Fin didn’t dignify the Bard with an answer as he turned towards the crowd, placing his back to the man. He needed to get to Annika and hear her reply before returning to the kitchen. He could not be delayed again.

Lord Piereva strode past Fin at that moment, failing to notice him as he addressed the Troivackian Knight at his side. The Earl had predictably not worn a costume, and stared around the festivities with open derision.

“-Dawson isn’t at the cottage? Then I’ll go check myself if that cook is where he ought to be.”

Fin froze on the spot. The Earl was several strides ahead of him, and he had no chance of surpassing him, even if he tried to run to the kitchen using an alternate path. His hands clenched at his sides as he tried to think despite the disaster unfolding before him.

Then, a certain Bard he had already forgotten about, spoke.

“Need a distraction?”

Slowly turning around, Fin felt a creeping dread settled into his stomach.

Reese Flint had his tunic unlaced to reveal part of his bare chest, and his hair was swept up and to the side. He sported brown trousers and a forest green coat that was cut snugly against his hardened form — frankly it looked uncomfortable to the redhead. Behind the Bard was an impressive ensemble of musicians that looked to their leader expectantly for their next song.

“...How much time can you buy me?”

“A single song.”

“How would you-”’

“Darling he is almost at the doors. Grant me a favor in return and you will get your head start.” Reese smiled innocently as Fin turned and saw that the Bard was sadly correct.

“Fine,” the redhead snapped in desperation.

Reese smiled again, closed his eyes, raised his hand in the air and let out a long breath as he drew it down slowly back down in front of himself.

“I’ve dreamed of this moment.”

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Desperation layered with exasperation could be heard in Fin’s voice.

“I haven’t gotten to do something like this since my time with the Emperor of Zinfera.”

“What?”

The Bard didn’t answer as he snapped his fingers, and over his shoulder shouted;

“Clarisse, Angelisse, buckets! Don’t even dream of being a beat early!”

He then grabbed an odd short metal cylinder with a glass orb at its top.

Throwing his arm out, Reese pointed directly at…

Keith Lee.

The mage’s son was standing at the opposite corner completely alone, holding a goblet. When the Bard signalled him, he smiled, then drew out his wand and gave it a wave while muttering a word they were too far away to hear. A beam of bright pure white light shone out of its crystal tip as every other candle in the banquet hall was extinguished.

Reese pointed at Lord Piereva and Keith’s smile broadened as he aimed the light at the Earl and the entire room fell silent.

The Bard stepped forward into the light, and the crowd shifted as the Troivackian Lord slowly turned around.

The instrumentals began as Reese began strutting slowly to the beat and swaying his hips towards the Earl.

“Humidity is rising, barometer's getting low

According to all sources

The street's the place to go

'Cause tonight for the first time

Just about half-past ten

For the first time in history

It's gonna start raining men”

As he moved in slow body rolls, Reese would reach out to one of the adoring Ladies that had flocked to the edge of the dance floor, and gently caress a lock of hair or hand. Sighs and giggles followed that confused Lord Piereva, especially when the Bard’s green eyes never left his face.

“It's raining men, hallelujah, it's raining men, amen

hallelujah, it's raining men, amen

Humanity's rising

Barometer's getting low

According to all sources

The street's the place to go

'Cause tonight for the first time

Just about half past ten

For the first time in history

It's gonna start raining man

I'm gonna go out to run and let myself get

Absolutely soaking wet”

Reese suddenly dove to his knees at Lord Piereva’s feet as two buckets of water doused him from the sides. His tunic was transparent, water droplets trickling down his body as he stared up hungrily at the stunned Lord.

It's raining men, hallelujah

It's raining men, every specimen

Tall, blonde, dark and lean

Rough and tough and strong and mean,”

Reese Flint stood and began dancing closely around the Earl before summoning the crowd of fawning noble women he had worked into a fervor. Unprompted, the women began twirling around the Bard and Earl, brushing feathers and fans against them, all while they attempted to press their bodies closer to the two men.

The King sat on his throne with his hands steepling over the tip of his nose and grinning mouth to hide his amusement. Captain Antonio at his side was on the brink of hysterics, and wasn’t even trying to hide it, while Lord Fuks stood to the side of the throne and was jerking his shoulders to the beat of the song. Mr Howard watched mortified over the King’s right shoulder.

“I wish Ashowan and Mage Lee could see this,” the King called over the music, as the Captain succumbed to uncontrollable laughter. They were unaware that the House Witch was a mere twenty feet away and equally as delighted as them.

“God bless mother nature, she's a single woman too

She took off to heaven and she did what she had to do

She taught every angel she rearranged the sky

So that each and every woman could find her perfect guy

Oh, it's raining men, yeah”

Annika was standing shoulder to shoulder with Lord Jiho Ryu, her jaw hanging open wide enough to catch an entire swarm of flies before she leaned over to the Zinferan.

“This is the greatest night of my life.”

Reese continued shimmying and dancing in a tight circle around the Earl while the noble woman continued to dance closely with their swirling silk skirts and costumes. The Lord was completely hemmed in, but was defeated more by the flashing low cut bodices and ample bosoms than the Bard.

