Rival over Truffle

Rival over Truffle

“THIS TASTES LIKE FILTH!” A Loud Yell Rang through the air of the City of ___. “You dont belong in this kitchen! Get out!”

Out of a Large white Jettied Inn a Woman fled in a Panic. Eyes watering as if tears were about to start streaming from her face as she tried to run somewhere, anywhere. As long as she could get away from the craziness she faced in that Kitchen. Running out of the Inn’s back Alley and into the street, She ran into a large man standing almost 3 feet taller than her.

Thud.

Falling back onto the pavement in a daze the Woman looked up and beheld a white glowing figure. The woman wondered if it finally happened if the head chef finally snapped and now she was seeing an angel to take her to the afterlife. But It was just the morning light reflecting off the man’s white clothes.

“I’m sorry ma’am, are you ok?” Chef bent down and offered his hand to help her up.

Finally gaining her senses. The woman’s face was briefly saddened as she found that she was still alive. Looking up She was able to make out the features of the man. Though large in build he offered a kind and soft face. The woman kindly obliged by taking his hand. “No the fault was mine, I’m sorry to have troubled you sir.”

“Oh it was no trouble” the man smiled and swiftly pulled her up, almost too hard as she flew up onto her feet and almost stumbled over again but the man caught her. “Are you ok though? You seem a little dazed.” The man squatted to her height and looked into her eyes checking for how dazed she might have been.

“I am fine sir. Thank you for helping me but I have to…” The Woman’s Voice grew quiet. Sniff. There was a sweetness in the air. In most cities, the streets would smell of waste from all creatures that passed by leaving trash and local citizens tossing the contents of their chamber pots from their houses, But now there was a sweet aroma in the air and it seemed to be coming from this man in front of her. “Sir if you don’t mind me asking…”

The Man cut her off “Bread splayed with butter and sprinkled with sugar toasted over a pan”. The man stepped to the side revealing his mobile kitchen. The man’s cart folded out with a place for a pot of coals that was large enough to have a pan for toasting and a pot of tea. The man smiled, grabbing a slice of bread and lathering on some butter and sprinkling it with sweet sugar. “This one is… ‘On the house’ as one would say, I’m sorry to have perched my shop in a inconvenient place”

“Oh no! it’s not inconvenient, I just wasn’t watching where I was going” The woman shyly took the toast from the man’s hand and took a whiff of the aroma. “I’ve never smelled sugar this sweet before, Where did you get it?”

“Just South East of here, The Elves gave me a whole bunch to share with those I serve” Chef pulled up a stool he had for the Woman to sit on as she enjoyed her treat. “Here take a seat, When you take a bite I’m sure you will want more but seconds won’t be free.”

The Woman sat on the stool and sunk her teeth into the bread. The sweetness filled her nose warding off any stench that encroached her from the street. “This is so good. How do you do it?” The woman spoke with a mouthful not even swallowing her first bite.

“With the right ingredients, proper tools, and a trained nose you can make anything possible” The man smiled looking at his satisfied customer. A few citizens passing by looked in envy. They quickly stepped up and had the Chef serve them their own toasty delights.

The woman Entered a trance. As if in a dream she could imagine fields of sugar cane all around her on a warm Fall day right before it is harvested. it seemed to her the whole season passed by before she was jolted back to the present with one final gulp. She looked around and saw the bustling street from before but now a line was formed. Chef stood there with a soft smile and twinkling eyes as he dished up pieces of toast to everyone that asked. No words were exchanged from the man with the customers and yet the customers continued to come, taking their delights and dropping coins into a mug that was placed on the end of his cart. The Woman patted herself down finding her coin purse and took out a few copper coins. But before she could drop it in the mug the man put his hand over the mug “I told you that one was on the house”

“But sir That toast was too precious for it to be free” The woman said, meeting eyes with the man.

“Look in front of me, do you think that was free to me”

The woman looked in front of the cart and realized what the man just did. With sitting her there enjoying that once slice of bread for all to see, it attracted all these customers.

