Mark of the Fool

Chapter 558: The First Customers and The Wells that Dry

Yup, its meeeeeee. Grimlochs singsong voice didnt quite match the grin that exposed row upon row of sparkling, deadly, white teeth. The sharkmans smile seemed fixed, never reaching those doll-like black eyes, giving his face an almost sinister look. Im here to eat all your food. He growled.

Oh, by the Traveller, no. Alex whispered as though the Ravener itself had walked through the door.

Grimloch! a familiar voice cried from behind the sharkman. Nua-Oge poked her head from behind her brother. Morning, Alex! Forgive my brother, Im going to try to control him.

Try, Grimloch supplied.

And succeed! she snapped. Our friend is having a big day today, dont ruin it for him!

Im not ruining anything. Im being all his customers. The free samples were good. Im here for the rest.

Oh by Ek-u-Dari, stop it! Nua-Oge demanded. Alex, these are my friends.

She introduced four students Alex had never met before, and he greeted them with his best customer service smile.

One of the young women looked him up and down appreciatively. Nua-Oge said you were a big man and you ran a bakery, so I imagined someone very differentI didnt think you were this kind of big.

Well, Id love to say I got these muscles from my baked goods. He smiled professionally, glancing at the window to see if Theresa was listening. She had very good ears. But thatd be a lie. And I dont need lies to sell you the best bread and pastries in the city. Come in, welcome to the Roth family bakery, can I take your orders?

Grimloch, Nua-Oge and her friends gathered around the counter like goldfish when foods being dropped in their pond. Of course, he was smart enough not to make that comparison outloud, so he simply kept that thought to himself, just serving everyone with friendly, courteous, professionalism.

The big sharkman ordered nearly every one of Alexs meat pies, and would have grabbed the rest if Nua-Oge hadnt stopped him. As for the others, they decided on a mixture of meat pies for breakfast, and various pastries for dessert.

After all their orders were placed, Alex touched the aeld staff leaning against the back wall and conjured an army of Wizards Hands that swarmed the dishes in the display cases, and delivered the feast to his guests table.

Smells good, Grimloch grunted. Better taste good too.

Grimloch! Nua-Oge shook her head, handing Alex a small stack of coins. Youre terrible! Mind your manners!

No.

Guh!

As brother and sister walked to their table, Alex stared at the coins in his palm. They werent a lot, compared to the fortune he was making with Toraka Shale, or even what hed made over the years working at McHarris, but something about those few shining coins made him feel warm inside.

It was the very first payment he would ever receive as the owner of his own bakery, on the very first day he opened that bakery. Alex was strongly considering framing them and putting them on the wall.

But, before he could consider the thought any further, the doors bell sounded again.

Morning Alex, I still cant believe this is the same place, a familiar voice said. You really turned it around.

Through the doorway came Toraka Shale followed by a small crowd. The entire morning shift was with her, including Sim, all crowding into the bakery in their work clothes with rumbling bellies and hungry eyes, looking over the menu and the goodies in the display cases.

Lagor was also there, though he rarely worked mornings.

I just had to come see how my assistant was doing with his side business, the orc said, rubbing his hands together. And Toraka wont stop talking about your cooking so, here I am, ready to taste it for myself.

Uhhi Alex said to everyone, a little stunned. In an instant, the number of guests had gone from six to over thirty. He snapped to work. Welcome to the Roth family bakery, Ill be happy to take your ord

By Ek-u-dari! Nua-Oge suddenly cried from across the room. The selachar wizard stared down at a forkful of pie. Thisthis is some of the best pie Ive ever had. The cooks on campus are amazing and I know you make good food, Alex, butthis tastes like Ek-u-daris holy bounty in my mouth! Congratulations!

With a gusto that almost rivalled her brothers, she dug into her meal as her companions made happy sounds of appreciation around her, alternating between shoving pastry in their mouths as fast as possible, to pausing and letting the delectable flavours saturate their taste buds.

Torakas employees watched them for a long while before turning back to Alex.

Sim raised his hand. I think Ill have what theyre having.

And so the dining area exploded in a storm of activity. Alex touched his staff again, conjuring a host of Wizards Hands that plated the order for his customers before he could even jump in himself.

With a glance toward the kitchen, he called to Troy: Well need the next batch soon! He showed his co-workers their seats. Some preferred the outdoor tables, since it was such a beautiful day.Everyone soon settled down and tucked in, the dining areas went quiet.

Lagor gasped. By my ancestors, boy, whatd you do with this pie? This is apple, right? What in all the heavens did you do, go raiding a gods garden or something?

Thats a trade secret, Alex grinned, placing apitcher of fresh fruit juice in the centre of the table. But lets just say I had a little divine guidance when I came up with the recipe.

Ill say, Lagor said. Well, my compliments toyou. Thameish worship Uldar, right?

The Traveller, Alex corrected him with a contented smile on his face. I worship the patron saint of my hometown, so direct any praise to her. And my staff and family, of course. None of this would have been possible without them.

Well, then my compliments to you and yours, and the Traveller! Lagor held up a forkful of pie as though raising a toast. You keep cooking like this, and youll be famous.

Here, here! Sim agreed, raising his own fork from across the room.

And dont forget some praise for me! Toraka called. It was my money that bought this place!

Alex laughed, and the mirth spread through the room. Inside his chest, he could feel Hannahs power tugging at him.

