This is a special (veryveryvery) late birthday present for Epic F. Awesomesauce, my good friend, editor and senpai. Hope y'all enjoy!

The town was small, its main street was the only street and most of the families were related somewhat distantly. Despite the size it was also one of the most famous areas in the kingdom. No baron or lord lived there, no battle had been fought in the area and yet its fame was widely acknowledged. The inn was the reason for the status, but it wasn't because the innkeeper, Roderich by name, had favorable prices or offered exquisite services (though, the prices were fair and the rooms were all neat and clean). No, the reason travelers went out of their way to visit for a night was the food.

Ever since Elizaveta, Roderich's wife, had hired an assistant cook the food had turned from a good dinner to a great feast. The change wasn't from Elizaveta herself, she readily joked that she'd be out of a job if she wasn't married to Roderich. It rested solely on the assistant cook.

There was something almost magical about the way Lovina cooked, her expert fingers could crimp a pie crust in seconds and then it'd be in the oven and she'd be working on the next dish faster than lightning. She combined efficiency, speed and good taste with wonderful results. She would add spices by instinct, not wasting her time to actually measure them out but simply adding a dash of this and that as her taste dictated. Her pasta based dishes in particular were cooked to perfection. Elizaveta had long ago given Lovina complete control of the meals and was more than happy to follow her instructions.

If the inn was the heart of the town, Lovina was the pulse. Roderich knew it, Elizaveta knew it, the rest of the townspeople knew it and they were all perfectly happy with the arrangement.

Antonio wiped at his brow briefly and took a sip of water from a pail of water nearby, not caring when half the liquid spilled onto his leather apron. Refreshed, he turned his attention back to the plow blade a farmer had commissioned. Grabbing some tongs he pulled the hot metal out of his forge and grabbed a hammer. Setting it on a stone slab, he began to beat out the shape of the blade carefully, being patient and taking his time like he'd been taught so long ago by the former smith.

It was particularly hot this summer and today was hotter still. Most of the townsfolk stayed inside to escape the heat and the main street was almost barren. The only sign of activity came from the inn which, of course, wasn't unusual. Some wagoners had arrived around midday with heavy cargoes and a terrible hunger. Antonio didn't doubt for an instant that they were less than satisfied with the meal provided. Nothing Miss Lovina made ever tasted bad.

When the blade was finished, he dipped it into a large bucket of water and watched in fascination as the heat made the water hiss and steam. Heat had never bothered Antonio, which was why he was working in his open-air shop late in the afternoon on a hot summer's day. Oh, he got hot and sweated like any other man, but it didn't cause unbearable discomfort like it would for most others. He waited until he was sure the blade was cool before pulling it out and setting it aside. Since the plow was his last work for the day he let the fire go out and pulled off the apron. Large sweatmarks had formed in the chest and armpit areas of his shirt underneath. With a grimace of annoyance he quickly pulled off the shirt and used it to wipe at the sweat on the back of his neck.

"Are you busy?"

Antonio yelp and spun around, clutching the shirt to his chest. Miss Lovina was standing in the doorway of his shop, holding a large pot with both hands. The bright sun burnished her dark copper hair and caught her hazel eyes in just the right way. There was a smudge of dirt on the side of her nose and her hair was a bit ruffled, but those details couldn't diminish her beauty.

"I-I-I didn't know you were there," he stuttered.

One of Lovina's eyebrows arched upwards. "Obviously." She flipped the pot upside down and held it up for his inspection. "There's a hole in it. Small, but even so I can't use it," she said, getting right to the point of her visit.

Antonio took the pot and looked it over. A tiny hole on the very bottom caught his eye. "I can fix it," he said confidently. "I'll get started right away and give it to you this evening, tomorrow at most."

Lovina shook her head. "Don't put yourself out of your way." She glanced meaningfully at the dying fire in his forge.

The smith smiled and swept his arms out expansively (forgetting that it left his chest exposed to her eyes). "It's no trouble, Miss Lovi-" A loud yelp from the street made them both turn around.

A group of boys were huddled in the far end of the street, laughing and hitting something with sticks. Another yowl and a gap in the circle suddenly brought the situation into light. One of the baker's large mastiffs had given birth a month ago to several puppies. These boys (probably some farm lads who came to town to "entertain" themselves) had caught one of the poor things and were taking enjoyment in its suffering.

