City of the Underground

Preparing For A Ball

King Henry hustled about the castle with Kaylana hurriedly trying to follow him. King Henry had already drug her down into the kitchens to direct the cook on what meal to prepare for the ball that evening. The king first asked Kaylana what type of delicacies were served in Nereyda. He said he planned on showing off the diversity she was bringing to the family. Kaylana told him of her father's favorite meal. It consisted of a marinated rump roast served with succulent potatoes and parsnips all cooked in a sherry sauce. For dessert he like a custard tart topped with fresh fruits. These were platters she herself enjoyed but were the choosing of her father. In her kingdom no ones tastes mattered much besides his.

The cook and kitchen hands listened intently as King Henry asked her again and again to describe the food.

"I'm not sure I will be of much help. " she said. "I never actually watched them make it."

She looked around helplessly at the waiting faces. The main cook was a plump woman with wisps of hair growing on her chin. Her greasy hair was pulled back in a short bun. She was at least a whole foot shorter than Kaylana, and almost just as wide.

"How am I to know what to cook sire? I know nothing of the type of marinade or seasoning." The frustrated cook asked.

Several other kitchen hands, both male and female, nodded their heads. A young boy, no more than 10, piped up, "Well what's it taste like your majesty?" He asked Kaylana.

"It tastes savory. The marinade must have had some type of herbs. I would guess a typical spice one would normally add to meats. The potatoes were buttery. I think our cook once mentioned something about rosemary and some kind of cream. It all comes out on the same platter and has a juicy sauce all about it."

"Ok." The cook was noddig her head. "Is the meat cooked with any pink showing in the middle?"

"Yes. A bit. And as for the custard, I imagine its fairly the same as how you would bake yours here. We also add fresh fruit and occasionally they might be dipped in chocolate. "

The King put a hand on her shoulder and smiled reassuringly. "There you have it." He told the cook and staff. "And we will serve our customary dish of lemon quail over wild rice. It will be a symbol of the unions of two great kingdoms." He smiled broadly.

The cook did not look too happy at being told to make a foreign dish, but she nodded none the less. She immediately began barking out orders to her kitchen hands and each began running about to begin their task. In less than a minute the normal bustle of the kitchen returned, hardly remembering the presence of either King Henry or Kaylana.

King Henry still held onto her shoulder and gently guided her out, back into the main hall way. Kaylana rubbed her eyes sleepily. The night before King Henry had taken the time to insist she be up early to help assist him correlate the ball. He had followed her up to her bed chamber after supper to continue his insistence. Robert had followed at a distance. The ruse that he was there to protect her helped him to stay close by.

Kaylana had finally given in. She had never planned for a ball before, but he was surprisingly persistent. She agreed right before they had reached her door. She was worried that if she didn't agree he might have followed her in. After that, the King had happily retired and reminded her they would be up early. Now, she sincerely hoped she might get some coffee soon. If Robert were there he might have sought it for her, but when they had met with the King that morning he had dismissed Robert for the day.

"I'll watch over her lad. She'll be safe. You go ahead and take a look around the grounds. Take your steed for some air perhaps."

After several protests and reassurances, Robert sulked away.

"Next, we'll have to talk to a decorator. What colors particularly interest you," the King continued as he turned to her," is there any theme--. My heaven you look tired."

Kaylana tried to cover her yawn with the back of her hand. She rubbed her eyes sleepily. She had spent most of the night sitting up with Robert. They did not talk or do much of anything besides hold each other. Somehow, she couldn't help but feel their time together was running out. She wanted to savor what she still had left.

"Forgive me, new sleeping arrangements always take some adjustments. " she said.

"Shall I send for anything? Some coffee perhaps?"

Kaylana brightened at the prospect. "That would be wonderful."

King Henry looked about for a servant. The young boy from the kitchen came walking out holding a large empty pale.

"Hold on there." The King reached out. "What's your name my boy?"

The small boy looked up confidently. "It's Trent your majesty." He bowed awkwardly and popped back up. "I was on my way to fetch water your majesty. I help with kitchen duties." He added proudly.

"We'll my young Trent. Our fair princess is in need of a morning coffee. Would you fetch it for her?" King Henry asked with a smile.

Kaylana could only stare at the exchange between the King and the servant boy. No servant in her castle dared speak so casually before her Father. And he certainly would never ask for assistance, he always demanded. He always wanted each person to know their place. Being thrown into such a marriage only showed where he truly believed her purpose lied. She smiled to herself as the young boy firmly brought his hands to his sides, like a soldier taking orders and dropping the bucket in the process.

"Aye aye your majesty!"

The King laughed and ruffled the boy's hair, then the young servant bolted off. Kaylana had never witnessed such kindness to a servant. She wondered what parts of life she had missed while shut off in her own small kingdom.

"Now, where is that son of mine?" The King began. "I had hoped he would help us decide on the festivities for tonight." He turned quickly and motioned for a guard to approach closer. "Herald, do you know where Jonathan is?"

The short statured guard blanched at the question. He looked alarmed as he attempted to answer, "Sire, I cannot be certain."

"Well do you know something or not?" The King asked impatiently.

The guard blinked several times. "I believe he might be training in the field sire."

"Training for what, with whom?" He asked with a wave of his hand.

The guard cleared his throat nervously before replying. "With Caitlin."

The king's face dropped in an instant. The blood rushed from his face and he looked over at Kaylana nervously. "Samuel, take the princess to the decorator to pick out colors. I will return shortly."

He turned on his heel and briskly made his way out.

Kaylana watched helplessly, without being able to warn Jonathan. What would the King find?