I won't pretend it was the most amazing pizza sauce. It could have greatly benefited from a couple of anchovies cooked in the oil with the garlic, but so far, I had not encountered any tiny fish that could serve the part. Some reviled anchovies, but they were responsible for a lot of flavor, particularly in Caesar salad dressing. For now, I was quite satisfied with the results. The sauce was rich and savory, which is what I had aimed for.

  Jessara dipped a spoon and pulled it away from the simmering pot. She blew on it for a few seconds and took a cautious slurp. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Mr. V, this is amazing!" she exclaimed.

  Milo followed suit, his expression changing from curious to impressed. "Wow. That's really good. The bacon adds a little smoke to it, or salt, or… I don't know. It's good. I could drink that after it cooled, of course. Yeah. This is..." He trailed off as he tried another sample.

  "It's all about layering flavors," I said, pleased with their reactions.

  "I'm learning that." Jessara grinned. "Where did you discover all of these skills in the kitchen?"

  "Practice," I said. "Lots of practice."

  It wasn't the best story, but I couldn't exactly tell them I'd been obsessed with cooking and writing a cooking book on my old world, which reminded me, I needed to get this recipe in my recipe book.

  "Keep an eye on the sauce. How's the main room looking?"

  "Looks like it's almost back to normal, Mr. V," Milo said.

  "Good. I need a minute."

  I took down my cookbook from a shelf that sported a few glass containers filled with mushrooms and root vegetables. Lady Churl liked to keep these topped off with fresh items she gathered from her forays into the nearby woods.

  My hands lovingly traced the letters on the cover of the book Seraphina had gifted me. Culinary Creations from the Shadow's Respite. I also took down the ink well and a pen.

  I had jotted down most of my recipes and took a few moments to add the Tomato Sauce Trenchers. I carefully wrote out the directions while they were fresh in my head. Soon, I would need all of these to be copied to another book to share with the Wandering Boar's staff. Milo and Jessara had become competent cooks who were always eager to learn. I intended to ask them to help teach the other cooks. I wondered if the snooty chef over at the other tavern would stick around. What was his name? I looked up and tapped a finger against my spoon.

  "Darius Goldenspoon," I mumbled.

  "What's that, boss?" Milo asked.

  "I was trying to remember the chef's name at the other tavern."

  "Oh, that guy. He doesn't seem very nice. Remember how he acted at the Market Day Event?"

  "I do." I laughed and wondered how he would react when I showed up and took over the tavern. "I agree, but I will get his story and the measure of the man…" I trailed off.

  "Why?" Milo asked.

  "Nevermind. How do you two feel about cooking my recipes? Are you comfortable?"

  "I can do it, but I spend most of my time in the main room," Jessara said.

  "You're a good cook. You and I do well on the food truck," Milo assured Jessara.

  I looked at my employees and smiled. "I'll start in depth training soon. Something coming up will need all the help I can get."

  Milo scratched his head. "Something coming up?"

  "Tell you about it later."

  I returned to my book and detailed the rest of the recipe.

  A shimmer appeared in the doorway, and Lady Ophelia materialized with Garin close behind her. She wore a flowing midnight-blue gown. Garin was in his plate armor; the metal somehow gleamed despite the fact that it was, well, spectral. I should have removed the ring to silence them, but they clearly had something important on their minds.

  "Darling? Sir Garin and I need to speak with you."

  I ignored her, focusing instead on jotting down the rest of the directions.

  "Aye, Varix," Garin added. "We've made a fascinating discovery below."

  I continued to ignore them both, though it took effort. The ghosts weren't visible to Jessara or Milo, and I didn't want to look like I was talking to empty air.

  The two ghosts babbled on.

  I blew out an exasperated sigh and said, "I need to run up to my room. I'll be right back."

  "We'll keep an eye on things," Milo assured me.

  "Before I go, split the bread loaves lengthwise," I instructed. "Mix some butter by melting it in a pan with minced garlic. Make about half a saucepan full. Once it's done, take it off the heat."

  They nodded, so I headed for my room.

