Page 66 of Journey to the Elderoak
Her arms ached, ready to give out, but she focused on using her powerful legs to push harder. Her mind was brought back to her mother’s words when her spirit visited her in the daemon war camp. She never knew if it was a hallucination or real, but she pulled her strength from it, remembering what her mother had said. ‘Crush them, Ava.’
She channeled her anger. Her fury.Crush them.
With a shout and one last push, she reached the top and tapped the wood beam with her hand. She had done it. Finished the obstacle course.
Ava looked at Casimir who was beaming; the largest smile she had ever seen on his face.
He was beautiful.
She slid down the rope and landed on her feet. Casimir approached, still grinning. “Took you long enough.”
“Oh hush, you brute,” she replied as she shoved him, but he snatched her hand and held it.
Turning away, he pulled her along. “Come on. Let’s go to the tea house to celebrate.”
22
Drenched in sweat, Ava stood over the large stove in the castle kitchens. It had been a week or so since she’d completed the obstacle course and her newfound confidence had her excelling each day in her training. She’d turned a corner and while the grief was still there, she wasn’t ignoring it any longer. Though it wasn’t always easy, it was helping.
She’d spent hours with Casimir that afternoon sipping tea and talking. About the war, the upcoming Elderoak journey, the approaching Summer Solstice Ball where Ava would be presented to the kingdom. They talked about everything. Well, everything except them. That was something neither of them mentioned, both too stubborn or perhaps scared to acknowledge the elephant in the room.
Ava was covered in flour from rolling out dough as she prepared one of her favorite dishes. After her conversation with Jorrar, something he had said stuck with her. The part about doing something nice for others to heal. It had given her an idea.
So, she had asked her room attendant to introduce her to the kitchen staff and she did, though hesitantly. The head chef,Derris, had said, “It’s strange for a princess to do the cooking.” She had to convince him cooking for others was something she did often in the human world, a way to show her love and gratitude, and he agreed to help.
The kitchen was enormous, the vast space almost overwhelming. The walls were made of the same pale stone as the rest of the castle, with large windows allowing in ample amounts of sunlight. She’d been there all day learning how to work the antiquated stoves and ovens, powered by wood and flame.
Then there were the ingredients. Although they had a lot of similar foods in Monterre, so many were new to her she’d spent two hours taste testing the unfamiliar herbs and spices to perfect her menu.
The center stone island behind her was laid out with the prepared dishes, the smell of yeast and spices hovering in the air. She wanted to make something they never would have tried here. Something unique to the human world. Settling on ravioli—her favorite meal she used to make with her mother—she hand rolled and cut each piece, filled with a unique cheese and local spices, and smothered in a rich tomato sauce.
She also made a special version of focaccia filled with tomatoes and Monterre’s unique herbs, a fresh salad with homemade dressing, roasted root vegetables, and a lavender cake with sugared fruits and a honey glaze.
“Shall we take it from here, Your Highness?” Derris asked, surveying the spread before her. “You must be weary.” He was a short gnome, his height only reaching about the level of her chest, and he had a long white beard obscuring the bottom half of his face. He spoke in a brittle voice full of warmth. “I must say, I’m impressed.”
“Thank you.” Most everything was finished, and the staff had promised to keep it warm while she washed up. “I’ll meet you back here in half an hour.”
He shook his head. “Oh no, Your Highness. We’ll serve the food. You must wait in the dining hall with the king.”
She looked at him with pleading eyes. “Please. I know it’s not your usual procedure, but I’d like to help bring it out.”
He huffed, but she caught a hint of a smile under his white mustache. “Oh, alright. Off with you now.”
She left the kitchen and rushed down the halls, trying to get to her suite and back to the kitchen before anyone saw. Rounding a corner, she almost slipped and slammed into Casimir.
“Slow down,” he said as he caught her arm to keep her steady. He tilted his head at her disorderly appearance. “Why are you covered in food?”
She pulled away and smirked at him before taking off down the hallway again, shouting after her, “No time to talk. See you at dinner!”
A rumble of his laughter echoed as she closed the door to their suite.
Back in the kitchen,Ava carried the salad as she followed the staff out the side door entering the dining room. What if they didn’t like it? What if they judged her for taking over Derris’ duties? Was that disrespectful? She blew out a breath as she stepped into the large space, conversation ceasing when they saw her emerge.
Everyone was present, including Kai and Fanya, and they watched her with confusion as she walked in with the kitchen staff. Derris stopped before the table, and Ava stood next to him, waiting. She caught Casimir’s eye, and he was looking at her with a hint of amusement, likely having figured out what she’d been up to after their run-in earlier.
“Your Majesty,” Derris addressed the king. “Her Highness has something she would like to say.”
She went rigid. “I do?” she whispered to Derris, glancing at him.
