The guest quarters assigned to Ryo in the palace were ridiculously luxurious – all polished wood, expensive fabrics, and magical conveniences. He spent most of his first morning trying to figure out how to make the self-filling bath stop adding rose petals to the water.

  "This is why I prefer taverns," he muttered, fishing another handful of petals out of the steaming water. "Simple plumbing, simple problems."

  A knock at his door revealed Elena, looking unusually formal in her knight-captain uniform. "The Noble Houses are already moving," she said without preamble. "Three separate invitations for private dinners arrived this morning."

  "Let me guess – House Winters, House Darius, and..." Ryo picked up the sealed envelopes she carried. "Ah, House Blackthorn. The spy masters, right?"

  Elena's eyes narrowed. "How did you—"

  "The servants talk," Ryo explained, setting the invitations aside. "Especially when someone tips well and knows how to listen. House Winters wants to recruit me, House Darius wants to discredit me, and House Blackthorn probably just wants to figure out what I am."

  "You need to take this seriously," Elena insisted. "These houses have been playing political games for generations. One wrong move—"

  "Could start a war, destabilize the kingdom, or get me killed." Ryo started pulling on a simple but well-made jacket. "Trust me, I've dealt with worse. Though I could use your help understanding the local players better."

  They spent the next hour going over the major noble houses, their alliances, and their likely motives. Elena had clearly done her homework, providing details that went well beyond her official role as a knight-captain.

  "You've been investigating them," Ryo noted with approval.

  "Someone had to," she replied. "Especially after that warning note yesterday. Speaking of which..." She hesitated. "There's something odd about the palace guards."

  "You mean how some of them aren't really guards?" Ryo was already heading for the door. "Come on. I need to see the city anyway, and we can talk more freely outside these very well-enchanted walls."

  The capital's streets were a stark contrast to Millbrook's quiet lanes. Merchants hawked magical goods, nobles rode in enchanted carriages, and street performers demonstrated minor spells for copper coins. But Ryo noticed other things too – the watchers in the crowds, the subtle magical monitoring spells, the way certain people moved with too much purpose.

  "We're being followed," Elena murmured as they browsed a market stall.

  "Four different groups," Ryo confirmed casually, examining a crystal that claimed to purify water. "House Blackthorn's people are the professionals – they actually switch out their watchers every few blocks. House Darius sent some thugs pretending to be merchants. House Winters has that fancy couple that's been 'shopping' twenty feet behind us. And..." He frowned slightly. "The fourth group is interesting."

  "I only counted three."

  "The fourth group is better." Ryo purchased the crystal, mostly to maintain their cover as tourists. "They're using some kind of magic I haven't seen before. Makes them almost invisible to normal detection."

  They spent the next hour wandering the city, apparently aimlessly but actually following a careful pattern Ryo had worked out. Elena watched with growing appreciation as he used simple movements and casual timing to reveal their watchers' positions.

  "There," he said finally, pretending to admire a street performer's fire juggling. "See that symbol on the wall? It's shown up in six different places, always where the fourth group positions someone."

  Elena squinted at the barely noticeable marking. "That's... old. Really old. I've seen something similar in ancient texts about—"

  "The Old Ones," Ryo finished. "Yeah. Looks like they have human agents in the capital. Probably have for a while."

  Their conversation was interrupted by a commotion nearby. A group of armed men in House Darius colors were confronting a merchant, their hands on weapon hilts.

  "Well," Ryo sighed, "that's not very subtle."

  The lead thug raised his voice deliberately. "This merchant sold fake enchanted goods! Such fraud cannot go unpunished!"

  "How convenient," Elena muttered. "Right in our path, making a scene about false magic..."

  "They want me to intervene," Ryo agreed. "Either I ignore it and look callous, or I help and get drawn into House Darius's games." He smiled suddenly. "Want to see something fun?"

  Before Elena could respond, Ryo walked over to the confrontation. But instead of addressing the thugs, he spoke to the terrified merchant.

  "Excuse me," he said cheerfully, "but I couldn't help noticing you're selling enchanted items. I just bought this water purifying crystal and was wondering if you could authenticate it? I'm new to the city, and Lord Darius's men seem very concerned about magical fraud..."

  The thugs froze, clearly not expecting this approach. The merchant, catching on quickly, played along.

  "Of course, sir! All my goods are certified by the Merchant's Guild and the Royal Academy. Unlike some sellers who claim noble backing without proper documentation..."

  Ryo turned to the thugs with an innocent expression. "Oh, you must be here officially then! Could I see your certification from Lord Darius? The royal laws on noble intervention in merchant disputes are very specific, after all."

