A hand shakes me out my thoughts, dreams...?
"Who's there?" I ask as I move upright with their help. My pillows quickly find themselves moved to support my back and my quilt slips off my shoulder as my arm moves.
"Oorika, Lady-Heir." she answers, I nod and smile in response before trying to recall which way she is supposed to be. Her hand guides me by the chin before it returns to her side most likely.
"What time is it?"
"We are well within morning hours, Lady-Heir, do not feel as if you have missed anything." she explains as I move to rub my eyes, only to stop as I provoke the wound by accident.
"How am I...?" I ask as I begin to focus what magic I can towards them. Please, gods and goddesses, let me see again, please... I don't want to have come all this way with Mother's image slipping from my mind only to lose the capacity to renew it.
"You are looking better, I think, compared to when we first remet outside the keep. However, I will reserve myself so that Doctor Constfritine might leave me better informed."
"What has he said so far?" I inquire as Oorika starts to help me out of bed, leaving me on my own only briefly to fetch me a morning gown. Letting her slip it on, I then take matters into my own hands once the soft and smooth belt is in my grip.
"He seems to be of the belief that you will be able to make a full recovery, however, he is still looking into what he will need to do to resolve your injuries." Oorika explains as she starts to guide me out of my room and into the hallway.
"Welcome back, Lady-Heir!" some members of staff go at once, causing them to giggle.
"Hello..." I greet, nervously waving the way I think they are. Only, my cheeks start to burn as Oorika brings my hand the other way.
"Get to cleaning, you lot." Oorika sternly tells the girls.
"You don't have to be angry at them."
"I am not, however, they must remember what they are." the disciplinarian goes on to say.
"So why does our doctor need time? Surely he can just give me the magic I need?"
"Vast in reserves as men of medicine are, Lady-Heir, he still needs time to look at the finer details."
"One reason to miss the Jhermonikra, I suppose." I comment quietly as I swear everything happened much quicker over there.
"Be patient, Lady-Heir, do not let yourself be confused by the lacking details in your head." she chastises as I pick up on a lovely smell heading our way. Only, my excessive sniffing of it agitates my nose and tickles it as my wound serves as an exit whole.
"Can you at least agree that my nose needs to be fixed post haste!?" I complain as I come to a stropping stop before I freeze my arm as it approaches the wound.
"The Doctor is working as quickly as he can, Lady-Heir."
"I know... It's just... I can't sleep properly with my nose acting up like this. I can't even enjoy the scent of the gardens because it keeps... Graaaaah!" I vent as Oorika's grip gently tightens, a hand rubbing the back of the one she is holding.
"Lady-Heir, patience. We are all working as hard as we can to nurse you back to full health." Oorika reminds me and I go quiet as I pick up the pace. She stops me and opens the door I nearly walked into before guiding me down to a chair. I sigh as the humiliation continues with how Oorika needs to now treat me like a baby. I didn't like Brewbrt doing it, but, here it is worse, so many people can see...
Putting my hands together, I try to keep my only understandable sign of frustration in check. Someone walks close and a waving sound disturbs the air, Oorika starts to mutter-read. Looking away, someone seems to kneel down at my side and I lean their way before bouncing back as I touch the chair side. My fists clench as I quietly groan.
"Lady-Heir, it is me, Chef Anayakis, do you remember me?" the soft-spoken woman asks as a plump hand takes my closest one.
"I... I am sorry, I do not." I explain and I hear the disappointment.
"Do you remember the food you had once upon a time?"
"I do." I quickly answer, my love for the meals I got out of the kitchens here being quite the problem in Jherikra. Brewbrt tried his best, but, when most of the food was clearly intended for a different kind of people... I just wish I am able to see the food I am soon to be eating, rather than having someone describe it to me.
"Will you be able to answer me with a yes or no for the next question?" she asks.
"Ok?"
"Spark-percher sweetmeat rolls." she states and my mouth opens, my back straightening.
"You have some!?" I ask, recalling one of the first things I did when I arrived in Brewbrt's town proper. I stuffed my face with as many as I could make and have before that morning turned hectic.
"Not hearing a yes or no..." Anayakis drolls at length.
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"Yes!" I snap before Oorika pulls me back.
"Lady-Heir, manners." she reminds me with a gentle pinch as something goes along my hair before being taken off.
"What was that?" I ask as I reach for the disturbed hairs.
"It was a menu, Lady-Heir." Oorika explains and my mouth opens as I nod.
"Oh." I go, disappointed my imagination can't go wild after reading everything listed on it.
"The Chef wanted to show me what she believes is best for you right now as a meal."
"Good food." I answer for her and Anayakis if she is still around.
"Ideally, we want you to be having heavier, denser foods rather than the more traditional lighter meals. Possibly snacks in between depending on how easily you get through it all."
"You better not be making me eat some rock-hard bread or disgustingly fatty meat..." I gag quietly at, making Oorika gently remind me to show proper etiquette.
"Your health comes first in times like this, Lady-Heir. Please, bear that in mind."
"I know... I know..." I moan under my breath.
"Know, however, as the Bosphama on the road to ascension once the time comes in the distant future. It is your right to request what you want." Oorika huffs bemusedly at as she comes down closer to my cheek to play with it.
"I want to enjoy myself, I don't want to worry about my eyes if only for one meal." I say before the doors to this place loudly bang open on their slots.
"There she is! You've been cooped away for far too long!" Brewbrt cheers as he walks in without the sound of armour following every one of his steps. I smile at this, it's been so long since he's felt it safe enough to go without such protection. Though, he is also probably glad to be without such now-damaged steel.
