book 1 - prologue

    “pete, dish ta’ table four!”

    “got it!” i took the plate, heaped tall with steaming goat meat and roasted root vegetables, and walked into the pub. i tucked my beard into my belt to keep it from dipping into the food and looked for table four. my destination was a single customer in a well-lit corner, but first i had to navigate the zoo. it was time for the dinner rush, and the pub was full to the brim with excited dwarves of every shape and size and even a few adventurous gnomes. i dodged some tables as they exploded with laughter and merriment and waved down a few invitations to join in.

    “here’s your food! braised goat with roasted vegetables and mashed erdroot!” i presented the meal with a flourish to the dwarf seated at the table before me. he wore a set of rather conservative chainmail barding, with the barest hint of silver ornamentation. his beard was long and scruffy, a dark brown mixed with black, and his hair was cut short to fit beneath an armoured cap. it was a sight i’d grown used to over the past year.

    “thank ye! barck’s beard, this looks amazin’! an adventurin’ buddy wouldn’t stop talkin’ about this place, so i had to try it meself!” he rubbed his palms together with glee and stuffed a napkin down his gorget. his stained and calloused hands spoke of a labourer, likely fresh from the mines and hankering to try some food from the city’s most notorious and popular new establishment.

    “glad you could make it! can i get you anythin’ else?”

    he took a big bite of tender two-day braised goat and grunted with pleasure. juice dribbled into his beard and he wiped it away with a leather vambrace. “this is amazin’!!”

    “what?”

    “never mind. one ale coming right up.”

    he stopped me as i turned to go. “do folk ever get upset about all this? tha’ new beers i mean?”

    “sometimes, but i’m not concerned. this isn’t just a game – we’re serious about improving the brew. besides, not even death could stop me from brewing.”

    we laughed together, but the laughter didn’t quite reach my eyes.

    after all, it wasn’t a lie – even if i was a human on earth when i died.