Strong Brandy

Writers: Arale, Paula
Date Posted: 12th July 2012

Characters: Arzel, Keayd
Description: Arzel offers advice on some of Keayd's work.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 8, day 24 of Turn 6

Arzel finished the short note he was writing and rolled it up tightly
before sliding it into the message tube tied to Fizz's leg. The little
blue firelizard held still for all of this, though the tip of his tail
was darting too and fro to show his excitement. The little blue loved
delivering messages! "Straight there and back, Fizz. No stopping for
meatrolls on the way."

Fizz made a chirp that somehow sounded both wounded and cheerful and a
moment later, he was gone Between.

Keayd knocked the door, bringing samples from his latest
experiment-batch for his mentor.

"Come in," Arzel called, standing from his seat.

"Good day, Arzel," Key greeted and walked in.

"Key," he nodded in greeting to the younger man. "Come in and have a seat."

"I had few more samples of my fruit brandies for you to taste," Key's
tone was excited.

"Oh? Excellent," Arzel enjoyed working with Keayd. The younger man was
meticulous, competent and creative, which was a perfect combination in
a Vintner in Arzel's opinion.

Keayd placed the bottles on the table. "This cherry flauvored turned
out quite sticky and sweet," he explained, tapping the bottle's side.
"Kind of stuff my grandmother used to love. I don't know if there's
anybody who would like to buy it. This has the base-brandy tasting
through too strongly, althoug some might like that."

"You'd be surprised how many people like over-sweet liquors," Arzel
replied with a wry grin. "Let me see the other?" He held his hand out
to take the brandy tasting one.

Key handed him the bottle with a nod and looked around for a glass.

Arzel noticed and nodded toward a cabinet on the wall, "The top left
one has glasses." He opened the bottle and smelled the fumes. "What
did you use for the infusion with this one?"

Keayd got up to fetch glasses. "Master Tensen's brandy and redfruits,
some herbs."

"Between you and me, Master Tensen's brandy is a bit too strong to
work with for infusions. Or much of anything. There's a reason it's so
popular in the later hours of a Gather. Which herbs?"

"Let's see," Key hadn't thought to bring his note with, so he had to
rely on his memory, "Mint, lavender and I had third one too but can't
remember what it was."

Arzel poured a bit into one of the glasses Keayd brought and peered at
it closely for a moment before taking a small sip. He held it in his
mouth a moment before swallowing. "There's a bit of a nutty flavor...
was it meadowsweet? It's not a bad taste overall, and I think it would
work with a different brandy."

"Yes, that was it! You have exellent taste," Keayd said. "I'll try the
same receipe but with less strong base."

"It's a good blend," Arzel complimented again. "You might try asking
Master Cellik. He has a brandy that should go very well with this. If
you want, I'll send him a note so he'll have a few bottles for you to
experiment with. He owes me a favor."

"I would appreaciate that, thank you," Key said with agreeable nod.

"Certainly," Arzel made a mental note to send Fizz with a message to
the Master in question later. But for now, "Want to join me for some
dinner? In the dining hall or in the tavern?"

Keayd glanced the window. "I'm pleased to. The dining hall doesn't
require us to go out in that" he nodded towards the weather. It was
wintry at it's best...or worst.

"Dining hall it is," Arzel agreed readily after glancing out the
window himself. He shivered a bit, even though it was nice and warm
inside. He really hated winter sometimes.

Last updated on the July 17th 2012

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Strong Brandy