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Cassana caught herself deep in her thoughts again. It's that noble's fault. She mused, shaking her head and trying to focus on her task at hand. She grabbed the ladle and gave another spin on the frumenty she had boiling. She took a scoop of the porridge and checked the consistency of the grain before hanging the ladle back and returning to the kitchen table. At this point, she already lost count of how many times she heard people come in through the inn's main door.

She stared at the table, deciding on what to do next. She marked off the checklist in her head one by one: boar meat on the chopping board, string of onions on the side, wheel of cheese, bottles of mustard and vinegar, and a bowl of wild berries. She got everything she needed... so far. Right?

That had been her morning routine for the past year or so since her mother got sick, but she could never get used to it. More than a year ago, she was at The Tower, and her hands were busy brewing different types of concoctions. Far different. Her workbench was filled with apothecary supplies ranging from chamomile oil, catnip and fennel leaves to pig fat, lizard tails and griffin talons. She had her life planned out: she was going to be a wizard, and she would travel the world. She would offer her services to those in need, while searching for ancient hidden knowledge. She was set out to leave this place behind, and swore to never come back. But then life happened, and there she was, back in her mother's kitchen again.

She was about to finish slicing the meat when she heard footsteps coming in from outside. "Just a minute!" she shouted, trying to preempt whoever it was that was trying to enter her kitchen.

"Hey Cass," her head perched up to find Bonnie, one of her neighbors.

"Bonnie! Look, sorry, I know. But something came up this morning and I wasn't able to prepare early."

"No, it's fine. Need a hand?"

"What?" Cassana replied.

Bonnie didn't need to wait for an answer. She sauntered towards the fire pit to check what was boiling in the large earthenware. "Oh, this smells nice. What'd you put this time? Cinnamon?"

"Nutmeg."

"Oh, that's good too. What do you need here?" Bonnie's eyes shifted from the pot to the table, then back to Cassana.

"Check the grain again then add the berries." Cassana instructed.

"Alright." Bonnie scooped off from the bowl, then after blowing the heat off, took a sip of the frumenty. After giving an approving nod, Cassana returned to her chopping board, half-confident that the young girl knew what she was doing.

Cassana was almost done with the meat she was chopping when she was interrupted by a high-pitched noise coming from behind her.

"What was that?" asked Bonnie.

Cassana rushed towards the oven and with a wooden pan, pulled the loaves of bread out. "It's my timer." She pointed towards a metallic device in the shape of a unicorn standing by the brick oven.

"That's a funny looking thing, what is that?"

"It's an automaton. It tells the time. Well, how much time is left on something."

"Ohh!" Bonnie leaned down to take a closer look at the device. Its eyes were glowing with a purple light. As soon as it stopped emitting the sound, it returned its four legs down, and idled like a horse on a grassy field. "That's awesome. Is it alive?"

"Oh, no! Just a bit of magic. I used to use it for brewing potions and such. But now I use it for the bread."

Bonnie poked the nose of the figurine, and it brushed it's makeshift head against her index finger. "That's cute. It looks real. Your own little pony. With a horn."

"It's a unicorn."

"Ah, from the stories." The sizzling sound of the fire pit called out to Bonnie, and she rushed back to it, quickly lifting the lid off the pot to prevent it from further overflowing. "Sorry."

"It's okay. The berries, please."

"Right." Bonnie grabbed the bowl of wild berries and carefully poured them into the pot.

"And lower the heat. The poker is over there."

Bonnie followed her instructions diligently and removed some of the charcoal from the fire. By then, Cassana had already turned to peeling off and chopping the onions.

"Actually..." Bonnie started. Cassana felt her bracing for a big news. "I was really hoping to talk to you about something."

"What is it?"

"I had my first blood the other day."

"Oh really? Congratulations! How are you feeling?"

"I'm feeling better now. A few days ago, not so much. A bit of a headache. And cramps."

"Wait, you have your blood, why are you in my kitchen?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, yeah, I heard mummy say that. Is that true?"

"Nah, I'm just messing with you. I don't believe in that crap."

"Okay..." Bonnie sighed.

"So is that what you wanna talk about?"

"No, no." Bonnie answered, playing with her hair, "See, mummy told me since I'm a woman now, I can get married soon."

Cassana pulled a lichen bungee wrapped around her wrist and tossed it to the young girl, "Marriage? Aren't you a bit too young?"

She caught it and started tying her hair up, "I'm twelve and two. Molly was younger than me when she got married."