  The lead thug's face reddened. "This doesn't concern you—"

  "Actually, it does," Elena cut in, stepping forward. "Knight-Captain Elena, Royal Guard. I'd very much like to see those certifications as well."

  The thugs retreated quickly, trying to maintain dignity but clearly realizing their trap had backfired. The merchant bowed repeatedly, thanking them for the intervention.

  "That was well handled," said a new voice. A well-dressed man had appeared nearby – House Winters colors, but subtle ones. "Though perhaps now you see why noble protection can be valuable in the capital?"

  "Ah, you must be from House Winters," Ryo replied pleasantly. "I was wondering when you'd make direct contact. The couple following us was getting tired."

  The man's polite mask slipped slightly. "I'm sure I don't—"

  "Let's skip the games," Ryo interrupted, keeping his tone friendly but firm. "You want to offer protection and influence in exchange for my support. House Darius wants to discredit me. House Blackthorn wants to understand me. And someone connected to the Old Ones wants to watch me. Does that about cover it?"

  The man stared for a moment, then laughed genuinely. "Lord Winters said you'd be interesting. Would you join us for dinner? A real invitation, no schemes attached."

  "Now that's a better approach," Ryo approved. "Though I should warn you – I'm still not joining any noble house. But dinner sounds good, as long as Elena's invited too."

  "Of course." The man bowed slightly. "Seventh bell, at the Winter Estate. We'll have ale from every major brewery in the capital. Lord Winters is curious about your... expertise."

  As the man left, Elena shook her head. "You really plan to walk into a noble house's estate?"

  "Free ale," Ryo pointed out. "Besides, House Winters seems the most straightforward of the bunch. They want to understand what I can offer, not control or eliminate me."

  "And the Old Ones' watchers?"

  "Oh, they'll make a move soon," Ryo said confidently. "Probably tonight, while everyone's distracted by the dinner party. Should be interesting."

  They spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the city, though Ryo insisted on stopping at every tavern they passed.

  "Research," he explained, sampling another ale. "Can't properly judge a city without trying its drinks."

  "You're enjoying this," Elena accused. "The politics, the schemes, all of it."

  "Course I am," Ryo admitted. "It's like serving drinks – you learn to read people, spot trouble before it starts, and keep things flowing smoothly. Though I still prefer Millbrook. Less assassination attempts, better regulars."

  As evening approached, they returned to the palace to prepare for dinner. A package was waiting in Ryo's quarters – formal clothing in House Winters colors.

  "Nice try," he chuckled, setting it aside in favor of his own simple but well-made clothes. "But I'm not playing dress-up."

  Elena arrived in her formal uniform, looking concerned. "The warning note's author contacted me. They say multiple factions are planning to move tonight."

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  "Good," Ryo said, checking his reflection one last time. "Maybe we'll finally get some real answers instead of all this sneaking around." He offered her his arm with an exaggerated flourish. "Shall we go see what kind of trouble awaits?"

  "You're impossible," Elena sighed, but she took his arm. "Just... try not to start any wars? Or end any? Actually, just try not to break the capital."

  "No promises," Ryo said cheerfully. "But I'll try to keep the property damage minimal. Now, let's go see what House Winters' ale selection is really like."

  They left the palace as the sun set, watched by at least three different groups of spies, nobles, and ancient conspirators. Ryo hummed a tavern song as they walked, apparently oblivious to the tension building around them.

  But Elena noticed how the air seemed to shift around him, how shadows moved oddly in their wake, and how his casual stride was just a bit too perfectly placed. He was preparing for something.

  The capital's games were about to become far more interesting than anyone had planned.

  The Winter Estate sprawled across several acres of prime capital real estate, its grounds protected by both conventional walls and shimmering magical barriers. Guards in the house colors stood at attention as Ryo and Elena approached the main gate.

  "No weapons allowed inside," one guard stated, holding out a detection crystal.

  "Fine by me," Ryo said cheerfully. "Though you might want to adjust that crystal's sensitivity. It's picking up Elena's official blade but missing the three hidden daggers in her uniform."

  The guards stiffened. Elena shot Ryo an exasperated look.

  "Knight-Captain Elena is authorized to retain her weapons," a new voice announced. Lord Winters himself stood in the doorway – a tall, lean man with calculating eyes and an expensive but understated outfit. "And I doubt any conventional weapons could threaten our other guest."

  "True enough," Ryo agreed. "Though your ale better be as good as promised, or I might have to critique it publicly. That's a different kind of threat."

  Lord Winters actually smiled. "Eight varieties from across the kingdom, plus some interesting imports. Shall we?"

  The estate's interior matched its owner – wealthy but not ostentatious, with magical enhancements that served practical purposes rather than mere show. Ryo noticed at least three layers of defensive wards, plus something more subtle that seemed to monitor conversations.

