Milinda

Milinda was on edge, one mistake now and all her hard work would be for nothing. Her plan simply had to function. Silently she approached the door to the kitchen cellar. It was an old and heavy trapdoor made of once solid oak but because of it frequent use the boards were worn and cold and humidity had misshaped them.

While the hinges were being oiled every year and wouldn't make a sound, the middle plank always creaked when opened up quickly. She was about to raise the door, when her gaze fell upon a new lock she had not seen before. This lock wasn't there yesterday, she thought. They couldn't have noticed her stealing food over the last week. She had only ever taken a little bit for her brother and herself. While Milinda slowly grew more concerned as on how to proceed, a rather obvious thought sprung up in her mind.

Where ever there was a lock, there had to be a key to it. The question remaining now was where that key might be. The young girl stood up and began to think. It could be with the cook Hamod but the old man was so senile, she took a silver spoon from him earlier and he hadn't noticed, in no way he would actually remember to take a key with him. And despite that Alvina the cooks apprentice would never trust him with anything important, especially not something like the key to the cellar.

Maybe that was the questions answer, in light of the cook being as useful and forgettable as a vegetable, Alvina had most likely installed the lock to prevent him from leaving the door open, and probably to keep the rats out of the cellar. With a determined huff Milinda made her way to where the food was being prepared.

An entire gaggle of kitchen maids, locals that were paid to help out, was busy with preparations for the welcoming banquet to the empires finest. Several plates with fish and meat were being decorated with seasonal vegetables and fruits. Milinda looked around the kitchen recalling the names. She had seen some of them before but never had the money to buy them herself. There was an entire bowl filled with quif, fist-sized white bulbs that when cooked were sweet and chewy. Another table had the fragrant smell of Romper meat wafting over; the bulky antelopes had been cultivated in Zembia for hundreds of years as pack animals and food source.

"Ahh, does anyone here know where Alvina is?"

One of the maids, a girl maybe a few years younger than herself looked up from her work. She had the dark skin and harsh features of the Sibalien desert people; she most likely was one of the many refugees. Milinda recognized her, having seen her around the kitchen more than once, so she probably was a permanent staff.

"Oh, the missus bein probly aroun' he' some wher!" The girl looked at her with a curious face.

"Aren't ye the new housemaid o' the queen? The one they caught breakin' into the royal treasure chest?" A nervous laughter escaped Milinda.

"No idea, what you're talking about. Oh, look, a little kitten!" The little girl’s eyes glowed brightly.

"A kitten! Where? Come he' fluffy on'!"

While biting into a still warm quif, she saw a door open in the corner of her eye. Alvina had just come from the back leading to the dinner hall. While her best years might be over and she showed first signs of aging, Alvina could be described as fairly good looking were it not for a single detail. The years underground in the kitchens had made her muscles strong and her skin had kept the softness of youth but most noticeable was the ugly, silvery gash where her right eye was supposed to be. A freak accident almost ten years ago, involving the old Hamod, a sharp knife and one very resistant fish, would have almost cost her life if not for her incredible luck.

The cook’s voice cut through the kitchen noise like a blade, sharpened from all the years of yelling and barking orders.

"By Lignis honor! Tamina what are you doing on the kitchen floor! Have you gone mad girl!? Go and wash your hands!"

"But the kitty!"

"Nonsense, there are no cats in my kitchen. Go, now!"

The young Tamina seemed close to crying as she stormed out of the room, creating a perfect opportunity for Milinda to slide into Alvina's blind spot. Now all she had to do was find out where the older woman was hiding that damnable key. Of course she could have asked the cook, but where was the fun in that. Also what Milinda had planed surely would not sit well with the older woman, it being a waste of food and time, but she was determined and when there was an idea there was also a way.

Given that Milinda was wearing her gray servant outfit and most of the helpers where locals that assisted in the kitchen for the first time today, they barley even looked at the scrawny girl standing in a particular dark corner. Most of the trays were now loaded with food and tea made from refreshing herbs was carried in thick ceramic jugs to the dining hall.

Alvinas remaining eye darted around the dimly lit room, observing every movement of the hired help like a guard-dog watched new visitors, a small sweat pearl dripped down her temple. Whenever she thought someone was about to make a mistake she would focus on them, almost like she was intend to relieve her stress on the first victim she could find.

After watching the theatre for a minute Milinda finally caught a glimpse of a key in the cook’s pocket. Now she just had to find a way to create a diversion. Most of the maids had already left but a few remained with the rest of the trays.