"Alright, but is that really what you want?"

"Of course. But not just to anybody..."

Cassana paused and stared at the young lass. She knew exactly what she was referring to. "You don't mean--" wiping off the sweat from her forehead.

"Yes." Bonnie confirmed.

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"But he's older than you."

"He's the same age as you."

"Exactly. Don't you want someone your age?"

"Why would I want that? Boys my age are too busy playing with their little stick-swords. Ashvell is a man. With a really big axe."

Cassana chuckled at the unintentional double entendre. Bonnie just stood with her eyebrows curled.

"What's funny?"

"Nothing. I mean... If that's what you really want. But..."

"But what? You don't think it's a good match, do you?"

"No, no, I think you would make an exceptional wife for him, but..."

"Give me an honest answer, Cass. And I promise if you say you do, I will step aside for you."

"What?"

"Do you fancy him?"

"By Eirene, no!" Cassana objected with passion.

"Good, that's a relief." Bonnie sighed.

"Come on, you know what's up."

"Of course. I'm not blind, like the rest of the people here." declared Bonnie, proudly waving her ponytail around. "Do you miss him?"

Cassana puckered her lips and simply simpered and shrugged. Which was the most she could say about what Bonnie was asking about. The young lass giggled, having understood what she meant.

"Hey, don't change the topic. Let's not make this about me, alright?" The redhead dropped the knife on the table and wiped her hands on her apron. She approached Bonnie, and the lass took a pause in mixing the porridge. "Is there really nothing else you want to do?"

"Like what?"

"I don't know... what are you really good at?"

Bonnie took a moment to think. "I'm good at whining, mummy said. Pops said that it is the perfect quality for a wife." They both giggled. "I like knitting, but... I don't want to be a spinster!"

Cassana held Bonnie by her shoulders, taking note of how tall she had grown the past few months. She was already almost her height. She remembered when they used to braid each other's hair. Cassana and Ashvell grew up together, played together, and Bonnie was always behind, following them. Eventually, she found out why. The little girl fancied her friend. Cassana held a loose lock of Bonnie's hair and tucked them behind her ears.

"If only I'm good at magic like you," the young lass remarked.

"It's not about what you're good at... it's just..." Cassana's thoughts trailed. "Why is it that when we're talking, it's always about Ashvell?"

"What else can we talk about?"

"I don't know, anything other than a man?"

"What, farming?"

"How's your father?"

"He's a man."

"No, I mean, how are you parents, how's your family?"

"Pops is fine, Mum's fine, family's fine, they're all doing fine."

Cassana sighed, conceding.

"Nothing happens in this place." declared Bonnie.

Cassana couldn't agree more.

"I have thought of nothing else but to marry him since I was little. You've thought of nothing else but be a wizard since you were little. Is there really any difference?"

That's a really good point. Cassana thought.

"That's why you didn't wanna get married, right? You don't want some husband to distract you from your wizarding adventures."

"That, and, I seriously doubt someone would want to marry me. Look at me." Cassana raised her arms sidewards to show Bonnie a better look of her state. Her apron was covered with boar blood and viscera, her face was caked with smoke and oil, and her armpits were soaked with sweat.

"What are you talking about, you're a catch! Any man would be lucky to have you. Any man, or fae." she winked.

"Awww." Cassana fawned. "I wanna hug you right now, but I stink."

"Oh I don't give a fib." Bonnie jumped and gave her friend a warm embrace, merrily swinging sidewards.

"I'll try to talk to Ashvell about it."

"If you order him to marry me, I'm sure he'll do it."

"You know what, you're right."

"I'm kidding, don't do that please. I still want to keep a bit of my pride. Just, be subtle."

"Oh you know how dense he is, it'll be tough getting something through his thick skull without knocking it in with a hammer."

"I'm sure you'll find a way."

The sharp, off-putting smell of burnt porridge filled the kitchen as the two were enjoying each other's embrace.

"The food!" They both exclaimed.

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The lunch-hour went more smoothly than Cassana anticipated. The miners and the woodcutters and the farmers ordered their usual meal consisting of wild boar meat and frumentry, with a bit of ale on the side. The weavers and the laundry-wives had their usual loaves and cheeses, dipped in vinegar and mustard. The young ones had a bit of both. Like any typical noon on any given day, she never had the chance to pause and think about anything. Serve the food, clean the table, wash the dishes. A cycle that seemed to go on endlessly, as the villagers lined up and sat and ate, batch after batch.

