Wherever I Am

Chapter 9 - Part 2

I woke, daylight streaming into the room. Adrian lay next to me in the bed, snoring. I'd insisted...he was hurt worse than me. He didn't say what happened, but his whole right side was a mass of bruises. I sat up to see if Stefan was on the pallet. He wasn't supposed to be but said he wanted to be with us.

He wasn't there, but a man snapped to attention—my height, so tall for here. The man was skinny and older...maybe thirty. Wearing Boian's livery? A bright smile. A deep bow.

I groaned. Just the smile was too cheerful for this morning.

"Lord Kevin of the Realm. I am Sir Filip Luca. I was called to be your valet and arrived with my contingent about an hour ago. I and mine are at your service." A second bow.

I looked at him a moment, then at myself. I had gotten my belt and shoes off, anyway. Otherwise, I was still dressed. "Caffeine."

"Your pardon, Milord?"

I shook my head, then winced. How did a head shake transmit all the way to those ribs and the thigh? "Sorry. Some of that holly plant drink would be nice if any of that is around."

"I'll go to the kitchen and fetch you some, Milord."

"Never mind. Let me get shoes on, and I'll join you.

"I'll come, too," came Adrian's muffled voice, "Lord Kevin."

He pushed himself to a sitting, letting out a groan.

"You sure?"

"No, Milord, but I'll make it somehow."

I winced as I bent and tied my shoes while Adrian stood and swayed on his feet. We followed Sir Filip to the dining room, Lord Boian looking like he hadn't moved from his chair since last night.

"Don't move," I said when he started to rise, then took the chair next to him at the head of the table. Sir Filip began to take the chair to my left, but Boian shook his finger and pointed to the next chair down.

I glanced at Boian, curious, who smirked at me.

"Maid Oana disappeared from over there when you came in, so I expect Maid Elexus any time. Sir Filip, you would've been sitting in her seat."

I held my smile at Filip's reaction as Boian continued. "The Realm is present, so the rules change. Maid Elexus sits to Lord Kevin's left or takes the head of the table in My Lord's absence. She also joins us in any strategic discussions. Her combination of horsemanship and bow turned the tide with at least five kills. She decimated the feint, which kept them from being the overwhelming wave after the main attack struck. Lord Kevin didn't do too badly himself, slowing down the main attack with his arrow shots and sword-work. Sir Filip, we need to find bows and arrows to outfit our foot soldiers. Start with those already trained, then work on training more. If that meets with your approval, Lord Kevin?"

"More bows would be excellent," Ellie said as she limped into the room. She looked like she hadn't slept and was still in her stained clothes from yesterday, like Boian and I were. Oana followed her in, moving stiffly, also not changed, and stood by me as Ellie sat down. I followed Boian's gaze and saw that Oana still wore the belt and knife.

I slipped the chair back and pulled her into my lap.

"Sir Filip, may I present Maid Elexus of the Realm, and her Companion, Maid Oana," Boian announced.

Obviously, nothing had been explained to Filip earlier. His eyes alighted on Oana's belt and knife as he stood, moved to Ellie, and knelt next to her chair, bowing his head to her and Oana before rising and taking his chair. Adrian had stiffly bent from his position before taking his seat next to Filip.

"It is nice to meet your acquaintance, Sir Filip," Ellie said. She glanced at me, looking drawn before bringing her attention back to the cavalier. "You tend to my brother?"

"I am his valet, Maid Elexus," he said as a plate was set in front of me, three eggs, something similar to the corn porridge at the hall, and lengths of meat that looked like twisted bacon.

As Oana reached for a piece of meat, Ellie said, "Fork, Oana."

I speared one of the bacon thingies and handed her the two-tined fork, then stirred the toppings into the porridge and took a small spoonful, wary of the steam coming from it. Not quite scalding, and I was glad I hadn't filled the spoon. A mug of the holly tea was placed in front of me, also steaming. I took a sip.

It seemed like nobody had changed yet. I'd check on Stefan's head wound, then find out what it took to get a bath. I fed a small spoonful of the porridge to Oana, and she took the spoon, so I fed myself some of the bacon.

This was a mixture of sweet and tangy, with a slight smokiness. It had been twisted around something at some point and held that shape, even though thin. The best thing I'd eaten since arriving in this world.

Boian smiled at my reaction. "Nothing but the best for you and Maid Elexus."

"This is wonderful," Ellie said. "The porridge, too, with whatever I stirred into it. What is all of this?"

"I can bring the cook out and she can explain all of this, Maid Elexus."

"No, that's not necessary. So different from home, the spices, that is."

"The irony, Sis, is that these spices are probably native to here...and home...and just aren't used in place of those that come from halfway around the world." Once again, I said too much as Boian and Filip both raised their eyebrows at my pronouncement.

Oana turned, wincing, and shoved a spoonful of the porridge into my mouth. "I blew on it first," she said. "Is it good?"

I moved it around, trying to smile as it scalded slightly, nodded, then finally said, "You need to be careful of your back. We don't need it bleeding again."

"I bleed on all my nice dresses. I should be like Lord Boian's guttersnipes and not wear anything. Then I won't hurt anything."

I pulled on a strand of her short hair that stuck up. "We'll keep you in dresses and get someone to trim your hair nicer."

Oana kissed me on the cheek. "Thank you, Uncle Lord Kevin."

"See to that," Boian said to Sir Filip.

"Of course, Milord," and moved to get up.

"Finish eating first," Ellie said, "and something plain that can get dirty. She's nine and likes to play in the dirt."

"Um, yes, Maid Elexus. As you wish."