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"Thank you Bastian, and I believe we have some skills which be of use." Angel places her hand softly on Liri's leg, "I believe you are due to be more than just an observer." She taps the table, moving her hand, "Yes, take us to whoever is in charge, please?"

Bastian shovels in the last of his food like a neanderthal, looks at the empty plate, throws a longing look toward the cook fire. And resolutely says, *Sigh* "Ok, let's go"

((Master Stik, let's go see the man in charge of this expedition!))

(Can we assume the rest of us ate during this little exchange? For simplicity?)

(I second that!)

(I stated Liri was going to have porridge, I assumed we had started eating when Bastian came in)

[OOC]Sure, food for everyone, then off to the temple.[/OOC]

Breakfast is exceptional. Whether that is due to the quality of the food, or the fact that the meal was prepared by professionals, with proper facilities and ingredients, or that it is being eaten in what appear to be completely safe circumstances is unclear.

Although the meal closely resembles the output of ever legion camp mess hall, there are a few surprises. The porridge contains the mais, as is typical in the standard legion version, but the wheat has been replaced with a different grain. And there seems to be more than the usual amount of fish on the countertop. Either retirement has prompted the cooks to take liberties with the regulation legion menu, or there is something else going on here. But cookery is a matter for another day.

The last few stragglers to join the breakfast party are Papa, Elias, and, surprisingly, Maughus. His hair is still long on one side, but he’s cropped the other side down to about a tenth of an inch, with strips of bare scalp showing in an odd pattern which may or may not have some significance, and his beard has been neatly trimmed. He is wearing a red tunic and black trousers, both of which appear brand-new. He stands near the edge of the tent, focusing intently on the very delicate-looking pastry in his left hand, turning it this way and that, as if trying to decide which side to start eating first.

“Been wondering where you all went to,” Maughus says, his voice calm and even. His gaze goes back to the pastry, and he says quietly. “Is this not a thing of beauty? Man named Gerald makes them. His shop is just there.
“Optio Viletti wants us at the barracks. Something about a patrol.
“Oh, where’s Fraso?” he asks, nonchalantly.

Liri walks over to Maughus to admire the pastry as well. "It is a thing of beauty indeed" she agrees. "The whole food here today is of special quality. Do you have any idea why this might be so? Is today a special day to the people here?"

"Good cooks, I suppose. Nothing special about the day.
"This baker is a genius - a true master at his craft. You know he cooks the filling separately, then puts it into the pastry crust and bakes it again? And he brushes it with egg, too. And dusts it with ground zucchero. And don't even get me started on his biscotti. As at home as I am in the wilds, on occasion I have pushed on to this place rather than camping out, not for warmth or a bed, but so I could get some biscotti and a cup of hot wine after dinner."

(A line from groundhog day comes to mind.)

"Yes, this really looks and smells like the work of someone who is dedicated to what he does" Liri agrees. "I hope you will introduce me to him one day."

"Yes an interesting item." Angel agrees, "Bastian has been asked to go to the site of the attack, and has asked for me to go with him." She comments, her mind apparently on the business at hand.

"Yeah, I have seen them myself, never had the coin to buy one, had more pressing needs." He winks, "I will one day."

"So we are asked to two different places? The optio wants us, and your superior, too, Bastian?" Liri tuns back to the tasks of the day.

"Hmm? No, no, no. My superior has yet to respond to me. Today we're working with the Optio, guiding him to where the attack took place. Sorry for any confusion." Bastian says this in all friendliness, but scrutinizes the pastry while their guide eats it.

"Ah. I couldn't know, could I?" Liri smiles at Bastian. "I will collect my gear and horse then. Where do we meet?" she asks the group.