[color=00aeef]Portia[/color]

Kistal stood in front of a sweltering oven, crouched low as he watched the final moments of the bread loaf cooking. As soon as it hit perfection, his hands moved with practiced ease, grabbing the peel and sliding his creation out. The aroma of the poppy seeds and the sourdough pierced the other food smells within the kitchen. He couldn't help but feel some pride in his work. Upon placing the fresh loaf on a cutting board to cool for cutting, he then returned to his stew, stirring and tasting it. The venison and beef both tasted good and fell apart in his mouth. Perfect for a luxury meal. He served up a bowl, placing it on a platter surrounded by other pre-entree food. 

He lifted the platter and smoothly backed through the doorway out into the common area. The hustle and bustle of the patrons buffeted him for a moment, but he moved between bar maids and drinking men and women. The recipient of the platter full of stew, salad, and fruit sat across the room, surrounded by a bodyguard and vassal. The woman saw the food she ordered for only a moment. Once she saw the one carrying her dish, her face went pale and she barely managed to hide her disgust at the race of her cook. Kistal, keeping professional, paid it no mind and set the platter in front of her. [color=8dc73f]"Here is your order: beef and venison stew with a mixed salad and mixed fruits. I also provided some homemade balsamic dressing to add more flavor. Please, enjoy your appetizers. I will be out again as soon as your main meal has finished."[/color] Kistal then bowed respectfully and turned on his hoof, leaving for the kitchen again. His keen hearing caught her leaning to her vassal and stating, "How did such a stupid brute learn to cook this well? Beastmen are little more than animals."

Kistal frowned and let out an annoyed growl. He made his way to back to his station, saying hello and chatting with some of the regulars along the way. She saw him as subhuman. The regulars saw him as their friend, cook, and purveyor of high quality booze. The duality struck him as severely annoying. The ones that judged him as brutish were also the ones that did not know beastmen personally. He discarded that line of thinking once inside his kitchen again, not wanting to spoil his day. The bread had cooled enough by his return, so he grabbed a bread knife and sliced it into thick pieces, wrapping the now sliced crusty poppy bread in cloth to help it keep until needed. He went into the cooler, grabbing a drake steak and a bottle of his best wine. He stepped back out into the warm kitchen, ready to make the rest of the meal.

His mind drifted to his desire for adventure. He loved his work and the people he now knew, but he kept feeling a wanderlust building. His instincts for freedom led him to want to leave and move. He wanted to experience more and see the rest of the world. He especially wanted to find and end the evils of slavery and forced servitude. He just needed at least one reliable person, if not a small group, to help him realize his desires.