Take care of it
Before Kit could fire questions at Mars, the man moved away from him to take the horses to the stable. Kit followed Mars' movements with a troubled gaze. He hoped his friend could find a peaceful answer to the problem of Chef Nutmeg.
"Kit, where are you planning on staying while you're in Fairweather town." Bree raised an enquiring brow.
This question stumped Kit for a moment, he hadn't even thought about lodging. Bree noticed that he was clueless and chuckled. So much for him getting better at planning ahead of time! Kit let out a groan, he really did need to up his game.
"Kit I would love to offer you a room with us, but our house is already at the limits with my husband and the kids. A friend of mine runs an Inn, so I can get you and Mars a good deal. How does that sound?" Kit wouldn't have gone to Bree's house to intrude even if she did have room, her family had been separated for too long as it was. He wouldn't have liked to impose on their reunion.
Kit nodded his head, he was more than happy to stay at an Inn. "Thanks Bree, I'll head over to the town hall first so I can get someone to show me the plot we will be using in the market. Then I can head to the Inn to settle in and take some time to plan out the construction of the stall." This was his priority right now, a room to sleep was far down his list.
Mars ambled back as they finished speaking, then they made their way to the town hall. Kit needed to see the mayor to get things going. As they entered the building a familiar face smiled at Kit. "Kit! What are you doing here?" Kettle's excited gaze raked over him. "Wait, I'm not ready to move yet! I haven't finished training my replacement!" Kettle had a pained look as he spoke.
"Kettle, calm down, I'm not here to get you to come to Spartan Fire yet." Before Kit could bring up the reason for his visit, Kettle burst out in glee.
"Oh, then you're here for the market stall! Wait here, I'll go and get Mayor Mushroom." Kettle dashed off to a door at the back of the hall. Mars was chuckling at the bookish man's actions.
"That's Kettle?" Mars inquired, Kit nodded. "Are you sure he will be a fit for running the town hall? He seems to like it here in Fairweather town."
Instead of answering, Kit flicked Mars the information about Kettle. Mars brows shot up as he read. "My mistake, lets drag him back with us when we leave." Kit looked at his friend and felt a bit of pity for poor Kettle. It looked like Kettle would be coming with them whether he was ready or not when they left.
Their topic of discussion returned with the mayor in tow. "Chef Kit! Welcome back! Kettle tells me you're finally ready to open the market stall!" The mayor was beaming in delight at Kit.
A return smile appeared on Kit's face. "That is indeed why I'm here. Could you find someone to show us the plot so I can start making some plans?"
"No need to find someone, I'll take you there myself." The mayor then turned to Kettle. "Come along Kettle, you can take notes on everything Kit will need." There was no sign of the confident Kettle that had greeted him when the mayor spoke to him.
Kettle looked like a meek puppy as he stood behind the mayor and nodded. Kit hoped that the bookish man would find his feet and flourish when he came to Spartan Fire. He had a feeling that a confident Kettle would be a terrifying opponent.
It didn't take them long to reach the bustling market. The noise made it feel like the one in Spartan Fire, that was where the similarities ended. This market was three times the size of the one at home and instead of being planned out, it was a jumbled mess of stalls.
Kit became more impressed with his friends for having the forethought to separate sections when they built Spartan Fires market. Their market was easy to navigate compared to this mess in front of him.
As the mayor led them through the maze of stalls, Kit become disorientated. How was he supposed to find his way out? He hurried his steps so he was right behind the mayor, he had a feeling if he fell behind it would be impossible to find the mayor again.
The middle aged mayor finally stopped in what Kit thought was the heart of the market. The plots to set up a stall were larger, and the walkways were packed with people browsing. As Kit swung his gaze around, he noticed that there were already some permanent structures in place.
Half brick walls with an entrance cut out surrounded one stall, Kit frowned it really didn't look like a typical stall. It was more like a half built establishment, it even had a simple roof covering that was held up by wooden planks.
Kit counted five permanent stalls in total. Each had permanent fixings instead of removable ones. He wandered into each permanent stall hoping to get inspiration on what he could do with his own plot. The stall with the half walls was a pottery shop, beautiful glazed items covered each table.
Kit's eyes landed on some beautiful fruit bowls, they would look great as decorations in his restaurant. Before he knew what he was doing he had opened his pouch and brought five new fruit bowls.
After he realised how much money he had spent he quickly moved on to the next stall. A large forge dominated most of the next plot, rows of wooden brackets held weapons. Kit didn't stay in there long, when he purchased his weapon upgrade, he would go with one from the smithy in Spartan Fire.
The last three stalls he quickly browsed, there was a potions stall, clothing shop and finally a flower stall. When he was done perusing, he pursed his lips. None of them helped him to come up with any ideas for his own stall.
He returned to the waiting mayor. When he arrived, he realised his team was one short. He turned to Bree. "Where is Mars?"
"Oh, he said he had some business to take care of. I gave him the address of the Inn, he will meet us there when he is finished." A sinking feeling churned in his stomach, he was 100% positive Mars had waited for him to become distracted so he could leave to 'deal' with Chef Nutmeg.
"How long has he been gone?" Kit hoped he could catch up with his crazy friend before he did something stupid.