“Now you see. You did me a favor. Ive been sitting here for an hour and nobody had the courage to try my cooking but now they are lined up to have a try and giving all they can afford for their morning breakfast.”

The man looked back at his pan. He had served many people in the time the woman was in her trance and had already run out, save one last slice of bread that was about to finish toasting. “Ok everyone we are sold out! Thank you and hope to serve you all again.” The man took the last slice of toast and prepared it for the woman. “Now… Would you like a second slice?”

“I would love to have a second slice” The woman was almost about to giggle with excitement reaching out and snatching the toast from his hands.

“Instead of your coin, how about you tell me what had you in so much of a hurry that you forgot where you were going?”

After a few mouthfuls of the toast the woman cleared her through. “I…” She took a moment trying to recall what had happened. “I Was locked out of my apprenticeship…” she looked at the toast blankly. She, the daughter of a prestigious family was granted an apprenticeship with one of the best cooks around but blew it for the last time. She broke so many dishes, Spilled ingredients everywhere wasting valuable foods and worst of all she made a dish at the request of the head cook that made him almost want to gag.

“That sounds tragic. What apprenticeship may I ask?” The man was keenly interested. The man had already noticed the apron the woman was wearing. The Apron had food stains all over it guaranteeing his suspicions.

“I was an apprentice under Yordan Lambsy, Master Cook” the woman said quietly in shame.

“Ah! Lambsy, That guy can be a jerk.” The man gave a chuckle. “Hey, If you want to do me a favor and embarrass the fellow, how about you go back to Mr Lambsy and tell him to make you a classic Baked Salmon buttered and seasoned with honey. I bet it would drive him wild”

“What? Why would I do that? He just threw me out of the kitchen; he probably doesn’t want to see me ever again.”

“Oh trust me I know the guy, he really hates the idea of honey over salmon. Last I saw him he refused to eat it embarrassed that my cooking was better than his”

“Your cooking? You cooked for him?” The woman replied intrigued.

“Yes I came through here once to see what knowledge he could offer and ended up embarrassing the man”

“No way. Chef Lambsy is one of the best in the land!?!”

“You may be right little girl but I’m not from this land. I travel everywhere, I have knowledge that cooks like him wish they could have. Anyways, why don’t you take me to him.”

The woman looked around nervously not knowing if it was a good idea to go back to that kitchen.

Chef packed up his mobile kitchen and lifted his cart. The woman looked at the cart filled to the brim with ingredients and a large covered heep of probably some kind of food underneath.

“Well lead on little lady” Chef said.

The woman nervously lead him with his cart to the front of the famous Lambsy Inn renowned for its service across all the West plains.

“Ah he is still chained up in this old place. Didn’t take my advice to start traveling and learn more huh.”

“No sir, he has kept his Inn running all this time.” The woman said shyly, showing the man to the front door.

Chef burst through the front door. “YORDAN!” he shouted drawing all the attention of the patrons of the restaurant part of the inn.

Yordan came out with a crinkled face for his young age dressed in a white chef outfit just like Chef.

“Oh you Bastard! Why are you here?” He yelled at Chef pacing toward him, wringing a rag.

“I wanted to check in on a friend. Seems you haven’t taken my advice on traveling and learning as I have.”

Yordan stopped before Chef staring up into his eyes as Chef loomed over him.

“And leave my fine patrons without the best Food in the land? I cant do that!”

“Well train yourself a few to take your place and be on your way. I found this little missy that seems to have a good nose.” Chef pulled the woman out front from behind him.

“HER! She is too clumsy to be in my kitchen!” Yorday yelled back in disgust.

“Maybe you’re too hard on her. Cooking isn’t meant to be a military regiment. It’s an art of flavor.” Chef said calmly with a smile thinking on the next food he will make.

Yordan grumbled to himself not wanting to argue.

“Anyways my good friend. I have a gift for you.” Chef tossed a wrapped venison to Yordan.

Yordan stumbled, catching it and inspecting underneath to see what it was. “No…. you didn’t…” he said nervously realizing what it was.

