“Why did you drag some hungry peasant in here?” General Pol called out in Rathiri, scratching his chin and glancing at the new arrival.
A few years older than My-re, and despite his dirty face, tan skin, disheveled black hair, beard, tattered clothes, and cloak, which had seen better days, he had a youthful spark in his brown eyes.
“He’s our new help,” My‑re replied.
“I didn’t hire him.”
“No, I did,” My‑re answered.
“Where will I get the coin for a new hire?”
“From the tavern’s profits.”
General Pol opened his mouth to speak but closed it. He knew My‑re always collected money from customers, purchased the tavern’s supplies, and made the deposits. She knew exactly what the tavern took in.
“Unless he knows the Khan’s tongue, he’s of no use,” General Pol said in Rathiri.
“Test him,” My‑re replied.
“What’s your name, kid?”
“Ahmen Cuaem Ra,” the hungry peasant said quickly.
“What? Almond Can Ra?”
The hungry peasant repeated his name but a little slower.
“Amen Common Ra?” Pol repeated poorly.
He repeated it a third time.
“I’m never going to get it. I’ll just call him Almond,” Pol scoffed to himself.
“You are not going to call him Almond,” My‑re countered.
“How about Nuts,” Pol said to his own amusement.
“We are not calling him Nuts,” My‑re said.
“Besides, asking his name was an easy question. I know. In what year was the Rirorni Empire’s capital of Rithakhar founded?” General Pol asked in Rathiri.
Moaning loudly, My‑re approached Pol and said, “I’m hiring him.”
“Alright, but you train him,” Pol said, waving his hand in resignation.
“Great, where do you need him to start?” My‑re asked cheerfully, knowing she didn’t have to fight Pol further on the issue.
“Have him start in the kitchen. There’s a day’s worth of glasses and plates to be done. Also, I’m not teaching him Rathiri either,” Pol said.
Almond responded in broken Rathiri, “The kitchen is a good start.”
My‑re smiled broadly with delight, seeing the look of surprise on General Pol’s face.
“All right, he’s hired.”