It’s Just a Little Rush
Year of the Golden Gilled Boar, 1983, Veeratha, Itlid 2nd
Except for the prince himself visiting me in my room after lunch, positively raving about the snacks served that morning, nothing of note happened the entire day. I briefly considered that Jakeli was just egging me on in the hopes of me reconsidering his offer to stay and serve but he did seem genuine enough and didn’t talk about anything else except food until he left. The man knew how to enjoy the small things, even when his kingdom was about to topple through the actions of his cousin.
The kids dropped by shortly after, their instructions coming to an end for the day. They lingered and watched me scribble but all soon lost interest, especially that my writing was nowhere alike what they were being taught. Jibel tried to decipher what I was doing, having learned an abridged alphabet and numbers from me, but my penmanship that was made even worse by the writing implements, and strange words also made him lose interest.
The next day proceeded like the previous one but with one notable exception – Aiela came to visit me three times before lunch came. She came bearing samples of our next experiment. I had a feeling it wasn’t just about the samples.
In stark contrast to her appearance in the kitchens, she came almost like a new person. Her hair was combed differently, her clothes underneath her apron were too clean, and she smelled faintly of plants. Flowers, I guessed. I had no idea what flowers in this world smelled like but she did have that scent, at least on the first time she came. By the second time she smelled of smoke. Her tan skin was also, curiously, devoid of anything that would otherwise be present given her work.
She watched me intently and withdrew her gaze when I turned to meet hers. She would also blush at times for no reason. She was nervous despite me asking her to be at ease and would constantly smooth out her garments. Her eyes smiled the whole time.
An old song by a trio about shooing a young girl away started playing in my head by the second time she came with samples. Her demeanor was no help to my situation and left me wondering about other possibilities instead of what I was supposed to be focusing on. Thankfully, everything turned out great by the third time she came and I was left to my own devices from that point.
The idea that stirred me turned out to be the biggest hole as well. Hanni’s statement about seeing enemies suffer inspired me to conjure up the equivalent of an economic embargo on the kingdom of Khevernak but after plotting out the steps and what it would require, the whole plan began to crumble.
It would involve large sums and at least four highly diplomatic people of which I wasn’t sure existed. The costs, if it meant saving the kingdom, I was sure the prince and the loremaster could persuaded to agree to. It was the fallout in case negotiations didn’t pan out that would backfire badly. Even with what little I knew about relations between kingdoms, if this was found out, Khevernak may well be within its rights to demand reparations if not outright attack.
It also involved months and months of travel alone. Litoc, misguided as his notions were, had a headstart in preparation. Should I bring the plan up and he rejects it, it would be pointless to send parties out to the other kingdoms seeing that by the time the last one reaches Ferdid or Crilaven, Litoc would have already made an attempt at the Khevernaki king’s life.
I had a mind to quit and pack up but dismissed the notion, at least for the time being. Despite my worries about Litoc and what may come of him, I was more afraid at what Hanni had to say if she arrives to find I had given up so soon after she left.
Boy is she gonna be pissed if she rode out for nothing.
Growing increasingly frustrated, I lay down shortly after lunch with Jibel. The royals were asked to join their father so it was just me and the kid. I listened with feigned interest as he described what he’d learned in the morning. My thoughts were all over the place and as time passed, I started to like thinking of other, inconsequential things rather than find another way.
A round of knocks stirred me from my meandering thoughts. When I bid whoever was behind it to come inside, I had a moment of panic as I caught the image of an apron. Luckily, it was someone else from the kitchen, delivering our now semi-perfected snack – a garlic bread, breadstick, and crouton hybrid complete with several versions of our attempt at making mayonnaise. I thanked her and immediately jumped to the table to snack while it was still hot.
“Knew I’d find ye ‘ere.”
I wheeled around to find Litoc peeking from the door. He looked around before coming in, as if he needed my permission to do so. He removed his scabbard from his belt and sat opposite me.
“You finally gave up on your plans?” I asked, half-jokingly.
I pushed one of the plates toward him and positioned the small bowls with the dips between us.
“Lam Jorj. I just came ta make good on yer request to stop by.”
“You didn’t come yesterday.”
“I didn’t promise ta come every day. Where’s the others?” He asked while taking a piece of oven toasted bread.
