From lowly tavern owner to local celebrity—Varix Vel’Naris is finally living his best (after)life. After surviving dimensional travel, a dark sorceress looking for revenge, annoying bureaucrats, and opening night at The Shadow’s Respite, Varix just wants a little peace, a pint, and a night without nightmares. But the fates, or possibly the gods, have other plans. A rival chef wants his recipes, a baron wants his tavern, and Everspring’s grand market day has everyone cooking up trouble. Varix plans to dazzle the crowds with a daring new dish—if his competition doesn’t ruin the celebration first. But something ancient is stirring beneath the tavern’s foundations. Strange lights, whispered songs, and long-forgotten powers are waking, drawing the attention of kings, bards, and beings that haven’t walked the world in ages. To protect his friends, his home, and the fragile peace he’s built, Varix must face the past he thought he’d buried—and remember that even a retired Dark Lord can still rise to the occasion. Book 2 of a cozy fantasy tale of reinvention, camaraderie, and the universal truth that a good plate of hot food can solve almost anything. It's perfect for fans of Heretical Fishing, Legends & Lattes, and A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking !