I peeled
off from the dwarven caravan as they approached Roderick’s kingdom, saying my
goodbyes and thanks for the kegs of beer in the cart Ranger pulled. Along with
the beer was a last gift from Redscale, a thanks for brokering the deal with
the dwarves.
Once home,
I did all the things that needed doing, currying Ranger, unloading the cart,
rolling the barrels of beer into my cellar where they’d stay nice and cool
during the warm summer months, but wouldn’t freeze in the harsh winter of the
Realms. Everything was done except for Redscale’s gift. I used metal tongs to
extract the hot scale that was the dragon’s namesake. I slid it into the oven’s
firebox, and closed the heavy iron door, sealing it in. It would take time, now,
but I had preparations to make.
I went back
inside, and busied myself. When finished, I had four dough balls. I slid them
into the oven above the scale to rise, and set about the rest of the work.
Along the way back from the Dwarves’ mountains, we had stopped in several
villages for supplies and to drink ourselves silly. I had taken the opportunity
to purchase sausages, mushrooms, tomatoes, and milk. Now I set about preparing
all of these.
The cheese
was just starting to take shape when I retrieved the dough balls, risen beyond what
I had expected. From there I spun them out, topped them, and slid them into the
now blistering oven. It was as hot as Giuseppi’s, but I didn’t have to add coal
to the fire every few minutes. I was rewarded with fresh, hot pizza and cool
beer, the best meal I had ever had in the Realms.
I leaned
back in my chair looking at the oven, smiling as I ate. The beginnings of a new
idea were beginning to take shape. I had a 24/7 heat source. There was no
reason I couldn’t put it to more use.
Wonder if the blacksmith can make me a metal
barrel.