  The main room remained empty of customers. No sign of the bard, either. As I climbed the stairs, loud snoring echoed from the room at the end of the hall—Kieran Darkrune's temporary quarters. I considered knocking to see if he would be awake later, but left him alone for now.

  I entered my room and shut the door behind me. The air felt stale, so I cracked open a window to let in fresh air. What I needed was a change of clothes. I had already packed everything from the trip to the capital, including the new leather jacket before I rushed back downstairs to help with the cooking.

  My eyes fell on the bed, and my body wanted to fall into it. Just an hour of sleep would do it. Realistically, I knew I might not rise again until dark if I got under the covers.

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  Lady Ophelia and Sir Garin stepped through the wall, not bothering with the door.

  "Okay, what's so important, guys? I'm kinda busy downstairs, in case you hadn't noticed," I said, crossing my arms. "I have a lot to do since I've been gone for the last few days."

  "You were gone, darling? When did this occur?" Lady Ophelia's eyebrows pinched together, her lips pursing into a thin line.

  "Yeah. I was in Crownforge."

  "Lovely place, or so I've heard," Ophelia breezed.

  "One word of advice, lad. Don't think you can drink with dwarves. You'll regret it."

  "Too late, Sir Garin. I learned that lesson in a very painful manner."

  "My condolences, my friend."

  I couldn't help but laugh at the serious look he gave me. Then I remembered how I had felt the next morning after drinking with the dwarves.

  "This is all fine and well, but you will want to hear this, darling," Lady Ophelia said.

  "You will, lad," Sir Garin added. "We did a little exploring in the passageways and the temple that exists beneath Lady Churl's room."

  "Did you know that little goblin has a cat bed? Your cat doesn't like me," Lady Ophelia complained, and her nose wrinkled with distaste.

  "The cat can't see you. Are you daft, woman?" Sir Garin scoffed.

  "It hisses at me and bats at the air," she insisted. "That creature knows I'm there. It stares right at me with those yellow eyes and arches its back. Then, it swiped at me with its claws. Such an evil thing."

  "The poor creature saw a moth or a spider," Sir Garin countered. "You are quite invisible."

  "Would you two leave little Morth alone and tell me why you needed to speak to me so urgently?" I asked, frustration creeping into my voice.

  "We found something beneath the tavern. Did you know there are entire sections of strange growth and stranger animals in the caverns?" Sir Garin said.

  "I've been down there. That's where I ended up falling and finding Triolux's city."

  "Ah, yes. Triolux. He is quite the noble being." His face suddenly lit up with excitement. "Ah, as we were saying, there is a rather large deposit of wine below. Bottles that seem quite old."

  "Full bottles of wine? Huh," I said and scratched my head. "Surely any old wine would have turned into vinegar by now."

  "The bottles are all quite intact, and I can sense a spell of some sort. I'd wager it's to protect the contents."

  I considered this information. A huge stash of wine down there that hadn't gone bad? That seemed unlikely, but if they were under a spell... "I'll look into it soon. I’d rather not open the area up yet. Right now, I have to finish prepping for the lunch rush, if there is one, since Lady Churl and I have been away."

  "Oh, the goblin has been gone, as well?" Ophelia asked, her eyebrows rising.

  Sir Garin chuckled.

  "Yes, but I have no idea where she is," I explained.

  "She's a goblin. Churl probably found a better offer and left."

  "She didn't. It's too much to explain right now. I have to get back to a new recipe. We'll talk later, okay?"

  "The wine has waited a long time," Garin said. "I suppose it can wait a few more days."

  "Darling, do bring someone who can discern the spells and if they are dangerous. That is the other reason we wanted to mention it. A spell of protection could also be put in place to prevent thieves. If the wine is still good, it would be worth an absolute fortune."

  "Huh. Thanks for letting me know. I'll check it out as soon as I have time," I promised, moving toward the door. "A lot of things are about to change around here. I've purchased another tavern and been given an…er…rank by the king. The other tavern is a little more upscale. Some fancy wine might be a good fit."

