Chapter 8: Dinner at Paris

Barely anyone mentions the suspicious appearance of the wind elemental. Everyone is occupied with thoughts of food. We enter the glorious Sagra Leon dining room and the table is all ready prepared with plenty of appetizers and organized silverware.

"Should've seen Shocky's face!" says Sneezes. "He was almost cryin'."

"Shocky was a cryin' Sneezes," pouts the sneevil sitting beside him, deflated.

"Crying?" I ask them, "I figure you have encountered these beasts before."

"A few flights ago, Miss," Sneezes answers. "We've encountered only birds and vultures, wind elementals 'r usually north 'round - "

"Arcangrove," I finish. I take a seat next to Croup; the ghoul is already filling his plate with meaty appetizers. "Isn't that a bit strange?"

"Not really, Miss," Shocky responds, his pout disappears and his ears perk hearing the sound of clanging dishes. "Shocky says, we've got misunderstandings with Canegrove's."

"It's Arcangrove, Shocky," corrects Sneezes. "Arcangrove."

"Shocky thinks 'Rcangrove's got mages everywhere, simply loungin' 'round. Not really doin' much with the war, Miss. They're not choosin' sides."

The mages aren't choosing sides? Arcangrove is known for their highly respected necromancers, wizards and magical creatures and they are not choosing a side - have not yet chosen a side? I wrinkle my brow at the information. Once I am assigned in my position in the war I'll march up to Arcangrove and see what they're sitting around for.

The chef enters carrying two dishes of turkey rolls. He reminds me of Tess, how they cook and serve their customers at the same time. His entire suit is still messy from earlier but he does not look bothered. The chef cheerfully adds the plate on the already-filled table. He takes out a handkerchief and watches us eat his delicious cooking.

"Oh my goodness! This is the first time a lot of chairs are occupied," Croup points out. The royal dining table seat my mother, Greg, two sneevils, a dwarf, Croup, Elias and me. I have a feeling that this table can extend and sit more people.

Elias sits on the far front gleaming, his plate filling with grapes, seafood delicacies and drumsticks. "Too bad some of our guests are not here to enjoy tonight's feast."

"Who are we missing?" I wonder, taking a spoon full of soup.

"Lord Pierce and Lady Owen," replies my mother. At the corner of my eye, Elias chokes on his wine. My mother continues, gracefully picking her food, "Lord Pierce will join us tomorrow. We'll be at Cornelius Ruins tomorrow. I believe Elias' mother will join us after that."

Before dinner, mother's healing powers restored her health and with etiquette, she puts a fork full of food in her mouth excusing herself. She is so poised, I always feel clumsy when I am around her, like I miss to do something.

"I almost forgot about my mother," groans Elias.

"You never mentioned her," I say to him.

"Trust me; she's not someone you'd want to meet. Lady Owen divorced my father and ran off with the richest man in Greengaurd."

"So, let me guess, your father's projects are funded by this certain connection?"

He grins. "You're smarter than you look, Violet Scar."

The food seems to go one forever, from steamy vegetable pasta to boiled lobster. It surprises me to find the entire table set and tidy like the shaking of the ship never disturbed it. I ask how the chef made it possible to put together the dinner so fast.

"A whole lot of noggins, mademoiselle," says the chef pointing to his temple. He takes Croup's empty plate and blinks at me with smiling eyes. "Would you like to see the Noggins?"

I look at him, confused. The chef whistles, holding out the stack of empty plates. A steam-powered waiter exits the kitchen and speeds back inside with the empty dishes.

"A robot." I sit intrigued at the door where the robot disappeared to.

"A robot," repeats the chef with a breath of joy.

"Show her another trick, Chef Paris," says Greg, putting an empty goblet of wine on the table. "He took us to Skullhome, this afternoon. And he served draconian graham crackers for snacks."

Greg's merriment lifts my spirit. It has been a slow progress for technology to update and develop throughout Lore.

After the Age of Heroes, everyone felt like time slowed for many years. There was no progress throughout Battleon, Skygaurd, Sandsea and even Arcangrove. No new invention enlightened spirits because the world was webbed in the Cold War. Greg told me the story of the first war that happened. The heroes were still alive. Great Paladin allied forces and they conquered over the Okaran Army. Lady Okara was the woman who led the great warfare that tore respect and honour from the elfin kind all over the east. Following Okara, my mind is still puzzled. I forget to ask Greg for more about the previous wars.

I know that after the heroes left the world the Cold War descended. People grew conservative to traditional ways, hoping for things to go back to normal. They feared - and still fear - dramatic change. Sadly their behaviour continues to fuel the Cold War.

Only a few tweaks and technological turns developed at Skygaurd throughout the years, though they are unwilling to share these new developments.

Chef Paris claps his hands and the robotic contraption rolls into the room again, wheels squeaking. "Take us to the Faeries," says the chef, joyfully.

The robotic waiter turns to the open window and flips a switch. Instantaneously, the view of the outside is covered with an opaque shell and a background of ChiralValley's forest is projected. It looks as if the ship landed in the middle of the FaerieForest during daybreak.

The robot flicks a switch by the wall dimming the lights. It zooms to a corner of the room and starts pressing buttons on a lock. A slot on the wall opens revealing candles and extra table decor. The robot takes out candelabras and places the scented candles along a buffet table and lights them. It wheels its way to another wall compartment and takes out a violin. It starts to play music on the background.