  "Nice setup," he commented as they were led to a private dining room. "Though that communication ward in the east wing is bleeding energy. Might want to have someone look at that."

  Lord Winters raised an eyebrow. "You can detect the internal ward structure while walking past?"

  "I detect everything," Ryo said, taking his seat at the table. "Like how there's a hidden door behind that tapestry, three emergency teleport anchors in this room alone, and..." He sniffed the air. "Is that Blackcliff Porter? Haven't had that since I left Millbrook."

  Other guests began arriving – all high-ranking members of House Winters and its closest allies. Elena noted how they were seated strategically, creating clear lines of conversation while maintaining security distances.

  Servants brought out the first course along with the promised ale selection. Ryo spent several minutes examining, sniffing, and tasting each variety, making notes that he actually seemed serious about.

  "The Silverkeep Brew is decent," he declared, "but they're trying too hard to be fancy. Good ale doesn't need three types of enchanted hops."

  "You really do care about this, don't you?" Lord Winters seemed genuinely curious. "All your power, your knowledge of other realms, and you choose to focus on... ale quality?"

  "Everyone needs a hobby," Ryo replied. "Besides, you can learn a lot about a place from its drinks. Take this imported stuff – definitely from the Southern Realms, probably that nation that collapsed last year. You can taste the magical instability in the fermentation."

  That got everyone's attention. Lord Winters leaned forward slightly.

  "You can taste magical instability?"

  "Among other things." Ryo took another sip. "This batch was probably made right before their ley lines started failing. The ambient magic affected the brewing process. Same thing happened in three other realms I've visited – it's usually one of the first signs that something's wrong with a world's fundamental forces."

  The casual mention of realm-wide magical collapse sent a ripple of tension through the room. Lord Winters set down his fork.

  "Is that what the Old Ones are planning? To destabilize our realm's magic?"

  "Nah, they want something worse." Ryo reached for another ale variety. "They want to 'refresh' everything – basically unmake and remake the world according to their original vision. The blood mages were just the start, trying to create anchor points for bigger changes."

  One of the other nobles spoke up. "And you can stop them?"

  "Maybe." Ryo's voice turned serious for the first time. "But it would help if certain people would stop playing spy games and just talk directly. Like your guests in the secret room behind us, listening through that fancy ward setup."

  Lord Winters didn't even blink. "I'm not sure what you—"

  "Oh please." Ryo waved a hand, and suddenly the hidden door behind the tapestry swung open, revealing several startled people in dark clothing. "House Blackthorn's representatives have been here since before we arrived. And yes, I can detect your special invisibility enchantments. They're good, but I've seen better."

  The hidden observers stepped into the room, led by a sharp-featured woman who managed to look both annoyed and impressed.

  "Well," she said, "this saves us some time. I am—"

  "Lady Blackthorn herself," Ryo finished. "Yeah, I figured the head of the house would want to observe directly. Just like I'm sure House Darius has people watching from outside, probably planning something dramatic for when we leave."

  Elena's hand moved to her sword hilt. "How many threats are we actually dealing with?"

  "Let's see..." Ryo started counting on his fingers. "House Darius's thugs outside, probably with some half-baked scheme involving hired mercenaries. At least three Old One cultists watching the estate – they're the ones with that weird not-quite-there feeling. A couple of independent operators hoping to profit from whatever happens. And..." He smiled suddenly. "Ah, right on time."

  The magical lights in the room flickered. A cold wind that shouldn't have been possible indoors swept through the chamber. Lady Blackthorn's invisible agents suddenly became visible, their concealment spells disrupted.

  "Everyone down!" Elena shouted, drawing her sword.

  Reality twisted. The space between the dining table and the far wall seemed to stretch and distort. A figure stepped through – not the same Old One Ryo had fought before, but something similar. This one looked almost human, except its eyes were pools of swirling darkness.

  "Worldwalker," it said in a voice that made wine glasses vibrate. "We need to talk."

  "We really don't," Ryo replied, not even standing up. "But since you're here – try this ale. I'm curious if your kind can even taste things properly anymore."

  The Old One actually paused, thrown off by the casual response. The nobles and agents around the table were frozen, caught between terror and fascination.

  "You mock us?" the being demanded.

  "Nope. Genuine curiosity. See, I have this theory about you Old Ones." Ryo took another drink. "You've been sleeping so long, existing as pure power and thought, that you've forgotten what it means to actually live in a realm. To taste things, feel things, experience life as it really is."

  "We are beyond such mortal concerns—"

  "And that's exactly the problem." Ryo finally stood up, but instead of gathering power, he picked up a mug of ale. "You want to remake this realm because you think it's imperfect. But you've forgotten how to understand what makes it worth preserving."

