"A kings castle must be respectable." Philip says waving a finger at nobody. "But him… He eats on the floor and the roof leaks… Oh don’t get me started on his tax policies. It’s no wonder trade is failing"

"Uh huh." Grant hesitantly nods.

Philip and the king of Wolfbourne Rex had never gotten along. Years ago their countries even exchanged battles from time to time. A border town here, an outskirts fort there. Little stuff mostly, but even in a small war life is still lost. Thus the two decided to schedule monthly meetings in order to prevent battles like those in the past.

It wasn’t anything as legitimate as an alliance but still the two countries did establish goodwill. The first step to that was the allowance of trade between the two countries, second, the construction of the North Forest Trail.

Trade was still on the ledge of operation. Aelwick had created permits to travel into Wolfbourne but as of yet less than 100 have been given out.

"I just want to get back to the forest." Philip says snorting and taking a long sip from a tin flask.

"The forest?" Grant asks before realizing the reason and sighing.

"Don’t tell me you were satisfied with that gruel at the Wolfbourne Royal Palace? I couldn’t think of anything but that steak. Uhg, just thinking about it now makes my mouth water."

Grant tries to argue it but indeed he too had been thinking about the meal they shared with that mysterious man in the forest.

"The North forest chef." Grant chuckles remember the words Philip had spoken.

"Exactly. We should rush. Am I right?"

"Mhm." Grant agrees rubbing his stomach and kicking the horse up a gear.

Under the new speed the two reached the proper area after a few short hours. Some of the shrubs and bushes had been removed so now the small hut was more visible from the road.

The sound of chopping wood could be heard as well as grunts from over effort.

"Sounds like he’s busy." Grant says glancing at the king.

"Should we wait?" Philip asks with a coy grin.

"You already know my answer." Grant replies looking to his stomach hungrily.

Without any more hesitation the two stepped through the rough game trail towards the small cabin in the forest. The man who had just sat to begin grinding herbs noticed them and grinned. Without a word he ran towards the hut to prepare cooking tools.

Typically Grant would have been alerted by the rapid movement but at this point he was far to interested in the upcoming meal. Philip on the other hand was gently sniffing at the mortar full of burgundy powder. He recognized the smell from the past meal, so this was where that amazing taste originated.

Moments later the man returned from inside and began placing supplies beside the fire. First a large chunk of meat was reduced to pieces and placed on a long skewer. Then he carefully doused it in a greasy substance held in one of the many leaf pouches. From there he gripped a pinch of red powder and lightly sprinkled it all around the kebab.

The smell of roasting meat filled the area in moments. The greasy stuff instantly liquefied dripping into the meat and making it glisten. Every rotation was made with a careful hand. The man furrowed his brow the entire time he cooked.

After an anxious five minutes he extended a hand to both Philip and Grant. They carefully took the sticks and glanced at them before looking to each-other.

Grant bit in first, followed quickly after by the king. There was no poison testing happening tonight. They were far to enamored by this meat.

Smokey but wet, peppery yet not spicy. This red powder. It was even more delicious than the flakes.

"I…" Philip began to say with a drip of meat running down his chin. Realizing he quickly closed his mouth and carefully wiped with a handkerchief. "Excuse me."

"I think I know what he’s trying to say." Grant fills in taking another bite of his kebab greedily. "We don’t have anything like this in the Capital."

Grant smirks with a mouth full of meat. Philip beside him nods inspecting the kebab readily.

"I almost want you to marry into my family so I can eat this more often." Philip says in a daze.

"Y… You can’t do that sir." Grant reminds him with a shake of his head.

"I know… Gracy is far to young anyway." Philip says shaking his head in sadness. "But in any case. This spice! Would you sell it?"

"Sell?" The Chef in the forest asks with a virtual question mark above his head.

"Right, well I suppose you don’t have much use for money. Although you could use it to buy more equipment for cooking. Not to mention supplies for your ‘House’." Philip says attempting to sweeten the deal.

The man in the forest on the other hand hadn’t even thought about it. And indeed everything Philip had said is true.

The man had somewhat gone crazy with the harvesting recently. He had more pouches than he knew what to do with. And still a few hundred flowers drying. The area around the pond was really lousy with the things now. They must be in season.

"Alright." The man nods quickly rising and stepping towards the cabin to gather what he had.

Philip and Grant in his absence looked at each other in shock. Even the meat headed Grant understood. This was huge. A new spice could prove to be massive business for the country. It could not only spark trade with Wolfbourne but it could spark trade with many countries.

Spices are used throughout the world. Weather it be religious ceremonies, medicinal purposes, or just normal cooking. A new spice would probably bring interest from all three communities.

Without a word spoken between the two, the man in the forest returned from his home and carries a leather sack full of small leaf pouches.

8 pouches, 16, 20, they poured out of the leather sack endlessly. Each pouch had around a handful or two. Weighing it roughly its probably near 4 or 5 pounds.

"How quickly…" Philip began asking after inspecting a few of the pouches.

"Two weeks probably. As long as nothing changes."

"I see." Philip sighs. This was even more than he had bargained for. Obviously a new spice won’t instantly sell due to trepidation. But in time this could be a huge profit earner for the country.

It won’t directly influence their income but it could influence the wealth of the country as a whole which would in turn increase tax income.

After a moment Philip decided on his course of action. He needed a good reputation with this man. And that meant trust.

"So long as you are ok with it. I will attempt to sell all of this, obviously it will take time. So, as an advance how about I send some cooking equipment from my personal kitchen?"

Grant looked at Philip in surprise but didn’t stop him. Honestly it was a pretty good trade. New pots and pans can always be acquired.

For the man in the forest too it was a good deal. He had long desired metal too cook on. It would save him quiet awhile and allow for advanced cooking methods.

"Deal." The man says with a nod standing up the shake King Philips extended hand.

With that deal in place, the dominoes that represent future history were finally set. All that needed to be done now was a nudge in the proper direction.