Ludo dragged his gaze away from the door. “Where does that door lead?” The dwarf opened his mouth to respond, but Ludo barreled ahead. “And don’t you dare say ‘What door?’”

“Why would I say that? There’s a door, plain to see. I installed it meself.”

“Why? It’s on the wall.”

“Aye. Jest a bit o’ decorayshun is all. Like it?”

“It’s…unusual.”

“Well thas the point, ain’t it? Hard to set yerself apart these days. But I’ll take bein’ the tavern with the tiny door on the wall over the tavern-no-one’s-heard-about.”

“Fair enough,” Ludo said, turning his attention back to his plate. He didn’t have the heart to tell the man that his strategy wasn’t working. Even with the best food and ale he’d ever tasted, the place was as empty as a beggar’s stomach.

“Need a room fer the night?”

“Please.”

“Take nummer six, jest upstairs. Key’s in the lock.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll leave ye to it then. I have other busyness to attend to.”

“Don’t you mean business?”

“No,” the dwarf said flatly. “Ring the bell in yer room if ye need anythin’ else.”

Ludo had just taken another bite of mouth-watering fish, but by the time he turned to offer another word of gratitude to his host, Welbernius Brown was gone.

Feeling a sudden swell of tiredness, Ludo finished his food and ale and closed his eye. When he opened it again, he was astounded to find a full plate and brimming glass. “Welbernius?” he said, expecting to find the dwarf having returned with more fare while he’d been relaxing.

He was alone. “What by the Sculptor’s Hand?” he murmured aloud.

He pushed back his chair to stand up, but he’d forgotten about the platform’s edge. The chair pitched over backward, flinging his feet in the air, the world turning topsy-turvy. His breath caught in his lungs as he prepared for a brutal landing.

Only to blink and find himself sitting upright in the same position with his untouched food and drink resting before him. “Magic,” he hissed. “Godsdamn magic.” It had to be. How The Blind Pig and its spell-casting proprietor had evaded detection for this long already was a mystery, but it didn’t change Ludo’s urge to leave it behind him as quickly as possible.

He endeavored to stand again, this time more carefully, and managed to do so without tumbling over the edge. Still, his legs felt wobbly as he made short work of the two steps to the floor, almost as if his body had fallen and was feeling the effects. Cursing, he headed for the exit.