"Thank you for dining with us."

A phrase of gratitude that eventually lost its meaning, condensed down into an empty platitude. Be nice. Her mother had been gone for months now, but she could still hear her voice, telling her what to do, what to say, how to behave. Be kind. She didn't know what these people were going through, so part of her job was to make sure that they forget about their worries and troubles. Even for just an hour of lunch or a three-night stay. Be patient. She provided service, not just food or lodging. Food comes from the kitchen, lodging comes from a house, but service, that is something only a caring heart could give.

Cassana loved her mother, but she was nothing like her. She will never have her kindness nor her caring heart. She will never be as understanding as her. Or as gentle. And though she misses her every single day, there were moments that she wished that she would stop hearing her voice, just so she wouldn't be obligated to say the phrase thank you for dining with us one more time.

As the inn's patrons waned in number, Cassana found more time to rest and to take a break. Bonnie approached her sitting on one of the barstools, stretching her tired back. The young lass reached out to Cassana with a pile of coins. "What is this?" she asked her.

"For my lunch," answered Bonnie.

"No. No, no, no. You helped me in the kitchen, your lunch is free."

"Alright." Bonnie didn't object, returning her coins to her purse. "Oh hey, you didn't notice Otheric came in?"

"Ric? Where?" Cassana's heart skipped a beat upon hearing the name. She raised her head up, scanning through the meager crowd that were now finishing their meals.

"There." Bonnie pointed towards a secluded corner of the room. One can't be blamed for not noticing a person hiding underneath the dark shadows. Hooded and silent, the figure almost disappeared on the wall behind him. "Bogs said he was heading out to the woods when he saw them arrive mid-dawn. But he didn't see the mister and the missus."

"Wait, them? So was he alone or was he with others?"

"With others." Bonnie leaned closer to whisper, "Word is they're fae-folk, just like him."

A look of concern grew on Cassana's face. She stood up and walked to the back of the bar, untied her hair and removed her apron. She pranced to the kitchen and tossed it to a nail then grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat dripping from her body. "Can you watch over the counter for a while?" She said to Bonnie as she stepped out. The young lass nodded.

For Cassana, the walk towards the secluded corner felt more like a procession. Along the way, several patrons greeted her and attempted to small-talk, but she dismissed them politely. As she reached the spot, she took a deep breath, and made one final attempt to pull her blouse straight. "Ric!" She tapped on the table where the person was seated, and in a split-second her face turned from worry to excitement.

"Seti's breath!" The person jumped up on his stool, startled by what she did.

"Were you sleeping?" asked Cassana.

He didn't answer. Instead, he raised his head a little and beneath his hood, Cassana watched his expression turn from shock, to annoyance, to delight.

"What are you doing sulking in this corner? When did you arrive? How was your trip?" Cassana threw a barrage of questions that the person was not prepared to answer. He lifted his hood up, displaying his silver hair, dagger-shaped ears and ebony-black skin.

The redhead noticed him wearily wandering his ruby eyes around, checking if anybody's looking his way. "Come on, they won't mind," she reassured. A smile curled up on Cassana's lips, and a glow shone from her emerald eyes. "How are you?"

"Clearly, you can see that I'm alive." answered Otheric.

"So how was the expedition? How's your parents?"

Otheric's eyes locked on to the table between them. Cassana felt her heart drop to her stomach, as the drow struggled to find the words to say. "They didn't make it."

"I'm sorry." Cassana instinctively reached out for Otheric's hands, but he pulled them away before she could even touch them.

"I heard about what happened to your father too."

"Yes..."

Otheric stared at Cassana, and she felt the sense of longing in his eyes, "Look at us. A pair of orphans."

Cassana smiled sadly at his sentiment. Each other is all we have left. "Would you rather we talk in private?" she offered. The drow nodded.

Cassana stood up and walked back to the bar, towards Bonnie. "Do you mind staying here a little longer?" she whispered to her.

"No, I don't mind," she whispered back. Bonnie glanced over Cassana's shoulders and the seat by the secluded corner was already empty. Her eyes went to the staircase leading up to the rooms, and she could see a faint silhouette of a person tiptoeing up, "Go, I got this."

"You don't have to clean the tables, Uncle Euric will take care of those when he arrives. Just watch over the counter."

"I got it." Bonnie grabbed Cassana's wrist and gave it a squeeze before letting her go.