to pluck four unlucky roosters when she heard the deep voice of Roderick Kallvek. Forewarned, she slowed her steps and came into the tavern's common room at a walk with a smile on her face.

"Ah, and here she is! My good friend Suzette. Please! Come let me introduce you to my family. We decided that a small vacation away from the capitol was needed! This is my wife, Melissa and our children: Misha, Sasha, Sora, and little Thaddeus. My mother Aurelia came along, as did my father, Emilio."

Suzette took in the extended family as she was given names and relationships. Roderick's father seemed to be an older, greyer and louder version of his son. Both his mother and wife were cordial, but she noted from their body language that they didn't defer to their husbands. Conversation brought that out as well. The children were inquisitive but polite, quivering like arrows about to be released. They had arrived the night before, just after the chaos of the Star Spawn had died down, and taken rooms at the Inn.

The Inn was doing better now with an influx of players who were earning money. The tavern could always survive selling beer and simple food. The inn required a richer clientele to support its larger staff. Gareth employed a cook, three maids, a handyman, and a hosteler. The large dining room served a higher class of meal and they had a decent wine cellar. It had been lean times with few customers in the years before ACME had come to town. Now, with a surprise expansion to the inn thanks to Ozzy's insurance policy, and many more people in town, Gareth and his family were busy every day serving meals and renting out rooms.

"Very nice to meet you all. Roderick has always referred to you as 'The Great Kallvek'. Should I refer to you by that or just as Emilio. Does this mean you are on vacation, or simply keeping a low profile?"

Emilio laughed. "It is hard for someone my size to go unnoticed. But yes, this is a little vacation with my grandchildren. Who knows though? There is always something interesting to see. Maybe we can do some business before I leave."

That was good enough for Suzette, for now.

She kneeled down to look the children in the eye. "We have rules here. Breaking them might get you eaten by something."

"Rule 1: Don't go in basements. Basements might have a dungeon with things that try to kill you."

"Rule 2: Don't go near the big smoking building. It ties people up in chains and throws them into the fires."

"Rule 3: If someone is scaring you, or hurting you, scream loud and we'll come beat it up."

The children pondered that, with the older ones repeating the rules for Thad. Getting eaten was bad.

Their mother agreed. "Those are good rules. This isn't the city. It is alright to scout the area, learn the territory, and meet the people. But don't explore the dungeons."

Warnings and introductions done; Roderick started into his part of the business. "I have all of the goods you requested. We wished to return swiftly and were delighted to find that our travel fees were already covered. The local Legion commander must hold you in high esteem?"

This caused Suzette to laugh. "Oh, he certainly was happy when the Baron's workers filled up his teleport pad with mana. They have more than they can use now and are sending excess back to Wolfsburg. Mana seems to be a commodity like everything else, and we have filled his coffers full. I'm happy that it smooths your road a bit."

The Great Kallvek nodded and let his son talk. He was enjoying not being the point man, and able to simply observe and poke his nose into things. This little town was well built. The walls of the tavern were made of thick stone which supported the extra stories of the building. If what Roderick said was true, it also contained not one, but two dungeons in the basement! Such a little money maker!

Myrna saw Emilio watching and hopped down. "Fatfingers is getting better. Fire inside is getting hotter. Needs to be hot, to match his pit. Lovely, lovely pit. I could stare into it for days." She shook herself. "But then nothing would get cooked."

She grabbed Emilio by the arm. "Come. You will buy Myrna a place for her grill. I am moving here. Fatfingers will be ready soon, and I need to be near this fire."

Suzette and Melissa were haggling when they got back. Aurelia walked over to talk to Roderick. "You wife found a house. It is ideal for you. Plenty of room for the children, including a classroom on the top floor. Storage in the basement, two floors for business, and a third to expand either the business or the family, depending on which way the wind blows."

"The small building will become a place for Myrna to set up shop. The price is reasonable, barely a quarter of what we would pay in Wolfsburg."

Roderick nodded. "So, she is buying it?" His mother laughed. "She already has, they are just working out the final price."

As they watched, Suzette and Melissa shook hands and then hugged. The children, who had been watching closely, raced back into the building to haggle over who got which room."

Suzette turned to Roderick. "I'm happy you are moving here. We have a lot to talk about. We have a late meeting tonight to discuss town planning. Would you like to come? Late dinner included."

The Great Kallvek inclined his head and smiled. "But of course, all four of us will come. It is very nice to be included in your plans. We will offer our advice and partake of your meal."

"Great, and now I should get back to the kitchen, I have...." She was interrupted by the sound of hooves. Ben came racing up on Mudhead, paused just long enough to grab Suzette before taking off again.

"Sorry folks, a bit of an emergency. Cham is about to be sacrificed by a grove of angry apple dryads. To calm things down I need Suzette to come sign a Treety with them." And with that, the two rode off in the direction of the forest.

Roderick watched them go. "I told you it was an exciting place." He turned to his wife. All of that is fine, but why can't we all live on the fourth floor? It is larger than our existing house?"

His wife came over and took his arm. "Oh, it is. But the children are cramped, and this will give us room. The third floor will be ours. You need a home that reflects a wealthy merchant. A place to entertain guests and hold dinners. Plus, I would like a place for the nursery that is near our own room and not so close to noisy children."

Roderick smiled broadly. "Ah, so we are expanding the family as we expand the business. Excellent thinking. I am amazed at your ability to plan ahead."

After some talk, the two women went back to the building, to measure the rooms for furniture and rugs, and plan the move to Sedgewick.

Roderick stayed with his father. "You are going to be a grandfather once again. This is a nice town. You will have to visit often."

The Great Kallvek looked thoughtful, and then made up his mind. "I think so too. Come, we can leave the women to plan their conquest of your new home. But I think I want some place quieter for when your mother and I visit. The innkeeper, Gareth, seems like the sort who wouldn't mind a silent partner. Let's go buy an inn."