Caruso head to the kitchens for an early supper. Orange and Kactus were the only ones at the table, arguing between themselves as he entered. Caruso sat beside them and helped himself to the salt crusted river trout stuffed with orangegills sitting in the middle of the table.

‘Hey darling!’ Kactus called out to the kitchen. ‘Bring us some of that pie will ya?’

Miranda delivered the berryshroom pie and Kactus turned to watch her walk away.

He raised an eye at Orange, ‘Wouldn’t mind a slice of her pie aswell.’

‘Maybe if you slipped her some of your famous silverstem tea, she would be less capable of rebuffing your advances.’

‘I’m better with women than you are.’

‘Is that so?’

‘Aye, I reckon. Women like a real man, see. One with normal length hair, and their proper name.’

‘Hold on,’ Orange said, ‘let me write all this down.’

‘Ya know, perhaps if you took your duties more seriously Ferris would give your name back.’

‘I’ve grown rather fond of Orange, actually. Maybe you should worry about your own duties, some may consider poisoning half the compound an act of warfare.’

‘Even the Maji hisself couldn’t have stopped a vomiter infestation.’

‘But I daresay he might’ve had the foresight to keep more of the antidote at hand.’

Kactus shrugged, ‘Bittergill don’t grow here, what you want me to do? Keep enough medicinals on hand for everything that can possibly go wrong?’

‘Some might me as bold to suggest that is precisely your duty.’

Kactus ignored Orange and cut himself a generous helping of pie. Caruso couldn’t ignore the subject of bittergill, and perhaps with Orange here, he might have more chance at a discussion.

‘How did you try to grow bittergill before?’ Caruso asked.

‘I told you,’ Kactus said pointing a crust at Caruso. 'It don’t grow. Now mind your business.’

‘I’ve studied cultivation before. I’m just curious what methods you used. ’

‘No offence, kid, but I don’t have time to explain all my methods.’

Orange spoke, ‘You seemed more than willing to teach me your wily ways with women. What’s the harm in answering Caruso’s question?’

‘I explained it to him before, he didn’t listen. I don’t like it when people don’t show the proper respect is all.’

Orange gave Caruso a helpless shrug and sliced himself a slither of pie.

‘I’m sorry if I was disrespectful,’ Caruso said carefully. ‘I just want to know, did you try using termites nest from Zone 2 as a medium?’

Kactus laughed, spraying the table with whatever was in his mouth. ‘Sounds like some old witch’s concoction. Maybe you should’ve studied more. You don’t grow shrooms by just throwing random shit together.’

‘It’s just that termites cultivate bittergill in their nests, using ash wood pulp as a medium. As I'm sure you know. So I was curious why that same method wouldn’t work here.’

Orange looked up suddenly, and glanced between Caruso and Kactus.

‘That’s Zone 2. This is Zone 3,’ Kactus said, dismissing Caruso’s logic with a wave of his hand.

Caruso replied, ‘But all the other Zone 2 shrooms seem to grow here using specific mediums from their environments.’

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Kactus shook his head but didn’t give a response.

‘Sounds like a plausible theory to me,’ Orange said.

‘Naw, it’s a stupid guess is all it is.’

‘Surely it’s at least worth a try,’ Orange said. ‘Is it not?’

‘I got better things ta do. But if you want to traipse around the forest collecting termites and frog’s legs and what not, be my guest.’

Orange shrugged, ‘Good idea. What exactly do you need Caruso? I’ll go get it.’

‘Yer not serious,’ Kactus said.

‘Actually I am. Was planning on a little jaunt to Jamala anyway. So, Caruso, you need a termite’s nest? Is that all?’

‘Just a chunk of one, and some ash wood from Zone 2. But also… Well, I was looking around the medicinal garden earlier. And, Kactus, I don’t mean any disrespect—’

‘Please,’ Orange said. ‘Disrespect Kactus as much as you like.’

‘It’s just…I wondered whether growing your silverstems in proper Zone 2 pine needles would make them healthier and less susceptible to infestation. What do you think?’

‘Like I said, ain't nothing you can do against infestation. Besides, I’m not sure if you’re blind or just stupid, but my silverstems already grow in pine needles.’

‘But you got them from Zone 3, right?’

‘Aye, it makes no difference.’

‘I’m not so sure about that, they didn’t smell like proper pine needles, which means they will have different nutrients.’

‘Are you saying you know more about growing medicinal shrooms than me?’ Kactus challenged.