  He walked right up to the ancient being, holding out the drink. "So here's the deal. Either take a drink and remember what it means to experience something as simple as a well-made ale, or we can fight. And unlike last time, I won't be holding back to protect a town full of people."

  The room held its breath. Lady Blackthorn's agents had weapons ready. Lord Winters was probably activating some hidden defense system. Elena looked ready to charge the Old One herself.

  The ancient being looked at the offered drink. "You cannot truly believe—"

  "Try it," Ryo insisted. "Southern Reach Dark. Best ale in the capital, though still not as good as my tavern's. Actually taste it. Remember what it means to be part of a realm instead of just trying to control it."

  Incredibly, the Old One took the mug. Everyone watched as it raised the drink to what passed for its mouth. For a moment, nothing happened.

  Then the being shuddered. Its form seemed to flicker, becoming briefly more human.

  "This..." it said, its voice losing some of its otherworldly harmonics. "This tastes like..."

  "Like actually being alive?" Ryo suggested. "Like being part of the world instead of just observing it?"

  The Old One stared at the mug. "We... I... had forgotten."

  "Yeah, that's what happens when you sleep for eons and think only about power." Ryo turned back to the table, addressing the stunned audience. "See? This is why I run a tavern. Sometimes the simplest experiences are the most important."

  "This changes nothing," the Old One declared, but its voice lacked conviction. "The realm still needs—"

  "To be experienced, not remade," Ryo interrupted. "Take that memory back to your friends. Remind them what it means to actually live in a world instead of just ruling it. And next time you want to talk, just come to the tavern like a normal person. First drink's free."

  The ancient being looked at the mug again, then at Ryo. Without another word, it stepped back through its distorted space, taking the ale with it.

  Silence fell. Lord Winters was the first to recover.

  "Did you just... offer an Old One a drink?"

  "Seemed better than fighting in your nice dining room," Ryo said, sitting back down. "Besides, I meant what I said. They've forgotten what realms are really about. Hard to understand something worth preserving when you've spent thousands of years thinking only about power."

  Lady Blackthorn stepped fully into the room. "You knew this would happen. This whole dinner was a setup."

  "Not entirely," Ryo admitted. "I figured they'd make a move tonight, but the ale thing was improvised. Sometimes the best solutions are the simple ones."

  "And House Darius's agents outside?" Elena asked.

  "Oh, they'll probably still try something stupid when we leave." Ryo reached for another drink. "But after that display, I'm guessing most of them are reconsidering their plans."

  Lord Winters laughed suddenly. "I think I understand now why you prefer running a tavern. This entire situation – you handled it like a bartender dealing with troublesome customers."

  "Best way to handle most problems," Ryo agreed. "Now, can we get back to dinner? I still have three more ales to critique, and I think everyone here has questions they'd rather ask directly instead of through spies."

  The rest of the evening was surprisingly productive. With the pretense of schemes and secrets dropped, the noble houses' representatives actually engaged in real discussion. Plans were made, information was shared, and Ryo managed to thoroughly critique every ale variety in the capital.

  As they finally left the estate hours later, Elena shook her head in amazement.

  "I can't believe that worked."

  "Which part?" Ryo asked cheerfully. "Exposing all the spies, confronting an Old One, or getting Lady Blackthorn to admit that her house's secret brewery actually makes terrible ale?"

  "All of it. You turned a potential disaster into... into..."

  "Into people actually talking to each other?" Ryo suggested. "Amazing what can happen when you strip away all the fancy plotting and just deal with things directly." He looked up at the night sky. "Though that Old One taking the ale – that was interesting. Might be hope for them after all."

  "You really think you can stop an ancient conflict with beer?"

  "Probably not," Ryo admitted. "But reminding them what they're really fighting about? That might help. Sometimes people – or ancient beings – get so caught up in power and plans that they forget what realms are actually for."

  They walked in silence for a moment. Then Elena asked, "And what are realms for, in your experience?"

  "Living," Ryo said simply. "Not just existing or controlling or planning. Actually living. Tasting ale, feeling sun on your face, arguing about drink prices with regular customers..." He smiled. "Simple things. Real things."

  "Is that really why you run a tavern?"

  "Part of it." Ryo's eyes twinkled. "The rest is because someone needs to show all these fancy capital breweries what real ale tastes like. Did you try that stuff from the Western District? Terrible. They need some serious competition."

  Elena laughed, and they continued their walk back to the palace. Behind them, various spies and agents reported to their masters about the evening's events. Somewhere, an Old One was experiencing taste for the first time in millennia. And in a private room in the Winter Estate, Lord Winters was already planning to import Millbrook ale to the capital.

  Just another night of politics in the capital, handled the tavern keeper way.