Cardan and Jude

Insomnia Remedy (And Taryn's Breakfast)

I don't sleep the rest of the night but I don't go back to working either. Nicasia's attack left me with too many thoughts to be calmed with treatments as simple as herbal tea, which was all I had available in my room. So when the dawn light streams in through the dusty curtains, and I know that the faerie population will be sleeping, I slip into my tunic and trousers, pull Nightfell and its scabbard onto my waist and grab my burlap, determined to go to the marketplace and find something to quieten my nerves.

I open my door quietly and poke my head out into the corridor. The hallway is deserted. Not even music from the ballroom echoes up here. Perfect. I stride confidently from my room and then remember that it's definitely for the best if I lock it. 

The castle is completely silent as I walk to the kitchen. I decide to pass through the ballroom and then immediately regret it once I see its state. One goblin half heartedly attempts to clear a liquid from the floor. The cleaning crew are nowhere to be seen. Faeries lie across and atop one another, leant against pillars or flat on the floor, all sound asleep. Mud, leaves, drink, remnants of food and glitter dirty the marble and I nearly slip multiple times. 

'Goblin.' I say once I reach him. The creature looks up. 'Where are the cleaning faeries?' I ask.

'They were at the party too. Don't know where they've gone seneschal.' He answers begrudgingly, kneeling once again and spreading the liquid further across the marble with his grubby cloth. 

'Hey!' I bend down and grab it. I peer closer at the bottom right hand corner and sure enough the initials TD  are embroidered delicately in blue string by none other than my sister's hand. 

'Where did you get this?' I demand, lowering it to his eye line.

'A lady much like yourself passed through earlier and dropped it. She was headed toward the kitchen I'm sure.'

'Thank you, goblin.' I say, stuffing the handkerchief in my pocket and walking onwards, determined to follow Taryn. 

'But what am I supposed to clean with now?' The goblin calls after me. I ignore him and exit through the grand doors, opposite to where I entered.

I storm into the kitchen and look around. It's deserted, as expected. The kitchen faeries spent all night preparing more food to be brought to the buffet table and will most likely be tucked up in their quarters, exhausted. I move lightly through the neat kitchen, admiring the way the dawn light creeps through the basement window, throwing bright morning sun across the stacked and carefully cleaned bowls and utensils. I find my way to the pantry, it's door slightly ajar. I pause. The kitchen faeries would not be so careless as to leave the door unlocked and open. 

'Taryn?' I call as I step through the frame. It's colder in the storeroom and I shiver slightly. Taryn stands at the other end, holding a jar of dark cherries.

'What are you doing?' I ask, walking to her. She wears a pale pink dress, embroidered with daisies and a delicate ring of white carnations nestled in her flowing red-brown hair.

'Jude!' She gasps, surprised, 'I didn't eat much at the ball last night and was hungry when I woke up this morning. Where are you going?' She asks, noticing my outdoor wear. 

'To the market. I need something to help me sleep. And why didn't you just call for breakfast?' 

'I feel awful for the worker faeries. They were up serving for hours during the celebration. They need rest. Have you not been sleeping well?' 

'No. And my nerves are fried. Plus, I need to tell you something about Nicasia.' I say quietly, leaning in.

Her eyes widen in understanding and she puts the jar of cherries down.