"Despite a long history of secessionist movement that took place in the duchy at different times of their history, Boroes never actually seceded from the Union of Free Nations. The profits and mutual protection membership in the union provides outweighed the desire to truly be their own masters. That they bordered the Great Emerald Forest and the Kingdom Down Under might also be a factor." - Garth Wainwrought, professor of socioeconomics at the Levain Institute of Higher Learning.

Since it was already past afternoon and they just had a long walk, the first thing Cal looked for in Boroes was an eatery. The city itself showed people from all over. Its stature as the seat of the Duke unequivocally also made it the capital, and many traders and travellers from neighboring regions visited it.

Amongst those travellers were also many an elf from the Great Emerald Forest to the north. Cal exchanged greetings in elvish with those she ran across, as was tradition when meeting others in a foreign land. Many dwarves - from the Kingdom Down Under - were also present. It was these dwarves she paid attention to, and she chose an eatery many of them flocked to.

She was mighty thirsty, and a store where dwarves flocked was bound to have something good to drink.

When she entered the eatery - which doubled as a tavern and bar as well - with Fheeri behind her, she saw that many local therians had also frequented the establishment. More than half the seats were occupied by dwarves, though. The floor was kept meticulously clean, which was a good sign indeed.

They had just sat down on a table when a rugged dwarf who wore a checker patterned kilt came over to their table.

"Aye, lassies, welcome, what'll ye be having?" Asked the dwarf cheerfully with a grin hidden behind his thick, bushy facial hair. His laughing eyes and jovial tone made him look very friendly though.

"New here, what's good to eat?" Cal asked in return.

"Och aye! We got some nice batches o' cullen skink an' hairst bree just off the stove. Haggis wit' nepps an' tatties be our 'pecialty," elaborated the dwarf with a jovial tone.

"Bring each of us a portion of all those then. And a couple mugs each of whatever's on tap," Cal said. She had no idea whatsoever what those dishes were like, but were never against new things to try out.

"Fine appetites ye lassies got! Me like it! Gonna be back in a jiffy wit' yer order."

When the dwarf returned to their table not five minutes later, he had four mugs of ale balanced on a platter on his left hand, while his right hand had a platter filled with four bowls that let off steam, and two flat plates. He deftly set the food down in the middle of the table, and set the mugs by Cal and Fheeri. After he placed the bowls and plates accordingly, he left, with words to just give him a holler should they wish for anything else.

Cal had no idea which of the two bowls of stew were which, but she enjoyed both either way. One was a hearty stew full of mutton, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and onions, that were both warming and filling. The flavor was very homey and pleasant, the sort of food that made one think of homecooked dishes.

The other stew was a creamy fish stew served with a side of toasted bread. The fish tasted as if it was smoked before it was stewed, while chunks of potatoes and onions also filled the stew well. All were thickened and enriched by the thick cream they were stewed in.

As for the house specialty, Cal had no certainty on what meats went inside the stomach pouch. She had detected flavors inherent to livers and lungs, so she assumed it was minced offal mixed with onions, oats, and spices in there. The food was served with two generous piles of mashed potatoes and turnips, which left both Cal and Fheeri with full stomachs after they polished everything up.

Needless to say, the ale served was excellent stuff, and she had ordered for more during their meals.

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"Hav' sum Cranachan, on da house!" Said the dwarf when he returned after Cal asked for the bill. He deposited five bowls on the table, and placed two empty ones before Cal and Fheeri along with wooden spoons. "Mix 'em up however ye like, enjoy!"

The bowls were filled with whipped cream, honey, oatmeal, raspberries, and a strong liquor. Cal divided the contents of each both between herself and Fheeri, and stirred the mixture in her bowl before she gave it a taste and smiled widely.

Sweet honey and tangy raspberries melded with the base of crunchy oats and fluffy whipped cream, while the hard liquor gave everything a smoky tinge that harmonized the dish. Both of them finished the dessert quickly, and left their bowls as clean as if it was licked. Literally, in Fheeri's case.

Cal paid the bill and told the dwarf to keep the change - nearly half a gold coin - with a smile before she left.

Unlike her usually targeted trips, Cal took Fheeri through a leisurely walk around the city instead. Her intention was to let the girl get accustomed to life in cities, since she would need to, if she wished to stay for long periods outside the goblin plains.

They also visited a local museum. The museum displayed old therian artifacts, as well as many paintings and scrolls that told of the tale of the therian's migration from Ur-Teros. The tale told was of an escape from tyranny and degeneracy, of how the brave pioneers sought out new frontiers where they could be free.

Fheeri had skeptical looks on her face when she read the stories, a detail that had not escaped Cal's attention.

Later that evening, after they found an inn to stay in, Cal asked Fheeri about it in their room - she had booked a larger room with two beds since it was cheaper than two single rooms -. Fheeri said that the tales she had heard from the older therians in her settlement were different.

Those tales, instead, told of the story of people who fled with their tails behind their backs after they lost several territorial fights. People who moved to another continent because they were tired of losing in their original homes.

Cal had no idea which of the tales were the real ones - if any - but she joined Fheeri in laughter when the therian girl burst into yip-like laughs.