It was dawn when Rafiq arrived at the gates of Vienda. He wasn't willing to take any chances. Taking an advantage of the dense traffic through the gate and hiding behind carts he passed the guards without being noticed. Once letting the gates behind he relaxed. He stepped in a near alley. The fur coat he still had on, along with the brown clothes he bought from some merchant by the Vienda Bridge, and was tightly wraped around his tall thin figure, was now unwraped and was left to hang loose from his shoulders. In his hands was Fobos, his trusted and beloved pet cat. The cat stretched it's legs and jumped to the ground.

''This is it Fobos. I'm finally home. Let's hope the galdori don't remember my face.''

Rafiq put his hand in his pocket and pulled out two or three coins. He gasped deeply. Fobos was closely watching his every move. Rafiq nodded and touched his abdomen.

''Yes my friend, I know, I am hungry to. But let us not be hasty. These coins are all the money we have.''

Fobos nicked its head to one side and looked at Rafiq with his big brown eyes.

''Ah, what the heck. I'll find a job sooner or later. Come Fobos, let us find some place where we can eat.''

Saying that Rafiq picked up Fobos and left the alley in search of an inn or someone who would sell him something eatable.

Demkaih put the knapsack over his shoulder, leaving the general goods store with a blank face. He had bought flour and eggs to add to his pantry, thinking of making a chocolate cake. It had been a long time since he made one and the storage properties were good for sales. He was looking at the sky, pondering rain, when he ran full tilt into the man exiting the alley way.

"Ho! I am sorry, I did not expect someone to step out from the darkness." He bowed slightly.

"I did not injure you did I?" The dark skinned man was genuinely concerned.

As leaving the safety of the dark alley someone bumped into Rafiq with great speed. Despite the tackle Rafiq retained his balance, gently dropped Fobos to the ground and swiftly reached for his knife hidden in his pocket. Ful of tension he grabed the handle and looked at the person bumping into him. It wasn't a galdori or guard, thank Gods.



Rafiq was a bit surprised by the sudden encounter. With mistrust he looked at the dark skinned man, still holding the knife in his pocket, ready to use it at the slightest false move.



The tension in Rafiq's body decreased.

''Oh no, no, it is all my fault. I should be more careful when stepping in the street like that. And don't worry I'm still in one piece.'' He politely replied and smilled slightly.

''Well I'll be on my way now. Come Fobos.'' Rafiq went past the man but after a few steps he remembered somethig and turned bact.

''Excuse me for bothering you but I just arrived at this city and I was wondering if you could be so kind to suggest a god place where I could get a god but not expensive meal?''

Demkaih watched the man reach inside his pocket, keeping his face neutral. His two daggers hung by his thighs, but he made no move to reach for them. Little changes in his stance, not noticeably by someone unfamiliar with mugrobi fighting styles, showed he subtly prepared himself for a strike. But fortunately, the jumpy stranger eased off. He nodded as the man passed him.



The mugrobi turned and regarded him with striking blue eyes. He shifted the satchel a little.

"Indeed. As long as you can guarantee your cat will not eat my duck, I invite you to come to my house and share a meal. I have made breakfast pastries with egg, tomato, cheese and bacon inside. They are not a King's breakfast, but they will fill your hunger." Reaching out slowly with an open hand, he inclined his head.

"I am Demkaih Alkrim, and I run The Spice House in the painted ladies."

Rafiq was not quite ready to trust the stranger. He carfully took the offered hand and shook it.

''Rafiq Greywood. Thanks for your generous offer, it sounds delicious and you have my word that Fobos will not cause any trouble.''

Rafiq's stomach rumbelled as he thought about food. Rafiq blushed a bit, smilled at Demkaih to hide his embarrassment, and tried to start a conversation.

''A Spice House, really? That sounds interesting...''

Demkaih inclined his head and gestured for the man to follow him, leading the way through Kingsway Markets. The smells and visions that surrounded them sang of fresh early morning wears and onna-sticks. As they walked down through Hollow Street, his eyes were everywhere. He disliked this part of town. As they strolled he spoke.

