Fin wandered around the stalls slowly. Hannah had become a human hummingbird the moment she saw the jugglers and fortune tellers. As she flitted to and fro, Peter was somehow being dragged along according to her whims. The Knights had run into some of their friends and quickly pretended not to know them, which Fin actually preferred. He didn’t need any more metal heads to handle. Though admittedly his current trio of brutes were turning out to be halfway decent people, if he were honest with himself.

The cook realized then that Peter and Hannah had disappeared into the amassing crowd, and found himself on his own as a result. He took the rare free time to absorb the sights and sounds around him while wandering through the event. All around him vendors were shouting their business as they tried to capture the attention of the people flowing by.

“Would you like to hear a message from your lost loved ones? I can speak with those in the afterlife!”

“Place your bets! Who will win the arm wrestle!”

“Spare coin anyone?”

“Hit the target, dunk the doofus!”

“If she scares your patrons, just cut her off!”

Fin slowed. The last voice he had just heard had been none other than Keith, Mage Lee’s son.

The witch saw him leaning against a wooden ale barrel between stalls away from the crowds, talking to a young man who looked worn out. Fin began to walk towards them purposefully.

No one needed to suffer Keith’s advice if he had any say in the matter.

“What’s happening here?” The cook’s voice made both men stand at attention, though neither knew why. This showed on Keith’s face as he blinked rapidly in the fading daylight at the Fin, and then resumed his lax posture.

“This young man has recently inherited an establishment and is feeling a bit overwhelmed.” The pity in Keith’s voice made the young man visibly wince as he rounded his shoulders against the words.

“Are you fine with him telling me that?” Fin asked the young man making sure to keep his tone respectful. He shot a nervous glance at Keith, and bowed his head to Fin as he nodded.

The young man couldn’t have been older than twenty, and had dark bags under his eyes, a long thin face, and ears that stuck out far too wide from his head.

“I see. Well, don’t listen to this guy. He has never had the prestigious job of running a business. He’s a mage.” Fin explained patiently while Keith folded his arms across his chest and tsked.

“You see how some people lash out when they feel inadequate? It is a part of my profession sadly; with great ability comes great problems. Let us talk more about your own troubles though, hm?” The mage reached out and gently touched the young man’s shoulder, subtly blocking Fin from the conversation in doing so.

The witch cast a wary eye at Keith before pointedly ignoring the mage’s comments.

“If you just inherited the business that means you are going through a time of mourning. I’m sorry for your loss, but please don’t take his advice. It will not go well.” Fin turned and strolled away while hoping that he had made enough of an impression for his words of warning to carry weight.

The cook looked around the festival that was located on the lawns behind the businesses of Austice. It was a hot day, and despite the sun not yet being down many people were already quite inebriated.

Fin saw several maids with their beaus either chatting a little too loudly, or fighting a little too tearfully, or kissing with reckless abandon a little too much.

He had a few coins with him, but didn’t see anything he really wanted to buy, so gave up browsing. Instead, he managed to grab a tankard of ale that was handed to him free of charge thanks to the red tie around his wrist, and found an abandoned bench to sit upon that was closer to the King’s forest.

A large wooden stage had been constructed off to his left, and he could see large swells of people carrying instruments. Commoners from the city were arriving with old blankets to lie on the grass near the stage that backed into the forest, as they buzzed in anticipation.

“Copper for your future?” An elderly woman seated herself on the other end of the bench. Her bright blue eyes studying Fin gaily as her smile revealed a few missing teeth. Though despite the gaps and her hooked nose… there was an aura about her that told him she had once been quite beautiful.

“I’m sure you are very talented at spinning tales, however I am quite content not knowing a thing. Good evening madam.” Fin toasted her with his ale and sipped, ignoring her prolonged gaze.

“Do not think you are unworthy greatness.”

Fin pointedly ignored her.

It was an old trick, but a good one. Offer people vague and mysterious statements to hook them in, then withhold more information to make them pay. It was an effective marketing strategy.

“Strange for a witch to be a skeptic of the unknown.”

Fin didn’t move. Didn’t show her his shock. She was baiting him. How could she have known he was a witch? Perhaps she was guessing outrageous things to gage his response to better refine her assessment of him.

“Ah well. Just know; don’t turn away from a path simply because you do not think you deserve to tread its ground.”

He didn’t respond or look, only felt her stand and leave.

After several moments he finally felt himself relax. He let out a long sigh, and glanced around the festival openly with casual interest. The larger than life energy was potent, and even Fin couldn’t help but feel as though there was a lot of fun to be had that evening.

He was tired, but some small wriggling little voice in him said that there were important things to see or do. He hadn’t the faintest idea why he thought this, and after several moments gave up pondering the matter.

‘Ah well. I can’t see the future, but I can enjoy this peace for the time being.’

Fin settled his forearms on his thighs and savored his next mouthful of ale, when he felt the weight of the bench shift again. Not wanting to inadvertently welcome more conversations, he pointedly ignored them.

“Enjoying the ale?”

His head snapped around, and his stomach dropped to the ground when he heard the voice.

“Lady Jenoure! Good evening.” Fin bowed hastily in his seat, and unconsciously slid further away from her. She wore a relatively plain bright red dress, and despite the warmth of summer, had a black cloak wrapped around her shoulders.

Her hair was only partway pulled back, and she wore single pearl studded earrings. She had her legs crossed away from him, but her left forearm rested on her knee to better pivot her torso towards him.

She looked… wonderful.

Lady Jenoure bowed her head in acknowledgment of his greeting, and appeared to be waiting for him to say something…

Right. She had asked him a question.

‘Pull it together. Just survive some polite conversation with her and go somewhere else.’

“Uh, the ale is quite good. Are you having a good evening my Lady?”

The glint of amusement in her eyes at his stiff awkwardness made her lips curl into a teasing smile that made Fin blush.

He busied himself by drinking more ale.

“I only just arrived.” Fin nodded and did his best to smile politely at her reply. The expression that came out instead was a pained grimace, which made Annika give an unladylike snort and giggle to herself.

“Relax Finlay, I won’t give you a hard time.”

He swallowed with great difficulty. The witch gave another brief nod as he wrapped his hands around his tankard to stop himself from rubbing the back of his neck.

“I do want your word however that there is a…” Annika glanced casually around them, and when she saw that no one was in earshot continued. “An understanding that silence earns silence.”

He nodded hastily and tried not to fidget.

“Good.”

Fin thought that would be the end of the conversation, but the Lady didn’t move from her spot at the opposite end of the bench.

He wondered if she would deem him suspicious if he got up and left right then. Glancing over to her, the witch saw that she appeared to be watching the crowds with mild, but pleasant interest. Fin wondered if she were capable of killing him.

She had already tried to stab him once when she had brought him Kraken. Given the lack of secondary attempts on his life however, he gathered that perhaps there had been some kind of misunderstanding that night. Regardless she also knew he was a witch, and she hadn’t ousted him to anyone as far as he knew. Meaning if she had wanted to do him harm, she would’ve made a move by now. She had all the weaponry she’d ever need to destroy him.

Fin turned and studied the woman sitting on his left more closely.

Her jaw line was quite soft, and the corner of her lips looked as though they wanted to smile, but got stuck on the way there. Her head was tilted slightly to the right and a few loose hairs near her face moved gently in the tiniest of breezes. She looked peaceful, and innocent somehow in that moment, making a small warmth bloom in his chest.

Fin cleared his throat. He knew he was staring, and needed to stop.

“It’s dangerous.”

Annika’s eyes cut to the cook swiftly at his words. He saw the warning flash cross her face, and gave a single small shoulder shrug.

Lowering his voice he continued. “It isn’t my business, but be careful.” Her expression was frozen as though she weren’t sure if he were about to continue, and expose her. Fin realized the Lady was most likely trying to decide whether or not she could kill him in broad daylight.