Everyone cheers; some looking at the projected view of the beautiful forest outside, while others raise their glass to the robot waiter. The waiter does not see the acknowledgements, nor does it interact with the fellow guests. Apparently, it functions when commanded by Chef Paris alone, says so on the plate on its head underneath the name "Noggins".

"Noggins" turns out to be a name of the mechanical robotic service along the dining room. I notice an array of slots along the walls of the room and a mechanical system on the ceiling and window frame. The fellow waiter is part of the entire system.

"That is remarkable," I say to the chef, amazed at the surrounding contraption. Outside the window is the grandeur of FaerieForest with all of its glorious trees and rays of sunlight. The projected background is very detailed and realistic, from the smallest dandelions flying by the breeze to the rushing waterfall farther ahead.

The ceiling's gear system clinks and mini wall projectors rotate above the table. Each flashes holograms of faerie creatures that start fluttering above us. Utterly speechless, my jaw drop at the sight.

"Say the word, mademoiselle, and I shall take you there!" cheers the jolly chef. "Oh, this instalment also helps us communicate with people from far off places." He adds, patting his waiter on the head. "The window can act like a telephone, able to send video messages. And the dining table can decline and hide underneath the floor for extra room space. My waiter, Noggins, helps me serve and cook every gourmet dish. This hardwired room is brilliant for an astounding dinner and for a meeting place, mademoiselle!"

"They do not call him Paris for nothing," says Elias, expertly cutting his steak. "They call him Paris, for rustbucketing."

Sneezes snorts. "Grow a funny bone, will ya, Cap?"

"Only for you, Sneez," retorts the bemused boy, picking out a broccoli from his dish.

The ghoul beside me pokes a hologram of a faerie. "These are beautiful faeries," says Croup, in an absent minded manner. "I feel like dancing…"

"Please not another one, Croup," chortles Elias.


After the hearty meal, I march up to the main deck. I have one more thing to do before I go to sleep. Elias offered to sleep at the cabin hold with the rest of his crew so that mother and I can sleep at the captain's room. I insisted to sleep in the cabin hold like everyone else but because Elias stressed the part that my mother and I are the only females in the ship I accept his offer.

The night sky blossom with twinkling stars and the crew are all snug beneath the gun deck. The ship is set on course, travelling at a slower pace than usual at automatic mode.

Everyone is asleep except Croup who joins me wearing pyjamas with fluffy clouds printed all over it. He comes up from behind me scuffing the floors with his trimmed claw feet. No wonder he likes mopping, he's making marks all over the deck with the short talons on his toes.

I brightly comment. "Nice PJs, Croup." I think I'll buy him bunny slippers to match with them.

The shivering demon wraps his baggy colourful top around his body. "Thank you. Are you nocturnal too?" he adds, curiosity glowing in his eyes.

"No. I'm just getting something before I go to bed."

"Like a blanket? We have plenty of blankets stored around here," he cheerily replies, skipping to the control room. "Oh. They're not here. Maybe they're in the bathrooms...but then, what would they be doing there? Let's ask the captain …"

"It's all right, Croup." I laugh quietly. My eyes catch the sight of the silver blade that was thrown at the ship earlier. I yank the dagger out of the metal rail and examine it. Tomorrow, Elias is going to have a fit about the random slice on the rail.

The dagger's hilt is bonded with rough purple leather. Its blade curves in a J-shape and it has a purple jewel glued on its end sculpting a dragon similar to the one on my cheek. This is magnificent dagger, I think.

I weigh it on my palm and toss the weapon up only to drop it and lick my finger. The dagger is shaped for a master's hand and I almost cut my finger playing with it. I stop the small cut using a simple healing spell. My finger glowed and I pretend to be an extraterrestrial in front of Croup. He doesn't get my joke, but stares at me ominously.

"You're eyes are glowing," he tells me.

I thought it was a compliment until I pick up the strange blade to check my reflection. My eyes are like glowing purple spheres. I gasp and almost drop the blade again. During the incident with the wind elemental Shocky and Sneezes said it was a mage trick but there is something more to this. Last night, Bog and the elf must have given me something. But the event with Bog was a dream, wasn't it? My eyes never glowed like this before that whole affair.

"I better get going." I feel my mouth tremble as I absently walk to the captain's quarters carrying the unusual blade. The door closes behind the ghoul's concerned face.


I feel a surge of energy flow through me, making me nauseous. I toss and turn on the mattress, breathing hard and soaking in sweat.

My body shrinks and I feel a pierce in my stomach. I loose control of my mouth that started to speak strange words. "I found you." I do not understand what I am saying and I could not stop myself. Controlled inside and squirming in pain I roar, "I have her, I have her!" Mystified, I can feel my eyes swirling under my eyelids as if they're looking for an escape. A high pitched laugh vibrates through my vocal chords.

At a start, I jump out of the cover of blankets. My pulse slows down. I look around to check the time. It is after midnight. My mother sleeps soundlessly on the bed veiled by a curtain. I go outside to take a breath of fresh air. As I close the door of the captain's quarters, my bare feet drag me into the dinning room without thinking.

I am half asleep, unarmed and unprepared for the sight of Bog standing on the table. He is growling, hair bristling. All of his eyes are open, illuminating brightly like the swirls along his fur. I hear myself scream as the kalestri dog leaps on me. I land on the ground, grass and ferns cover my face. Bog's five-eyed stare etch in my mind before my vision cave in to gloom.