Mage Lee was beginning to stammer an apology, when the kitchen door slammed open for the third time that evening.

Both Royal Cook Fin, and Royal Mage Lee, looked to see a tall man with short thick curling black hair, a black beard, and intense brown eyes step into the kitchen that was still brightly lit by the extended daylight hours. He wore plate armor, a black cape around his shoulders, and he surveyed the room coolly before turning to the mage, plainly ignoring Fin’s presence.

“Have you seen Lady Pi- Lady Jenoure come this way?” He demanded gruffly.

The mage’s blue eyes were bulging from his previous shock at discovering he was not alone in the room with the witch, and yet also calculating the new occupant of the kitchen, when Fin jumped in.

“We have not seen the Lady Jenoure this evening, but I am sure if you ask her ladies-in-waiting, they will be happy to assist you in locating her. I believe I saw one of them heading towards the front gardens.”

The man straightened at Fin’s tone and annunciation, and studied him for several moments before tilting his head over his right shoulder.

“You dare to address me so informally, cook?” His dark eyes glimmered, and his head weaved over to his left side towards Fin, reminding the witch of a snake, as though he were a rat to be hunted.

“Forgive him Lord Piereva, this cook is from the country and is still learning how to properly address his betters.” The mage gave a graceful bow while also hunching his shoulders to appear smaller and shriveled. His biceps were a dead giveaway.

“Why is it the court mage and cook are conversing when there are festivities happening in the banquet hall?” The stranger once again addressed the mage, and turned to block the cook.

“Royal Mage Lee is bringing to my attention that his meal was less than satisfactory.” Fin replied while giving a shallow bow.

He had never seen this man before, but it was incredibly obvious he was one of the diplomats from Troivack due to his dark hair and tanned olive skin. Though his eyes…

Fin recognized immediately.

“Really, mage? I saw you devouring your meal with your eyes closed you were so pleased with the food. I on the other hand found it to be… unique.” The newcomer pointed out lightly. Whether his comment was meant as a compliment or an insult remained unknown.

Mage Lee cast his eyes to the ground, leaned on his staff more noticeably, then spoke.

“The cook here was unaware how an excess of pepper can aggravate my bowels.”

Fin bowed again.

“A note I will take with great care towards meals to come.”

The Troivakian man glanced between them amused.

“Cook you prepared a delectable meal this evening. I require more wine delivered to my rooms.”

Fin remained bowed.

“Of course.”

After a final derisive snort, the man left, and once his footfalls faded in the distance, the mage turned to the cook whom had resumed his usual jaded expression standing fully upright.

“Why did we lie to Lady Jenoure’s brother?” He demanded outraged.

“She asked me to.” Fin replied simply with a shrug as Annika stepped out from her hiding spot, startling the mage for the second time that evening.

During his lie, he had once again forgotten she was in the room.

“I thank you both for your help. I am sorry to place you two in this predicament.” She bowed her head to both of them. “My eldest brother wishes to discuss my returning to my homeland since my husband has passed, and I do not wish to broach the matter at this time.” She announced her voice calm despite her face being several shades paler than usual.

While Fin turned to his cooking table and began his final wipe down for the evening, the mage became awkward.

“Lady Jenoure I… I will be most sorry to see you go.”

“She hasn’t said she’s leaving.” Fin’s sharp reply drew both the mage and Annika’s gaze as he continued his cleaning ritual.

“Sadly, unless the King finds me another marriage partner before the year is over, I will be sent back home.” Annika answered clearly still taken aback by the cook’s outburst.

“Then marry some idiot that will let you continue acting as you please. What’s the problem?” Fin managed to give cavalier single shoulder shrug as he scrubbed the legs of the table.

The mage rounded on him.

“How dare you speak to Lady Jenoure disrespectfully! She will not settle for ‘some idiot’. The King has been fielding offers since the new year from many prosperous noble families! You should be bowing to her shoes.”

Annika winced at the mage’s words, but the old man failed to see the action.

“So why has a pairing not been made?” Fin straightened and stared at the mage coolly.

“That is not our business Finaly Ashowan! I think you have grown far too used to the leniency of our King with you terrible attitude and impertinence. I will be addressing this matter to the King and-”

“Mage Lee, please remember this man has been working nearly twenty-four hours every day for the past week to have the Beltaine feast ready. He is sleep deprived, and earlier this week had that nasty business with the Knights threatening him. Could you not see how that might make a man’s wits be somewhat addled?” Lady Jenoure had stepped forward, her brown eyes wide with innocence and good intentions.

Fin didn’t buy it for a moment.

He knew she was persuading the mage on his behalf however, and so kept quiet.

“My Lady, he was still discourteous, and he is only a cook-”

“Only a cook?!” Annika stepped in front of Fin, her hands clenched at her sides. “This man is in charge of food for the entire royal family, court, and serving staff!” She declared, her shoulders straightening, and her new posture raising her higher.