“Sorry, I will excuse myself now. Thank you for your company, my Lady.” Fin was beginning to stand and exit the horrendously uncomfortable situation, when a man around Fin’s age suddenly jogged over to the pair from the crowd.

“Lady Jenoure!” He called out with a broad grin. Annika’s expression became shuttered, and for some reason the witch found himself staying put.

“You probably don’t remember me! I was here two years ago touring and I wrote a ballad for you when-”

“I remember the ballad.” Annika smiled prettily.

Fin knew that was a bad sign.

“Well would you like me to sing it again for tonight? Since that time I’ve joined a whole group of minstrels, and I think we have a real shot at earning a place in the castle! We have our songs already picked, but for you my Lady we could-”

“-Given that the ballad refers to my marriage with the now deceased Viscount Jenoure, I’m not sure that would be well received.” She made her smile seem apologetic, but Fin saw the stillness in her that could only come from being all too aware of ones actions. It was a sure sign she was considering doing something she shouldn’t…

“Oh! He… He passed? I uhh, oh. I didn’t… um. I didn’t know. My condolences my Lady.” The bard gave a sloppy bow, and looked as though he wanted the Earth to swallow him up whole.

Fin wished it would for everyone’s sakes, but he sadly lacked that skill set.

“Thank you for your condolences. I look forward to hearing your new songs this evening.” Annika gave the man the mercy.

Gratefully, the minstrel took his leave and left Fin glued to the bench as the Lady drank from her goblet.

“You don’t need to stay.” She said aloud afterwards despite not glancing at him.

“Was the song… really that bad?”

She turned to face him then. He saw the dry amusement in her face.

“It was complimentary to a fault. I had only just arrived here from Troivack when he graced the nobility with a tune about my many virtues and beauty.”

“That sounds… embarrassing. Was it hard adjusting to life here at first?”

“It was.” She looked a strange mix of wistful and pained, and it was agonizing to see.

Fin knew he needed to leave, even though he didn’t want to if he were being truthful. Their conversing in such a public place was going to draw attention soon though, if it hadn’t already.

“I hope you enjoy the festival. Good evening my Lady.” He stood and bowed, and she acknowledged his farewell appropriately… but there was something oddly reticent in her expression.

The witch couldn’t put his finger on it however, and so he headed out to find Hannah and Peter once more.

One thing that did occur to him as he moved further from the Lady, was how she always seemed sad when she showed her true self. Fin didn’t like it. Not one bit. The witch began thinking how much he wanted to help but knew with a heavy aching heart, that there was absolutely nothing he could do.

*

Fin had just spotted his aides chatting with the kitchen Knights after searching the entire festival for them. He began heading over to their group when he came across mage Lee standing before the stage that was being prepared for the performers. No one dared to go near him as the man was muttering in his garbage ‘magic’ language.

“… Gods help me.” Fin muttered. He didn’t want to talk to the mage but… on the other hand… What if the imposter was doing something that could hurt the growing crowd? Like setting fire to the stage?

After glancing around and only seeing a bunch of minstrels tuning their instruments, he approached the man.

“I applaud your career move.” Fin announced while standing shoulder to shoulder with the milky-eyed mage.

The elder blinked several times, and turned his now clear eyes while keeping his back hunched. When he saw it was the witch speaking to him however, he immediately straightened and scowled.

“What are you implying?”

“Well you’re auditioning as a court musician aren’t you? I’m proud of you. I know it isn’t hard changing your ways.”

Mage Lee looked ready to throttle him, and it took most of Fin’s inner strength not to smile.

“Idiot. I’m working on casting an amplifying spell on the front of the stage. Do you see the metal and stone bowls lining the front? Those help the sound to carry so that everyone can hear.”

Fin raised his eyebrows.

“Huh. Never heard of that one.”

The slow smug smile the mage gave removed any small amount of complimentary thought from the witch’s body.

“Really? An air witch never learned this?” Lee scoffed.

“I never said I was an air witch.”

The mage couldn’t hide his surprise, and Fin was discovering he was quite pleased with the King. He may have told his wife, but he hadn’t told mage Lee anything more.

