Calytrix's Journey

Chapter VII: Tavern

"Welcome to Bertha's tavern!" the barkeep greeted me as soon as I opened the door.

The tavern was filled with a delightful smell of food being prepared. My decision to pause here for a rest felt like a wise one. II was sure this place would serve a tasty, hot meal. After all that walking, a nice, early dinner felt like a well-deserved treat. My walk was incredibly long, seemingly endless. I began valuing small comforts, including satisfying meals and a warm, peaceful place to sleep. Taking them for granted felt like a distant memory, although it hasn't been a long time since I started my journey.

"Hello!" I greeted the middle-aged woman.

I looked around, but there were no other guests beside me. There were no other employees, either. I was unsure if that was peculiar or commonplace. Perhaps the time of day affected how often visits occurred. I came here in the early evening and maybe the guests usually came in later.

The tavern had a completely rustic feel. The main material was old wood. It showed signs of wear and age. The tavern's style perfectly matched my mental image of a tavern. The expansive space placed the bar far from the entrance in shadow.

"What will it be?" the woman said when I came close.

The woman arranged her brown hair in a perfect bun and wore clean white clothes. She looked quite professional. Freckles and smile-lines covered her face.

"I'm looking for a meal and a place to rest for the night."I said.

"You can use one of the rooms upstairs. They are all vacant," she replied.

"Great!" I happily said.

I loved when things went smoothly like this.

"I can serve you dinner right now. How about today's special menu? On Tuesday's it's Rad's Special Pot," she offered.

"Is the smell I feel from the pot?" I asked.

"Yes. It is my specialty, and I'll make it cheaper just for you." She said and winked.

She didn't need to persuade me much. The delightful smell and my hunger would make me buy the food without thinking twice.

"I'll take it," I said.

"Wait for a moment and meanwhile, sit wherever you like."

I comfortably seated myself at a small table nearby. The barkeep gave me a glass of water before she went into the kitchen to finish my requested meal.

The menu was displayed on a note on the table. Rad's Special Pot, which I ordered, was a cheesy dip with small pieces of ham and various vegetables. I took a sip of water as I looked at the rest of the menu. All the meals had a delightful mix of ingredients, but then I looked at the prices and I choked on the water I was drinking. I coughed violently to get the wrong turn watery feel out of me and it took me a good minute to calm down.

"Are you all right girl!" the barkeep shouted worriedly from the kitchen.

"I'm fine. I just drank the water too quickly," I answered.

Those prices were outrageous. It's like she got the ingredients from the other side of the world. Prices in Art town were expensive, but she topped it. Even with a special discount on the meal of the day, it seemed too much. I could afford it, but it would use up over half my current budget. I really didn't want to spend most of my money on food, but I had little choice. Finding a new place to stay tonight would be tough. Nothing was nearby. Reaching the next town before nightfall would be difficult, as I would be starving by then and finding lodging would be even harder.