Cooking Woes by Grengori

[Keeper Of Lore]

"Fresh fish! Get your fresh fish here! We got barbed gill trout, brilliant smallfish, whitescale salmon, bristle whisker catfish and more!" The cries of the fish vendor rang free in the open air of Thunder Bluff, there for all in the vicinity to hear. Other vendors were selling their wares as well; blacksmiths, pharmacists, clothing boutiques and general varied goods, each had their goods on display. With the vast amounts of product waiting to be bought, Grengori found himself at a bit of a crossroads.

Having taken the portway from Shattrah City, he returned to his homeland after a long day of adventuring and hunting out in the Netherstorm region of Outlands. The warmth and crispness of the air, as compared to those in the Outlands, was a welcome experience. For too long, Grengori endured the sulfuric stench that riddled Hellfire Peninsula, or the unnatural scent of dust and metal found out in Netherstorm. For many days now, he longed to breathe in a lung-full of clean air. Air that, when inhaled, did not cause him to gag or cough in uncontrollable fits. A broad smile forged its way onto the Taurens' face as he closed his eyes. Southwestern winds catching across the fur on his face and sending him tumbling into a state of tranquility.

"Fresh fish! Come and buy by the pound, seventy-five silver for ten raw bristle whisker catfish!" again the vendor's voice rang out into the air.

And it was this voice that ensnared the warriors attention. His eyes shot open and his armored body pivoted to the right, catching sight of the fisherman's vendor. The smile on his face seemed to broaden yet, heavy booted feet carrying his bulky body toward the vendor. He paused just in front of it, bending at the waist to peer down through the visor of his helmet at the select catches of fish. There were plenty to choose from..most, however, the poor Tauren was unable to prepare without viciously murdering the fish itself.

Seeing his interest in the fish of his booth, the vendor smiled and bowed his head deeply in respect. "Good afternoon and blessings from the Earthmother. Do you see anything that catches your eye?"

Grengori looked up and let out a hearty chuckle, standing to full height again and removed the ash-colored helmet from atop of his skull. His thick, bushy hair puffed out a bit from his face -- helmet hair was a pain to comb down, but he wasn't about to try. Not until he had himself a bath, first, at least. "Blessings to you as well, my good Tauren. I was wondering, just how many bristle whisker catfish do you have in stock at the moment?"

The vendor blinked and glanced down, peering around the variety of fish that littered the cloth-covered table. Soft mutterings escaped the male bull's mouth before peering up again. "By my count, there's about thirty-two up here...Why do you ask? Interested in buying the lot?"

"I believe I just may, actually! I have a wonderful recipe for this particular kind of fish...Unfortunately, I've had neither the time to try and prepare it, nor the luck in finding this fish in the marketplace." Again, Grengori chuckled and set his helmet down on the ground for a short moment, then gazed back at the vendor. "So how much for all of it?"

"Ahh..Should come out to around two gold and fifty silver I think. Does that sound fair enough to you?" the vendor asked, gazing up at Grengori's face. And recognizing him from a few poster's he'd seen throughout Kalimdor.

"That is a fine price..Thank you." Grengori bowed his head and reached for his money pouch, which was located just to the right of his key ring. The proper amount was removed and placed into the tauren's hand. In return, he received thirty-two fat, meaty catfish. Each was individually wrapped in a fibrous sort of napkin material and, amazingly enough, lacked the intense fishy smell that was often found on vendored fish. Seeing the condition of the fish, Grengori smiled warmly and again bowed his head to the male.

"I am glad the fish are to your liking, Grengori..Yes, I know of you. And wish you well in your adventures in the future!" The vendor grinned and gave a rotated wave of hand, then turned to go about his business.

The warrior, unaccustomed to being recognized by any, blinked and gave a smile back to the vendor. He retrieved his helmet and tucked the bag of fish into the large netherweave bag harnessed to his spine, then proceeded to weave through the marketplace of Thunder Bluff. For now, his shopping was done, but a greater trial lay ahead. Preparing the fish...

....was going to be a grueling task.

"Well, Graywuld, let's head up to the third tier and find the Cook up there..Maybe she can give us a few cooking tips on how to prepare this catfish. ..And have a fire lit, too." Graywuld was Grengori's gray-skinned Kodo and he snuffed in response to his owner's words. Following him up the ramp leading to the third tier and hoping he'd not get fed any of the burnt..er..cooked fish.

