Meadow Rest really hadn’t changed much in the time I had been away, it was still a mix of different architectural styles and building materials. From shacks like my old home, to brick houses like my current residence the place really hadn’t changed. We walked through the town along the same path we had taken when I was a baby. The cobblestone streets were uncomfortably hard on my feet, there was no give to the ground which made me miss shoes. I mean sure my feet could take it, but that didn’t mean I enjoyed the experience.

We arrived at the merchant house that we sold our grain to and my father yelled out, “Raha you greedy bastard get out here!”

Based on his words I would have thought my father was angry, but he had a smile on his face and his tone was light enough to be considered playful. The Vuohian that came out was dressed just as garishly as I remembered, he had on a silk vest that was a deep almost royal purple, and his pants were baggy and gold in color. In a world where most people wore leather Raha certainly stood out. Even his horns were decorated in a gold paint.

Raha replied with a mock serious expression, “Aatto you idiot wolf, how am I supposed to maintain a dignified aura if you insist on destroying my image with your crude greetings? I believe last time we spoke I told you to refer to me as his grace Raha, heir to the Onni dynasty, Glorious leader of the great merchant house of Raha.”

My dad laughed and said, “Sure I remember that particular request and like I said then, that has to be the most pretentious set of titles a man could have. Who renames the biggest merchant house in the country after themselves, if that isn’t vanity I don’t know what is.”

Raha smirked, “What? It’s tradition, when taking something over you are supposed to rename it. Why do you think slaves always get a new name? It’s to remind them of their new station, which is why when I took over the Golden Lotus Trading Company I renamed it. They needed the reminder that they belong to me now. Anyway, what brings you here into town?”

Dad pointed at Mom and me and said, “Just celebrating my darling wife’s surviving the birth of our son.”

Raha blinked and paused before saying, “Has it really been so long since I saw you son, just a few years ago he was a baby strapped to his mother’s chest… My how the time flies. And Nolata it’s great to see you again, you really must come to town more often. I am constantly surrounded by men, which is fine, but I am rarely graced with the presence of a beauty such as yourself. It becomes ever so dreary without you to brighten my life. Honestly you must take the time to visit more often.”

Mom smiled while Raha continued to barrage us with statements and questions that he gave no time for us to answer. “And Aatto how have you kept such a strapping young man away from the city for so long, he looks nearly full grown, a veritable giant. How old are you young man? I’d wager you must be at least 13 years old to be nearly your father’s height. Is he working you hard out on that farm of his? I’ll bet you barely have any time to yourself if your father is anything like he was when we were younger. Always training so hard, he even forced me to run, can you imagine? Well I was younger then, easily impressed, foolish really, but I have since learned how to say no. You won’t force me to run ever again, you hear me Aatto!”

He struck a dramatic pose pointing squarely at my father’s chest. I couldn’t help but laugh at the little man’s diatribe, I think if we let him be he could talk to us for the next hour without needing a response. He looked startled at my laughter and my father interjected, “You were too young the last time you met little Raha here, but if you let him he will talk your ear off.”

Raha indignantly exclaimed, “I’d never talk a man’s ear off, I am merely an excellent conversationalist, it can’t be helped if you are simply too slow to keep up Aatto. Now your wife I always found was an excellent partner for a conversation, always willing to listen, easily capable of keeping up, constantly interjecting the perfect thing in order to keep the conversation rolling. Yes, you two really must take me up on my offer, come work for my company, and move to the city away from your little farm. You know I will pay you much better than whatever you are making from that plot of land you own.”

Dad shook his head and said, “You know why we won’t do that, it would bring us shame to be a burden upon our friends, so once again I must decline your offer. Besides we are happy on the farm, it might not be as glamorous as life in the big city, but it is honest and we are able to live in peace which you know we would not be able to do in Tehoton. Even here amongst your people we suffer for the “shame” we brought to the clan, I will not seek out more for a little bit of money.”

The last bit was said with so much bitter scorn I was taken aback. Whatever my father did to become an outcast he didn’t feel any shame over his actions, that was for sure. Raha looked at my father and said, “Who cares about the money? I just want you to come back because I miss your company, I moved my headquarters out of the capitol so that I would be able to see you guys upon occasion. After all, you two are some of my closest friends and I miss you both. Come on, if not to Tehoton, at least move into Meadow Rest, I’m sure your sons would prefer life in a town over that on a farm.”

My father simply shook his head and said, “I’m sorry my friend, I know you would do your best for us, but we are content, besides if you wish to see us more, just come out to the farm and pay us a visit. I know our place isn’t up to your exacting standards, but I’m sure you will survive the experience.”

My mom chimed in, “Yes, you simply must come out and visit, we don’t see you nearly often enough. I’ll even bake my mother’s muffins for you.”

Raha, looked at her with such longing in her eyes, “I haven’t had those muffins since before you guys got married. If they’re on the table then how could I refuse such a wonderful invitation?” He smiled and I could see a glint of greed in his eyes, apparently Mom’s muffins were a much sought after treasure.

