Page 6 of The Iron Oath
“I’m sure wherever he is, he would return to us if he could,Banhas,” Amuleta whispered.
Gelisha smiled and caressed her face. “He’ll be here soon,danhas. Why don’t you go start dinner. I skinned and prepared the pekare you brought home. That was a good-sized one. I’m sure it will feed us for a long time.” She gave her a loving pat on her shoulder.
“Yes, Momma,” Amuleta murmured. She stood and kissed her soft cheek, then took her bags and went inside.
There had been many a day where Gelisha would sit and wait for Xagok to come home. He’d always return on the day he would promise.
Every time.
Accept for that one day.
Amuleta hurried and put her things away before arriving in the kitchen. Preparing dinner would help distract her from the sorrow of her parents’ story. She only wished she would find her mate. She longed to have what her parents had. Their home had been one filled with love and peace.
While her father went off to fulfill his duties, her mother took care of their home and spent time home schooling Amuleta. Gelisha taught Amuleta everything she knew from sewing, to cooking, to reading and writing three different languages. Amuleta was fluent in Universal, Orcish, and Peyali, the ancient Fae language that was taught to Gelisha by her grandmother.
Amuleta lost herself in the preparation of their supper. Gelisha had been busy while Amuleta had been to the market. There was freshly chopped wood placed inside the open pit in the corner of the kitchen. Amuleta only had to light it to get it going. She placed the rack above the fire where she’d sit the iron skillet.
It didn’t take long for the wood to simmer down. While it burned to a manageable heat, she made herself busy prepping their veggies that she’d roast along with the meat. Gelisha had prepped the pekare in perfect slices that wouldn’t take long to cook. She had prepared more than they would need. Amuleta would cook it all still, and they would be able to have some for tomorrow. Amuleta had rubbed the pieces down with some dry herbs that would enhance the flavor. Her mouth watered at the thought of the finished meal.
She took the iron skillet and set it on top of the rack so it could heat up. She moved on autopilot as she got their mealtogether. She listened for Gelisha who had yet to come in the house yet. Moving back to the skillet, she began pan frying the meat. The scent permeated the air. The pekare she had caught in her trap had been small and plump. They ran wild and were plentiful.
She quickly finished searing the meat then tossed in her freshly picked vegetables. She and Gelisha tended their garden that was located in the back on their property.
The sound of the front door opened signaling Gelisha was entering.
“Supper will be done in a few minutes,” Amuleta called out.
She wiped her hands on a towel and turned as her mother entered the kitchen. She paused and met her stare. There were tears brimming on the edge of her eyelids. Amuleta’s heart all but leaped in her throat. She knew the look and had seen it often.
“I did it again, didn’t I?” Gelisha sniffed.
Amuleta nodded, not needing clarification. Gelisha’s gaze was as clear as an Udenia sky at this moment. She slowly came into the kitchen and took Amuleta’s hands.
“Not a day goes by where I don’t miss him.”
“I miss him, too,” Amuleta whispered.
Gelisha brought her in close for a tight hug. Amuleta squeezed her eyes shut and basked in the feeling of her embrace. Her mother’s thin frame shuddered. She pulled back and cupped Amuleta’s face.
“Your father would be so proud of you.” She pressed a kiss to Amuleta’s cheek. “Now. What can I help you with?”
“Um, you can snag the plates and set the table,” Amuleta suggested.
She turned back to the skillet and stirred the vegetables. She drizzled a sweet and sour sauce she had prepared the previous day over the veggies. They were perfectly cooked, and the saucewould enhance their taste. She began scooping them out of the skillet and into a serving bowl.
“How was the market?” Gelisha placed two plates on the counter near Amuleta.
“I sold out of everything.” Amuleta grinned.
She made their plates while sharing with her the success of today. She had earned more than she had thought she would. Gelisha’s eyes widened when she revealed how much she had brought home.
“Oh my. We need to celebrate.” Gelisha spun on her heel and disappeared through the door that led down into their cellar underneath the house.
Amuleta shook her head and knew Gelisha was going to grab a bottle of wine they had stored for celebratory occasions. She took their plates and moved over to the little dining table. She set their plates down and went over to collect two glasses for them. It didn’t take long for Gelisha to return with a small dark bottle.
“This should go well with the pekare.” She set the bottle down on the table and took her seat. She reached over and poured them both a hefty amount of wine in their glasses.
“Good choice,Banhas,” Amuleta said.
