Backlund, Cherwood Borough, a restaurant near the Tussock River.
"One Balam stew, one fire-oil chicken, samosas, and a serving of fragrant rice..."
Lorne, who had disguised himself, handed the menu to the waiter beside him.
"For a drink... uh... vegetable juice, please. Remember, no spices in it."
"Certainly, sir. Please wait a moment." The waiter, who had Southern Continent features and a slightly dark complexion and seemed to be of mixed descent, took the menu, bowed gracefully, and headed toward the kitchen.
"Nice atmosphere..."
Lorne leaned back in his chair and surveyed the restaurant's decor.
Unlike Loen's traditional, classical-or rather, rigid-architectural style, this restaurant was rich with exotic flair. Colorful Southern Continent tapestries hung on the walls, wooden totem carvings stood in the corners, and even the overhead chandelier had been designed to resemble intertwining vines. It all felt refreshingly novel.
Before long, the food arrived.
The stew came in a fairly plain earthenware pot. Its thick, dark-brown broth gave off a powerful aroma of spices and pepper. The fire-oil chicken had been roasted until its skin was golden and crisp, then covered with red chili powder and flecks of unidentified spices. The samosas were triangular pastries fried golden brown.
Lorne picked up his knife and fork, cut off a piece of chicken, and slowly savored it.
"It really does taste good..."
Compared with Loen cuisine, which favored mild seasoning and the ingredients' natural flavors, Southern Continent dishes were lavish with their spices. Their intense, stimulating flavors suited Lorne's tastes perfectly.
Who would have thought the Indulgence Faction would open a specialty restaurant as their base in Backlund? And their chef is pretty good, too...
Sharron had told him this restaurant was an Indulgence Faction base, so Lorne had come today specifically to scout it out and sample Southern Continent