“Now then,” he said. “I should tell you something I was planning to reveal at a more opportune time. As Sun here has already revealed, my real name is Albern. I am of the family Telfer.”
Chao’s eyebrows rose. “Telfer? A noble as well, but this time of Calentin. What in the dark below is going on here?”
“Nothing nefarious,” said Albern. “We are both somewhat … out of favor with our families. In fact, that is how Sun came to my attention, for she faced similar troubles to the ones I experienced when I was her age. Those troubles are what led me to take the name Kanohari long ago. But Sun met me by my real name, and I never told her another one.”
He looked to Sun. “From now on, when we are in front of others, I will request that you call me Kanohari,” he said, and then turned back to Chao. “And when it is the three of us, it would please me if you called me Albern.”
A shadow passed over her expression, but it was soon gone. “Albern,” she said. “Like the tales from Calentin history.”
“Just so,” said Albern with a pleased smile. “I chose the name after my wending.”
Again a shadow came over Chao’s face, and this time it stayed there. She placed a hand to her forehead, and it was trembling.
“Chao?” said Albern, worry in his voice. “What is it?”
“Nothing,” said Chao. She smiled weakly at him. “A dizzy spell. It is so damnably hot outside. But very well. If Albern is your wending name, then I vow never to use anything else unless you ask me to.”
“Thank you,” said Albern, bowing his head. Sun could hear the relief in his voice. Whatever had come over Chao briefly, it seemed to have passed. Was this what he meant when he said she would have spells when he tried to tell her of her old life?
“Now, as for you,” said Chao, nodding to Sun. “Albern here says you are to be a partner, and I trust him. But you seem a bit young to me. What do you know of running a tavern?”
Sun looked to Albern for guidance, but he merely held out an encouraging hand, as if to coax her. “Nothing,” she said simply.
Chao’s mouth twisted. “Honesty is an admirable trait, but you may need better qualifications.”
“She is young,” said Albern. “But she is not much younger than you. And in our wanderings together, I have found her more than capable.”
Sun had to duck her head to hide a sudden flush in her cheeks.
“Very well,” said Chao with a sigh. “Tell me, girl. What did you think of the ale here?”
Sun’s lip curled. “It was awful.”
“I agree,” said Chao. “Would you like some of mine? I brought a wagon of it when I transported Zhaojia here.”
Suddenly Sun’s mouth was watering. “I would like that very much,” she squeaked. From the corner of her eye, she saw Albern’s amusement at her wonderstruck expression.
Chao led her outside, where there was indeed a wagon of ale casks waiting. Together the three of them got all of them down to the cellar, except for one barrel, which Albern set up behind the bar. Chao tapped it, and they poured three mugs. Chao set to right away, and Albern joined her, but Sun took a moment. She sniffed it, and the bubbles seemed to break in the exact right way to fly up her nose, tickling her and making her giggle. Finally, she tipped the mug back, taking a sip.
It …
It …
Sky above. Sun wanted to weep. Never had she tasted anything like it.
It was like honeyed sunlight poured from bouncing clouds of gossamer. Like the clearest river water kissed by ocean breezes, and smoked in the cleansing glow of a good campfire. And yet it was heady and intense, with the barest hint of … was it brandy? Some sort of fine, sweet liquor, and the taste of it weakened her knees.
A sip turned into a swallow, and then into a long, long draught. Before Sun knew it, the mug was empty. She stayed there for a moment, eyes closed, feeling every drop of it sliding down her throat and into her gut.
When at last she opened her eyes, Chao was looking at her expectantly.
“That …” whimpered Sun. “That is the most wondrous thing I have ever tasted. By a wide, wide margin. I had heard from Albern that you made fine ale, but this … this is so far beyond anything I could ever have imagined.”
Chao turned to Albern with a wide grin. “I suppose she might work out, after all.”
They shared a laugh. And then their talk fell to the tavern and its construction, and where they could get tables, and what sort of chairs they all preferred. Then they went upstairs and claimed their rooms—Sun chose an excellent one on the front corner, with windows on two walls—and then back downstairs, where they talked of ale and wine and guests and ale and hiring help and ale again. Never did Albern or Chao talk over Sun, and they listened attentively whenever she gave ideas, even when she spoke hesitantly. And they argued for and against her ideas as vigorously as for their own plans.
Sun could not believe this was real. Here were two of the most significant figures of her favorite legends, and she was working with them. They were partners. No one could know how long it would last, of course, but Sun promised herself to cherish every moment of it.
At last, the night wound to a close. They had all had more than a few cups of ale, and their conversation had turned giddy and giggling. Finally, Chao rubbed at her eyes.
“I should sleep, or I will make even more of a fool of myself than I already have,” she said.
“That is not possible,” said