"I have needed time to make sure everyone is aware of what has occured." Oorika explains, seemingly offended at the fact she has otherwise kept me to my room so I can rest.
"Much as I would normally agree, Brewbrt, I am thoroughly useless right now."
"Nonsense, here, I'll even let you have my hand and we can go for a walk after breakfast." he suggests with a jolly chuckle, but, I can't help but attempt to look away and frown. I know he's not trying to make me foul, yet, his words make me so. It is nonsense that I am useless, however, I need his hand to get anywhere these days.
Anyone's hand, even.
"The chef came in not long before you did to ask me what I wanted, would you like some of it before she can help you with your food?" I offer up to Brewbrt as it is the least I can do compared to all that he has done for me. Though, I am still of the mind to be greedy even with this suggestion.
"Maybe a spoon or fork or whatever it is you use in these palaces."
"This is a keep, only the Imperial Family has the right to palaces." Oorika corrects with what sounds like a firm step forward.
"Calm down, Maid." Brewbrt dismisses with what I assume to be a wave of his hand.
"I am the Housekeeper!" Oorika threatens to hiss before I try to find her hand, which, luckily, I do. Trying my best to get her to move down, I also attempt to turn my head towards the noise of Brewbrt's voice.
"Brewbrt, I understand this sort of teasing is what you do with me just fine. But, these are professional members of staff, this is a lot different to what you might be used to." I caution me and Mother's shared friend as his tongue clicks.
"Been governing my own cut of land for longer than you've been alive..." he tuts and on the inside, I smirk a little as if this is how he wants to play, then, I am more obliged.
"Oorika, are there any guards in the room right now?" I ask my home's Housekeeper.
"Indeed, Lady-Heir, gentlemen?"
"Armed and present, Lady-Heir!" several men call out with the dramatic drumming of their heavy weapons.
"Poke the unarmoured Jhermonikra with your weapons' blunt end." I order, smiling with the evil of a jokester and eliciting a giggle from Oorika before footsteps fill the chamber.
"Oooh, careful, food coming through!" Anayakis complains as a welcome smell disrupts the complaints and mild insults now departing Brewbrt.
"This is a smell I have long missed..." I let out quietly as my mouth, otherwise dried out by my increased need to breathe with my mouth at night. The uncomfortable nature of that fact being noted, though, I try to feel for anything that has a porcelain, dried clay or glass feel to it. Liquid swishes and a cup enters my grip.
"There you go, Lady-Heir." Oorika says as she continues to help me bring the cup to my lips.
"Thank you." I tell her once I have enjoyed a thorough series of sips from it. It's water mostly, but, there are flavourings, whatever it is, though, I cannot tell as the item floating in the drink is not so obviously seen.
"I hope you don't mind, Lady-Heir, but, I would like to see your first few bites!" Anayakis squeals quietly as the plate is treated as if it is a musical instrument.
"The sauce is thick, right?" I ask just in case as I am not really prepared at the moment for messy eating. Regardless of the strict head of staff looking over my shoulder right now.
"I have already prepared the precautions." Oorika explains as she tries to emphasise them to me. Acknowledging however I am able, I bring the food to my mouth and blow on it a few times.
"Do not worry, Lady-Heir, we prepared much of this while you were still sleeping. Kept hot but not tongue-scorchingly so." Anayakis explains as the heat that otherwise isn't bothering my fingers is clarified. I am not too sure right now what my tolerance is, but, it is nice to know that the keep's head cook is so forward-thinking.
Biting into the sweetmeat roll, I try to hold back my squeal as the almost sickly, pulled meat oozes across my mouth. Hands come together on my right and I think I can hear Brewbrt moaning about the guards as he moves forward to take what he is allowed. The chef and him get into some kind of bickering that Oorika further interferes with. It's hard to acknowledge, however, especially with how good this all tastes.
"Oh, there are just some things I could never experience properly outside these walls!" I nearly cry as I giggle in the build-up to my next bite. I feel it pop out across a finger and I quickly move to lick it clean, the warmth on my hand guiding my tongue. Sometimes, I even take only the slightest of nibbles of each component that I am able to reliably find. On their own, they are good and together they are amazing!
"Hey, Eineravaene, how these compare to the ones I made you?"
"If..." I start to say between bites before Oorika's hand reminds me, "If I was to compare them, I'd put it like this. If they were both islands of Eusorochii, no one would cry should yours fall into the All-Coast to be pillaged by the Desert Sailors."
"Such grim despisure!" Brewbrt chuckles as it sounds like he tries to take another.
"Last one for you, Old Man!" I snap joyously as I quickly sum up which one is the worst filled and smallest.
"My word, bring you into a castle and you become someone else entirely." he remarks with mock offence and I giggle with him.
"Head Chef, if you'd please, now may you make something more appropriate for-" Oorika starts to say.
"Anayakis, please go and make something for everyone currently present in the chamber!" I cheer interruptedly as I quickly find another sweetmeat roll on my own. Biting into it as the skilled cook laughs jollily.
"As you command, Lady-Heir!" she goes as she leaves.
"I've known the Lady-Heir for so little time and I am already prepared to stage a coup for her." I hear a guard chuckle to himself a little too loudly.
"Speak in such a manner again and I shall have the Castellan drag you in a shameful state to be decimated!" Oorika snaps as she likely turns to them.
"Oorika, it's fine, let the guard have a moment."
"But, Lady-Heir, the severi-"
"No buts! Only good food!" I order as I hopefully take a cheeky mouthful in her direction.