Help from the OtherSide

41. Unpaid Internship

The dining table was on the other end of the ballroom. It had  a more regular setting, though not entirely normal. Nothing is regular here compared to home. We ambled on the black and white chess tiled floor of the sombre room, with a long dark carved brown table capable of accommodating many people. 

The head chairs were empty suggesting the King and Queen hadn't eaten yet. We left a couple chairs near the head chair and sat afar. I seated myself between Anarzia and Dora. Opposite to me were Hex, Liam and Deccan near Telsin. 

The table was filled with variety of different breakfasts. Five different types of salads were spread out near us siding with various soups, fresh fruits and a huge turkey leg which Hex whisked away before we could process it.

Five minutes in, the herald announced the arrival of the King and Queen. The siblings immediately got up dropping the food they were holding; that was the cue for the rest of us to follow. King didn't bat an eye in our direction, went and sat at the head while the Queen waved at her children and smiled at the rest of us joining the King.

 I resumed eating and the mysterious elf constantly invaded my thoughts. I tried forgetting him but I just couldn't. I needed more information on him and the best person with knowledge of the entire palace was sitting beside me. 

"Hey Zia is that salad to your satisfaction?" I attempted an icebreaker since our morning wasn't the what someone would call a  good morning.

" Yes it is edible. And yours?" She took a spoonful of a dull red soup.

"Absolutely brilliant. I wanted to ask you something. Do you know everyone who lives in this palace?" I took small pieces of chopped celery and pretended to be interested in my food.

"Yes everyone."

"So . . . who is Killian ?" I eased into it.

She choked on her soup and coughed loudly, directing everyone's attention on us. 

Perfect.

Grant handed her a glass of water and she emptied it quickly. However once she regained normalcy, nobody returned to their conversations. The Queen glanced at the scene but ignored it.

"You know him?" Amelia looked at me incredulously.

 "Maybe."

"Knows who Zia?" Telsin leaned over to hear our conversation. She mouthed the mysterious elf's name and Telsin too choked on his salad. 

"Something wrong with the food today?" Deccan cautiously removed the spoon from his mouth with the contents untouched.

"She knows him?" Telsin bulged his eyes at the two of us.

"Okay. Who?" Liam set his fork down and folded his arms.

"Killian. Killian Rayoleth. The most moody elf in this universe. Our brother." Telsin wiped the corners of his mouth with the napkin and took a deep breath.

"There's more of you? Give me a proper count. I don't want to wake up tomorrow and learn half the palace employees are your cousins." Deccan covered his mouth in surprise and rested his elbows on the table.

"Just the three of us. He's the oldest--"

"Good morning father, Queen." Killian walked in with a stoic face and greeted his parents. The King's jaws slackened and dropped low. The Queen stared at him like he too revealed that he's Human. Without acknowledging us he sat in the front, between King and Telsin.