True enough, the road was finished- or at least ran by my hill- in three days. I’d intentionally written it to where the pathway didn’t directly pass my home, both so I’d have room to build whatever additions I’d want and for privacy's sake. So, the paved road ran by the river, with room for extension as both I and the city knew it would need.

“Bleeding hell, that really was fast though.” I scratched my head talking to one of the foremen.

“Thank ya’, sir.” The middle aged man smiled. “The count told us to extend the road further if you need it to be as well, on his dime too.”

“Really?”

“Yessir.” He nodded, “But his message said that any patrols would need to be taken care of by you.”

“Well, if he’s offering…” I shrugged. I took the current map of the road and extended it down to where I’d told Renee she could build.

“Just keep this running along the river.” I said, “And Once you’re down in the hollow, try to stay at least six feet above it. I’ve good information that it never rises higher.”

“As you say, sir.” He nodded. I wasn’t sure when they’d start, but he just walked up to the thirty or so fellows with various tools and told them the news. Pretty shortly after that, three of the men walked up to where the road ended and raised staffs, bringing them down into the earth in unison.

Like a wave the dirt in front of them moved, rising and falling back down into packed bricks that looked exactly like those on the capital’s streets. They were working exceptionally fast here because there were no trees to clear, but even then their pace was much faster than road builders from earth.

I whistled and went back inside my house. That road was likely the end to my peaceful- or mostly peaceful- days of gardening, smoking cigars, and chatting with Arin. I didn't think any of those activities would end per say, but I’d likely have much more company to interrupt their consistency.

“Arin!” I shouted into the house. I wasn’t quite sure where she was.

“Yup!” She appeared around a corner.

“Are you really sure you want to keep sleeping outside?” I asked. “Real soon folk are coming up to start building. I just want to make sure you’re still comfortable with the… lack of privacy.”

She paused for a moment.

“And I’m more than happy to work with Baum to build you a cabin. You don’t have to live with me.” I reassured.

“I don’t need a cabin. I’d stay if.. If you'd have me to.” She said softly.

“Of course! You pretty much live here already anyway.” I joked, “I’ll just show you your room.”

The nymph smiled sweetly, and I showed her to the downstairs guest bedroom. It wasn’t lavish in any way, but it had a queen bed, a nightstand with a lamp, a dresser, and a full bathroom only one door down the hall.

The color scheme was like the rest of the house, wood, creme, and gray. Both friends and girlfriends in the past had often made fun of me for my tastes. I didn’t care though, I liked it and that’s what mattered.

“I do love the room.” As did Arin, it seemed.

“I’m glad, dear.” I laughed, “Feel free to do anything with it you’d like. The closet’s empty, but you don’t- actually, do you have any other clothes?” I asked, in a sudden moment of confusion. Arin had worn the same, simple green robe since I’d met her, and because I’d never really thought about it.

“Oh this is magical.” She tugged on the collar of the robe. “I didn’t want to- well, I thought it would’ve been awkward if I wasn’t wearing anything when we met. I hope this isn’t weird at all…”

“No, no, it would’ve been much weirder if you were naked.” I scratched the back of my head, “How about I buy you some clothes the next time I'm in town? There’s nothing wrong with your robe, Just knowing women- well, off a guess-” I stopped to breathe, and chuckled at myself, “I thought you might appreciate something else to wear.”

Arin brushed her brown hair behind her ears as she laughed at me.

“I’d really appreciate that.” Her smile continued.

“Then I’ll make it a plan.” I said, “I’d like to take you with me, but town’s a good bit farther than I think you’d be able to make.”

Her grin lessened slightly at that, but her mood remained jovial.

“Thank you.” She said again, this time a little more somber.

“You’re growing me coffee. I’d give you the dang world if I could.” I laughed.

I left Arin to settle into her new room, and prepared myself a quick lunch. I’d all but run out of modern groceries, but for the cost of a little magic I could have whatever fresh crop I wanted almost instantly. I’d also hunted, so my freezer was nice and full of meat. I wanted a smokehouse, but for that I’d probably have to buy a few things from town. Unlike what survival games tell you, complicated structures are rather difficult to build from things harvested from the woods.

…….

Not long later, the construction team for the inn arrived and set to work. I had marked a large section of trees around the base of the hollow for them to harvest, but made clear that they were to keep their impact on the view down to a certain elevation. Renee was there to oversee some of the construction, and had stopped by a few times to say hello, deliver a bag containing the gold she owed me for the first year’s rent and timber access, and really just be. I guessed the girl would get bored out in the woods, so I obliged her to company when she seemingly wanted it. I wasn’t sure if she was doing it to get something from me, but the girl was a bit of a charmer and I had no problem hanging out with her.

“Remember when I asked you for whiskey that day in the tavern?” I asked her at lunch a few days into the construction. Arin was also with us, enjoying a salad and some grilled deer-creature meat.

“I do, I don’t know what that is though.” Renee said.

‘That’d be this.” I pulled a bottle off the wall. Technically it was bourbon, but bourbon was whiskey after all.

