The Chef's Table

[00:00:01] Part of facts of the Arcane by Jake Kerr Season 1, The Staff of Light Episode 2, The Chefs Table

[00:00:16] My parents died in a subway crash when I was three years old, which led my grandfather to never use the subway again.

[00:00:27] Even trains made him nervous. As a result, my life centered around locations within walking distance of his apartment in Manhattan Valley, or on special occasions, a horse-drawn carriage down central park to Midtown.

[00:00:42] The closest theater to us was the Zigfeld, and our weekend carriage trips to the theater were a welcome escape from my grandfather's claustrophobic apartment.

[00:00:51] But even the glamorous Zigfeld couldn't compare to the excitement of the Persian garden restaurant.

[00:00:58] Entering the Persian garden was like entering a foreign country, a placemarked not just by strange furnishings and people, but also new and exotic smells.

[00:01:08] Rich spices and incense that caused my head to spin. Everything made all the more intense by the subtle lighting of candles and gas lamps.

[00:01:16] In the past, the carved wood of the chairs and the booths and the rich and colorful tapestries led to flights of fancy over every meal.

[00:01:26] But after my experience with the shadows, the subdued lighting gave everything the potential of being something sinister.

[00:01:33] Every flickering light cast a moving shadow, and I wondered which would be the one that would flow across the floor and envelop me in darkness.

[00:01:41] To make matters worse, as I looked around, I noticed for the first time that there wasn't a single artificial light.

[00:01:49] Grandfather seemed unconcerned, however, and he strode purposefully through the main dining room toward the back followed by Mr. Oz.

[00:01:57] Normally, we ate at a large booth near the front of the restaurant, but we passed right by it.

[00:02:03] In fact, we passed all of the booths and tables and entered the kitchen through a doorway filled by hanging beads.

[00:02:09] As the beads slapped against the back of my head, I took in a room that could have come right out of the previous century.

[00:02:17] The kitchen was a mixture of wood preparation counters and large iron ovens and stoves.

[00:02:23] The kind which have long since been abandoned for smaller and more modern equipment.

[00:02:28] The walls were stone and the floor a colorful tile.

[00:02:32] Four men were busy preparing meals, all of whom were wearing robes and sandals and intent on their work.

[00:02:37] There was a small wooden booth in the back, which looked like it could fit about four people.

[00:02:43] My grandfather slipped into a seat, followed by Mr. Oz, who sat across from him.

[00:02:50] My grandfather snapped his fingers and then padded the seat next to him when I looked his way.

[00:02:55] How's your hand? He asked, almost back to normal.

[00:02:59] That will teach you. He replied as I slid beside him.

[00:03:03] He reached above my head and flipped a switch on the wall, which I hadn't noticed.

[00:03:08] The table was immediately bathed in white neon light.

[00:03:12] In the environment of the warm restaurant and its archaic kitchen, the effect was cold and ugly.

[00:03:18] Mr. Oz smiled and said, your paranoia is returning.

[00:03:23] Grandfather shrugged as a young man came up to the table and slid glasses of water in front of us.

[00:03:29] He said something in farcee, which I could not understand.

[00:03:31] Mr. Oz nodded and answered him.

[00:03:35] The waiter strolled off and Mr. Oz turned to my grandfather.

[00:03:40] Should we call for my father? No.

[00:03:43] Grandfather shook his head. He didn't understand before, and I doubt he understands now.

[00:03:49] He'll just bring up pointless distractions.

[00:03:52] Mr. Oz nodded.

[00:03:54] Grandfather took a long drink from his glass and then set it on the table in front of him.

[00:03:59] He ran his fingers through his unruly hair and then folded his hands.

[00:04:04] Resting them on the table, slow and deliberate.

[00:04:08] He peered at Mr. Oz. They were silent as I looked from one to the other.

[00:04:13] What is happening, Grandfather? I asked.

[00:04:16] I thought of the magical creatures which I had considered long extinct.

[00:04:21] The fear of the attack was starting to fade and I had to admit that I was rather excited about the possibility of magic.

[00:04:28] Real magic in Manhattan. He reached over and toutsled my hair without looking at me.

[00:04:35] That's the question now, isn't it?

[00:04:38] I considered a more specific question but he was no longer paying any attention to me.

[00:04:43] For 20 years all I have wanted was to be left alone.

[00:04:46] I left England, rejoined my family, dealt with tragedy.

[00:04:51] Grandfather paused, tapped his glass with his finger and then continued.

[00:04:55] You and your father have been great friends honoring my request and defending my privacy.

[00:05:01] He leaned forward. But I hear things baross.

