Chapter Eighteen

Gretchen woke me up at six thirty. I didn't know what the reason was but she told me to wake up, clean the bed, dress up, and go downstairs. All in one order. I have no choice but to obey. I cleaned the bed and dressed up. Before I went down, I delayed just to look outside. Sunrise. It was enough to bring me back to my senses. I went down. Gretchen was stirring a pot in the kitchen. I suppose it was beer or ale because Ben said she doesn't know how to cook. She looked up and warmly smiled at me.

"Good morning Ella, dear. Eat some bread first." She tossed me some. I ate since it was an order.

"So, what will I do?" I asked her after nibbling the soft bread.

"Market. I would do it myself but unfortunately, I have ale to make," Gretchen gestured at the pot, "Those people! Their thirst is as big as their appetites! Would you believe me if I tell you that this week's supply is all dry? All in one day?"

"I guess. By the way you look, it seems like you've been making ale all night." I replied.

"You are right! I slept at three after making a batch, woke up again at five to make another! And look! Only four batches!! Four batches!!!" Gretchen said wearily. She was beginning to lose her mind.

"Gretchen, are you alright?"

"Yes, yes, thank you for asking." Gretchen said after a moment of silence. "Here is the list of all the things you will buy. Looks like I have to double it. So many people that they couldn't sit down! I have to send Ben to buy more tables and chairs!! We have lots of space but no chairs and tables! Ella, could you please hurry on buying. Who knows how many hungry people might come in!" Gretchen gave me a long list and a pouch with the KJs they earned yesterday. I looked at the list. It was a lot longer than Mum Olga's list. I could accept that. This was an inn. But it was still a lot. I went to the corner of the kitchen and grabbed about three baskets.

"Yes, Gretchen. I will." I made my way out. I barely made it to the road when I came back again and poked my head inside the kitchen. Gretchen looked at me exasperatedly.

"What?" she asked.

"Where is the market?" I was new here. And I couldn't risk being lost.

"Straight, right, straight, left. Near the town square." Gretchen said while stirring the pot. She looks as if on trance.

"Thank you!" I went out.

Straight. Right. Straight. Left. I followed Gretchen's directions but I still managed to be lost. Where was the town square?

"Excuse me, where can I find the town square?" I asked to a girl passing by.

"Abensa eke ubassu inouxi Akyrria." She said apologetically.

"Oh, I asked,  where can I find the town square." I switched to Ayorthaian.

"Hmm…that path over there," She pointed at a road, "It leads to the town square." She paused, "I just got here and I would want to ask something too."

"It's alright. Just as long as it isn't directions."

"I have been looking for someone who speaks Ayorthaian in Bast. It's not my first time here. But unfortunately, my overexcited cousin, it's his first time here. He wandered away, that idiot!" she said angrily. Then she calmed down. "I went off my carriage and looked for him. The coachman too. So I ask you, have you seen a boy my age, wandering about and looking. He has light brown hair. A bit taller than the both of us. He speaks Ayorthaian and Kyrrian. He is handsome if that would help." She said teasingly. I looked at her. Her age? She was probably seventeen. A year older than me.

I shrugged it off. "I haven't seen him. But I wish you could. And I have to be going now."

"Please, if you find that obnoxious immature cousin of mine, can you insult him Ayorthaian?"

"I would but I don't know how." I laughed.

"Ubensu ustensi ontassa itemi ansu unju!" she said. I didn't understand it. Areida didn't teach me any insults. And I didn't look up anything on my dictionary of exotic languages. I understood Ubensu which means you, and unju which means girl. Ansu meant a. And itemi is of. But I didn't know ontassa and ustensi. To me it was "You ustensi ontassa of a girl!" It made no sense!

"Unju? Doesn't that mean girl? I thought he was a boy. And I don't understand it at all." I said, still in Ayorthaian.                                                              

"Just say it. Then he would know I told you to find him." She said. "What is your name?"

"Elle. And yours?"

"Ivinia. It's a pleasure to meet you then, Elle."

"You too Ivinia. I hope to see you again." I waved goodbye and made my way to the path Ivinia showed me.

"And don't forget, Ubensu ustensi ontassa itemi ansu unju!" Ivinia called out.

I laughed and said yes in Ayorthaian.

