We arrived back to the servant's kitchen hall in time for dinner. Tonya, Cora and Leslie had saved a spot for us at the far end near the brick wall and stacked barrels. I keenly noticed the careful glances and feverish whispers from the other girls as I walked past them.

“We’re the talk of the town, I see,” I said as I eased down on my spot of the bench opposite Cora.

“Ignore them. You’re just following orders.” Tonya reassured us.

She was about the same age as Edde. Maybe 18 or 20 summers year old. Tall and skinny, with similar features to Kalia: round blue eyes, short fine blond hair and pleasant image of a woman. Although, like Edde, her usual expression was free from smiles. But I had known her long enough to tell that her heart was in the right place for her charges. She was constantly going out of her way to make sure they were given jobs to suit their abilities. Cora’s task at the bell tower was an example. However, this placed her in some hot water with the other senior disciples. I was beginning to see that Edde and Tonya weren’t popular among their peers.

“Humph. That’s them.” One of the senior disciples turned up her nose at us, as she passed to take a spot at the far end, where most of the others were.

There was an obvious gap between us. Kalia nudged my shoulder and saw Dyc and Jen surrounded by a few seniors at the far end near the hearth. The sisters didn't usually eat with the disciples, so it was expected that they would need to be under someone else’s care during these times. All of them were averting their gazes from us, feverishly whispering among each other and sharing some exclusive giggles.

I sighed. Well, whatever. As long as it wasn't going to affect our time here, they can say what they wanted.

“So, how did it go with those fit men.” Cora sighed dreamily in her girly way as she stirred her stew about.

I poked her forehead and pointed to her food. “Better eat or yah get in trouble.”

She poked her tongue at me and slumped her shoulders as she slurped her food. I noticed she had been given less share than I did. In fact, it was almost an empty bowl. And wonder if that was Dyc and Jen’s doing because of that time we had intervened with their bullying. She was a slow and careful eater, so I doubt she would’ve eaten a lot before I did. I pushed my bowl closer to hers and scooped some of my untouched stew into it.

“Yah climbing the bell tower later. Yah need your strength.”

“Neven.” Tears welled in her eyes. She nodded her thanks and heartily ate her extras.

Kalia sighed, grabbed my bowl towards her and placed two scoops of stew into it.

“We have floors to clean.”

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I looked to Leslie. “Yah got enough?”

“More than enough.” She nodded with a grateful smile.

Tonya sighed and dropped a scoop into Leslie’s bowl. “Now eat.”

The six of us ate in silence until Tonya calmly asked Edde how the training went. Edde gave a factual recap with her usual deadpan voice.

Tonya’s eyes darted about to ensure no one was eavesdropping. She then said in a low whispered only the four of us could here.

“Quicksilver was there?”

Edde’s hand paused midair, holding her spoon filled with stew that was dripping back into the bowl. After some deliberation, she nodded.

I noticed Kalia had flinched and looked slightly awkward. She gave me a look to say she would explain later. Tonya nodded and went silent on the subject. I pout, and glanced at everyone’s solemn expression.

“Yah holding out on me.” I shoved stew into my mouth to swallow down my sulking.

Edde sighed and returned her spoon to her bowl. She faced me and lightly whacked the back of my head.

“I’ll tell yuh later.”

“Fine.” I rubbed my head better and changed the subject.

“Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask. Yah know sign language?”

Tonya answered for Edde, “It's something we learn when we get to be seniors, as we need to instruct the guards on where to go.”

“Aah. I guess that’s why the sisterhood is fine for us teaching the henchmen, then.” I eased back to rub my satisfied belly and glanced at my empty bowl.

She nodded and eyed me carefully. “Question is, Neven, how do you know?”

I lifted my gaze to regard her with a tilted head. “That’s a good question.”

“Do you have a good answer?”

“Nope. I just happen to know things, and not all the time. Knowledge pops up into my head randomly.”

Tonya sighed and nodded. “I figured as much after what Edde had said of you.”

I turned to Edde who gave me a deadpan stare and a light bonk on my head.

“I'm gonna have no brains left with yah whacking or bonking it all the time!”

“Probably little there to begin with,” she said with her deadpan tone, but her lips were curled up with a smile.

We chuckled.

Tonya’s attention turned to Kalia who had been quietly and meticulously eating, ensuring she gave plenty of space between mouthfuls and the required amount of chewing before swallowing. At least she wouldn’t suffer from indigestion.

“You have a lot of the girls here talking about you.”

“Women never praise without gossiping, as the old proverb goes,” Kalia said, aloofly.

Tonya laughed. “Well, as long as you’re aware. But you have us seniors to look after you.”

Kalia stared earnestly at her and bowed her head. “Thank you.”

We finished our meal, then went our own ways to carry out our evening chores.

But I felt an odd energy in the air, like people watching from the shadows.