“He is the one to nourish our great leader, and to diminish his role as a protector of what his majesty ingests is to-”

“I apologize my Lady, I did not mean to upset you.” The mage bowed frantically his voice breathless.

“While Mr. Ashowan is not always the most sensitive of beings, he has always performed his duties with nothing less than perfection. He is now under the demand of several hundreds of commoners and nobility alike to deliver the same quality as always, can we not spare him an ounce of leniency?” She demanded her voice rising.

The mage remained bowed and quiet, acknowledging a losing battle when he heard one.

“Of course my Lady. Royal Cook Finlay Ashowan, please do your best to mind your manners.” When addressing the cook, the mage straightened, and his voice turned to a growl as Fin smiled cheekily at him behind the Lady’s back.

The mage looked as though he were debating incinerating him on the spot.

“I bid you good evening mage Lee. I’ll be sure to include less pepper into your dishes from now on!” Fin called jovially as the man disappeared over the threshold with a frustrated grunt.

Annika turned to face Fin, wearing a half smile as she stared up at his good-humored expression.

“Well Finlay Ashowan, I believe I just earned full rights to come and go from your kitchen whenever I please.”

Fin’s face fell.

“No you haven’t. I would consider that payment for getting rid of your brother- speaking of, why is it you are hiding from him instead of just telling him this is your home now?”

Annika’s smug appearance faded, and she shrank away from Fin.

“My brother is a powerful man, and with there being talk of war… it’s complicated.” She finished lamely while turning towards the door to the castle.

Fin sighed, and quietly shrugged to himself. It really wasn’t his business.

“Before I retire for the evening, I was wondering what you told the prince that got mage Lee so angry? The man is usually wrapped up in a cloak and mild mannered to a fault.” Annika’s tone indicated she was a mixture of impressed and concerned.

“Oh uh… I’m a little bit mistrustful and doubtful of mage’s overall, and I suppose I may have influenced the prince’s opinion on the matter as well.”

“You turned a seven year old against a mage?!”

The look of stunned horror and amazement on the Lady’s face made Fin awkwardly rub the back of his neck and cast his eyes to the floor.

“A royal seven year old. To be honest I would be more worried for the mage.” He said managing to keep his voice cavalier.

“That’s what makes it worse! You taught him to be disrespectful of his teacher, a member of royalty shouldn’t be looking down at anyone.” She chastised making Fin blush.

“I can… see your point. Though, I shouldn’t have been able to sway him so easily. He probably had his own reserves even before I mentio-”

The flat expression on Annika’s face made Fin stop talking.

“Fin, that child adores you. I do not know why, but you two have a weird friendship. He hasn’t asked any other serving staff to call him by his first name- other than Hannah I suppose, but that is different. This means you have a responsibility to be a good influence on him.” She continued with a small smile and a raised eyebrow.

Fin scuffed his boot against the stone floor.

“Alright, I’ll tell him to be respectful to everyone… even towards mages.” The derision that dripped from his voice at the mere mention of the lesser magicians made Annike illicit a small snort.

He gave a sheepish smile, and darted a small glance at her.

“You are a strange one Finlay Ashowan.” With a final smile, the Lady exited the kitchen, and as Fin waited for her soft footfalls to fade, Kraken poked his head out from under the table.

“She is a strange woman,” He lamented as he bent down to pick up the kitten with a sigh. “But I suppose she has her good moments.”

***

The banquet hall was boisterously loud as it was packed with nobility, visitors, and serving staff. The drinks were flowing, the food disappearing, and it appeared everyone was dressed in their finest.

Fin stood before the King’s long table at the back wall of the room, which ran widthwise, while two long tables ran parallel to one another against the length of the hall. It was crowded, hot, and despite the barrage of voices and minstrel music playing, the room gradually quieted, as eyes were drawn to the tall red-headed man dressed in peasant garb standing before his majesty alone.

The King cast his gaze around the room, and all too quickly, the remaining noise disappeared, which is when the monarch then fixed his unreadable hazel eyes on his cook.

Fin’s stomach was clenched as he bowed before the King, and then slowly straightened. He was keeping his emotions from his face, but he couldn’t deny that his stress levels were making the magic in his skin begin to itch something terrible.

“Royal Cook Finlay Ashowan, I have summoned you here at the bequest of Earl Piereva of the Troivakian Kingdom.” The King’s voice rang out into the room, and Fin felt his toes curl in his boots at the Lord’s name. Something about Lady Jenoure’s brother made him incredibly wary and agitated. The itch in his skin turned into a buzz as The Earl stood, and stooped to the monarch first before turning to the cook.