“Yes I did.” Chef said smiling proudly “Make that for your finest customers and am sure your inn will be so famous you can leave it to your workers and be on your way to learn as I have.”

“I thought it was just rumors… You crazy bastard doomed everyone in the north!” Yordan yelled to Chefs face.

“Oh don’t worry he is just a little flustered, I bet he will settle down soon enough.” said Chef brushing off the concern Yordan raised.

“I don’t understand…” Piped up the woman not knowing what Chef and Yordan seem to be talking about.

“This MAN…” Yordan piped down as the patrons looked on. “Mmm come with me” he stammered pulling Chef and the woman to the back not wanting to make more of a scene.

The three of them entered the kitchen in the back where several workers continued making meals for the patrons of the inn.

“This man found it funny to go and provoke a dragon. What the Hells do you think you are doing dooming all us common folk to the wrath of a sleeping dragon?”

“I recall he gave it willingly.” Chef grinned, crossing his arms proud of his work.

“No Chef! That dragon you maimed is now terrorizing the northern villages. You seriously think cutting off the tail of a dragon wouldn’t anger it?” Yordan paced back and forth worried about the consequences. Yordan looked at the Cut of dragon meat in his hand. “Wait… Where is the rest?”

“Oh just in my cart to the side of the inn”

“Just in your cart!?! Something that valuable shouldn’t be left unattended, you big oaf” Yordan screamed making all the workers pause in their tracks looking at them. “You would have done everyone a service if you just killed the monster”

“Oh but he seemed too peaceful from my cooking to have killed him. I could never do something like that to my customer. I even promised to cook for him again.”

“You FOOL!” Yordan slammed the cutlet on a table and motioned a worker to take it away. “Are you going to do nothing to rectify the situation that that same tailless dragon is wreaking havoc across the northern plains, probably searching for you!?!”

“Well If the humans here are so worried I bet a few of your heroes could handle it. He is a bit maimed after all… I bet it’s not easy flying without his tail” Chef raised his hand to his chin thinking.

“You are a carless cheeky bastard, you know that Chef.” Yordan calmed down, almost smiling at Chef’s calm behavior. “Well if you aren’t going to do anything about it then ill just inform the lord here of the situation… what do you plan to do with that tail?”

“Well I was going to make my way East to find a guide. I’d like to go to the genie nation and see about turning it into jerky”

“Jerky?” Yordan chuckled at the plain nature of Chef’s quest with such a valuable item. “Fine… I may know a guy. Hunkle Bogger. He came through here once tasting my food. He travels all around checking out cooking like you but eating rather than cooking. He said he traveled with some genies once to try their desert delights. I imagine he is east, tasting some of the elven cuisine.”

“Thank you for the tip Yordan. I know I can count on you to know where to go next. But you really should travel old buddy” Chef gave Yordan a playful shove.

“Maybe I should…” Yordan said contemplating on leaving his famous inn.

“Oh about this woman…” Chef pulled the nervous woman who stood shyly quiet listening to the chef’s banter.

“Her… you know what… Why don’t you take her with you? I bet you could do for a prep cook huh?” Yordan looked at her wincing at the idea of her clumsy hands in his kitchen.

“Sir.. I… my family…” The women stammered trying to think of traveling with someone away from home would do to her.

“Don’t worry Sue, I’ll be sure to tell your family you are in good hands. Chef here took on a dragon. It seems he can keep you from harm.” Yordan smiled at his cleverness to get her out of his kitchen but also keeping her in good hands so that he can tell her family that her apprenticeship is still intact.

“Ive never had a travel companion. That will be new to me. Sue is it? Ill be glad to have you travel with me.”

“Ummm yes sir…” Sue said not wanting to turn down the opportunity to travel as she always wanted to go east and maybe catch sight of a elf or even a genie like they talked about.

“Well get out of here you bastard. Creating more problems than your worth.” Yordan waved his hand dismissing them and turning to his kitchen.

“Thanks again Yordan. Make some good meals with that meat. Ill see you again hopefully on the road”

With that Chef took Sue with him out of the inn, grabbed his cart and they were off to the east nation of the elves.