"The Barrel of Shame isn't anything spectacular," Katrin explained. "It's basically used as a way of reprimanding people who break rules of propriety while 'on stage' at Faire. We have a barrel filled with cold water. A big hullabaloo is raised and it doesn't make much sense to the patrons, except that it appears someone is being ritually punished. We try not to let out what it is that the person is really being 'punished' for, because depending on what they did it could be bad for P.R. But the punisher and the punished know, and that's what really matters. The people in charge don't want to have to kick people out for minor things or first time offences, but a slap on the wrist doesn't do much. They figure humiliation might work better. For the people who care, it does. For the people who don't care, well, they usually stop playing with us after that anyway saying something about how we aren't any fun."

Bill chuckled. "Sounds rather effective. But if it is for first time offences, how did Ector get so many?"

"They were for different things. Ector's problem is that he just doesn't stop to think ahead all the time. He gets excited and carried away. The first time he broke character, which isn't that bad, but he did so and used profanity in the hearing range of patrons. It was just one word, and luckily no one was offended, but that sort of thing is not allowed. So he got a dunking. Another time, he was taking part in a performance and had an idea that would make it more entertaining. Only problem was that he decided to follow through with the idea mid-performance. It completely changed the direction of the gig. Needless to say, the other actors were not too pleased with that one. It was something of a breech of protocol, so, in he went!"

"Poor Ector. Would you have really dumped him in again?"

"Well, no," Katrin admitted. "I just wanted to see him squirm a bit. I must confess I have a somewhat... well, mischievous streak in me that comes out now and again."

Bill's grin widened. "Mischievous streak, eh? You'd probably get along famously with Fred and George. The 'mischievous streak' in just one of them is worse than Charlie and I put together when we were their age."

Katrin giggled. "I'm sure. Ector sends his apologies again, by the way. I had a talk with him after Faire closed. He and some of the other boys seem to think that I'm in great need of protection. It's ridiculous, but it makes them feel good about themselves. No one has ever taken it so far as to maul a patron before, though. I wanted to make sure it wouldn't happen again. He was profoundly embarrassed."

"It isn't a problem. I'm actually glad you interfered before I lost my temper. I have more control over it now than when I was younger, but sometimes... well, you know what they say about redheads."

"That they're Irish?"

"Oh, Aunt Nell!" Katrin exclaimed with mirth. "Honestly. Didn't anyone ever tell you it isn't nice to eavesdrop?"

"Come, come, dear. I needed to take your plates out of the way. Besides, you said you wanted to order food closer to noon, and it is almost noon. Here are some menus." She handed them two small, plastic covered sheets of paper, gathered the cake plates, and then turned to Bill. "Well? Are you?"

"Am I what?"

"Irish, of course."

"Uh, no, I'm English."

"Yes, I can tell that by your accent. I was referring to your heritage, dear."

"Not that I know of, but I never really thought about it."

"Oh, but you should. Genealogy is very fascinating. You never know who you are related to." With a nod she swept off and disappeared through some swinging doors behind the counter.

"Does she always do that?"

"What?"

"Come upon you unawares, randomly interject something in a conversation, and then leave again?"

A shrug accompanied Katrin's grin. "Well, yes. I guess you just get used to it though. Just flits in and out like a bird, and she tends to be rather high energy as well. Sometimes you don't know what it was that hit you until she's gone."

"Oh." He picked up his menu. "So what's good?"

Her grin widened. "Everything."

Bill chuckled. "That helps. What do you recommend? Or will I get the same answer?"

"Of course!" Katrin nodded cheekily. "Actually, they frequently change what they serve, sometimes on a daily basis. It just depends on the mood of the cooks, and what's available. But it's always good, and everything has something unique to the person who came up with the recipe or a story as to where the recipe comes from." She leaned over and pulled his menu down to the table, pointing at the item on the top. "For example, the combination for this salad..." As they discussed the different items on the menu, both of them scooted their chairs around the table so they were sitting next to, rather than across from, each other.