“Wha- the dishes! I saw them float, don’t try to toy with me.” He grumbled while turning back to the stage.

“Typical.” Fin feigned a cough as he said the word, making the mage turn back around while staring daggers at the young man.

“Pardon me?”

“I coughed. Now if you will excuse me, I believe my aides over there had questions for me.” Fin strode away whistling merrily, leaving mage Lee to mutter angrily to himself.

As Fin strode up to the small group that he saw everyday, he overheard some of their conversation.

“-Why not!”

“As I said! It ain’t a Knights-”

Hannah was openly pouting as Sir Taylor glanced around nervously. Fin assessed the young woman’s state, given that she was not one to whine or be difficult, and guessed she was probably in the upper reaches of tipsy.

“What seems to be the issue?” Fin asked as he finished his ale and joined the circle.

“I had just mentioned to Hannah how great the Knights were at singing, and now she insists on hearing them.”

The Knights collectively looked ready to shove Hannah into a trunk and ship her off to a foreign country, which didn’t make the arrival of more Knights any better.

“Oyy, Taylor, Lewis, Andrews! Long time no see!” Fin gazed at the new Knight arriving who, for some reason, was still wearing a steel chest plate. He looked to be in his early thirties with curling auburn hair and hazel eyes, a tankard clasped in his left hand was brandished in greeting. Behind him were perhaps four other Knights all drinking, and they too wearing random pieces of armor as they celebrated the night.

“Sir Harris, how’ve yeah been!” Sir Taylor had a desperate look in his eye as he cast a quick glance at Fin, Peter, and Hannah. He clearly was nervous about something being said.

“Oh much better since I don’t haffta see your ugly face every day! How is it bein’ a kitchen wench?” The men all chortled, but Fin could see the strain on his Sir Taylor’s face.

“Ahh what’s to say? I get to relax and eat good food. It’s like a vacation!” The Knight waved off the comment and took a drink. Something that caught Fin’s eye was how the large man turned his body, effectively shielding Hannah from sight.

Oddly enough Sir Lewis, Peter, and even himself had somewhat done the same subconsciously.

The cook felt strangely pleased all of a sudden.

“No wonder you’re lookin’ thick around the middle! So how awful is the new cook bitch of the castle?”

Every back stiffened, as Sir Lewis cleared his throat loudly.

“What? Is he here or somethin’?” One of the other men behind Sir Harris called out noticing the strange reaction their comrades had.

The cook then realized that not only had the Knights blocked Hannah from view, but also himself and Peter. He smiled, and didn’t notice the aide beside him give a nervous glance towards his superior.

“Errm-” Sir Taylor didn’t get the chance to answer for himself.

“Sir Harris was it?” Fin stepped forward and was pleased to see he was taller than the Knight by half a foot.

Sir Harris’ smirk dimmed slightly as he stared up into Fin’s eyes. After a moment however, it came back full force and even deepened when the witch held out his hand.

“I am Finlay Ashowan, the Royal Cook.”

The Knight glanced over both of his shoulders and was laughing with his friends without bothering to take his hand.

‘Oh. I am going to have some fun with you…’ Fin thought to himself almost gleefully. He’d been feeling a tad unsettled ever since he had spoken with Lady Jenoure earlier, and a Knight in clear need of a good lesson would help soothe some of the stress of the day.

He didn’t see the expressions his aides made behind him, but the group of Knights in front of the witch were suddenly staring at Sir Taylor again with humorous curiosity.

“Worried for the cook Taylor?” One of the Knights in the back called out laughing.

The response was slow to come.

“… Please don’t annoy him. I don’t wish that upon yous….”

The group behind Sir Harris quieted somewhat when they realized that Sir Taylor was worried for them, and not the other way around. It was at that moment when Sir Harris realized the cook was still smiling, and still offering his hand with a strange glimmer in his eyes.

The lines around the Knight’s eyes tightened slightly. For some reason he was suddenly beginning to feel as though he had fallen into some kind of trap…