Legends of Ancient Astillia: The Sephian

Chapter 5

When I tired of reading, I made Milyu and I some boules, and dolloped some honey and lingonberry jam on top of them.

There were always extras, in case someone showed up mid-meal. Lucky for us, today my extra cooking paid off. I say lucky, because the food will be eaten. The company wasn't so pleasing.

Tavmyndi was our visitor. He didn't look angry or resentful at all, but I immediately activated my protection wards, just in case. He was dressed in different clothes, and more cleaned up than earlier today.

With a forced grin I welcomed him into the main room, "Take a seat wherever you like. The coat hanger is full, so if you want to take it off, just lay it somewhere." He nodded, folding his coat around his frame more, to indicate he was fine leaving it on, "Have you eaten yet?"

"No, I was going to head to The Raven here in town after I left," He responded.

"We were just about to eat supper ourselves, why don't you join us?" I offered. I was reluctant to ask, but considering he was an equal, it would be ill-mannered to turn him away.

"We? I thought you lived alone. Do your servants eat with you?"

"I don't keep servants. And if we're being technical, then yes, I live alone. However, I have an otherworldly companion, of which does eat with me."

"Oh, I see. I'd love to join you for a meal," the tone of his voice. He wasn't being rude with the question, just genuinely concerned that I might've gone mad. I couldn't help but chortle in response.

"Oh, I didn't come here to be laughed at," he grumped, standing up and following me to the table.

"What did you come here to do? After the... urrr... complication this morning, your visit did surprise me."

"I came to apologize for earlier. My behaviour was uncalled for. With the upcoming project, I don't think any tension between the three of us would bid well. I will admit, I was a bit... tipsy," He was solemn, and his head was down.

"I don't forgive you, but I'll accept the apology. If you want to spar, find a day that we mutually have off, and I'll gladly take you at ground level, where we can't disrupt the peace."

He laughed at that. I made my way around the table, sitting his plate down in front of him, and placing mine at the head of the table. I returned to the kitchen and put Milyu's plate on the floor before taking a seat myself.

We said our graces separate. My prayer was made to Giddian, and his was probably to Hymoras.

"What kind of creature is that? A purple, transparent squirrel?" Tavmyndi exclaimed when he saw Milyu skitter to her bowl.

"She's a Sciurus Mustela. If I remember correctly, she was a gift to father from a priest at one of the temples at Carimount. I think it was part of the Circular Monasteries of Time. I'm unsure what god she came from, or I would make a small shrine to them in the worship room.

He thought for a minute before responding, "By the colours and gleam, I would guess one of the Time Fathers. Don't hold me to that."

"I won't. How do you fancy the food? The lingonberry isn't too sour, is it?"

"It's wonderful! Could I have the recipe for the jam? Or is it one of those Sephian secrets?"

I smiled, proud that we were having a civil conversation, "No, I don't mind at all. I can write it up for you if you'd like, but I'd have to find some pa. Warning, lingonberry sells out quick at the market. I have a conservatory where I can grow it myself, even out of season, but I will not supply you with any."

After the meal was finished, I invited him to continue the chess board I'd started with Rhaphel early that morning. Tavmyndi won, bid me well and left for home.

It was an exhausting day, and I decided to head to bed early. No doubt tomorrow would be as hectic as preparing for the Noctem Caelo Varia Celestium— the festival that celebrates the Varia Noctem Luxia —and market sales day combined.