[00:05:05] I know there is trouble on the continent. I hear of an illusionist with great power in Germany.

[00:05:10] I know that young fool Kane is consolidating his power in England and now this.

[00:05:16] Grandfather waved a hand toward the front of the restaurant with the shadows.

[00:05:20] He leaned back inside while Mr. Oz remained quiet and attentive.

[00:05:26] I have been foolish baross to expect that the burden of the staff could just be forgotten

[00:05:31] to think that magic would just fade away along with my family's legacy.

[00:05:36] My grandfather took another drink from his glass.

[00:05:40] Magic is fading, Declan.

[00:05:43] I looked over my shoulder, startled.

[00:05:46] The voice came from an older man dressed in colorful robes, standing to the side and behind me.

[00:05:52] He was short and stout with a wrinkled face.

[00:05:56] Despite his age, his hair was thick and black without a hint of gray.

[00:06:01] It was wavy but cut short. His eyes shone and more than anything he looked like a kindly old man lecturing a child.

[00:06:09] I had seen him before in the restaurant but had never met him.

[00:06:13] And to think they say that wisdom comes with age, grandfather stated.

[00:06:18] The old man smiled and I immediately knew who he was.

[00:06:22] His smile was broad and identical to one that I had seen many times. That of his son.

[00:06:28] Your Mr. Oz's father, the old man looked at me.

[00:06:33] Indeed I am and you are Thomas the grandson of the Pelavon.

[00:06:38] What's a Pelavon? I asked as Mr. Oz mirrored his father's smile.

[00:06:43] I remembered that Mr. Oz had called my grandfather that in the alley.

[00:06:48] Grandfather raised his hands and in an exasperated voice said,

[00:06:52] Oh now you've done it, Ali. You may as well join us in spin a tailor too.

[00:06:57] Mr. Ali laughed and sat down across from me. He turned to my grandfather.

[00:07:03] So master Thomas knows nothing.

[00:07:06] Grandfather must have nodded because Mr. Ali laughed again but it wasn't the deep joyous laugh that marked his son.

[00:07:13] This was one of resignation. It is why the staff usually skips a generation declin.

[00:07:19] I should have expected this. You all hold on too long. Does it matter?

[00:07:24] You are the one that says magic is dying. Grandfather shrugged and took another drink of water, finishing it off.

[00:07:30] Mr. Ali nodded, this is true. He paused and then added quietly.

[00:07:38] Perhaps it is time to give up the staff.

[00:07:42] My grandfather replied with a cold stare. No one said anything and I could feel the tension in the air.

[00:07:49] Grandfather eventually spoke. That is what Vingrosht told me.

[00:07:54] It was Mr. Ali's turn to stare. I couldn't tell if he was surprised or worried or shocked.

[00:08:01] My grandfather remained quiet and stern and Mr. Ali eventually shook his head and then looked across the table at me.

[00:08:10] We can discuss that later. I owe an explanation to young master Thomas.

[00:08:15] The waiter stopped by with some bread, which delayed whatever Mr. Ali was going to say.

[00:08:20] I found the waiting intolerable. I had known of magic, of course. Everyone knew of the exploits of Merlin and how he changed the history of England.

[00:08:30] But that was centuries ago. And like most people in 1938, I found magic so watered down that it was more of a side-show curiosity than anything worth my attention.

[00:08:41] There hadn't been a truly great magician since Merlin himself.

[00:08:45] And like every boy my age, I was more interested in movies, automobiles, airplanes and guns.

[00:08:52] But all of this talk of magical creatures, allusionists, shadows and allegacy involving me pushed every other thought and interest aside.

[00:09:02] I picked up my bread, my appetite drowned by curiosity and adrenaline.

[00:09:08] Mr. Ali smiled warmly. He had the kindest eyes and smile I had ever seen.

[00:09:15] Belivan is Persian for hero, Master Thomas.

[00:09:19] To many in the world, your grandfather is considered a great hero.

[00:09:24] A hero? I immediately thought of Errol Flynn. The thought of my grandfather as a swashbuckling adventurer captivated me.

[00:09:31] I had only known him as the old man who didn't like to leave his apartment and move slowly with his cane when he did.

[00:09:39] You're a hero? I repeated, turning to grandfather, but he nodded toward Mr. Ali.

[00:09:45] It is a long story, but the essence is that your grandfather helped the allies win the great war.

[00:09:51] Ha, helped? Is an odd way of putting it? Mr. Oz interjected, spitting out bits of food in his hurry to make his point.

[00:09:59] Yes, Buraz. His father said patiently, but helped is how we want them to put it.

[00:10:07] Help? How? I thought that it was America joining the war with our troops that helped and the war.