  "What do you mean by rank, dear?" Lady Ophelia regarded me with a puzzled face.

  "Rank. Position. Station. Title. It's a lot." I slipped my hand into my pocket, pulled out the emblem, and displayed it to them.

  Garin gasped and grinned.

  Ophelia leaned in but shrugged. "What is it?"

  "Something I didn't ask for. Right. Good meeting. Uh… carry on with your hauntings, or whatever you do."

  Ophelia sighed heavily while Sir Garin wished me good luck on the meal.

  I hurried back downstairs and was greeted by the marvelous smell of garlic butter as I entered the kitchen.

  "Everything okay, Mr. V?" Jessara asked, looking up from the bread she was slicing.

  "Just fine," I replied, tying my apron back on. "Let's get ready for lunch."

  The first Saucy Tomato Trencher couldn't have come out better. The first step was to brush a generous amount of garlic butter on each side of a loaf. Next up was a light layer of cheese. I explained that the cheese would help the bread have a crispier top so the sauce didn't sink into the bread and make it soggy.

  The first two loaves came out with melted cheese. The garlic permeated the air. I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into one. I added another coating of cheese, broke out the sausage, and chopped one into little pieces. This wouldn't be a substitute for Italian sausage, but if it was a hit, I might be able to work out a recipe for the meat with Shellen at the butcher shop.

  Or I could figure out how to make my own.

  Next, I showed them how to top cheese-crusted bread with tomato sauce. On top of that went the diced sausage and a little more cheese for color; what I wouldn't do for some fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano right now.

  Milo studied the bread before we put it in the oven. "Mr. V. It looks like you can put other things on there."

  "That's good insight, Milo. Lightly cooked peppers and onions would also be good, and we can add almost any kind of meat."

  "I can't wait!" Jessara exclaimed.

  Milo and Jessara quickly put another Saucy Tomato Trencher into the oven.

  After eight or nine minutes, I peeked in and found the tops had browned up, and the sausage sizzled. The smell that emanated from the stove made me think of home. I quickly shoved those thoughts to the back of my mind.

  I pulled the bread from the oven with a towel to grip the edge and another to slide underneath. The cheese bubbled on top, golden brown and perfect. The rich aroma of garlic, tomato, and sausage made my stomach grumble.

  "Careful, it's hot," I warned as Milo reached for one of the loaves.

  Once the loaves were out, I grabbed a long knife from the rack and sliced each into three equally large pieces. The blade was met with a satisfying crunch.

  "Grondak!" I called toward the back. "Come try something new!"

  The young orc emerged from the dish room, wiping his large green hands on a towel. His tusks gleamed in the kitchen light as he approached with eager steps.

  "New food?" he asked, his eyes bright with interest.

  "Hold on, Grondak. I have something special for you."

  Milo and Jessara didn't wait. They each grabbed a piece and bit into the trenchers.

  "Oh! Hot!" Jessara fanned her mouth but kept eating.

  "This is amazing, Mr. V!" Milo slurped at the melted cheese that threatened to drip down his chin. "The sauce with the garlic butter... wow!"

  Rummaging through the cooler, I located the prize—a jar of hot peppers in pickling sauce. With a quick twist, the lid came off, allowing me to extract several green peppers. These went directly onto a piece for Grondak.

  The orc grabbed the trencher and devoured it in two massive bites.

  "Good heat! Good bread! This very good!" Grondak exclaimed, smacking his lips around his tusks.

  I took a piece for myself and bit into it. The flavors melded so well together. It wasn't exactly pizza, but it was close enough to satisfy my craving.

  We ate in contented silence, focused entirely on the food. The trenchers disappeared quickly, with Grondak reaching for second and third pieces.

  Just as I was thinking about how nice it would be to go upstairs and get on with a carb coma, the side door crashed open with a bang that made me jump.

  "Hey!" I shouted, annoyed at the interruption. "We're not open yet. Come back in half an hour!"

  "That any way to greet yer sous chef?" a familiar raspy voice called back. "Reckon, I ain't been gone that long."

  "Lady Churl? Lady Churl!"