‘I just thought—’

‘Kactus asked you a legitimate question,’ Orange interrupted. ‘He deserves a legitimate response. So, Caruso, do you think you know more about growing medicinals than Kactus?’

Kactus nodded his head with a smug smirk. Caruso regretted getting involved. He was about to back track, but something in Orange’s eyes told him not to. Besides, he knew Duskydale’s section on cultivating Zone 2 medicinals by heart. He was sick of treading lightly around this topic, just to avoid bruising Kactus’s ego.

Caruso turned to kactus and said. ‘Yes. About growing medicinals, I think I know more than you.’ Caruso could hardly believe he just did that. Orange gave a thrilled grin.

A vein on Kactus’s forehead looked fit to burst. ‘You cocky little shit!’

But Orange silenced him, ‘We can settle this like gentlemen. I will fetch whatever Caruso needs, and he can try and grow bittergill, and whatever other shroom of yours he thinks he can improve upon. Then we’ll let the results speak for themselves. Sound fair?’

Kactus shook his head and snorted, ‘Fine by me.’

‘It’s settled then,’ Orange speared an orangegill with his fork, took a bite and frowned at it. ‘Caruso, maybe you should take a quick whip around the edible garden too. These orangegills leave a lot to be desired.’

‘Actually,’ Caruso said. ‘I already had a look today, and I might have a few ideas.’

Kactus choked back a laugh, ‘And then tomorrow, maybe you can give Ferris a few tips on his threading. Didn’t realize we had a fucking Maji on our hands here. This is too much.’ Kactus got up, grabbed the rest of the pie and chuckled his way out the door.

Orange grinned at Caruso, ‘How thrilling!’

‘You’re being serious, right? You actually believe me?’

‘Over the years I’ve learned to listen to my surroundings. Now, what exactly do you require?’

Caruso thought about it, ‘There’s six mushrooms I think I can improve upon. Three medicinals, three edibles.’

‘Wait here, I’ll make a list.’

Before Orange could get up, Miranda sat down in Kactus’s seat and handed Orange paper and quill.

‘First the crusted trout, now this,’ Orange gestured to the paper, ‘Miranda, you’ve outdone yourself again.’

‘I may have been listening in. Got a little excited at our Caruso sticking it to Kactus.’ Miranda began picking at the leftover fish. ‘Also, since you’re going to Jamala, I figured you wouldn’t mind picking up a few things for your favourite chef?’

‘It will cost you.’

‘Name your price.’

‘That spicy chicken salad you do. The honeyfungus loaf you baked last month—the one with nuts and dried figs. And more berryshroom pie,’ Orange pointed to the empty plate. ‘But next time, try not to serve it when Kactus is around.’

Miranda grinned, ‘Done.’

Caruso looked between Orange and Miranda, surprised at their seeming friendship. He had never seen Orange friendly with anyone, the man was usually aloof and kept to himself.

Caruso began to list off all he required to cultivate the shrooms. He started with the basics, listing different woods and leaves, a log of pine, the soil from under certain trees and the droppings from certain animals. There were other things he needed but he wasn’t sure how essential they were.

‘Come now,’ Orange said. ‘If we are to do this, we must do it properly. It’s never wise to hold back when paying with Forester coin. And I can haul everything back in a carriage. So please, don’t hold back.’

Caruso didn’t. And the list grew. As the items became more obscure Orange’s grin grew wider: sacks of horse grain, sheets of cloth, air tight containers, and bales of sawdust from differing trees. Only once did Orange question something.

‘Really? Chicken’s feet?’

‘You said to not hold back.’

‘You’re the boss,’ and he scratched it onto the list. ‘Is that all then?’

‘I think so, yes.’ But there was one thing Caruso had overlooked. He turned to Miranda, ‘Sorry, I should’ve asked you sooner. But I might need your help.’

‘Mine? I don’t know anything about growing shrooms, just how to cook them.’

‘It’s not that. But there’s a couple of things I might need to do in the kitchen, if that’s okay? I promise it won’t be too bothersome.’

‘There’s nothing bothersome about wiping the smirk of Kactus’s face. Of course I’ll help. But it will cost you.’

Caruso grinned. ‘Name your price.’

‘You have to teach me whatever it is you’re doing.’

‘You want to learn how to grow shrooms?’

‘Figured a cook should know how to grow her own. You reckon you can teach me?’

‘I believe I can.’