Assistant

Osric hears the sound of rustling sheets. He lifts his head gingerly — and locks eyes with Elayne. She’s sitting up in the bed, staring at him curiously, almost contently.

“You’re awake!” Osric throws his arms around her.

“Let go!” She pushes at his head.

When the pushing fails, she starts punching.

“Ow! Ow! Alright!” Osric lets go and sits back down in the chair.

She glares at him, her eyebrows angling.

He leans back. If she's hitting me like that, she must be fine. He smiles, pleased to see Elayne’s usual displeased demeanor has returned.

Elayne’s gaze travels down Osric’s shirtless figure. Her eyes soften when they land on the scar on his chest. She reaches out and slides her finger along it.

“Oh, this?” he says, scooting his chair back. “That mercenary guy sliced me open pretty good.”

He stands, puts his hands on his hips, and puffs out his chest.

Lowering his voice, he says, “Looks pretty manly, doesn’t it?”

Elayne says nothing, but her eyes sparkle with guilt.

“My lord, She’s awake!”

A cat beastkin maid yells down the hall, peering in the room.

Angus sticks his head in, breathing heavily. “Catalina, she’s up!”

Osric looks at the Elayne, then back to the doorway, then at Elayne again. Both of them confused.

Catalina barges in the room with armfuls of clothes.

Brushing past Osric, she tosses several tunics, pants, and colorful dresses onto the bed and clasps both of Elayne’s hands tightly. Elayne stiffens, but doesn’t pull away.

“Elayne, right?” Catalina beams with enthusiasm.

"I bought some outfits I think would look great on you! Can we try them on?" She stares at Elayne intently.

Elayne pulls her head away as Catalina inches closer.

“Mother, I wouldn’t do that. She’s not really the touchy-feely type,” Osric warns.

His warning falls on deaf ears. “Come on, please? I’ve always wanted to dress up a daughter.”

Daughter? Osric studies the scene. How come Elayne’s not yelling or hitting her?

Elayne furrows her brow. The two are stuck in a silent stare. A long moment passes.

Then, slowly, she nods.

Catalina lets out an exited squeal.

“Give us some space.” She shoves Osric out of the room and shuts the door on him, leaving him standing next to Angus.

"Here." Angus hands Osric a new set of clothes.

He steps into an adjacent room to change out of his white drawers. When he comes back out, a wolf beastkin maid holds out her hand.

"I'll take the pants," she says.

"Oh — sure." He hands them over.

She walks off, and Osric rejoins Angus. They head down the hall, passing through orange-yellow rays of evening sunlight streaming through the windows.

"How many maids do you have?" Osric questions.

"Hmm, around a hundred."

A hundred? He said that so casually. Osric glances down the long hallway, eyeing the wolf maid disappearing in the opposite direction.

“I see Catalina is fine with having a half-beastkin around.” Osric says, changing the subject.

"Oh, she was hesitant at first, like the rest of us. But then she took one good look at her and was thrilled. She babbled on and on about how she wanted a cute daughter to dress up."

Angus stops where the hallway opens up into a large staircase. The steps covered in a deep-red velvet. Above the landing, a massive iron chandelier holding dozens of candles hangs from the high white-stone ceilings.

"I hope you like steak, I've had a feast prepared. You must be hungry, having slept for two whole days," Angus says.

"Follow me." He gestures down the stairs.

The staircase brings Osric to a mirror-polished marble floor. He catches sight of his reflection in a brand-new black cloak and shirt.

He hurries after Angus, passing a giant stone pillar that draws his eyes to the tall, carved ceiling.

He gawks at the flowering patterns etched above. Okay, Angus is rich-rich. No wonder he has maids on maids.

Angus walks around beneath the staircase to a large door and opens it, revealing a long dining table set upon a black-and-white checkered floor.

At the far end sit Randolf and Edith.

Edith jolts up from her chair, brushing past the maids who are setting the table.

"Osric! Are you alright, dear?" She drops to her knees, grabbing his shoulders.

"I'm all good, besides this hunger."

"I would have come sooner, but your grandfather didn't let me know my grandson was injured." She elbows Angus.

"What? I'm a little forgetful" Angus throws his hands up.

The three head to the table.

Osric hops up to the chair. One looks at the spread has him salivating. Before him sits a decorative plate with juicy steak and potatoes. To the side, buttered bread. Beside that, a glass of golden, glistening ale.

He picks up his fork and starts digging in.

"Hold on, we've got to wait for Catalina." Angus grabs his hand while stuff his mouth with the other.

Osric notices another dinner sitting across from him, the chair empty. He counts. I only see five plates...

"Where is Elayne's food?"

"She has a meal waiting in the maid's quarters." Angus mumbles with a mouthful of food.

"No, no, no, she's eating right here." Osric shake his head.

"I figured you'd say that."

"Oatmeal!" Angus yells at the door.

"Yes, my lord." A wolf maid with light-gray fur pops into the dining hall.

"Set another place at the table," Angus orders.

She nods and scurries off.

"Elayne is the half-beastkin girl?" Edith asks from across the table.

Angus nods, still chewing food.

“We’re going to eat next to a half-beastkin?” Edith frowns.

“Edith.” Randolf puts a hand on her shoulder. “She is the new Sage’s assistant. If he says she sits at the table, then she does.”

That assistant thing was just a quick little lie. I didn't mean for it to spread around. Osric shrugs.

As if on cue, Catalina bursts through the doorway.

“Osric, everyone — presenting the Sage’s new assistant, Elayne!”

She flings both arms out dramatically as Elayne enters.

Elayne steps through wearing a long black tunic that falls halfway down her thighs, cinched at the waist with a belt, its silver buckle matching her slave collar. Underneath is a wine-red undershirt. On her lower half, tight charcoal pants and high leather boots reaching mid-calf.

Osric eyes Elayne up and down. I was certain Elayne would come down in a frilly dress. Considering what I saw in Catalina arms and all this talk about dress up... She doesn't look bad in that. Kinda my style.

"I said I don't wanna be an... assi—stan. Whatever that is," Elayne barks at Catalina.

“Well, like I was saying upstairs, you’ll be working with Osric. That’s why I picked a matching outfit. As his assistant, I imagine—”

Catalina stops mid-sentence as Elayne sniffs loudly.

"Meat!"

She runs over to the plate of steak and plops into the chair.

“No, Elayne, dear, that’s for Catalina. Yours is coming,” Angus tries to stop her.

Elayne already has the steak in both hands, gnawing at it while drooling.

Angus sighs. "Don't worry, Catalina, Oatmeal is brining another plate."

Osric decides to join Elayne.

The two shovel food into their mouths while the rest of the table watches with a mix of amusement and concern.

Catalina wipes sauce from Elayne's face as she shoves another piece of steak into her mouth.