One of the more nervous ones was carrying something that looked to Milinda like a bunch of ugly, transparent fish; if they were to fall it would create one devastating mess. With a mischievous grin she raised her left foot just when the girl was about to walk past her corner.

The tray with its flabby contents flew upwards in an impressive arc before coming crashing down on top of the head of the unfortunate maid. Alvina almost ran over to the confused girl, with a furious intent in her eyes. Several minutes and an impressive litany of swearwords and curses later Milinda had already left the kitchen with her newly acquired price in hands, unseen by the either cook or maids.

Slowly she opened the previously locked trapdoor, climbed down in to the cellar and lowered it again as to not alert anyone to her presence. While she was technically not stealing this time around she still felt the rush and excitement it had always brought her. Maybe taking the queen’s offer would turn out to be the better deal still. Grabbing and lighting a torch from the nearby stash Milinda started searching for the things she had wanted from the cellar in the first place.

A bird cage and several assorted bits of foods later Milinda made her way to the stairway leading towards the upper kitchen. After locking the door again and on her way to leave, she stopped still in her motion when she saw Alvina standing in the door way with cross arms and a stern look.

“Alvina! A lovely morning to you, I bet you are wondering how come I am carrying stuff that was clearly locked away. But I assure you there is a perfectly rational explanation!” With a bulging of her muscles Alvina made clear that she had no intention of moving out of the way.

“Give me my key.”

“Oh, you mean this key? The one that I found on the ground! Of course I shall give it to you.” Slowly approaching Milinda was weary of the physically stronger and one head taller woman, with one hand she reached there while for the key. With a surprising speed that she had not expected from Alvina, the cook’s strong hand grabbed her by an ear.

“If I ever catch you stealing again, I'll make sure that the smith attaches a permanent collar with a bell to your scrawny little neck. Do you understand, Milinda?”

Yelping from the pain Milinda, closely grasped the wrist of the arm holding her in place.

“Yes! Yes! I understand, now let go of me!” Sceptically Alvina looked at what her thieving captive had taken.

“What do you need all that for?”

“I need to do something for the Lady Belsain, none of your concern you brute!” Alvina raised an eyebrow at this foul mouthed answer.

“I'll be sure to ask them about that later today, now scurry of to where you came from, and don't forget to help your Queen mind you!”

In a soupcon of adolescent misbehaviour Milinda finally escaped the cooks grasp and raised a hand to her face in a mocking gesture while jumping to the stairs. The cook on the other hand shook her head in disbelieve of the bad behaviour this girl showed towards everyone except the queen.

Much to Milindas surprise she found the odd animal awake and up when she entered Belsain’s quarters. As soon as she had opened the door the animal screeched and disappeared under a nearby table.

“It is okay little one; I don't intend to hurt you. Look I've brought food!”

She slowly approached the table under which the little fur ball had crept, one hand filled with various pieces of dried fruit and small strips of meat. As she obviously didn't know what this creature ate she simply had brought a little bit of everything. When she came even closer the animal again let out an ear piercing screech, being prepared for it this time she managed to get a good look at it.

The animal was about twenty centimetres in height, so it barely would reach up to her knees. Its body as well as its long tail was covered in odd green and orange fur, except for the nose and lips in the catlike face and the lower tip of its tail. While it was certainly cute with its big eyes and tiny hands it also sported impressive little fangs in its mouth, which it exposed every time it screeched.

“Uhh, you really have some sharp teeth in there. Maybe you would like the meat?”

With a quick movement of her wrist Milinda threw one of the meat bit in front of the little one. While first being scared by the sudden movement it soon smelled the air and eyed the food in front of it. One step, than two quickly following, it made its way towards Milinda.

A bright grin spread across her face when she saw that her little friend picked up the piece and after licking it devoured it whole. She threw another piece closer to herself hoping that the animal had understood her good intentions.

Her patience was rewarded when the creature hopped even closer, using its hand and feet to launch itself into the air and silently landed only an arms-length away from the girl. It sniffed the air once again and crept even closer, this time only grabbing the piece of meat and holding it in its tiny hand. Milinda saw that it almost had hands like a human just more stubby and of course covered in fur, only the insides revealed very soft little pink nubs and short claws which explained how it could move so silently.

“Aww, you are really cute. When you come closer I might give you more you know!”

She opened her hand so the animal could see the food in her palm. Its eyes perked up and something like excitement was visible, at least Milinda hoped so. At first it seemed insecure towards the intentions of this strange big creature but given that it had received two foods already this one could only mean itself well. With a few short steps it made its way over to the maid and carefully took a piece of fruit before deciding to jump on to her arm and sling its tail around it to keep balance. Milinda on seeing this was giddy for joy, the little creature was really warm and fluffy. With a few slow steps she returned to the middle of the room, the animal all the while staying on her arm, happily eating out of her open palm.