“Jibel’s out with your niece and nephew learning to write.”
“And yer woman?”
“She left. Probably got tired of hearing you calling her my woman.”
He looked surprised but recovered quickly, chuckling loudly.
“Basterd. She didn’t leave.”
“It’s true. Do you see her things? She even took the clothes I bought her at the old market.” I replied, pointing at the open sack.
“Quit yer jokin’ Jorj. If she did leave, why aren’t ye all broken up like a jilted lover then?”
“Because she was never my woman. Besides, I can’t hide anything from you. I know you have eyes in this place.”
“Alright, alright, she left. We’ll find out soon enough. What’s this anyway? I don’t believe I ever ‘ad this ‘fore.”
“Old bread. Had the kitchen make them to serve up to the prince and his guests.”
He shot me a raised eyebrow but kept chewing.
“Figures. If anyone can make them snobs eat peasant food it’d be ye. So, from the mess in there,” Litoc gestured to the table behind him, “I can see ye’ve been busy. Ye thought about my offer yet Jorj?”
“I have and my answer is still the same. I’m not leaving until I’ve convinced you to come with us.”
“My mind is set Jorj. Really, just take my offer. Short of seein’, knowin’ that basterd Amreth is sufferin’, squirmin’, goin’ seastruck fer what ‘e’s done, nothin’ will change my mind.”
“That’s easy. Why don’t you and I head over to that high priest’s building by the castle walls right now and find the best gartutri?”
“What’ll ye need a gartutri fer?”
“To cast a spell, a curse! What else are they good for? I’m sure we can find one there.”
“Ha, ye can find one who’ll say yes ta ye ‘cause they’re afraid what ye’ll do if they say no.”
“Are you saying curses don’t work? You and the others at Osea had been cursing Marbe and look what happened to him.”
“’sgot nothin’ ta do with our cursin’. ‘twas one o’ the unguided ploys the old king an’ my cousin did.”
So that’s what you meant!
“You mean those were actual soldiers?”
“Ha. ‘slike Jakeli said, they we’re tryin’ ta see ‘ow ready the towns are in case o’ an attack.”
“Guess Osea failed then.”
“No doubt. So, what ye come up with Jorj?”
I eyed him for a time, squinting.
“Are you really asking me that? You’re actually looking for a reason to back out?”
“I’m not. Like I said my-”
“Your mind’s made up. I know, I know. Why ask then?”
“Yer startin’ ta hate me, aren’t ye? I’m just curious, is all.”
“I don’t have anything,” I admitted, “anything concrete, that is. I had a mind to bribe you into coming with me to the city underground so you’ll finally believe me.”
“Yer still on ‘bout that? Let me borrow Jakeli’s words then. Preposterous!”
“It’s true though, like I keep telling you. That’s where I got Barb.”
“Jorj, I’m ‘appy ye gave Barb ta me but just stop with this underground kingdom nonsense. I’m not goin’ ta ask where ye got ‘er.”
“So even if it’s true and I personally offer to take you there, you won’t come?”
“I can’t deal with if’s now Jorj. I got business ta finish.”
“So you’re here to either gather reports, spy on someone, get supplies, or you actually have nothing to do at the moment. Or all of it.”
“Somethin’ like that.”
It was as I feared. Anything half-assed will not convince him.
“He’s not happy, you know.”
“The child? I ‘ad a feeling. ‘ed grow out o’ it soon ‘nough. Sa, ye think the kitchen still ‘as this? I’d like ta brin’ some with me.”
“If there isn’t, it won’t take them long to make them, now that they know how to. There’s some sweetened nuts and dipti too I think.”
“I’ll see about the nuts. Can’t say I’m up for that other thin’, ‘sbland as tree bark.”
“Not this one. Jakeli was here yesterday, couldn’t stop talking about it.”
“That man wouldn’t know the first thin’ about what’s tasty an’ what’s not.”
“You’d be surprised. You know what? I’m bored. Let’s go to the kitchens and fix you something.”
“Ha, I’d like that.”
We didn’t talk as we walked from the castle towards the kitchens, mainly because Litoc was carrying a bowl on one hand, and a bunch of toasted bread on the other, devouring them as we went.