Lord Caddam’s Main Course
It was a warm summer’s morning the addition of a cool breeze from the ocean side was whistling down the streets of Oralyn. The trinket shops and vacation merchants were opening up window shutters and dusting off front steps before the hustle and bustle clattered down the streets. On a day like today, tourists are soon to arrive. The innkeepers knew it, the shopkeepers were aware of it and so was the two finely dressed men walking down the paths. But they were not concerned with such thoughts, they had more important things to consider.
“Think Galavan, think!”
Despite wearing delicate threads of blue and purple, the portly man could not hide his thick farming accent. A gift from his younger years spent up on the family farm after his parents wished to escape the chaotic nature of city life.
“The meal is in five weeks and I still haven’t the foggiest what to present to our guests.” The agitated man wore a face of deep concern, with wrinkles around the eyes and thin sandy hair brushed with white.
Striding alongside him was a taller gentleman. Dressed in a black suit, white shirt and no tie. It was a casual day for the Butler. His eyes sparkled sea foam green and his young skin was smoother than a polished pearl. Despite his youthful look, the man gave off a sense of wisdom and professionalism, some might even consider him a charming young man.
“Master Caddam you must remain calm, you have already offered several ideas that would be adequate for the banquet. Courses that I am sure would satisfy the guests.” He spoke with a soft and gentle ebb and flow, like waves washing over sands in the distant.
“I am calm Galavan! But not at all, how can I possibly be calm in a time like this?” Questioned Caddam.
“This isn’t just any meal, it’s the three hundredth anniversary! Three whole hundreds my friend. Imagine that. And you expect me to turn up with bland wine and a measly cheese platter!”
“Well it is imported from the zombie infected ports of Arison, an impressive accomplishment in of itself.” Reminded Galavan.
“But it tastes just like any other wine. You haven’t had the luxury of tasting at one of these meals before, have you?”
“I have not sir.”
“Then you can’t possibly imagine the delicacies and delicious delights members bring forth to the table. It’s… it’s a sensational experience. More than your average desserts and hors d'oeuvres, this is the Fine Dining and Delicacy Club!” Explained Caddam. Who was starting to foam at the mouth just at the mere thought of food.
“It has to be something people will be talking about for the next century. A food that can match no other. Like the Luskin cubes Lady Ki-Ia is offering.”
The man in the embroidered suit said this loud enough for a few heads to turn at the mention of an extinct animal. A quiet lull occurred between the two finely dressed men, one thinking about how to impress his future guests. The other attempting to conjure the right words to please his employer.
“How did she even manage to obtain such a creature. They’re dead for Osarri’s sake!”
“In a world of miracles sir, it is not out of the realm of possibilities to return such a creature.” Galavan spoke hoping to reassure his master. Instead, he noticed the portly man stop dead in his tracks.
His right eye was twitching as Caddam tried to process the thoughts in his head. The idea of bringing a creature back to life was not uncommon in the lands of magic. But what about something that was not of this world at all. As a child he enjoyed stories told by his father about beings and monsters from other worlds. Realms, endless possibilities. All brimming with life, forests, animals, unimaginable monsters. Many of which had been encountered during the era of exploration, before the days of portal magic being outlawed. Perhaps there was remnants of such creatures.
Caddam’s mouth slowly turned from a serious straight line, to a widening smile of a mad man. Looking into the eyes of his young butler with a hint of insanity.
“Galavan! Did you ever hear the tale of the dragon tamer?” Asking with enthusiasm.
Letting out a disappointed sigh, the young man responded yes to the question.
“Aha! Haha! Yes!” Caddam shouted out with glee, too excited to notice the local water Alum he just hit in the face. Knocking the stranger onto his back, completely bewildered.
“Come Galavan. Get your hiking boots polished and shake that compass of yours, we have a dragon to catch!”
And so, the man dressed in threads of purple and blue and his finely dressed butler trailing behind, the two men set out on a quest for an extinct beast. With a rising sun shining down upon them, fuelling their hopes and ambitions.
Hmm. I wonder who will become the tasty treat, the dragon or the finely dressed duo.