[ To be continued! ]

[Keeper Of Lore]

It didn't take Grengori and Graywuld much time to ascend the spiraling stairs of the tower in Thunder Bluff. They passed the second tier on their way to the third, waving to any passer-byers that happened by them. Graywuld, on occasion, cocked its large, rough-skinned head upward and tried nipping at the backpack that held the fish, however Grengori was quick to half-turn and smack his gauntleted hand against the beasts's dense cranium. "Knock it off Gray, you'll get your share when it's all cooked...Just wait a little bit."

The Tauren guffawed and found the passageway that led to the third tier, rotating his body and manuevering his heavily armored self through it. His Kodo followed obediently, but again seemed to snuff at the thought of eating anything that his owner cooked. Apparently, the beast had taste. Thankfully though Grengori didn't pay much mind to it and found his way to Aska Mistrunner, the head cook within Thunder Bluff. Her cooking was well-known throughout Azeroth and for that reason, Grengori sought her out in hopes of having a quick cooking class.

...hopefully, this one would go on better than his last.

He instructed for the kodo to lay down by in the center of the third tier, where it was nice and grassy -- not to mention, large enough to seat itself comfortably. Then he set forward, moving to greet the female Tauren, whom stood within her small domicle. She was apparently stirring some sort of stew within the massive black cauldron, using a long wooden spoon. And humming a folk song under her breath. Seeing a figure approaching, she smiled and sprinkled a tad of salt and pepper into the stew, gave it a stir, then set the smothered spoon aside.

"Welcome, welcome, welcome! How may I be of assistance...to....you...What do you want?" her voice went from cheerful and welcoming to something more loathsome and hesitant.

"Greetings to you again, my lady Aska. My, you are looking very beautiful tonight...Is that a new blouse you're wearing?" Grengori inquired, wearing his best smile and reaching to take the tauren woman's hand into his own.

But before he could succeed, she pursed her lips and pulled her hand back, giving him a rather bland look. She started to waggle her finger at him and scowled, "Considering you ruined my last blouse, by tossing boar rib sauce all over it...Yes, it is a new blouse. And no, I haven't forgotten how you burned the inside of my home during your last lesson..."

"Um, yeah, about that...I am still sorry about all of that. But you have to give me some credit...I did manage to succeed in cooking one of the boar rib racks..." Grengori did his best to smile bright at her, though it clearly faltered when she stared daggers at him.

"It only took you about fifty tries to get it right. Not to mention, you burned about ten pounds or so worth of boar ribs...and part of my home..." Dryly stated from Aska.

The warrior sighed at that, his armored shoulders slumping a bit. But he was quick to rise up again, removing his helmet and placing it nearby Aska's cooking cauldron. He wasn't going to need it for this. Nonetheless, he moved swiftly and went to his knees before Aska Mistrunner, his ham-like fists clenching together, pleading at her.

"I know, I know! I ask you now though for one more lesson..I picked up a cook book from the markets today, but I do not understand a lot of the recipes in it. I just bought thirty-two bristle whisker catfish today and I want to prepare them according to a recipe I found within this book....Teach me! For the love of the Earthmother, teach me!"

His cries rang out into the air; albiet, they were greatly exaggerated. Grengori may not have been the best cook in the world, but he was adept at getting others to help him out. Hearing the bothersome cries, Aska threw her hands up and looked about, embarassed with the fool kneeling before her. "Quiet, you, before someone hears you!"

After a moment's thought, she sighed and hung her shoulders, muttering, "Fine..I'll help you...BUT I swear to the Earthmother if you burn my house, ruin another of my blouses, or decimate anything I own ... I'll shove a spit up your nether region and roast your butt over an open fire.....Agreed?"

Gulping -- why were women so tempermental? He thought to himself, gazing up at her. But, she agreed to help and that was the whole point in coming up here. So, with a thankful smile, Grengori rose to his feet and nodded once. "Agreed. If anything happens -- "

" -- and nothing will!" Aska Mistrunner quickly cut in.

" -- ..I'll pay for it."

[ To be continued! ]