Hello, third chapter up in a day, working on a fourth!
Pepper was in the kitchen with a few other cooking staff, as per usual. Just a girl of seven years, slightly older than Jane by a few months, Pepper already knew how to cook many things that pleased King Caradoc. She was taught by her father, who was the head Chef of the castle before he died of exposure to an un-treatable illness. Jane's parents always pitied Pepper for not having a father, but it did not seem to bother Pepper one bit. Pepper believed that her friends were always there to comfort her when she needed it, and that she could get by without any relitives around. Her friends were like a family anyway.
"Hello Pepper," Jane said, walking down the stairs to the kitchen.
"Hello, Jane!" Pepper called out, "Could you stir that soup on the fire please?"
"Sure thing," Jane called back.
The three other kitchen staff had gone to serve the Royal family their midday meal, which left Pepper and Jane alone.
"Mmm, it smells nice today, Pepper," Jane said while smelling the soup.
"Yes, Jane. It is vegetable soup today," Pepper replied.
"Did you help cook it?" Jane asked.
"I only cut up the vegetables for tonight," Pepper replied while preparing bowls for the kitchen staff, castle servents and the children.
"What is for the evening meal, Pepper?"
"Roast lamb and vegetables," Pepper responded, bringing the bowls next to the fire, "If I hold the bowls, will you pour the soup in?"
"Of course," Jane replied.
There was silence between the two girls while pouring the soup. Jane was planning to tell Pepper about her armour and sword Jester gave her.
"You know how I want to be a knight, Pepper," Jane started.
"Jane, you know that your mother would never allow it. Think of all the awful things that knights have to do," Pepper cried.
"I know that my mother has been stubborn about it, but last night, Jester gave me a set of armour and a practise sword," Jane replied.
Pepper gasped.
"I asked him what I could do to repay him. He said that he wanted me to train as hard as I can to be the best knight. It is a promise that I cannot break," Jane explained.
"But you know what the community would think of you. Being a female knight would bring so much shame to your family," Pepper implyed.
"No it wouldn't," Jane remarked, "I want to prove them all wrong. I want to show those who doubt me that I can be a good knight, even better than the others!"
"Alright, alright, Jane," Pepper answered, "I believe in you."