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Ruby takes Alcarillo’s order and greets the two new Elves who’ve come into the Inn
Ruby moved through the hungry crowd with a practiced step. Tray balanced on her shoulder, her bare feet avoiding packs, and walking sticks, boots and other bare feet that lay in her way.
She’d just settled the town butcher and his lad in at a table and plopped two large platters filled with crispy fried taters, bacon, scrambled eggs, and a basket of fresh baked bread down on the table before them. She poured them each a mug of steaming hot tea and told them to take their time . . . Cook would be busy with cooking breakfast for a while, and then she would see them.
An Elf in a dark grey cloak sat thumbing through a little red book at a table across the room. Every so often he looked up and glanced about the room. Seeing he had no food or drink before him, she made her way to his table. On her way, she passed two other of the Fair Folk on their way to a table near the fire it seemed.
‘Just signal me with your hand when you get settled,’ she told the woman. ‘I’ll come take your order for breakfast.’ The woman Elf nodded at her, her lovely face made even more so by a quick smile of thanks.
Ruby stopped at the book-reading Elf’s table and introduced herself. ‘Ruby Brown at your service, sir,’ she said leaning her serving tray against her leg. ‘Would you care for something to break your fast? We have our regular fare – eggs, taters, bacon, and bread. A hearty Shire breakfast. And we also have fruits or a light oat gruel with honey for those whose appetites are not as big as us Hobbits. Not saying of course you Fair Folk can’t pack the food away as well as we can. But sometimes I’ve noted you like something less heavy.’
Good grief, Ruby Brown! she admonished herself. Shut your mouth before you manage to insult his Elven tastes in eating before he’s even ordered.
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