Chapter Nineteen
"Me?" Cedric replied with the most innocent eyes. He was mocking me. I didn't say anything and he just sat there, probably scanning his memory for some "incident". Maybe he didn't remember. Or maybe he was a simpleton like Olive. But I was wrong. He stared at me and said, "You!"
How amusing. Ivinia was laughing. The both of us were speaking Ayorthaian.
"Yes, me. Me who you bumped, caused to throw all those things I bought, and me who was annoyed." I said.
"So, Elle, you were the one Cedric told me about!" she turned to Cedric, "And you! You didn't say it was Elle! I was telling you about her!"
"You called me, Ubensu ustensi ontassa itemi ansu unju!" he said, completely ignoring his cousin.
"Ivinia told me that! And it just came out of my mouth! And I don't even know what it means." I replied in Kyrrian. Ivinia need not to hear this argument.
Cedric looked at me. "You speak Kyrrian!" he exclaimed in Kyrrian.
"I just did. Didn't you hear?"
"Well, the meaning of that insult my dear cousin Ivinia just told you is," he paused, obviously thinking of a way to say it. Was it that bad? "You stupid idiot of a girl!"
Stupid idiot of a girl? Was he a faggot? I burst into laughter, and tears ran from my eyes. Cedric looked annoyed.
"I suppose you know now the meaning of Ubensu ustensi ontassa itemi ansu unju!" Ivinia said in Ayorthaian. She was laughing too.
"That insult means nothing!" Cedric said annoyingly, "And it's not true!"
"Alright," I stopped laughing and took quick, deep breaths, "I have a job here. What do you want?"
Ivinia looked at the menu. Unfortunately it was in Kyrrian. I have to translate it to her in Ayorthaian. Cedric, who knew much more Ayorthaian than me, wasn't much of help. He just sat there, said what he liked, and stared at some empty space. He might have been irritated at my sudden peals of laughter. When Ivinia finished ordering with great difficulty, I said, "I'll see around the inn, right?"
"I do hope we do!" Ivinia said brightly.
It was probably six thirty. To me, six thirty was the time of happiness. Whenever night was falling, fewer people come. And whenever fewer people come, Mandy, Gretchen and myself (Ben hardly did anything), get a moment of peace. Or, our work just lessened. At night, the people who come here are mostly couples trying to be alone and eat. I guess being with your families during night was important in Bast. Or maybe their money was spent from eating breakfast, lunch, and snacks in here. Gretchen was at the kitchen washing dishes. I guess she finished making more ale and beer. Mandy was sitting down at the chairs. When I said Ivinia and Cedric's orders, Mandy sighed and prepared the ingredients. I looked at the people seated. Ivinia was laughing at Cedric. A group of men were sitting, eating, and being drunk. A lord and lady were seated next to each other, probably cooing words of love for each other. Somehow it reminded me of my love, Char. I quickly brushed away his memories. I have to forget about him. I have a job. A new life, I told myself. But I couldn't help thinking, would Char and myself be like those lovers? Maybe not. Bast was miles away from Frell. And there was no chance of him visiting this inn. I know he wouldn't go in an inn for food, unlike most people. I looked around once more. A family of four was sitting on the fourth and last table. Ben was telling some tall tales to another group of drunken men. Everytime there were drunken people littered amongst the inn, I was scared. I hope they wouldn't sleep, drooling, at the counter. And I certainly hope that they wouldn't go crazy and break the windows or something. Usually it was me who would dump a pail of cold water on their faces so then they would wake up. If they won't wake up, Ben would carry them to a unoccupied room and charge them when they wake up in the morning. If there were no empty rooms, Ben just throw the drunken men to the next inn. The table that doesn't have food on their plates was Ivinia's and Cedric's. I could help Mandy.
"I'll help Mandy." I said while entering. Mandy looked at me with utter weariness. I took the spoon from her and proceeded in making cream of chicken soup. Mandy already added the first of the ingredients. She needed rest. It was exhausting to stand infront a steaming stove all day.
"Gretchen, have you heard the rumors about this inn?" I asked.
"Child, I haven't been out of this inn for a long time now. You have been doing the marketing after all. Me? I'm just cooped up in this crowded place." Gretchen said, not really answering my question. "Washing dishes, serving people, cleaning the inn, managing the household…" she muttered to herself.
"Anyway, after I finished marketing, I passed by this two gentlemen. They said Mandy's cooking is fairy-made. Isn't it ridiculous?" I laughed. Gretchen just stared.
"Fairy food eh?" she murmured to herself. "Fairy food…"
"I'm rather flattered they would say my cooking is fairy made." Mandy said laughingly, "But it is ridiculous. A fairy. Me? Can the people think of anything more preposterous than me being a fairy?"
"Mandy, your cooking is superb." Gretchen said after a moment of silence.
"Thank you. I have heard of those compliments for a long time now." Mandy replied.
"I wouldn't be surprised. Anyone thinking your cooking is terrible…well, that's a sin!" Gretchen answered.