"Yes, I came over to Anaxas from Mugroba with the intentions of selling spices and mugrobi goods at a closer vicinity for the people here. But in honesty, I have considered going home many times over." He could hear the chugga-chugga of the factories as they entered the Soot District. Walking past the factories, Demkaih was reminded how disgusting this place was. Taking a heavy breath, he looked at the man and smiled slightly.

"But there are some things here that make it worth staying." Leaving behind the smoking chimneys and busy people, they passed Soliloquy Lane quietly and entered a familiar, garishly painted district. Houses on either side adored with vibrant yellows, blues, pinks and greens. It was almost like wicks had stopped and turned their kints into houses. Passing a familiar purple house, Demkaih looked sadly at the dark windows. Continuing on through the painted ladies, they finally came to his own rich red house. Entering through the gate, they passed through the garden to the front door. As Demkaih unlocked it, a faint quacking could be heard around the side of the house. With a click, he turned the knob and opened the door. Holding it, he bowed to Rafiq.



"Please, enter. Welcome to my house and shop. Make yourself comfortable, I shall bring down the pastries." He gestured to a small table and chair set near the entrance of the shop, he'd only recently set it up so people could sit down and talk with him about marsala mixes and recipes. Taking the stairs two by two, he left Rafiq to look around the shop.

Rafiq picked up Fobos and followed Demkaih as he lead the way while speaking.



Carefully observing the surroundings, Rafiq listened to Demkaih. He wanted to reply, as the man turned and smiled at him.



The only thing Rafiq could do was to nod and smile back. He started to stroke the cat on his arm while thinking about his past, hopes for the future and about what he learned about this friendly man who invited him on a meal. His flow of thoughts was interrupted as the environment changed. Colourfully painted houses were a refreshing sight after the dull streets they have walked through. At a purple coloured house he noticed Demkaih's sad look and felt a slight hesitation in his step. Rafiq wondered about this gesture until the dark coloured man suddenly entered through the gate by a red coloured house, went through the garden and stopped at the front door. While Demkaih was unloking it, Rafiq had time to admire the house and garden. At the faint quacking Fobos lifted it's head and carefully listened to hear from where the sound came. Rafiq stroked him at the side of the head and silently whispered in his ear.

''Don't even think about it!''



A strong but pleasant scent of spices filled Rafiq's nose as he entered. Impresed by the great number of woven baskets loaded with all kinds of spices he closed his eyes and took a deep breath to fully fell all the different smells surrounding him. The sharp spicy scent caused Fobos to sneeze. Rafiq laught and stroke his cat between the ears.

''This is wonderful, just wonderful. I haven't smelled spices in years. But I think Fobos doesn't share my enthusiasm.''

Rafiq was too excited to simply sit down at the table Demkaih showed him. Instead he slowly started to walk around the shop admiring the items on display. He remembered a few spices by their smell or colour but many were unknown to him.

''Bah, dried up herbs never smell so nice!'' he sead out loud to himself as he started to sniff the spices in the smaller woven containers.

Demkaih deposited his satchel in the pantry cupboard he'd built in the upstairs kitchen, before fetching four pastries from the still warm oven. Placing them in a wide serving bowl, he made his way back downstairs. The dark man was dressed in a blue spice traders wrap today, feeling like a change from the vibrant red and orange he so often wore.



Inclining his head as he stepped of the last stair, he placed the bowl on the table.

"Many thanks. You are welcome to browse. Some of the ones in the highest shelves are very rare, it is hard to come by them." He indicated to the bowl.

"But first, please take a pastry. And if you would like, take one for your cat." He wouldn't eat until his guest had taken his own food. It was rude.

The warm smell of pastry reminded Rafiq why Demkaih invited him to his home.



''Don't mind if I do.''

He put back the small container with a rare spice he was sniffing at, went to the table, took of his fur coat on which he then placed Fobos and set on a chair. Then he slowly reached into the bowl and carefully grabbed the warm pastry. He took a bite. After many years of dried or cooked meat, simple bread, berrys, roots and other thing he could find in the forest, this was the first prepared meal for Rafiq and it tasted heavenly. The flavour of cheese, bacon, tomatos and spices was like a symphony. To hold the taste in his mouth he chewed very slowly. After the second bite Rafiq remembered his cat, broke off a piece of the pastry with the most bacon and offered it in an open hand to Fobos. Fobos sniffed the offered piece for some time before carfully taking it from the hand. Seeing his host not eating Rafiq smiled.