It was then that Reese managed a hasty wink in the redheads direction- a gesture that was sorely misinterpreted by the crowd of adoring noblewomen as they collectively swooned.

Fin finally snapped out of his stupor, and began to maneuver his way through the crowd, resuming his escape. He tried to see Annika, but the party goers had shifted and without much light, Fin had no way of knowing who was where.

Hastily, he slipped through the sweltering bodies, amazed that the noblemen did not seem to mind their wives behaving so outrageously, as they were all too amused by the situation to fully care.

*

Annika stood shaking her head as the dance came to an end and Reese Flint bowed to the wild crowd.

“Thank you everyone! A round of applause for this dashing Troivackian Earl for spicing up that number. You were a terrific sport.” Reese Flint bowed to the Lord whose expression darkened as the women gradually faded back into the crowd.

He stalked off purposefully with his Knight, Sir Wickfield, on his heels.

“I wish there was a way to hold that event in my memory for the rest of my days.” Annika chuckled as her eyes continued to scan the crowd for Fin. She had lost sight of him after he had set the Prince down. It was odd that he had rushed off without hearing her reply…

Then again, what if he had changed his mind after confessing?

‘I have no right to be surprised if that’s it. He is probably drunk and just came to wish the Prince a happy birthday.’

“So have you made your decision regarding your future husband?” Jiho asked breezily with his hands clasped behind his back. He surveyed the room with a serene expression behind his mask. He had come dressed as a blue jay, and wore fine blue silk with swirls of cream to best bring the image home.

After doing another cursory scan of the room and seeing neither hide nor hair of a Captain’s hat, or black coat with gold thread, Annika felt her newfound hope withering away inside her chest.

“I suppose so.” She replied bleakly. For once she didn’t have to pretend to be dull — she felt dull. All the light in her felt as though it had a bucket of ash doused over it.

“Wonderful. I am certain we will have many brilliant children.”

She turned slowly to stare at the Zinferan who looked perfectly pleased with himself

“You think I will choose you?”

“We both know I am the obvious choice.”

When Annika didn’t say anything in response, Jiho turned to the doors with a slight frown.

“Hmm, odd. I suspect the cook must be overwhelmed right about now.”

Annika’s head snapped back to stare up at the Zinferan Lord.

“What do you mean?”

“Well my Lady, he dismissed his entire staff this evening in order to prepare the late night meal all on his own. I suspect that is why Lord Piereva is as angry as a bear. He most likely is hungry and went to speak with him. Poor man.”

Annika felt the wretched hope fill her yet again.

Had that been it? Had he come to only talk to her then needed to rush back to his duties?

“You know, sometimes the simplest explanation is the right one.” The Zinferan’s voice once again broke her thoughts.

Annika blinked several times before she turned and saw Jiho smiling down at her knowingly.

Too knowingly…

“Do me a favor, my Lady?” Jiho began as Annika’s eyes began to narrow. “Don’t ever be afraid to give an emotional shove to that stubborn ass. Even if it’s over a cliff.”

Her breath caught in her throat.

“What are you-”

“He’s terrible at hiding his nonsense, and I can see that his affliction is beginning to spread. I recommend that you retire straight to bed this instant to rest and avoid worsening the condition.” With a wink, Jiho crossed his arms over his chest and stared back over the party.

Smiling with enough radiance to embarrass the sun, Annika went up on her tiptoes and planted a platonic kiss on Jiho’s cheek.

Then she slipped out of the banquet.

Jiho leaned his head back against the wall and plucked a goblet off of a tray a servant carried by him.

‘Well Fin, try not to mess it up. We’ve all done all we can.’

*

Exiting the banquet hall with a stumble, Fin took off running towards the doorway to the maze. He couldn’t head straight to the kitchen as that would be too suspicious.

By the time he reached the exit, his lungs were screaming. He mentally tried to gauge how long he would have before the song ended and the crowd cleared enough for Piereva to leave. Fin was nearly down the steps, when he screeched to a halt behind a costumed couple that were in the throes of a passionate kiss.

“Erm… I don’t mean to be… could you maybe…” The couple remained oblivious to the inconvenienced figure. “Forget it.”

Fin leapt the rest of the way down the steps into the soft grass and bolted down the castle wall, making sure to duck beneath windows and keep his face turned away when he would hear the occasional laugh or shout.

He rounded the corner of his kitchen, and before entering, magicked the hearth fire out. He didn’t need anyone peering in.

Diving into the darkness, Fin immediately stripped out of the mask, bandana, black coat, and tunic. He yanked out his backup work tunic from under a bag of flour, and pulled it over his head. He tied his apron around his waist, and with a hasty snap of his fingers, had the fire roaring again. He ceased all magical cookery that was preparing the midnight meal, and dusted his apron and arms with flour for good measure. He hid his costume under several stacks of potatoes, and mentally begged Sir Taylor for forgiveness if it became ruined in any way.

He was beginning to pull a tray of brownies out of the oven, when the castle door was thrown open with great force, and in strode Lord Piereva with Sir Wickfield behind him.