Bree sucked in her lip as she thought. "It must have been a good 30 minutes ago, it was when you started browsing the other stalls." Kit felt a rising panic creep up his throat, that was more than enough time for Mars to get himself into trouble.
Kit's mind went back to the thugs that Chef Nutmeg had hired to deal with him last time he was in Fairweather town. He didn't want the same fate to fall on Mars, concern about his safety quickly spread, Kit felt his chest tighten in concern.
He quickly turned back to the mayor. "Mayor Mushroom, we need to go to the Fancy plate!"
The mayor frowned at his request. "Chef Kit I don't think that is a good idea." The mayor started to look uncomfortable.
Kit held himself back from saying that his friend might have gone there to hassle Chef Nutmeg. He didn't want to get Mars in trouble. Instead, he turned to Kettle and tried to communicate with his eyes that he was desperate.
Thankfully Kettle seemed to catch on that something was up. "I think what Chef Kit means is that he would like to look at the customers that grace the Fancy plate, so he can get ideas on what they would like to see at his stall."
Kit was once again amazed at how fast Kettle thought on his feet. "That's right, I need to see what my customer base will be like!"
The mayor looked less nervous about taking Kit there, but it didn't completely dispel his unsettled look. "Alright, a peak won't hurt, just as long as we don't go inside." The mayor then manoeuvred them out of the market and brought them to the Fancy plate.
A large crowd was gathered outside the restaurant when they arrived. Uneasy murmurs emerged from the group. The front door of the restaurant was shut tight, Kit felt his unease bloom into full terror that something had happened to Mars.
He didn't stop to wait for the others, he rushed up to the door and started pounding on it. "OPEN UP!" to Kit's surprise the door swung open, and he fell inside. The door quickly closed behind him with a thud.
Frightened eyes swung to see what had caused the door to shut. Milka the waitress that had served them last time was standing at the door nervously staring at Kit. Kit felt the pounding in his heart as he looked at the young girl.
"Kit, you should not be here, there is trouble inside. Please leave and get yourself to a safe place, I don't want to have to tell my brothers that I let something happen to you. They are way too fond of you." Milka whispered.
Milka was darting her gaze between him and the kitchen. Kit followed her gaze to the kitchen door, he quickly scrambled to his feet and headed over to the closed door before the young girl could stop him. He placed a trembling hand on the door, would Mars be alright?
He glanced back at Milka and made a motion for her to stay there. She replied by frantically waving at him to come back over to her, Kit ignored her panicked actions and pushed open the door.
What greeted his eyes made him stunned. Mars was sitting on a bench top swinging his legs without a care in the world. When Mars turned his head towards the newcomer a crazed gleam sparkled in his eyes and a terrifying smirk adorned his lips.
This wasn't the only change in his friend, a strong killing intent spilled from the deceptively relaxed looking Mars. Who the fuck was this Mars in front of him?! An involuntary shudder of fear swept down his spine.
Right now, he was glad Mars was his friend and not his enemy. Kit tore his gaze from the unusual Mars to look around the kitchen. Chef Nutmeg was prostrated on the floor a suspicious wet puddle surrounded his body.
Five large men in armour lay scattered on the small kitchen floor, not one of them was moving. Objects were strewn around the room, it was obvious a fight had taken place inside this room. Kit took a tentative step towards his friend, his worry outweighed his caution around Mars' strange behaviour.
"Mars are you ok?" Kit heard the tremble in his voice but didn't stop walking towards Mars. He ran his eye over his body searching for wounds. When he couldn't see blood or holes in Mars clothes, a relived breath rushed out of his lips.
"Ah, Kit! I was just playing a game with Nutmeg here, you came just in time!" Mars shoved himself of the bench and stalked towards the trembling chef. "Little Nutmeg here was about to play truth or die!" Mars nudged the terrified chef with his toe.
Kit looked at the trembling figure on the floor and felt no sympathy for the man. He remembered clearly how he had been tortured by the thug that Chef Nutmeg had sent after him.
What surprised him was that Mars had caused this scene. He knew Mars was a capable fighter, but this was beyond his expectations. Just by looking at the armour the men on the floor were wearing, he didn't think they could be a low level of fighter.
Kit watched as Mars bent down and whispered something in Nutmeg's ear. The man started to uncontrollably shudder then proceed to pass out cold on the floor.
Kit flicked his gaze to Mars and couldn't help lifting an enquiring brow. Mars chuckled at Kit, "It's best I don't tell you." The crazed look was starting to recede from Mars eyes, Kit felt relief flood him.
He had never seen Mars like this before, a battle crazed Mars yes, but not a terrifying crazy Mars. Concern that his friend would get himself in trouble outweighed any fear at the new side of Mars.
"Mars can we please get out of here? Preferably through the back door." Kit looked around the room once again, it was better for them to disappear. He was even contemplating abandoning his market stall plans. He was sure they would be in trouble with the authority for this incident.
Mars started chuckling once again. "No need, this piece of shit here won't say a word." He then looked straight into Kit's eyes. "You also won't have to worry about him causing trouble with your market stall." Mars looked very pleased with himself after saying that.
He was staring at Kit looking like he wanted some praise. Kit was a little sceptical that this was sorted, it felt more like it was going to be tit for tat. He let out a heavy sigh, he would have to wait for Chef Nutmeg to wake up before he got his answers.