[00:10:14] I was getting an idea that the truth was being hidden on purpose, and I wanted to know more, especially as it appeared my grandfather had a large part in the great war that no one knew about.

[00:10:25] That didn't seem right. Mr. Ali looked like he was going to say something, but his son spoke up first.

[00:10:32] The truth is that your grandfather is the greatest archmage to ever wield the staff. He destroyed the Kaiser's troops. He broke the Kaiser's will. He laid waste to...

[00:10:43] Enough! Mr. Ali exclaimed, Master Thomas doesn't need to know more than his legacy.

[00:10:51] I looked at my grandfather, but he seemed detached from the conversation and just continued to eat.

[00:10:57] Mr. Ali gave his son a stern look and turned to me. You know of magic, of course? I nodded, although in truth I knew precious little.

[00:11:07] Well, there are few. Very few. Great magicians still in the world, but they avoid attention for reasons that we can discuss later.

[00:11:17] The important thing to know is that all of the magicians in the world pale in power to the one wielding the staff that your grandfather wields.

[00:11:26] My son was correct. Those that wield the staff are called archmages and your grandfather is one of the greatest, but your grandfather to his credit.

[00:11:35] Also realized that such great power is dangerous, and he left England and rejoined your parents 20 years ago to let the magic of the world fade away as it was meant to.

[00:11:47] My bread lay uneaten in front of me as I was focused holy on the story. So my grandfather's a great magician?

[00:11:56] No master Thomas. He wields the staff, and the staff is a source of powerful magic that makes him greater than the greatest magician.

[00:12:05] Very few can wield the staff. In fact, only members of your family can wield it for reasons lost to history.

[00:12:14] I looked over at my grandfather, who was wiping his mouth with a colorful napkin. But where is the staff?

[00:12:22] At this grandfather's left, it's right next to you Tommy. He looked at me and padded the cane which lay on the seat between us. It can change form, but I've never been able to figure out how to do it. My own father made it a cane before he gave it to me.

[00:12:38] I believe it was his idea of a joke, but I've grown quite fond of it. Does that mean I'll have it someday?

[00:12:46] I was speaking to my grandfather, but Mr. Alley interjected. I'm afraid not. As we mentioned magic is fading and the staff is now more of a danger than a benefit to humanity.

[00:12:59] Best to let it fade away as well. In that you are wrong. My grandfather looked across the table. His eyes focused and intense.

[00:13:09] Vincrosh and the shadows appeared just outside your doors. They threatened me and my grandson. Things are changing. I'm afraid now is not the time to give up the staff.

[00:13:20] Mr. Alley shook his head. Shadows? What did they want? The staff? Mr. Alley banged his hand on the table. Then why didn't you give it to them, Declan? Can't you see?

[00:13:32] Shadows can't use the staff and they can make it disappear forever. It's exactly what we talked about 20 years ago. My grandfather looked at Mr. Alley.

[00:13:44] You've always been too soft to understand magic Alley. When a shadow demands the staff is exactly the time when we can't give it up, why can't you understand that?

[00:13:55] Mr. Oz broke in. He's right, father. We can't give up the staff until magic has left the world. It's our only defense.

[00:14:04] Mr. Alley looked angry. His face turning red. The smile nowhere to be seen. Pulling himself out of the booth he stood and turned toward us.

[00:14:14] Declan, you and I have seen too much together for you to believe such nonsense. He then turned to his son.

[00:14:22] Baras, you've listened to too many of the Pelavins stories. You are both wrong. And with that, Mr. Alley left the kitchen, pushing aside the beads in the doorway with such violence that one of the strings fell, clattering to the floor.

[00:14:37] There was an awkward silence broken by Mr. Oz. He doesn't understand Pelavon. He's side.

[00:14:44] He never did. My grandfather nodded and turned to me. Tommy, now isn't not the time, but you will someday wield the staff.

[00:14:54] He nodded toward the cane lying beside him. I've been too complacent, too trusting. It is time that I prepare you for the challenge that awaits.

[00:15:02] I don't know what is going on in the world, but it appears we are once again facing troubled times.

[00:15:09] Just then, I heard a deep resounding boom and the entire restaurant shook, dust fell from the ceiling onto the table.

[00:15:17] There was a silent pause as Mr. Oz and my grandfather looked at each other un-easily.

[00:15:23] One of the waiters ran in, the beads clattering against the doorframe as he shoved his way through.

[00:15:29] We are under attack. He pointed to the front of the restaurant, a second boom shook the building. I looked at my grandfather, thinking back to his concentration and concern over the attack from the shadows.

[00:15:43] This time he was smiling.