“Oh?” She raised an eyebrow.

It was a bottle of the Woodford Reserve straight bourbon whiskey. Not the best of course, but a decent drink with a pretty bottle that was good for cocktails.

“Now I didn’t see anything on your menu,” I said to Renee, “But are spirits a thing here? Distilled alcohol?”

“I’ve had brandy, once, but it was really expensive.” She said.

“Did you like it?” I asked.

“It was… interesting. Much different than ale, that’s for sure.”

“Well try this one.” I grabbed three small whiskey glasses and poured a little bit in each. “You too Arin, I’m not sure what you think of alcohol though.”

“Me neither.” The Nymph smiled.

Off of habit I gave my own glass a swish. Normally I’d take bourbon on the rocks, but I thought it’d be better to let the girls try the ninety proof neat for the first time. Renee was the first of us to taste her beverage, giving it a smell then a quick little sip. I saw her try to hold it in her mouth for a second, but she couldn’t and swallowed quickly.

“That’s strong!” The barmaid exclaimed. Arin tried hers soon after, and had a very similar opinion.

I took a sip of my own. It did burn, but the flavors still showed through. The smooth, warm feeling down my throat made me fondly reminisce on days sipping the Kentucky staple on the front porch with my grandfather.

“Want to try it another way?” I asked, “It’ll dilute nicely.”

“I’m curious.” Renee set her glass down.

“I’ll probably pass on that one.” Arin sighed, “Not for me.”

“I understand.” I laughed. I walked to the freezer and came back with an ice tray. Rather than a normal one, this was specifically for spirits, consisting of large single blocks of ice that nicely filled a glass and didn’t melt too thick.

I grabbed two new glasses, set an ice cube in each, and gently poured the bourbon over the frozen water.

Renee took a sip, and seemingly enjoyed this way much more.

“There’s definitely a taste difference.” She observed.

“An aficionado would say something about the water separating the alcohol and flavors, but truthfully I just like it better cold.” I joked.

“Where’d you get this?” Renee asked. My business opportunity seizing sensors was going off in my head.

“My homeworld.” I said, “I imagine it could be made here, but it takes quite a bit of time.”

“Well.” Renee took another small sip, “Imagine this, the Southern Sanctuary, home of the finest distillery of this ‘whiskey,’ a drink from another world.”

“Ha!” I smiled, “I reckon I’d have to shirk my responsibility as Sanctuary Master to take part in that one, but what an idea.”

“Or you could sell me the recipe.” She raised an eyebrow.

“Sorry, dearheart, I think this is a bit of knowledge I’ll hold onto for a little while.” I shrugged, “And anyway, shouldn’t you be back out at the construction site? You seem to spend more time over here than you spend doing what you’re supposed to.”

“It’s more fun to be with you guys.” She sighed, “And one of the earth mages keeps trying to flirt with me.”

“A conundrum to be sure.” I shook my head. “But you are their boss, so I think that’s well in your capacity to deal with.”

Renee pouted, but made no defense. Before long, she left again to go oversee, as I said. I had no problem with her coming by, but she seemed much too keen to monetise everything. First she tried to get me to sell her coffee, then it was my pistol after I’d explained it, now it was the drinks. I had no problem showing the girl things, as she was always genuinely interested at first. I did guess that her inclination to make money was a deeper issue, but I wasn’t familiar enough with the girl to explore that yet.

“She’s nice.” Arin commented after Renee had left.

“I agree.”

“Are you trying to get her to live here?” Arin asked.

“She’s building on the land.”

“No. I mean here in the house.” She clarified casually.

“Uh… no?” I blinked.

“Okay, I just wasn’t sure.” The nymph shrugged.

“That’s quite the question.” I observed after a moment of thinking.

“I was just curious. You never invited lady Caro to spend time here, so I wasn’t sure if Renee was special.”

“Well, considering Lady Caro doesn't seem… personable enough to oblige me to something like that, and Renee for the most part just showed up, this isn’t too unique, I think.”

“If you say so.” Arin shrugged.

“And Renee isn’t my type, if that’s what you're asking.” I smiled.

“I- well…” She hesitated, “Not quite.”

I laughed and cleaned up lunch. Truly I had no interest in the barmaid-soon-to-be-innkeeper, but I thought it funny that Arin brought it up. I wasn’t sure what the nymph’s… social awareness was when it came to romantic endeavors, but I wasn’t one to pursue anything of that sort with frequency. Just like with coffee, cigars, and whiskey, with friends and even more so lovers, I was quite particular about quality.

Not that I hadn’t made poor decisions when I was young, of course.

But disregarding that topic, I was growing increasingly interested in distilling my own alcohol. I had a few books on the hobby upstairs, so if I wanted to I could definitely start the process. I knew I could get whatever I needed for a mash in town, as they had ale and wine, but getting a smith to make me a still would probably be much harder. I decided to copy whatever plans for stills I had over to paper and to ask around next time I went to Livartown.

Tom Cutter, Master Distiller.

The thought made me laugh.