Fin bowed in turn, and when he rose, locked eyes with the Earl, earning a small eyebrow twitch from the Lord. Whether from amusement, or outrage at his brazenness, he wasn’t sure…

“Cook, I have requested your presence from the King of Daxaria to offer my compliments on the meal you prepared for us all.” The Earl raised his goblet, and the room broke out in polite applause. Fin didn’t bat an eye however; he could sense that there was more to it.

“Thank you for your kind words.” Fin bowed again, stiffly.

“I don’t suppose our Troivackian court could persuade you to come serve us instead.” The room shifted. There was an uncomfortable silence, despite the Lord looking impervious to it, but Fin could feel rather than see the King’s eyes sharpen on the Earl.

“While you flatter me greatly, my heart and skill has always belonged to Daxaria.” Fin bobbed his head, but did not avert his eyes, and he could feel his stomach twist as a small toying smile climbed up the Lord’s face.

“I understand, men from humble beginnings often latch on to the first master to show them interest.”

Fin felt a small tingle magic pop from his right arm, and heard a glass shatter somewhere at the back of the banquet hall. No one seemed to notice though as all eyes were glued to the scene in front of them.

“I will hold on to the hope that my knowledge of the heart proves true, and that we will speak again soon.”

The tension in the air was thick as the Lord raised his goblet once more to Fin before beginning to seat himself, when he suddenly stood back up.

“I nearly forgot. Last night I could not put my finger on it, but you reminded me greatly of a man at the Troivackian court. He was originally from Daxaria, and I wondered if there was any relation. His name is Aidan Helmer. Bright red hair, though turning quite silver, black eyes, about your height?”

Fin felt as though he were about to be sick, but managed to turn his chin and bob his head loosely.

“I am afraid not, my Lord.”

“Pity.” The Lord sat down, his eyes glittering as he continued to study the cook.

“Who is Aidan Helmer if I may inquire Earl Piereva?” The King stared coolly at the man, and Fin was relieved to see that the monarch didn’t seem to be overly fond of the visitor either.

“Oh he is our new Chief of Military. A fire witch if you can believe that! First time a witch has ever been allowed a spot in the Troivackian court, but the magnitude of his abilities is too impressive to go unharnessed.”

The fearful glances that ran around the room from Daxarian nobility only made Lord Piereva’s smile wider. While still officially unconfirmed, the rumors of war had been growing fervently amongst the land, and the announcement only magnified the threat.

“I see, he sounds like an interesting man to say the least.” The King replied calmly, appearing completely unmoved by the news, despite mage Lee shooting Fin a dark look from his corner seat at the table back where no one could see.

“Brother, I fear we have taken up enough of this cook’s time. He has the Belfast feast to prepare for tomorrow after all.” Lady Jenoure somehow made her voice sound musical as she gently touched her brother’s arm, and directed the conversation back to more neutral ground.

Fin had been so focused on monitoring Lord Piereva, that he had failed to notice Annika at his right hand side. She wore a black gown with silver thread, and silver chains woven through the loose braid that fell down her back.

What unnerved the cook further, was that had never seen her look so ill at ease. Despite her smile and relaxed body language, there was a distance in her eyes that told him she was trying to skirt around the peripheral of her brother’s awareness.

“Interesting…” He thought to himself though with a note of apprehension.

“Ah yes, my sister is correct, you’re dismissed cook.” The Earl waved his hand while turning his gaze to Annika whom continued to appear in control.

“I do not believe it is up to you to dismiss my staff.” The King’s voice chilled the room instantly, and Lord Piereva’s head quickly swiveled around, he let a small chesty chuckle leave his lips before placing a slipping mask of respectfulness over his amused expression.

“My apologies your majesty, I meant no insult.” He nodded his head, towards the ruler indifferently.

Fin stared as the man reached under the table, and gripped Annika’s forearm tightly. No one could see unless they happened to be standing directly in front of the table, and while the Lady’s face remained pleasant, Fin knew that he was gripping her hard enough for it to hurt.

The table suddenly jerked violently, as though a team of large men had picked it up an inch with all the food and finery, and dropped it back on the ground. A few pieces of food dropped to the floor, and dishware clattered abruptly.

The King’s jaw clenched despite remaining focused on the Lord, and the mage’s eyes bore into Fin, but he saw that the occurrence had made Lord Piereva release his sister, and that was all that mattered.

“Pardon me your majesty, I was attempting to rise from my seat. These old feet seem to have fallen asleep.” The mage announced standing and after giving a withered bow, sat back down.

The King acknowledged the apology before waving a hand in Fin’s direction.

“You are excused.”

Fin gave his respectful farewell, turned on his heel, and left the banquet hall swiftly.

“Well, I’ve learned two valuable things that evening.

The first; my abilities can extend the more rooms I visit connected to my ‘home’.

The second; my father whom I haven’t seen since I was eight years old, is leading a war to Daxaria’s doorstep.”