Page 13 of The Poison of the Earth
When she pauses, I ask, “Where are we headed?”
She slows, so I can keep pace next to her. “To the kitchen.”
I ponder that in silence as she continues her impromptu tour.
She pushes on the heavy wooden door and I’m immediately greeted with the aroma of fresh bread. My eyes land on the little round Fae, her grey hair braided down her back and an apron covering her petal-pink dress. An earth Fae, I’d guess, taking in her rounded cheeks and kind brown eyes.
She gives me a quick once-over. “Not quite as sickly as when ye got here,” she nods. ‘Do ye have any kitchen experience?”
I hesitate. “Just personal,” I settle on.
She nods, “Aye. C’mon then lassie. Call me Cook.” And she pulls an apron off a wall hook and holds it out to me.
SEVERAL HOURS LATER, I’m laughing and covered in flour. But I’ve chopped vegetables for tonight’s dinner of stew for the entire castle and helped prep bread for tomorrow.
Cook’s eyes take in the sun on the floor that’s filtering in through a window and turns to the smallest oven. She pulls ongloves and opens it, removing some type of fruit croissant. “Can ye make glaze?” She asks as my mouth waters.
“If you tell me how, I surely can,” I quirk a smile at her and she laughs.
“Put some crushed sugar in a bowl, press it with a fork, add a pinch of salt and a hearty splash of milk.”
I nod as I follow her directions. Soon I have a gooey, translucent glaze and Cook brings a pastry over. “Now use the fork to drizzle it over, heavily.”
I do and turn to her for her approval.
She’s nodding. “Perfect, Allie. Tradition says we eat the first one we finish.” She grins as she sees the shock on my face, but only for a second, then I’m shoving the warm, sweet dessert into my mouth.
“Mmmm,” I mumble around it, “‘s fucking perfect.”
She laughs and puts an arm around my shoulders. It makes something deep within me ache painfully and the sugar turns to ash in my mouth.
WHEN I HIT MY BED THATevening, I’m exhausted. Kitchen help keep long hours. I hear the door lock behind me and I glower. Not trusted enough to not be locked in at night. It’s rather heartening that they are so cautious however; I don’t want them killed. I didn’t see Lonan or any of his circle once I got to the kitchen, but I’m hopeful I will soon. I tug the blanket up and roll over, too tired to do aught else.
NEAR UPON A WEEK GOESby in which I am waking before the sun and in bed much after moonrise. However, I can eat essentially whatever and whenever I wish. Thankfully, this hasgotten me back to my normal weight. I do know that once I start expending magic again, that I will return to the fast rate at which I burn through my stores of energy. And while I am somewhat concerned that I have seen neither the Commander nor his General during this week of kitchen work, I am quickly earning the trust of other servants within the keep.
So when on the eighth night of kitchen work, I collapse into my bed and I do not hear the click of the lock that I have become accustomed to, I sit upright. After a moment of holding my breath, I slowly pull my covers back and ease myself out of bed. I cross to the door on silent feet. Grabbing the door knob, I turn it slowly and sure enough, the door swings open. Without a peep, I quickly pull the door shut and tiptoe back to my bed where I lay awake, eyes upon the door, for many hours.
SEVERAL DAYS PASS INmuch the same manner. I do not see Lonan or Kai or anyone of the inner circle, and when I collapse every night into my bed, my door is left unlocked. I do not attempt to sneak out because anyone with any godsdamn sense, would’ve surely put a guard in the hallway. To make sure that I didn’t try to murder one of them in their sleep, or even merely slip out of keep. And thus, I’m in a holding pattern. It chafes at me; too much of my life I’ve been in a holding pattern.
And now, now that I am so close to my goal, I struggle to maintain my ruse. My annoyance and frustration build. Surely soon Lonan or Kai or even Lilac will come to speak to me. Hoping that I have some knowledge that would be useful to them. I struggle to bide my time. However I’ve learned patience over the years, forcefully. Or so I tell myself when I feel like I’m ready to climb out of my skin.
So when nearly two weeks into my kitchen time, Cook suggests that I deliver the morning meal to the Commander andhis inner circle, I jump upon the chance. The normal guard who delivers their meals is out sick today.
I quickly place their plates upon the large tray and balance it using a shoulder and my hand before I slip out of the back entrance of the kitchen. It leads directly into the room where I first broke bread with Lonan.
As I cross the room, keeping the heavy tray laden with the meal balanced, the first thing I noticed is that Lonan is in a pale green shirt that seems to bring out the blood red of his eyes. His one tattooed hand rests upon the table, softly tapping. He’s pushed his chair back from the table and is lounging. His trousers are mostly hidden by the table, but the leather laces at the top are just visible and my mind immediately dives into places itabsolutelyshould not go. I shake myself internally.I’m supposed to be making him fall in love with me.
As I get closer, Lonan looks up, recognizes me, and a look crosses his face: a grin like the sun breaking the horizon. And I find myself smiling back like a godsdamn fool.What in the worlds is wrong with me?
The next thing I notice is Kai glaring at me, glaring at me with a silent rage, the intensity of which I have done naught to earn.I mean, not that he knows of.I struggle against the smirk that tilts my lips as he continues to glower at me, oddly loving the idea that my very existence annoys the piss outta him.
I quickly turn away from him, and focus on Lonan. I lower the tray, balancing it using the table and one hand and place his plate in front of him. I keep my eyes down, but when he murmurs his thanks, I flick my eyes up to see his locked on my lips. I lick them in a discrete but visible manner and I can almost feel his desire.
Perfect. Think with your dick.
I slip around the table, handing out plates laden with eggs and potatoes and cinnamon-stewed apples as I listen in silently.Lonan and his circle seem to be speaking of something light. I hear some plans for a Mabon festival in the village; Cook and Lu have already told me about it.
When I get to the last person, I slowly put down their plate as I try to get a good look at this new Fae. The black robes mark them as an Ordained, a member of the Monkswick family from the Monastery Isles. I stifle my involuntary shudder. I hate Ordained.