“Well, now that we have become friends we obviously need to know each other’s name, mine is Milinda.” The animal turned its head to one side and than the other, when finally deciding to lick her nose with a surprisingly rough tongue. “Aren't you the little joker? I think I'll name you Jinx! You like it?”

Milinda was cleaning the rest of the room with her new friend on her shoulder when, the door suddenly creaked open. In an instance Jinx let out a terrified scream and jumped onto the head of the confused maid. Belsain had entered the room after his audience with the queen was over and was visibly not amused by the scene unfolding in his chambers.

“What is going on here? Didn't I tell you to take care of that animal! Bring it out of my laboratory, will you now?”

The thaumaturge made an attempt to grab the animal. But the already startled Jinx made a quick movement forward and instead bit the surprised magi in the hand. Screaming in pain and anger Belsain struck after the little creature, with his uninjured hand. Quick as lightning Jinx evaded the blow and jolted towards the still open door. Her eyes wide open in shock Milinda pushed past the thaumaturge and ran after her new friend.

“Wait, Jinx! You can't go that way!”

Surprisingly nimble the young maid leaped over the stairs and was only one footstep behind the green and orange mammal. Jinx, afraid by the unfamiliar scents and scenery, ran past the kitchen doors towards the only opening. Unfortunately, this very opening, a small window, led out of the manor, into the adjacent flowerbeds and the queen’s vegetable garden.

The gardener, a lad of about twenty years with a lean muscular body and sunburned skin, was surprised when, instead of the usual calm mornings a downright commotion disturbed his garden. First a tiny, colourful animal ran towards his legs, suddenly realized that he was standing there, made a sharp turn towards the iron gates, and ran past them on to the streets. While he was surprised by this, he wasn’t really all that confused, it wasn’t the first time something escaped the Thaumaturge’s labs but it was the first time that no harm was done to his flowerbeds.

“Well, that went smooth, anyhow back to work, not like there is anything else coming.”

Almost as if the gods were playing him a cruel joke, in just that moment Milinda came feet first flying out of the exact same window. Not only did she break of one of the hinges she also managed to time her jump just good enough to land on the unfortunate gardener.

“Oh, sorry, eh, Bob? Can’t stay and chat, I need to catch my pet!”

‘Bob’, was now just confused as to where this flying girl had come from, but before he could even gather his thoughts and ask, Milinda had already left the garden and was bolting after her newly made friend. She didn’t even want to imagine all the terrible things that might happen to Jinx, as far as she was concerned all of them were equally terrifying. Just before she thought that she had lost sight of the animal she noticed an orange shadow in the corner of her eye, fast as she could she ran towards it.

Jinx was making his way down a dark alleyway towards the main road. While jumping over several boxes and barrels which were filled with all matters of stuff and the occasional odd bauble, Milinda noticed it getting louder, the sound of many hushed voices was carried into her ear. Some of them excited, questioning, some confused, and scared but others were downright hostile. She only remembered in shock what the voices meant after she stumbled out of the alley and into a lose crowd of people. Several groups of people young and old were standing on both sides of the main street, and looked to something in the distance that Milinda couldn’t see.

But to be fair she didn’t need to see it to know what the people were staring at and what made the parents hide their children. The Emperor and his soldiers had made their arrival, but in another matter she had to find Jinx quickly before someone else found him.

As fast as her legs could carry her she rushed past the people, pushed those out of the way who didn’t see her coming and steadily looked at the ground for orange and green. Then after a few meters she spotted her furry friend, scared and overwhelmed Jinx was sitting in the middle of a small group. She came closer, slowly now, she didn’t want to terrify him, unexpected by her one of the people around her made a step back and crunched Jinx's tail under a boot.

With a panicked screech, the little cat-ape bolted towards the only opening, onto the street. Milinda didn’t waste a moment and she herself ran forward, intend on catching him here and now. Pushing away a small boy, she jumped towards the animal, reaching out she just managed to grab on to the hind legs. Quickly pressing the fluffy ball of angst against her chest she didn’t realize, that she was falling on to the hard pounder.

Her fall was miraculously stopped by something soft hitting her back followed by the surprised bristle of a large animal. When she finally raised her gaze, confused by the sudden silence of the crowd, she looked into the angry face of a dark skinned oriental looking woman clad in heavy, white armour and sporting a nasty scar going from her forehead to her cheek.