Sweet Bread Bakery

[Anne]

The scents coming from this shop spill out into the street and down to the Honey Breeze. Fresh bread a rare and bewitching smell for those who have stayed behind.

A fat dwarf, about as round as he is tall, greets you when you enter the bakery. "Serale, What will be your pleasure today? I fresh baked breads. Very reasonable."

Herman wipes the flour from his hands as he approaches the counter and awaits your choice. He looks you over very carefully. "You look strong enough. Could you fetch me some flour bags from the cellar? My back is not young." Herman explains dolefully. "Unless I find an apprentice soon, the bakery may be the death of me."

Herman continues, "Have you been to Aelyria Prime? I had a brother there in the bakery business also. Now, how about those sacks of flour?"

[Holland]

Holland arrived at the fourth candlemark and retrieved Herman's flour bags. His shoulder ached a little, but the excitement of his employment dulled the pain.

Holland was experienced as a baker, and he soon was moving about the ovens and dough without faltering. The wooden bread board slid into the oven with ease. When he withdrew the steaming pastries and bread, his nostrils filled with the marvelous aroma.

As customers came into the shop, Holland quickly introduced himself and catered to their needs. "Serale, I am Holland. What fine fare do you fancy today?"

[Orbril]

The baker had to look down to see Orbril but luckily these were dwarf buildings and so he did not look to outsized.

"Serale, I am Holland. What fine fare do you fancy today?" said the baker as Orbril clambered up the counter his nose sniffing the many aromas of fresh breads, glaised and unglaised buns, pastries, cakes, biscuits and pies.

"Someit wit' choc'late" he said more to himself than anything else as his eyes roamed the display "My old gram use to bake us a loaf with nuts n' what fair dripped chocolate. Well of course it weren't very of'en as chocolate aint that common in a burrow"

When his eyes finally left the visual feast of baked delicacies and focussed on the face of the baker Orbril paused as long unexercised memories filtered through

"have we met?" he asked...

[Holland]

Holland was new to the bakery and the placement of pastries was still a puzzle. He peered into the glass case and found a rounded pastry with chocolate dripped across in crisscross lines.

Holland used a small piece of parchment to withdraw the fresh morsel. He showed it to the gnome who appeared to be studying his features. Holland said, "This one has the chocolate you desire. It isn't drenched, but the lines do smell chocolaty."

When the gnome asked him if they had met, Holland considered it a possibility. He had met many in his travels throughout the empire. Holland said, "I've always been known as Holland. Does the name indicate recognition?"

[Orbril]

"I was an aedile in Daltina once" Orbril mused out loud still trying to place the man "long years ago, almost another life. I was e'en offered a City o' me own but turned it down in favour of the road. I hobnobbed with nobles and merchants then, in Prime and Port Alyx. But that was b'fore these new changes, Rothchild wasn't even Regent then and most of those I knew are gone.

Ah I'm sorry to be buggin' yer like this" Orbril mumbled "just the musings of an old gnome.

He looked Holland in the eye then "Though I wonder if in yer years yer might know someone I might have known"

[Holland]

Holland handed the pastry to Orbril and waited to collect the coin. Holland studied the gnome. His face did have maturity, but not the age that his memories belied. Holland said, "James was a good friend of mine. In the eras before he became Regent, I was busy in Centripax. Primus Gaudeo was my home."

[Orbril]

"Aye James was a good man " the gnome agreed "and I too would call him a friend. I first knew him when he was Thane of Port Alyxandrya, where I ways an assistant Aedile for a short while.

I've ne'er been tro Primus Gaudeo just here and Riparia. I had a friend there y' should know however. Kevlar was the Big Man of the city fer a while, a man wit blue hair, I spent some time wit' him in Prime 'n he even performed in me Circus when I was runnin'i that"

[Holland]

Holland talked while straightening out the pastry pans. He said, "Kevlar Phoenixsun was my advisor in Primus Gaudeo. He became governor when I relocated back to Prime. His hands were in many pies, and he wasn't a baker."

Holland's memories of Kevlar were fond and personal. The old human watched the gnome who didn't look as old as the people he was remembering.

[Orbril]

That was one of the secrets of the gnomes, they didn't necessarily age in a straight line, and so reaching maturity could be delayed although they did eventually mature. But as Holland spoke things began dropping into place in Orbrils memory

"You were gov'nor of Centripax before goin' back t' Prime?" Orbrils eyes widened "I heard Kevlar had made Gov'nor bout the same time I left fer foreign lands n' beyond.

Holland - Holland! Lord Holland was a Imperial Librarian or some such weren't he. Is that you? and now yer a baker living amongst dwarfs!"

[Holland]

Holland wiped brown flour from his clean hands. He chuckled a little a the gnome's recognition. There would not be many who would remember him as Lord Holland, Imperial Advisor, and First Minister of Protocol. But Holland knew gnomes to have phenomenal memories.

Holland said, "Yes. Lord Holland and baker Holland are one and the same. You might say I've retired from the Lord business and gone back to the craft I love. Being a Lord is not all that lucrative in these eras. I can earn my bed, food, and do it while enjoying every minute. At my age...that's important."

[Orbril]

"Aye yer right enough there" Orbril grinned liking the idea that someone once so high had found comfort for his old age in a simple bakers trade

"I can well appreciate what ye have found" the gnome nodded "me I'm still lookin' n' thataint the best way fer a gnome me age t' be. But I jest couldn' take to settlin' back t the burrow, not when I've still got time fer somethin' more.

Only problem being is I don't know what somethin' more is"

He shrugged noncommitedly as he glanced up and the humans face with a far away look in his eyes
"jest hope I'm not gonna be turnin' boggart " he mumbled to himself rather than to any one else

[Holland]

Holland enjoyed talking to the gnome, and to the customers he met. He smiled often and his demeanor was of a frail old man working in a bakery. His age was not a factor in his mind. He was still the vibrant explorer of his youth, and when he garnered a day off from the bakery, he fully intended to visit the sprawling dwarven city.

He asked Orbril, "Will there be anything else?"

[Orbril]

"No, no" Orbril shook his head slowly returning from his moment of revelry "nay, this pastries exactly what i'm after 'n'it will do me good fer now. Spose I need t' keep movin' 'though no doubt I will be back t' see ya. Will ye be at these upcoming games there havin', I'm sure ye'd make a killin' with a stall?"

[Holland]

Holland nodded in agreement. He said, "It will be up to Herman. I thought he might think it was a good idea. I haven't broached it yet.

Holland cleaned flour from the counter. He wiped his hands on his white apron. He asked, "In which event are you participating?

[Orbril]

"well I may not be participatin' in the games as such" Orbril grinned "but you will def'nately see me there at Minith Feild, hopefully we can suport each others bus'ness, whatever we may be doing"