"No one had said that to Mandy yet." I was still busily stirring the soup. "Mandy, could you taste this for me?"
Mandy stood up, got the spoon from me, and placed it in her mouth. She told me, "Add more butter, so then it would be creamier."
An order. I added more to the soup. But then, even if it weren't an order, I would have done it. I stirred it once more then took a sample and handed it to Mandy. She tasted it and nodded, a sign of approval. I took the hot pot and transferred the soup to a china bowl. It was pretty hot. I then placed the bowl on a tray I use for serving.
"Mandy, could you start the other food, please?"
"Of course lady. That is what I would be doing now actually." Mandy stood up and prepared the ingredients for wild rice. I remembered the ingredients perfectly. Rice, of course was needed, then vegetables like peas, carrots, and garlic. Mandy did this all before I served Ivinia and Cedric their soup. I went out of the kitchen and walked to their table. The two of them smiled at me.
"Ivinia, your soup is here. I do hope you like it." I said while I placed the bowl at the middle of their table.
Ivinia got the serving spoon, placed some on her bowl, then began to eat delicately. Cedric, he ate like everyone. I left afterwards. I still have to serve the other food. The couple sitting ordered desert: two white cakes. The group of men finished eating and left. I still have to clean up. The two children at the family of four seated at one table ordered desert too: chocolate bonbons and strawberry muffins. After I finished all the things to do, including cleaning, I went to Ivinia. They were both finished and ready to retire to their rooms. They left me to clean up.
Before climbing upstairs and getting ready for bed, Ivinia asked me, "Elle, who cooked those marvelous food? It is very delicious."
"Mandy did it. It is delicious. The food is mainly the reason why people come here."
"Cedric and myself didn't come here for food, Elle. This is the only unoccupied inn. But then, I am happy that we came here. I certainly had my fill. The cook, Mandy, she is even better than our cook. And she studied with the best!" Ivinia looked at me closely, "I especially liked the cream of chicken. What did Mandy do with it?"
"Actually, I was the one who cooked it. Mandy needed rest."
"Really! It was very delicious. I would have gobbled it all up if I was as boorish as an ogre. But then, I'm not." Ivinia laughed. I did too. "What did you add in there? Cream? A spice? Herbs?"
"Butter." I said simply as I scrubbed the wooden table.
"Butter! Just that! Gracious I thought you placed a spell in that dish! And all you did was add butter? Our cook would never think of adding that! All she does is follow the directions accurately. She doesn't improvise to make it better."
"Thanks. I haven't cooked for a long time now, and I was afraid that it would taste bad."
"It was all but bad tasting! I have to go now Elle. And also, I do wish I could cook like you. 'The way to a man heart is through his stomach,' Mother says. " Ivinia waved and went out the door. I could here her shouting Cedric's name. I laughed softly. Poor Ivinia. She must have a hard time with Cedric.
I finished cleaning up. No one was in the inn. It was already eight and people here do things early. Sleep early, wake early, eat early. It was as if all the clocks in here were all advance by one hour. With people gone, the work was lessened. After cleaning up, I decided to sleep early. I was sure, even if it only happened today, that Gretchen would come again so early at the morning and have me to do marketing. I cleaned myself, dressed up, and sat at my bed. I didn't sleep right away. Instead of sleeping, I opened my carpetbag and extracted my magic book.
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Now you know why Ella said "You." to Cedric…did you have an idea? Whatever. I wonder what I will put at the next chapter…duh. Obviously the magic book. I hope you liked the meaning of Ubensu ustensi ontassa itemi ansu unju. All the words are from the book. Except ustensi and ontassa. I just found out (while making those words) that all Ayorthaian words and names start and end with a vowel. Elle, Areida, Uflimi, Isti and Effime (all those are in Areida's journal entry) all start and end with vowels. Except Mother and Father. Cedric isn't Ayorthaian like Ivinia so his name doesn't go to the end/start with a vowel rule. I'll just figure out, someday, where he comes from. I think I'll put him in…guess it! It's one of the places mentioned in this whole fic. He'll be of use, at the end and before he goes away temporarily. I have big, evil plans for him. But then, some of you…eherm *looks around and points at someone*…guessed it. But not exactly I have in my mind. To that someone, you know who you are…please be quiet….shhhhhh…hush…and especially, don't reveal who you are…or else!!!If you unfortunately don't know who you are, Claidi will jump for joy saying hooray!!! Hehehe. Whatever. Right now, all you have to do is wonder what kind of abomination I will come up with. Oh and the food part, I do put butter on my cream of chicken! It tastes sooooo good with butter! I'm hungry now. To anyone who would be willing to try that, throw in the butter whole and not melted. And the soup should be hot or while cooking. And to anyone who would have noticed, wild rice sounds like our good ol' friend, fried rice. I just don't know what to put in it! Anyway thanks to the people who reviewed, namely: Ironic Paradise, Little Comet, zumamoonlight, Li'ain, Eowyn of Ithilien, hime, Dragonlass. Spika, cool camzy blue, Faeriegurl, FairySprite, Neko-chan. Thanks a million!