Upon seeing Raha’s now slightly glazed over expression my father interjected, “Well now that you have accepted one invitation, let’s see if you’ll accept another. Nolata, Swift and I are going to do a bit of shopping then have a nice dinner that she doesn’t have to cook, would you care to join us?”

Raha’s eyes cleared as he focused on the moment instead of past muffins eaten and said, “I’d be delighted, let me just inform the staff that I’ll be out for the day.”

He headed back into the building and I looked up at my father and mother and asked, “So how do you guys know this weird little guy? He doesn’t exactly seem to run in the same circles we do…”

My mother bowed her head slightly, but my father looked me in the eyes and said, “Raha was a childhood friend of ours, when we were cast out of the clan he was one of the few that stood by us. He offered us his protection, he advanced us the money to buy our farm, and he ended up caring more for us than any of my so called brothers. Raha for all his eccentricities is someone deserving of your respect… Remember that…”

I nodded my head, another piece of the puzzle that was my parent’s past revealed to me. I would have to pump Raha for information when he comes to visit, he seemed like the loquacious sort so it shouldn’t be too difficult of a task. The only difficult part would be leading the conversation in the right direction and keeping him on it since he seemed to like to go off on tangents.

Raha returned to us and took us all around the town. He bought Mom some new cooking ware, specifically a new muffin tin along with new mixing bowls and a whisk. He then bought a pack for me as according to him, “Young and grateful children should carry heavy things for their mothers.” I would have been upset, but the pack really was very nice, and I might be able to keep it… so yeah… I ended up carrying the bags with a smile on my face.

After our shopping was complete we ended up at a restaurant Raha recommended. It was called the gilded spoon and it looked expensive. What made it look so expensive you ask? Well for one thing the exterior was painted brick with large glassed windows, the floor was made of polished wood and the tables had a uniform appearance you just don’t see in a society before mass production is discovered.

We went inside and were immediately greeted by young Vuohian hostess, she had black fur covering her body and was wearing a white vest and pants cut to accentuate her feminine figure. She greeted us with a smile that showed off her pearly white teeth and said, “Welcome to the Satisfied Susi, I’ll be your waitress, Ilo, is it just the four of you?”

My father opened his mouth to speak but Raha beat him to the punch, “Yes, just the four of us tonight, and be sure to put everything on my account tonight. Is the back room open right now?”

The waitress smiled and said, “Of course Mr. Onni. If you all will follow me.”

We made our way toward the back of the restaurant passing by the twelve sets of filled tables to finally reach the only empty one. We had arrived midway between lunch and dinner yet the place was still full, Raha certainly knew how to pick a good place. When we got to the back of the restaurant Ilo opened a door and a small room with paintings covering the walls is what greeted us. For a second I thought there wasn’t a table, but then I noticed there was one set really close to the ground. Surrounding the cushions were pillows where the chairs should have been. It reminded me of a Japanese tea house, minus the whole sliding paper door thing.

We took our places around the table which allowed me to notice that there was a depression under the table which meant I didn’t need to try sitting in an awkward fashion and could instead just lower my legs down under the table. It was actually comfortable even if I hadn’t really sat very often without a chair back, the pillow was soft and my tail was unconfined. After everyone was seated Ilo asked, “is there anything I can get you folks to drink before I explain what’s on the menu for tonight?”

Raha responded, “An ale for me and…” he looked at my father who nodded, “and Aatto here, a glass of port?” he looked at my mother who nodded, “for the lady and a half glass of ale and water for young Swift there.”

I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy the ale here, especially watered down, but then again water was notoriously hard to get clean in the middle ages so I doubted that it would be all that much easier to get clean here. Ilo left to fetch our drinks and my father said, “So Raha, you apparently come her often enough to be remembered, is the food really that good?”

Raha smiled and said, “Now would I take my friends anywhere but to the best of restaurants? Of course the food is good, its’ actually made by an old Susi warrior who had a knack for cooking. This is actually one of my favorite restaurants anywhere, even Tehoton doesn’t have more than one or two places that can compare.”

Mom spoke up, “Wow, that’s high praise coming from a gourmand like you. Is there anything that particularly stands out?”

Raha thought for a second before saying, “Well you know of my fondness for sweet things and I have to say they make a Daifuku that is out of this world. They also make a sauce that will knock your socks off, order anything that comes with Teriyaki sauce and it should turn out pretty good.”

Yeah I know those aren’t the actual words that Raha used, as this world doesn’t actually have Daifuku or Teriyaki, but when our food actually came out it was close enough so as not to matter. I got the velocichicken and riisi by the way, it was really good. I’d have to see if I could convince Dad to start growing some Riisi when we get home, so that this could become more of a staple in my diet.

Everyone really enjoyed their meal and when Ilo came back to clear up our dishes Raha ordered some dessert. “Ilo darling, can we get a plate of Daifuku and some hot cha for the table?”

Ilo smiled and nodded, “Of course Mr. Onni,” she said then left with the dishes. Dad thanked Raha for the meal and tried to get some specifics about when he would be able to visit the farm. My mother and I just sat in a comfortable silence, enjoying the banter of two good friends.