"Those brutes!" Lovina hissed, her face going white with rage.

Unthinking, Antonio grabbed a staff and walked past her. He too was appalled by their callousness. "I'll take care of them!"

"Stop, Antonio!"

The command in Lovina's voice was so sharp it forced his compliance. He turned to face her, ready to argue, but was silenced by the look on her face. Her eyes had a far off, distant gaze than indicated her concentration was somewhere else. There was a strange glow in her eyes that looked somewhat unearthly... A second passed and the expression cleared.

There was a clatter in the street and suddenly the pup's mother was running towards the group of boys. With a snarl of protective rage the mastiff's jaw clamped around the biggest boy's arm. He howled in pain and tried to shake her off but to no avail. The others scattered with shrieks of fear, dropping their sticks as fright overcame them. The mother held on until the arm was suitably bloody, then she released the bully and snarled. The boy ran after his friends, sobbing.

Antonio was shaken by the sudden, vicious spectacle. "I thought Vash kept all of his dogs tied up," he confessed.

Lovina shrugged lightly and brushed some dust off her sleeve. "Well, she certainly taught those scoundrels a lesson. Don't bother with that pot tonight, I won't need it for a few days yet." She cast another satisfied glance at the dogs before heading back towards the inn.

Elizaveta looked up from where she was chopping up carrots as Lovina walked into the kitchen. "Is everything alright?" she asked. "I thought I heard a dog!"

Lovina waved her concern away. "It was nothing," she said. Quickly washing her hands, she joined her friend at the table and started slicing some tomatoes. Without looking over her shoulder, she reprimanded, "Gilbert, get away from the fire."

Elizaveta gasped and turned in time to see her wayward son run from the ovens. "How did he- he was just-!"

Gilbert snickered and ducked under the table, settling at Lovina's feet. "Aunt Lovi!" he called, tugging at the skirt of her dress.

"Yes?" Lovina answered. She was known to be waspish and short-tempered, but she always had a reservoir of patience when it came to the small, scrappy albino boy at her feet. Perhaps it was because she had helped Elizaveta give birth to him six years ago. The local physician had been away at another town and Roderich had gone in search of him, leaving Lovina the only person skilled enough in medicine to help his wife through the difficult labor.

The boy twirled the edge of the fabric around his finger. "You went to see Uncle Toni, right?" All adults he was familiar with were "aunt" and "uncle" in his eyes.

"Yes, I did."

"You stayed there a long time."

"Yes, I got distracted." Lovina allowed a small smile to flit across her face. Antonio certainly had the build of a smith…

"Why don't you marry him?"

"WHAT?!"

"Gilbert!" Elizaveta scolded. She let her knife clatter onto the table and she ducked down under the table. Grabbing him firmly by the arm, she proceeded to drag him towards the door. "Shoo, go bother your father for a change!"

"It was only a suggestion!"

"Shoo!"

Lovina waited until the blush had left her face before finishing the tomatoes. She scooped them up and dropped them into a pan where some other vegetables were frying.

Elizaveta immediately apologized, and of course Lovina brushed it aside. "He's so unmanageable sometimes," Elizaveta sighed.

"He's a boy," Lovina explained bluntly. They shared a small laugh and Elizaveta left the kitchen for a bit to check on her guests like any good hostess.

Once she was sure she was alone, she gathered her power and let it slip into the cooking vegetables. It was a simple charm, it didn't guarantee good health, but it definitely reduced the chances of someone eating it from becoming ill. Of course, she never used magic to make the food taste better, that would abolish any pride she had in her work. Her skill came from years of practice. Years and years and years…

A slight melancholy overcame her. She'd watched so many friends die over the years of her unnaturally long life. And since she never aged visibly she was always forced to travel, lest anyone notice anything "odd" about her. She'd probably have to leave this little town soon, six years was a little too long.

Such was the life of an undercover sorceress.

I'd be lying if I said this wasn't inspired by David Eddings' series, The Belgariad. Polgara and Durnik are the best couple! And they remind me of Spamano sooooo….

Editor: It's so cuute! X3
YOU MUST WRITE MOOOOORE!

Bu-But… You say that about all my stories. =A=

Don't knock the truth!

...Fiiiiiiiine. *sulks*

;)

Meh, happy birthday, Epic!

YES! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOUUU~

Expect the next chapter whenever I finish it. :P