A Taste of Magic

Chapter 83: 83rd Course - Negotiations

"Why did you wait until now to tell me?!" Diglin groaned.

"Because we weren't informed until the last minute either!" Ragnok sighed, crossing his arms.

"Bloody bastards being sacks of bastards," Diglin grumbled. "They pulled this shite the last time too."

"I know, and it's annoying, but we have to try and look good," Rangok said. "Or else we suffer and the branch loses out."

Diglin shook his head and brought his cleaver down with a heavy thwack, cutting through the joint of pork. "Bastards," he grunted. "Already messing with the negotiations ahead of time."

"Standard practice," Ragnok shrugged. "What can you do?"

"I know what I want to do," Diglin said, waggling the cleaver meaningfully.

"Don't tempt me," Rangok said dryly. "Anyways, you can do it, right?"

"Of course I can do a multicourse meal. I just like to be able to plan and prepare for it properly. Especially for those snooty bastards from the Paris branch. Say, hold on. Potter!"

Harry came over. "Yes Chef?"

"You just got back from France, right?"

"Yes Chef. Visited my grandparents."

"And you said you learned a few things?"

"Sure did!"

Diglin continued to chop. "Rangok just informed me that the Paris branch is sending a delegation over for branch negotiations instead of just the one or two they did before. And a couple of bastards in this delegation are super snooty types, especially when it comes to food. Last time they were here, they refused to eat anything because it looked plebian."

"Now that's just rude," Harry exclaimed. "Gringotts Main One food is great!"

Rangok and Diglin smiled at that. "Well, this time we want to stick it to them and do a multicourse meal thing but I need some ideas. And since you just got back, you got any?"

Harry thought for a moment. "I did just learn a way to make soup that's really fancy and I really like how it tastes. I'm sure we can make it more to suit goblin tastes."

"Yeah? Do it please. Get what you need and try it out."

Harry nodded and went to do just that. He got minced deep earth beef and mixed it with nicken egg whites, an array of mushrooms, carrots, onions, celery, clove, black pepper, and ginger. Taking beef stock, he poured it over the mixture and slowly brought it to a simmer, casting the charm to keep him apprised of the temperature. He slowly stirred it, watching and feeling the raft form, and carefully made the large well in the center before he set a time charm to let it simmer for an hour.

"Ugh, what is that?" Flynt asked, peering at the raft.

"It's a consommé raft," Harry said, slowly pouring ladles of the clarifying broth through it.

"It looks gross," Flynt said.

"Well you're not supposed to eat it," Harry laughed.