Total pages in book: 9
Estimated words: 7952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 40(@200wpm)___ 32(@250wpm)___ 27(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 7952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 40(@200wpm)___ 32(@250wpm)___ 27(@300wpm)
Perhaps I'll wait until later to discuss personal matters.
Hours later, everyone is fed and happy, and I could not be in love with Pamela more. She worked tirelessly all day to craft an enormous meal—the roasted bird overflowing with the bread mash, buttered tubers and other veg, sweet pies, steaming rolls, stuffed eggs, several dishes of something she calls a casserole, and a tart fruit jelly that goes atop all of it. The dining table practically creaks with the weight of the meal, and I can tell by the teary delight on Lady va'Rin's face that this meal of thanks has made her very happy indeed. She hugs Pamela repeatedly, exclaiming her joy. Pamela is equally emotional, wiping at her wet cheeks.
I watch from afar at my post guarding the door, but I can feel their joy in the air, and it pleases me to see Pamela's work so appreciated.
The family eats, and even though there are three children, Lord va'Rin and his lady, they only make a very small dent in the mountain of food. This, it seems, is part of the holiday, because they are quite elated about leftovers as well. A bone from the bird's carcass is dug out and snapped in half by the children, which seems a rather bloodthirsty sort of ritual, but I long ago accepted that humans have strange customs, and I try not to judge it too much.
Once the family is done eating, the dishes are to be cleared, and I assist with that, simply because I cannot abide standing by the door and doing nothing while Pamela works so hard. She fusses at me but lets me help, and we take cart after cart of delicious, prepared (and barely eaten) food back to the kitchen.
"Are you pleased with your holiday?" I ask as we cover dishes in sheets of plas-film and put them into the refrigeration unit. "Was it everything you wanted?"
"Oh, it's not over yet. Just the family's part is done."
I pause, uncertain of what she means. "There is a second half to this holiday?" Kef, I hope it doesn't involve more bone-breaking and cavity-stuffing. I swallow hard as I heft a heavy pan full of food into the cold storage. "Tell me more."
"I'll just show you. That's easiest." She beams at me, all sweet, flushed cheeks and flour-covered apron. "It'll be ready soon enough. Until then, I should say thank you."
"For?"
Pamela moves to my side and bats at my arm, smiling. "For helping me, of course. You didn't have to, but the extra set of hands was very appreciated."
"I have strong hands," I blurt out. Then I want to kick myself. Why did I say such a fool thing?
"Yes, you do." Pamela touches my arm again. I can't tell if she's flattering me or teasing me for saying such silliness. "And I enjoyed working alongside you. You're easy to talk to."
Is...this a trap? Did one of the guards tell her how I feel? They all know I'm wildly obsessed with the pretty human cook, that I've scheduled my work shifts to match hers, that I covet her smiles and laughter. It amuses them to watch me get flustered every time she looks in my direction. "I...thank you?"
She chuckles, the sound so caressing she might as well brush my sac with her bare hand. "Why would you thank me? We're friends."
Friends. I do believe I hate that word. "Yes," I manage, voice thick. "Friends."
I say nothing else as we continue to put away the food. The kitchen still smells delicious, of braised veg and warm spices, and I'm briefly envious of the va'Rin family and their feast, so carefully made by Pamela. I have nutrition bars back in the barracks, and if I feel the need for something different, I can always make myself a comforting bowl of noodles. It's not as if I'd want to eat the bird anyhow.
"Well, now that we've tidied all that, we've room to work," Pamela tells me. She bustles across the kitchen and opens an oven that I did not realize was still on. The moment she opens it, wave after wave of delicious scents fill the kitchen. With protective gloves covering her hands, she pulls out a casserole dish, then another. A pie. Another pie. An enormous tureen full of what looks like the savoriest noodles I've ever seen.
I'm in awe, my mouth watering. "Did you forget to feed Lord and Lady va'Rin some of the prepared food?"
To my surprise, she gives me a rather shy look. "Actually, I made this for you. I wanted to celebrate the holiday and thought that I'd celebrate with you. There's no one else I'd rather spend the day with, and I wanted to make sure that you'd enjoy the food. So I made a feast with you in mind."