Page 21 of Wolf Heir
A redheaded woman, Gormelia, who usually served Aodhan’s table, said, “But that’s my table to serve.” Her hair was often on display, but it wasn’t half as showy as Cook’s springy or Aisling’s wavy curls, if she said so herself. Gormelia’s hair was straight and fine, not as full and luxurious as Aisling’s and Cook’s.
And Gormelia’s mouth was downturned more often than not, like she was always unhappy with something. Unless she were with her friends, and then she’d make a show of laughing and smiling, which all looked faked to high heaven. Her dark brown eyes were catlike and pretty but often narrowed with disdain, like she was trying to copy the chief’s mate, Morag’s demeanor.
“Aye, normally, and who is in charge here?” Cook asked, sounding annoyed that the woman would question her authority. “You will take care of the table Aisling normally serves.”
Aisling should have known Gormelia would be irritated with her for taking over her table. Some of the lasses preferredserving the guards, hoping to find a mate. Aisling often served the women and was happy to do so.
She already had her man, but still wanted to convince her mother that he was the only one for her. She suspected Gormelia was interested in Aodhan, but he hadn’t shown any interest back.
As soon as loaves of bread were brought up from the ovens below, the head table was served first, and then Aisling carried a tray to the table she was assigned while Gormelia bumped into her, nearly making her lose her tray. She could have bitten her; she was so mad.
When she saw Coinneach's smiling face, all her anger melted away. She smiled at him and hurried to serve Aodhan first. Before she could give him a slice of bread, Coinneach left his bench seat to assist her. He wasn’t supposed to; he was an honored guest.
He also didn’t know the rules here. She glanced at Aodhan to see if he would tell Coinneach it wasn’t done, but he only grinned and winked at her. Which made her cheeks heat in embarrassment.
She knew everyone would be watching them, partly because Coinneach had bested the championandbefriended him in one fell swoop, and partly because of his actions now, which were gallant but not at all done. She hoped everyone wouldn’t laugh at him as he helped her pass out the bread at his table.
“Two for me, love,” Aodhan said with a smirk. He probably needed more for all his muscles.
She hurried to give him another slice of bread and whispered to Coinneach, “You’re not supposed to help. You’re a guest.”
He only kissed her cheek. “I’ll see you in the meadow following the meal, aye?”
She thought of her mother’s comments, and now her mother had promised to tell her the truth about what bothered her so much about Coinneach being at the castle.
“Later.” Aisling hurried off with her empty bread tray to deliver fish soup next.
“You had a helper, I’m told, which is why you returned so quickly,” Cook said to Aisling, as she oversaw the rest of the meal.
“Uh, aye. He doesna know the rules.”
“Well, serve the fish stew, but to the head table. They always get their food first.”
“Aye, of course.” Now this was even more stressful. She hoped Coinneach didn’t try to help her serve the fish stew at the head table. And prayed she wouldn’t spill any of it and make a mess of things.
As soon as she went to the head table, Alasdair smiled at her. She smiled back and then gave Chief Hamish his soup first, without spilling a drop. But when she came to Alasdair, she tripped on an uneven stone and spilled some on the table. Alasdair quickly reached out and steadied her hand.
She silently thanked him. Then she left the soup off for the rest of the people at the table and hurried off to the kitchen, perspiring like crazy. Venison was next, and she saw that Gormelia had rushed back to the kitchen so she could serve another table besides the women’s. Maybe so she could serve the head table, which would suit Aisling fine. She wanted to see Coinneach instead.
Cook eyed the two of them. “All right. You can take the food to the head table, Gormelia. You work on the champion’s table, Aisling.”
“Thank you,” Aisling said, even though it wasn’t as prestigious as bringing the meals to the head table. But shedidn't think it was as nerve-racking either. She just hoped Coinneach didn’t come to assist her with the venison.
When she returned to the table, she told Coinneach, “Sit, and I will serve you.”
“Aye, lass. I hope I didna get you into any trouble.”
“Nay. I’m meeting my mother in the meadow. She’s going to tell me the truth about what concerns her.” She didn’t say anything more than that, not wanting Aodhan or anyone else to be privy to their situation.
Coinneach nodded. “I will wait for you still, to learn what she has to say.”
“Aye. But out of sight.”
She glanced at Aodhan, who was already eating his venison, listening in, of course, to all that was being said.
Then she served Coinneach and hurried off to finish serving the rest of the clansmen at the table, even Drustan, in charge of the warriors.
“You fancy this Coinneach, aye?” Drustan asked.