The Earl leveled Fin with a scathing appraisal of his appearance. Fin raised his eyebrow and glared back.

“Lord Piereva, to what do I owe the pleasure?” The cook asked dryly.

“Where’s my Knight?” The Earl barked while striding further into the kitchen until he was in front of Fin’s table.

Sighing, the redhead set the pan down and placed his hands on his hips.

“Well let’s retrace your steps. Where did you last leave him?”

“I’m in no mood for your smart ass remarks.” The Earl growled while Sir Wickfield’s eyes gleamed. The man was salivating over the promise of violence.

“Is the ball really so bad that you have to come harass me? Are there no noblewomen interested in your obvious need for a hug- or is it because you evidently need a doctor?” Fin leaned the tops of his fists on his table. He knew he was taking a dangerous risk in baiting Lord Piereva, but he couldn’t stop the giddy excitement of the night singing in his veins.

“ The Earl needs a doctor?” Sir Wickfield looked at his master worriedly. Before the large Troivackian could say anything, Fin jumped in yet again.

“Of course he does. It is unwise to leave that stick up his ass for too long- it could become infected.”

The Earl’s hand shot out and yanked Fin up by the tunic. His eyes were wild like a boar’s as his other fist came sailing down towards the cook’s face.

Only he didn’t hit the cook.

He hit the tray of brownies that Fin had grabbed and used to shield himself with.

Snatching his hand back with a hiss, Lord Piereva’s knuckles were already growing pink from the burns that came as a result of his strike that had landed in the bottom of a hot pan. Fin set the tray on the table and tutted.

“Half a tray of brownies ruined.”

“I’LL HAVE YOU FIRED COOK! YOU HAVE MY-”

“Lord Piereva. You have harassed me, my staff, have people following me, you just physically attacked me, and while in the beginning I was cordial, there is no need for me to continue being so now. You haven’t once went to any of my superiors with your grievances. Which means one thing and one thing only; you will be in far greater trouble than I will be should the King find out you are acting the tyrant in his castle. You are a guest here, my Lord. You do not get to get away with behaving like a spoiled brat.”

For several moments the Lord looked as though he were about to explode.

His face grew vermillion red, his eyes bulged almost as much as the vein in his forehead, and his hand was inching suspiciously closer to the hilt of his sword.

Sir Wickfield looked as though it were the morning of the Winter Solstice.

The door to the kitchen suddenly opened then, as servants filed in to start carrying out the trays of food for the midnight meal. At the very end of the line Ruby appeared in the doorway, and with a single glance surmised that Fin was about to be stabbed.

“Lord Piereva, a Lady Keely Hawkins is looking for you in the banquet hall.”

“Who?” The Earl snapped, his vein still throbbing mightily.

“Lady Keely Hawkins? I believe she was dressed as a colorful fish this evening. Bright pink if I recall.”

The Earl’s attention was captured.

He cast a lone glare at Fin as he began to walk towards the door.

“We aren’t finished with this conversation cook.” He snarled, all the while missing Ruby’s dark expression directed at him.

“Have a terrific evening my Lord- oh. You have a feather in your beard by the way.”

There was a violent snort, but the Earl stormed out of the room and slammed the door shut behind him.

Fin waited several beats of silence before he walked over to the door and gave it a small tap with his finger to lock it for the night. The servants would place the dirty dishes in their banquet hall to be dealt with in the morning. The kitchen was cluttered enough.

As he turned back to his table, Fin gave a small spin with extra effort.

Next thing he knew, he was smiling and dancing to himself as he dusted flour off his hands and remembered feeling Annika in his arms whirling around the banquet.

The kitchen began to magically clean itself around him as he grew more and more exuberant in his dancing. The witch let himself celebrate the euphoria of the night’s rousing success, and couldn’t stop his smile becoming the occassional burst of laughter as he gave a particularly energetic spin.

“I’m glad you saved that footwork for when you could be alone.”

Fin swung around and found Lady Annika Jenoure leaning against the garden doorway with her arms crossed over her chest.

She wore men’s trousers, her black cloak, and no longer wore her mask. She stared at him with an unreadable expression, but even though she was hiding it, Fin knew why she had come.

He could feel it.

“I’ll have you know a very beautiful crow thought my dancing was spectacular this evening. What brings you to my kitchen, Lady Jenoure?”

He began striding towards her slowly.

“I was checking to make sure the castle was properly protected. There was a mysterious pirate at the banquet after all.”

Grinning broadly, Fin stopped in front of Annika with his hands on his hips.

“I see, and what would you say to this pirate should you find him?”

“You promise you won’t have any second thoughts?” A small smile of her own was beginning to bloom on Annika’s face.

“Love, you’ve been my first and only thought for quite some time.”

Annika looked like she wanted to laugh and bicker with him more, so he did the only thing he could think of to keep such a challenging woman happy with him.

He kissed her.

As Fin drew her further into the kitchen, the garden door swung gently closed behind them, and locked.

No one would enter or leave Fin’s kitchen for the rest of the night, but the two that remained in its cozy glow didn’t mind one bit.