#brightwindsbarony

"That would be very welcome, thank you."

And soon, they are sitting down each with a cup, a tea pot nearby. She runs a coffeshop but there are always those who prefer tea and she caters to them well, "Now Cliff, first off, are you well? A lot of folks fell on hard times"

"Not bad. Keep the overhead low, try and buy local and that comes back to you. Driving out a little further now, looking for the market. And fuel prices have been low-ish. You?"

"Oh the shop is running well enough given Covid's damae to last year... darnn grub hub types give ME bad reviews if I don't deliver" A hurff

"But things here in the hold ? Obviously a complete turn around for the better" Relief

"Seems that way. It is different here."

"Oh you can ken it if you're kennig is strong enough"

"Or see it, if you aren't blind. It's lighter now, looks less fortified. Well. Less -obviously- fortified.More open, not less secure."

"Except.... is it really as secure as it was? I hear things."

"Oh, you've heard about the kidnapping attempt?" She sighs and offers some moldy cream lumps

"I would say it's as secure as it was IN the hold, to answer your question, but kidnappingg outside the hold? We're obviously vulnerable"

They -are- hard to resist. He tsks softly. "So it would seem. Still, this was an organized effort. Hard to defeat those, hm?"

"Well, I really shouldnn't speculate" But then she says "but yes. It was a ssatyress, someone hoping to earn a reward"

"Sounds like he problem is really whoever is paying the bounty." Cliff points out logically.

"Yes, we're working on that. If you learn more, well, we're eager to know"

"Eager?"

"Well now, Cliff, don't take that as a reason to bank rupt us" She says

".... because in the history of our people, it was never the white men who bankrupted my people. Yeah, I get it. Speaking of that, was the offer for real?"

"Oh yes, quite real. " She says "The Baroness mentioned your food. What are your rates?"

"Reasonable. Depends on head count, menu, set up and break down, what Ineed to supply, what kind of service you want."

"I don't do a lot of sit-down service so I'd have to get the stuff to do that just for this. Cheaper if you supply it yourself. If you want a buffet line, that's different."

"We can supply you" She says "You can take a look at our kitchens if it helps"

He nods, agreeing, but makes no move to rise. "What's the menu?"

"Well... I would like to run some of this past the b aroness for preferences, but I think we'll definitely want an indigenous medly... it's one thing you can offer that no one else can, not around here anyway.."

"And the occasion? I might not have heard it correctly."