9. Lunch and the Mayor

Novum headed back the way he came and when he got close to the mayor's office he looked down the alleys as he went. Sure enough there was a small line of people outside of one little building. He tied up Noctis and headed down the alley. As soon as he got into the alley out of the light wind an aroma hit his nose. He followed it and ended up in line behind the other people. He was not in a hurry so he did not even bother asking someone how long the wait usually was, he just got in line.

It seemed line no time at all and he was next for the restaurant. A small woman stepped out the door and had to lean back just a little to look him in the face. "You're new. Can you read?"

"Yes ma'am in a few languages."

"Don't brag. I will bring you a menu so you can be ready when you come in." She did not wait for a reply and walked inside and came right back. She handed it to him with a look. "Since you can read several languages you should be able to pay for your meal, right?"

"Yes ma'am I can pay and thank you." He gave her a deep bow of his head. For some reason this gesture threw her off and she got a little flustered. "The special is really good today. It's venison."

He handed her the menu back. "If it is good enough for you to recommend it then it should be more than enough for me. But how are the portions?"

She looked him up and down again. "You might want to order two."

"That is what I wanted to know. Thank you." The woman looked behind him and saw a few more coming down the alley but she knew all of them and their orders. She was going to tell them the special when she saw the mayor and a couple of his cronies following along. She thought he was going to try and cut in line but he fell into line without a complaint. She was a little flustered with the mayor so she forgot to announce the special and walked back in.

A big group walked out and Novum got a little excited. His nose was telling him it was going to be delicious and his stomach was not happy with the delay. The woman came out. "I got two tables of four would you mind waiting a few there should be a bar slot opening up soon?"

"That is fine."

The mayor spoke up, "we are only three and he can sit with us if he doesn't mind."

"Thank you sir that would be fine." The two groups went in and no one grabbed a menu only one of them asked about the special and when they heard venison they all got excited. The same little woman from the door came to the table. "I will take two specials and an ale, please."

The mayor spoke up for his group as well. "We will all take the special as well. And three wines with a pitcher of water." The woman walked away without a word. "So Novum how are you liking it in our little village?"

"So far it has been very enjoyable. I have not seen much yet but it feels like a good community."

"Outstanding. We don't get a lot of outsiders here and I wanted to see how we were presenting ourselves."

"I still need to see a few more things and then I can give you a better assessment but other than the dust from the mine towards the gate I came in no complaints."

"You are from a mining area then. In our defense most guests come from the south to get ore and not the north so we do not focus up there as much. But you are right about the dust. I brought that up because you have already helped us with one problem and I am hoping you will help with one more."

"Let me guess the one I killed has a mate and probably some cubs that you want removed."

"You are correct and I will pay you the same for the adult and we will sort out the price for the cubs depending on their age."

"I want a minimum of five silver no matter their age and I get to keep all the bodies."

"That is fine with me I just want them gone. So we have a deal?"

"You have a deal mayor. Do I need to come to you or can one of your guys handle it?"

"Unless there is a huge difference in price I see no need for you wait for me. I am sure you will have other things to do."

"No worries sir. I just didn't want to bother you if it was not necessary. Leadership can be a huge burden."

"You are pretty knowledgeable for one so young. Oh here comes the food. Enjoy." The mayor quit talking and picked up his utensils. The woman came out with four plates and a small girl behind her was carrying the tray of drinks. She looked like she was afraid to be seen and stayed silent. She kept giving one of the men with the mayor a funny look that bothered Novum for some reason.

"When you finish that one your second one will come out just wave to me."

"Thank you ma'am." Novum dug into the food like a starving man and it was delicious. The ale that they served was local and went great with the venison and before he realized it the first one was gone. He waved his hand and the little girl came out carrying it to him.

Without a word she set it on the table and started to leave. The man she did not like reached out to grab her arm. It appeared that he did it often and she quickly tried to get out of his range. Just before he got a hold of her Novum had a hold of his wrist.

"Sir it is obvious that she does not like to be touched so don't touch her."

"I was just trying to give her a coin for bringing it out."

"You don't have to touch her for that."

"But.....ouch." When he started to respond Novum tightened his grip.

"Sir I need you to listen to me very, very carefully. This little girl does not want you to touch her. It does not matter what you want, in the least. Since it is her body she gets to say who can touch her or not." He leaned real close where the girl would not hear but the mayor and his men would. "So if I see you trying to touch her again, I will tear your arm off and beat you to death with it." He looked at all three men. "Am I clear on that point."

"I understand."

"Good." Novum let go and went back to his meal. He acted like nothing had happened and enjoyed the meal. The two men with the mayor quickly finished and dropped their money on the table without a word.

Once they were gone the mayor broke the silence. "Do we still have a deal about the wolves?"

"Of course. Nothing has changed with that."

"About my colleague...."

"Mayor, I am going to stop you right there. That man is dangerous. That little girl is scared to death of him. No child should be that afraid of anything but a wild animal or a monster. I had a man like that in my last village, he was the same way but no one stopped him. He took a little girl that was to young and ruined her for life. She will never be right in the head. So if you are trying to make excuses don't, that makes you part of the problem. And you need to realize that I am a problem solver. Are we clear on that?"

"Yeah , Novum we are clear. That is why the other guy is always with him. He is great with numbers and things in the city but like you said he is dangerous."

"I will take care of the wolf tomorrow and I would recommend getting him a new sitter this one is not strong willed enough."

"Yeah I do not normally go out with them and had not seen it but you are right. Enjoy your evening Novum." The mayor dropped his money on the table and left.

The older woman came out once they were gone. "Thank you. I did not want to send her but he threatens us with closure if she does not come to the table once."

"I seriously doubt he will be back here while I am in town so small blessing I guess. Do you guys serve dinner as well?"

"Yeah we do all three meals."

"Outstanding. Any desserts?"

The little girls popped out of no where. "Auntie makes the best apple crumble."

"Is that so, then save me a piece this evening." He dropped his money on the table and stood to his full height.

"That is to much."

"I only paid what I felt the meal was worth and nothing more or nothing less. When something is that good its value should be recognized."

"Thank you. We will see you this evening sir."

"Novum."

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The mayor stormed into his office. He pointed to the man that was supposed to baby sit his accountant. "You are fired. You had on damn job and screwed it up. Get out." Without a word the man left. "And you? Seriously? What is the nine levels of hell is wrong with you? It is bad enough you watch them like you do but you grabbed that girl."

"And once I kill the outsider I will touch her again." He looked like he was about to say something else when the mayor closed the distance and slapped the man as hard as he could. A trickle of blood was rolling down his lip.

"That man could kill everyone in this town if he could keep his distance and only fight a few at a time. His threat was not a threat it was a warning of what would happen. So get that out of your head. And next time you try and touch a little girl I am going to take one of your hands. That should limit your touching. Don't leave this office until you have a new guard."