Chapter 18

The next morning, they made their way down to the kitchen. Eru was peering anxiously around, clinging to Aislin’s hand as they walked down the stairs. She’d gotten less communicative ever since they came here, but Aislin assumed it was because of the new environment and that she would come around once she got used to it.

The kitchen was already bustling as they came down, and Aislin had to sidestep as a servant rushed past them. A middle-aged woman was shouting out orders, and as she saw them, she waved at them to come closer.

“We need all the hands we can get”

She pointed at a corner where sacks were standing on the ground.

“Peel the potatoes. They need to get ready for today’s dinner”

She turned and began barking at another servant, and Aislin glanced at Sami before walking over to the sacks. It wasn’t what she was used to, but it was better than being on the road, never knowing when you would get your next meal. She handed Eru a knife, and they set to work.

The kitchen was chaotic, with people yelling and rushing past and at one point, Sami was knocked over, dropping the potato to the ground.

“Are you okay?”, Aislin asked as she helped her up.

She nodded.

“Yeah…”

Aislin glanced at Eru, who was painstakingly peeling her potato. This would be the best chance she would get in a while.

“How… do you feel coming here?”, she asked carefully.

To her surprise, Sami sighed.

“I’ve fulfilled my duty to you”

“Your duty?”

“You saved my life. I owed it to you to keep you safe”

So that’s why she had come with them.

“And now…?”

Sami sighed.

“I don’t know…”

The woman barked at them, and Aislin cast one last glance at Sami before walking over to her.

“Help them lay the table”, the woman said.

She waved at a servant rushing up the stairs, and Aislin hurried after. She spent the rest of the day helping the servants and didn’t get another chance to speak with Sami. As the afternoon came, they were ushered into a room where a table had been laid. It was simple, with a stone floor and roughly hewn benches. The other staff sat down around them, and Eru huddled up against her. Sami sat on the other side of her, but it was too many people to have a chance to continue their conversation.