((welcome back!  that was quite a lengthy dinner you had!   ;) ))<br/><br/>Even with his ears plugged the girls voice tore into him.<em>Even if we had killed her in the woods someone would have heard her scream</em>Kalys stood and shook her father's hand.  "I am Kalys, traveler and, while captive by your daughter," he winked at her over their inside joke, "household task completer extraordinaire.  At least until I can find some work here in your town.  If it isn't too forward of me, your daughter had mentioned that the local smith was sick?  If you need an experienced hand I was apprenticed to a smith in my hometown years ago.  Unfortunately he fell in love with wine and gambling and ended up....well...it would be more polite to say he ended.  I've been traveling ever since doing odd jobs here and there."  Not knowing what else to say he sat back down and joined the rest in eating.  The food was...nothing short of delicious.  He'd had good food, for certain, but made by the formula all taverns across the continent seemed to follow.  This was REAL food.  "Ma'am I must say that I've honestly never eaten anything quite so good.  My own mother wasn't as accomplished at cooking as you are."  He smiled briefly and then had to remind himself to eat slowly so as not to be rude or gluttonous.