But, he didnt have time to bask in it.

Troy and Lorraine came from the kitchen with the next batch of baked goods steaming on hot trays, and Alex scurried away to get things set up. The minute that more food was ready, his customers pounced.

Lagors hand shot up. Hey, Ill take a meat pie to go! And one of those croissants! A chocolate one!

Make that two! Toraka called.

Ill take ten, Grimloch said.

And with that, a swarm of orders were placed, and a smiling Alex rushed around filling them. Old memories of running around trying to get orders ready for McHarris customers during the breakfast rush came back. Theyd been times that were nothing but misery for him and his co-workers.

But today?

Today, he couldn't keep the smile off his face as he handed his guests their takeaway orders and accepted their payments. Seeing all those satisfied smiles filled his heart, while their coin filled his strong box.

It was a win-win situation.

He waved as Toraka departed with the morning shift, most promising theyd be back again. Grimloch, Nua-Oge and her friends left a little later, most looking dreamy, like theyd fallen in love with the food.

As the door closed behind them, he turned to Troy, who grinned and gave him a thumbs up.

Now, this feels like old times, when old Master Beerensteyn ran the place. His eyes shone with tears. Im sure his spirit would be tickled to see this. Shame that his son couldnt have been the one to do it, but Im happy you bought the bakery. Anyway, Id better get back to it: that rush almost wiped out our stock, so well need a lot more if this keeps up! He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, leaving them ringed in flour, then went back to the kitchen to start baking again.

As Troy got back to work, Alexs smile faded.

If it keeps up, he whispered, moving back behind the counter.

The early morning had been intense, but Alex noticed that everyone hed served so far were either people he knew, or friends, or friends of a friend, and while he was serving them, no other clients had come in. Not one.

If only friends show up, I wont be able to call this a successful business, Alex murmured. So maybe its too early to celebrate.

No sooner had the words left his mouth, than a commotion began outside.

Peering through the window, he saw folk gathered in the street, watching Toraka and her staff with strange looks on their faces. Some were pointing at the bakery, and asking Toraka something.

She said something that Alex couldnt hear, then walked toward the golemworks. The folk whod spoken to her looked at each other, then startled as Claygon called to them. Alex watched them, his heart leaping into his throat as they approached the bakery.

Words were exchanged between them, Selina, Theresa and his golem, but he could only hear a snippet:

under new management, his golem said.

Then nothing.

Alex shifted from one foot to the other.

Heartbeats passed in silence.

Then Claygon moved to the side, giving Alex a clear view of what was happening. A passerby was gingerly taking a sample from Selinas tray, sniffing it and looking at it with suspicion.

The others standing around were shaking their heads, mouthing the words no.

Come on Alex whispered. Take a bite.

Theresa leaned toward the stranger, saying something quietly. The man glanced up at her, thenas though he was handling a hot pepperhe slowly raised the pastry to his lips and bit down.

His eyes widened, he started chewing and nodding his head, quickly shoving the rest of the sample in his mouth. He was pointing at the trays and gesturing to his companions. His enthusiasm was met with suspicious looks, but they cautiously picked up samples from the trays.

They took bites.

Eyes went wide.

Someone swore in shock, as others whispered to each other. Alex took a deep breath to steady his nerves as the group hustled to the bakerys entrance.

The bell rang.

The door opened.

Alex put on his biggest smile.

Hello, and welcome to the Roth Family Bakerys grand opening! he said, filling his voice with warmth. We have discounts and plenty of goodies to fill your bellies. What can I get for you?

Like a herd of nervous deer, the skittish customers slowly edged their way toward the counter, gawking at the decor.

One of themthe first to try Selinas sampleran his hand over his shaved scalp. Is this really Beerensteyns old place?

It was, Alex said simply. But now were taking the place in a new direction: hopefully one that can make old Beerensteyn Sr. proud.

Under new management, is what they said outside, the bald man said. I used to eat here everyday for years before the place went badand your breads about as good as it was at the bakerys peak. Maybe even better. Howd your boss manage to pull that off?

Oh, Im the new owner, actually. Alex patted his chest. And honestly? I had plenty of help and a lot of dedication to making good, hearty food. Thats all there is to it. Would you like to try some more?

The bald man nodded, a nostalgic look in his eyes. You have any breakfast pies? They used to be the best.

Alexs smile grew. Oh, do we ever. And plenty of other goodies, too. The menus on the board. Alex pointed above his head. So when youre ready, tell me what youd like.

Soon after, the young baker cheerily served the first customers that werent friends, selling them six breakfast pies, five eclairs, and a mince tart to go. They stayed and chatted for a time, reminiscing about the old bakery and Beerensteyn Sr. before going on their way.

Alex was proud: hed done it, hed finally sold his creations to complete strangers. Hed crossed a hurdle, now things would get rolling. As more people came in, it would encourage others to come in.

He could already imagine McHarris curled up in a ball crying.

He waited for his next customers.

Heartbeats passed.

Then minutes.

Then hours.

For much of the late morning, Alex waited at the counter, eager for the next rush.

But no one came.

No more guests crossed the threshold of his bakery.

Nerves clawed at his belly. Whats going on? he whispered. Did something

The door banged open, and Alex looked up in relief, ready to welcome the next customer. But that relief soon died away.

Theresa stood there, with her full death stalker face on display.

Theres trouble, Alex, she said. Big trouble.

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