In a poorly lit corner of Beppe's Inn, touched only by the early rays of Gor's morning light, Theodore was sipping his coffee as usual. He had never liked coffee, but he knew he needed it for the long day at the royal court of Lord Public that was ahead of him. This was one of his favorite places to visit when most Candelvians were still asleep: a strange inn carved on the stony insides of a golem that long ago attacked the city. Who even remembers the heroes who defeated Beppe the Golem? All that's left is this cozy establishment with its white marble walls and the terrible but reliable coffee. The marble reminded him of home. He was sitting near the eye, or rather the hole that was once occupied by the eye, which now acted as a window. His favorite spot. From up here he could see the main street of the city, Victory Road, and hundreds of people and horses and carts flowing like a current down the slope and into the ocean. The line between earth and water was traced by the Port of Candelvi and, further ahead, beyond hundreds of white sails, the small island of the Coralic Basilica stuck out like a dark green sore thumb in the blue sea. Alrighty, I should probably get going, Theodore said to himself.

Theodore squeaked like a mouse and almost spilled coffee everywhere. His old samurai-ninja-pirate friend was standing behind him menacingly, seemingly having appeared out of nowhere.

S-Selenius, my old friend! To what do I owe the pleasure?

I have no time for this, the caffeine hasn't kicked in yet, he thought.