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“I highly doubt that,” he said dismissively, but I saw the curiosity in his eyes.
“You never know.” I shrugged. “Stranger things have happened.”
His nose wrinkled. “I’ll think about it.”
“Good,” I said, satisfied. “I might have another idea for you as well.”
He raised an eyebrow. “What do you have in mind?”
“Do you think Prince Maedras would like Chebbakia?”
He looked at me for a moment, his expression unreadable. “I’m not sure,” he said finally. “Midarian food is so... different.”
“I think he would like it,” I said, confident in my assessment. “There’s elf root in it and we can make it very sweet. I think he would be surprised by how good it is.”
If Elves liked Midarian tea, they would also like Chebbakia. Its sweetness fitted their preferences.
“I’ll take your word for it.” His mouth quirked up in a half-smile. “It’s always interesting to see what other races come up with.”
“That’s the spirit,” I said, pleased that he was open to trying new things. “I think you’ll be surprised by how much you will like it as well.”
From the storage room, I grabbed the core ingredients. The stew had to simmer for a few more hours, so we had time to prepare the Chebbakia. Lord Caes and I continued to experiment with the elf root, trying different ways of preparing it. We roasted it, boiled it, stewed it, and baked it. We added sweeteners and spices, trying to find the perfect combination. It was a lot of work, but it was also fun. I missed spending time in the kitchen.
Eventually, we came up with a Chebbakia recipe that we both loved. It was sweet and savory, with just a hint of spice. It wasn’t authentically Midarian, but it was close enough.
“I told you it was good,” I smirked in triumph as lord Caes took another piece. “Now maybe you’ll be a little more open-minded about Midarian food.”
“Maybe.” He chewed softly. “But I still think the Fae need to learn how to cook properly.”
I laughed and shook my head. Lord Caes might never change, but at least he will try new things. And that was a start.
He summoned two cooks to the kitchen and instructed them to bring the trays of food to Prince Maedras’s quarters. “Tell him princess Thimsal and I prepared this food for him and that we hope he enjoys it.”
“Don’t mention my name,” I blurted out. “Unless he asks for it, of course.”
Discretion was important, after all. I didn’t want to give the prince the wrong impression. The best forms of gratitude were often the most subtle. And the Chebbakia would let him know I was involved in this.
Lord Caes looked bemused. “He will.”
I leaned against the counter as lord Caes delicately placed gold flowers on the plates. “Probably not.”
I watched as the cooks left the kitchen. “It was great working with you, lord Caes.” I smiled at him. ”Thank you for giving me a chance to prove myself."
His eyes were warm. “It was my pleasure. We’ve not had the pleasure of speaking to each other often in the Eternal Court. But you have a genuine talent for cooking. I’m sure it will impress Prince Maedras.”
“I hope so,” I said, feeling a little apprehensive. “I really want him to like it.”
“I’m sure he will,” lord Caes reassured me. “After all, to live a life of craftsmanship is to live a life of pride, joy, and satisfaction. And your food is well crafted.”
I felt my cheeks flush with pleasure at his words. “Thank you,” I said, feeling a sudden surge of affection for him. It was nice to know that someone appreciated my work.
∞∞∞
I was not happy. Not at all. I was downright miserable.
The latest meeting was a disaster. I expected a grand alliance between the communities of the realm. Instead, I got what amounted to a verbal brawl. Everyone wanted to outdo each other in displays of wealth and power, and very little actual business was getting done.
Lord Temujin, the Naga representative, had been particularly vocal in his demands. He wanted more trade, more access to funds, and more creative ways to spend them.