''You were being modest my dear Demkaih. I haven't had such a delicious meal for many years and I can't think of anything kings could have that tastes better. You really are a great cook.'' He took a nother bite at the pastry, and seeing that Fobos has finished his he gave him a piece as well. Thinking for some time Rafiq thought of something. He reached in his side pocket and again he smiled.

''You wouldn't happen to have some hot water would you?''

The mugrobi man inclined his head, picking up a pastry. He was not ashamed of compliments, but he took them with a lot of modesty. Biting into the pastry, he enjoyed his first meal of the morning.



Demkaih nodded, finishing the mouthful he had.

"Indeed I have already boiled the kettle. It is upstairs. Do you require it?" He took another bite.

''Indeed, I have a nice mixture of herbs and dried berrys and it makes a wonderful tee. I think it would go very nicely with your marvelous pastry.'' Rafiq pulled a small leather pouch from his pocket and put it on the table.

Seeing the mugrobi man intending to go get the water he stopped him.

''Please, please there is no need to hurry. Let us finish the meal first.''

Demkaih was pleasantly surprised. He finished his pastry and inclined his head.

"These pastries might be nice as you say, but they leave a great thirst. I will get the water." Rushing upstairs again, he quickly brought down the still hot kettle, two mugs, a small bowl of sugar and the tea strainer. Setting it down on the wooden table, he gestured for Rafiq to make the tea, as it was his own blend.

"So, Rafiq Greywood, what is it you do in Vienda, if it is not to forward to ask."

Rafiq just had enought time to finish his pastry, which he shared with Fobos, when Demkaih came back downstairs with the kettle and things needed to make tea. As they were being placed on the table, Rafiq smiled took the mixture from his pouch and put it in the kettle so the hot water would extract the flavour and scente. After a while he carefully poured the hot tea from the kettle through the strainer into the two mugs and offered one to his host.



Rafiq tried the tea. It was a bit bitter but very refreshing.

''Not at all. You see I just arrived this morning, so I don't have a job yet.'' He took a nother sip of the tea. 'Yes, yes. It has a nice minty after taste.'

''But you are probably wondering what I do. Well I know quite a lot about herbs, I have some medical skills and knowledge, so I guess you could say I am some kind of a doctor without a licence.'' He smiled at this conclusion.

''Vienda is my birthplace. And from some travelers I heard that crime is increasing, workers are injured in factories and some deseases are spreading in the poor districts, so I guessed I would come back home to help the people in every way that I can.''

Demkaih sipped on the tea, enjoying the rich fruity palette and delicate subtle taste of mint. Very refreshing.



The dark man nodded and set down his mug.

"You would do well to pay a visit to the Doctor in the dives. Ivan Mottoni is his name, I do not know him on a personal level, but I have heard good things. He might well have some work for you, or at least be good for shop talk." Demkaih wasn't sure if Doctor Mottoni was the type to take on help, it was at least a starting point for Rafiq.

''Doctor Mottoni...hm...'' Rafiq started to think. He did not notice that he started to bite his thumb. For some time he was in his trance state of thoughts.

''Yes I believe I will pay him a visit. Maybe he can use me as an assistant or at least give me some advice on how to start on my own, although that would be rather difficult for me...'' Rafiq started to trust Demkaih but the fact of him being a passive he was not ready to share. Already he has said to much. He finished his tea, stood up, took the fur coat and picked up Fobos who fell asleep.

''Well I think me and Fobos will be going now. Thank you so much for your hospitality.'' He offered his hand to Demkaih. ''How can I ever repay you?''

Demkaih reached out and clasped his hand around the man's forearm, in the mugrobi way. Inclining his head, he gave a very slight bow.

"You do not need to repay me. We have shared a meal, and you provided a wonderful tea. There is nothing to owe. Ule'elana Rafiq. That is goodbye in mugrobi."

''At least take this blend, it is the least I can give to you. And the next time we meat I hope I will be the one inviting you on a meal. Goodbye Demkaih, may you stay safe and healthy.''

Rafiq smiled, put the pouch on the table and went through the door. On the street he carefully looked in all directions to spoot any patrols. There were none so he slowly went towards the Dives in search for Dr. Mottoni.