On the way to the market, I softly said the insult Ivinia taught me. I didn't want to use it to anyone but I thought it would be useful on Hattie. Even if she didn't understand it. I eventually found the market. I checked on all the things Gretchen told me to buy. The market of Bast was a lot bigger than the one in Frell. But maybe because all sorts of merchants from different places gathered in one place, unlike in Frell. I marketed in a fast pace. Gretchen had said an order before so I must. Before seven, the three baskets were already full. And still I have some other things to shop. The basktes were overflowing, and I was carrying some on my hand. When I bought every single thing on the list, I made my way on the same path Ivinia showed me. I passed two men talking. I managed to grasped their conversation. I wasn't like Hattie though, a gossip.

"Ya heard 'bout Gretchen's Inn." One said.

"I ate there mate!" the other said.

"Damn good food eh?"

"You're dang right."

"My wife ate there too. Became a pig overnight. Said the food was," his voice lowered into a whisper, "Fairy Food."

"Fairy food…how stupid! Let's not talk 'bout food. I'm going to be damn hungry—"

I didn't hear anything now. Of course I kept walking. The men might notice my eavesdropping. When I reached the path Ivinia showed me, someone ran and banged into me, causing me to drop the baskets and the things I were holding. It scattered on the dirty road. It was a good thing that I had them wrapped or else it would have been dirty. The idiot who bumped me didn't even say sorry! I turned around and saw a figure of a boy running. He had light brown hair that flew with the air. He was taller than me. But I didn't see him as Ivinia's cousin. He was still probably looking at the market for all I care. I was so angry at him. Ivinia's insult came into my head. It didn't matter whether that boy wasn't her cousin.

"Ubensu ustensi ontassa itemi ansu unju!!!" I shrieked. He stopped for a moment then ran once more. He must have thought of the meaning. I don't care. I wish he would trip and break his bones.

"Stupid idiot!" I grumbled to myself as I picked up the things I bought. It was a good thing they were wrapped. If they weren't I would have chased that boy and kill him.

After I finished picking up the things, I made my way to Gretchen's. I didn't get lost this time. When I got there, there were people already sitting down at the tables. Ben was back. The new furniture would probably be delivered. The people looked impatient. Then Gretchen appeared.

"Ella! Thank goodness you're here! They came earlier than I expected! I got their orders ready. And Mandy is in the kitchen. Help her cook!" she said wildly.

"Alright!" I walked as fast I could even with those baskets to the kitchen.

Mandy was waiting there already.

I got the orders from a table. It was a long list. Probably just as long as the marketing list Gretchen gave me. It was already lunch and lunch, I guess, was the most profitable time. A lot of people still have to work at this hours so they just came up to Ben, begged him to allow them to take out, and wait until it's there. That made it really hard for me. I have to look for the one who ordered. And I wish I could kill Ben. Gretchen did the serving instead after she finished making a week's supply of ale for this day.

"Ella, I almost forgot. Someone reserved a room and table while you were gone. Once no one is in a table could you please put this sign. I think they will come soon." Gretchen told me. The sign said reserved. I wondered now whether if this inn was an inn and not a restaurant.

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Night was coming. Gretchen told me to help Mandy because needed some rest after cooking so much. Gretchen took charge of the serving. And she said that the person who reserved the table will come. I didn't know who they were so I just followed. As I cooked some quail eggs, Gretchen burst inside the kitchen. She looked tired. She also looked worried.

"No more ale!" she wailed. "Ella, go ask the people their orders! Ask the orders of the people in the reserved table first! Goodness!"

Gretchen left as quickly as she came in. I looked at Mandy.

"Go ahead, sweet. I'll take it up from here." she said. Orders from both Gretchen and Mandy.

I left.

I went to the reserved table, as Gretchen put it in. I didn't look at the people, I just said the usual, "What will you have?"

"Elle?" a startled Ayorthaian voice asked. I looked.

It was Ivinia.

"Ivinia!" I said in Ayorthaian shockingly. I hadn't expected her.

"You're the inn girl here? It's so nice to see you again! I would like you to meet my cousin, Cedric, the one I told you to look out for. Cedric, this is Elle, my friend." She said. She gestured at a boy her age sitting next to her. He had light brown hair and clear blue eyes. He smiled at me. I didn't smile back.

"You." I said flatly.

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Okay, so maybe this is a lousy chapter. Oh well. I'm sucked dry of ideas…

A lot more will come of course! I just hope you will like this chapter even if it is a bit lousy!

Thanks to all who reviewed!!! If you're not here…maybe you're in Chapter Seventeen!

Ironic Paradise

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