Holland reminices.

[Holland]

The scents coming from the bakery spilled out into the street and down to the Honey Breeze. Fresh bread was a rare and bewitching smell. The aroma of biscuits was Holland's favorite.

Holland peered toward the Honey Breeze. He had heard of destruction of this once proud city and he hoped the gazebo was still standing. The tip of his walking stick made little noise as it contacted the street. Holland did not lean on the stick. He had carried for many years.

His attention was again directed to the smells of baked goods. He couldn't resist. The trip from Prime had been long, grueling, and disinteresting. He pushed open the door to the bakery and returned the greeting to the flour-stained dwarf. "I'm in the mood for biscuits. Do you have any?"

[Anne]

Herman looked the newcomer up and down wondering as he did so what it was that bought a fella like this to Zerdargia...still he had asked for biscuits and Herman had just finished baking a batch.

"Aye yer in luck a fresh batch just came out of the oven. Sit yer'sel down and I'll bring one over to ye." he said pointing to a rough hewn chair next to a well worn table in the corner of the shop.

No sooner had Holland taken a seat when Herman was by his side with a hot biscuit on a plate.

"Can I get ye anything else?" he asked as he wiped his hands on his apron.

[Bobbity Thornberry]

As the little inquisitive Fae flew through the streets and lanes of Zerdargia he caught the aroma of fresh baked bread. Bobbity could not resist the attraction and flew as if pulled to the bakery by that bewitching smell. Nothing would stop Bobbity now.

When he arrived at the Honey Breeze the young Fae noticed a distinguished gentleman sitting at a table in the corner of the shop. He had just been served a piping hot biscuit by a Dwarf who had flour on much of his attire. By Bobbity's standards the biscuit was huge, much more than a tiny Fae could eat. That did not deter him.

Perhaps Bobbity could convince this gentleman to share his largesse. He flew over to the sill of the window nearest to Holland and called out, "Serale your lordship, that is certainly a delectable large biscuit you have before you. It seems more than one person could consume in a single sitting. Let me sing to you while you are enjoying that wonderful very large biscuit." Bobbity enjoyed singing almost as much as he enjoyed eating fresh baked breads.

He took a deep breath and sang in a deep melodious and pleasant voice.

'Twas on a Black-Baller I first served my time,
To me yeo, ho! blow the man down!
And on that Black-Baller I wasted my prime,
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down!

'Tis when a Black-Baller's preparing for sea,
To me yeo, ho! blow the man down!
You'd split your sides laughing at the sights you would see,
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down!

With the tinkers and tailors and soldiers and all,
To me yeo, ho! blow the man down!
That ship for prime seamen on aboard a Black Ball,
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down!

'Tis when a Black-Baller is clear of the land,
To me yeo, ho! blow the man down!
Our boatswain then gives us the word of command,
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down!

"Lay aft," is the cry, "to the break of the poop!"
To me yeo, ho! blow the man down!
"Or I'll help you along with the toe of my boot."
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down!

'Tis larboard and starboard on the deck you will sprawl,
To me yeo, ho! blow the man down!
For "Kicking Jack Williams" commands that Black Ball.
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down!

'Tis when a Black-Baller comes back to her dock,
To me yeo, ho! blow the man down!
The lasses and lads to the pierhead do flock,
Oh, give me some time to blow the man down!

Bobbity then bowed toward Holland.

[Holland]

Holland's tired body was lightened by the fae. Holland said, "Of course you can join me. This is a large biscuit, isn't it Mister Herman?"

Holland bit into the steamy morsel allowing the rush of texture lay against his tongue. A satisfied hum emitted from his still-closed mouth. After he swallowed he said, "A biscuit this good could only be found in Zerdargia." Holland winked at the fae. He said, "Herman, how long have you had this shop in Zerdargia?"

Finished with his questions, Holland bit into the biscuit.

[Bobbity Thornberry]

Bobbity accepted the invitation with eagerness and sort of both jumped and flew over to Holland's table, settling down on the far corner from him. He was a people person and enjoyed the company of others. When Holland winked at him, Bobbity winked back and grinned. The little Fae sat down cross-legged, listening to the conversation of the big people. It was difficult to keep his inhalations at a normal level when the aroma coming from all those freshly baked items continued to tickle his palate.

[Holland]

Holland savored the buttery light morsels of biscuit. His eyes closed for a moment and he envisioned the fledgling city from eras past. He pondered if the stitchery was still there.

The fae across from him was jovial. The flavor of biscuits would bring smiles to the hardest warrior. Holland stopped chewing and asked, "Should I order another biscuit? While we are waiting, I would love to hear another song."

Holland turned to the baker, Herman, another of these delectable biscuits please.

[Holland]

Holland finished the biscuit and licked the sweet bread from this fingers. He picked a crumb from his robe-front and plopped it in his mouth.

He smiled at the fae and called to Herman, " Do you have an apprentice position here?" He called a little louder this time, for Herman seemed to not hear any of his former questions.

[Anne]

Herman looked up from what he was doing at the sound of the man's voice.

"Ye be wantin a job? he replied the expression on his face thoughtful. He could use an apprenctice and had been considering his wife's cousins youngest lad Oswald.

"Aye, I've been considerin and apprentice. Are ye interested? he asked not waiting for Holland to reply to his first question before asking his second.

[Holland]

Holland munched on the biscuit. He contemplated long walks and burning leaf in his pipe. He said, "I guess so. Yes. I'm still able-bodied enough to lift the flour sacks. Although my elbow hurts me occasionally, the smell of pastry will certainly make me forget my minor injuries."

Holland finished his biscuits and fished in his leather bag for payment. "Does the position begin immediately? I haven't found a place to stay yet."

[Anne]

Herman listened to Holland and nodded his head "Aye the smell of a fresh baked loaf or biscuits does wonders for the aches and pains." he responded with a bit of a chuckle as he thought of his own aches and pains each morning.

" Ye can start at the fourth candlemark in the coming brightening. There's a room out the back ye can have. Nothing fancy you'll understand; but it's clean and there be fresh staw on the pallet if ye have a mind to be takin it.

The pay is 75 gc per cycle, lodging and all the bread and pastries ye want." he told Holland, leaving him to think about it as he went to serve another customer who had just entered.

[Holland]

Holland thought about his own home back in Prime. A straw pallet would not be as comfortable as his featherbed, but a pallet and warm room was just what he needed. The bonus of pastries to fill his stomach made his decision easy.

Holland said, "Seventy five crowns a cycle is a fair wage. I will take the room and the job. The early candlemark will be no hardship. I've never been fond of sleeping in. Wastes too much of the brightening."

Holland stuck out his hand in a familiar gesture of friendship and agreement.