Of course this moment of peace couldn’t last, we heard a commotion from the front of the restaurant and then the door to our room opened. Instead of being greeted by our cute little waitress Ilo we were met with the snarling visage of an angry Susi. He stood close to seven feet tall with dark grey fur of a similar shade to my father’s. His thin lips were curled back revealing a sharp set of yellowing teeth, his shoulders were broad, almost filling the doorway and his cool blue eyes held not an ounce of kindness.

His attention focused immediately upon my father and he said, “Kieltaneet, get out, this room should not be sullied with your presence especially since I will be using it for my meal.”

My father stood up and said, “Hello Uhmakkuus, it’s good to see you again. Unfortunately I am having dinner with my family and you are not welcome to join us, please leave before I am forced to remind you of why you never used that tone with me when you were younger…”

Uhmakkuus snarled at my father and spat out, “That was when we were children, I am fully grown now and while you have been living in shame I have been fighting, gaining honor for the clan. While your skills have been rusting in the back end of nowhere I have become one of the best warriors in the clan. Threaten me again and I will remove your tongue after I have soundly thrashed you first.”

Dad replied, “I’d like to see you try to make good on that threat, but we are not in the streets and this is not the proper place to settle our disagreement, I suggest you wait until we are finished with our meal, then you may have the room.”

Uhmakkuus looked like he was about to say something when a massive hand landed on his neck. The owner of said hand was the biggest Susi I had ever seen. He had at least 8 inches on Uhmakkuus and enough muscle to wrestle a bear. He also had more scars than I could count along with an eyepatch that gave him a rakish look. The only thing that stopped him from looking like the scariest mercenary I’d ever seen was the white grease stained apron and white chef’s hat perched atop his head.

His deep voice rumbled out, “I’m sorry dear customer, but as you can clearly see this room is occupied, you will need to wait until they are done before you can use this room.”

Uhmakkuus did not seem like the most intelligent Susi, and he proved it when he vociferously protested the hand upon his neck, “How dare you peasant lay your hands upon me. I am the third son of the Jalo clan, and if I wish to have the room it is your responsibility to clear it of these Kieltaneet. Now do your duty, or do you wish to join them?”

The giant Susi chef laughed and said, “Boy I don’t belong to your clan, I am a member of the Soturi clan, and they would back me to the hilt if some little nancy boy from the Jalo tries to make me do anything in my own shop. I will serve whomever I want for however long I want and if you wish to further protest I will show you exactly why people don’t make trouble in my restaurant. Now either get out of my shop, or sit down and wait your turn.”

He sneered at Uhmakkuus and tightened his grip upon the neck that was almost completely ringed by his hand. Uhmakkuus stared at the giant chef and then lowered his ears before saying, “Fine enjoy the food, for I won’t be visiting this shop ever again, and you can bet that no member of the Jalo shall either.”

With that he left our sight and we were left with the presence of the giant, and our waitress who had appeared at some point after the chef arrived. Ilo said, “I’m sorry sir, he just wouldn’t accept that he would have to wait until a table was ready. He said he smelled trash in the back room and would dispose of it quickly so that he could be seated with his entourage. Then he just walked right past me.”

The giant simply nodded and said, “That’s okay Ilo, most of the Jalo are arrogant fools that believe the world owes them whatever they desire. Some of course aren’t so bad, but in general they are bigoted fools. Anyway, how is my best customer?”

Raha perked up a little bit and said, “Oh I’m doing great, my friends came to visit me from their farm and we have had a fun little shopping spree. It’s Nolata’s birthing day and we have been celebrating it in style. This is her husband Aatto and their son Swift.”

The giant smiled and said, “Greetings and happy birthing day, my name is Vasara Nuijason it’s a pleasure to meet you all.”

My mother spoke up and said, “The pleasure is all ours, your food has been wonderful, I’ve never tasted anything like the sauce you used. However did you make it?”

Vasara smiled and said, “Well, that’s a trade secret, sorry, but I hope you folks enjoy the rest of your meal, your dessert should be out in just a few minutes.” He smiled at us one more time and walked back toward the kitchen, Ilo following close behind.

I spoke up, “Okay, that is the second time I have heard someone call you Kieltaneet and I still don’t know what it means besides the fact that it clearly isn’t a compliment. Are you guys going to tell me what’s going on?”

My mother and father exchanged a glance and then sighed in unison. After a few seconds of awkward silence my father finally said, “It is a derogatory term some people use to label those who have been cast out of a clan. We both used to be members of the Jalo clan before we were cast out for breaking a taboo. That is all you need to know. Should someone call you a Kieltaneet simply ignore them, all they do is show off their own ignorance.”

My mother nodded and a somewhat heavy silence reigned. Raha tried to restart the conversation, but the mood had been ruined. We finished our meal in relative silence and then it was time to head home. I don’t know what my parents did to become outcasts, but I was one step closer to finding out.

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AN: Sorry for the extra long wait, I am busy with finals right now so I can only write here when I am having writers block on a paper. Hope you guys liked the chapter, the next one will be called "Offered a Job" I'll let you guys speculate as to what it will be about.