Descendants of the Kings (Book 2)

Ch 31.2: Questions and answers

It was well into the afternoon by the time they made it down the low ridge of the mountain.

It didn't help that they'd slept in that morning, foregoing the usual crack-of-dawn routine. Not that Ella could find it in herself to complain. Despite the energy-replenishing potion she'd taken, her body was still tired and achy, and she was pressed to admit that going slow wasn't that bad of an idea.

She hadn't complained too much either when Aedion insisted they stop for an early spot of lunch once they'd made it down the mountain and into the woods.

"I still quite can't believe you didn't know eggs were necessary for making pancakes," Aedion mused, expertly grilling the finely chopped mushrooms they'd foraged.

Ella gave him a sour look, pausing mid-chop as she sliced cured bacon. "How was I supposed to know that it would fall apart?"

"Common sense," he threw back, chuckling at her outraged scoff. "I could forgive foregoing milk, though it would make for flavourless pancakes. But eggs? Eggs hold things together. Otherwise, you're left with a flabby clump that falls apart on the griddle."

"Oh, hush," she sniffed. "I don't need to take this from a food snob." She looked pointedly at the small pouches of spices Aedion had brought along, insisting that there was no good reason to eat flavourless meals, even in the woods.

Aedion arched a brow as he sprinkled some sort of garlic-smelling powder on the sizzling mushrooms. "You've never complained about this food snob's cooking. In fact, I quite remember you holing yourself up in my home after work and insisting on me making you dinner."

Ella shrugged and bit back an impish smile. "It's the least you could do when I put up with you for so many hours."

Aedion rolled his eyes in amusement and went back to stirring. "Brat."

He took the rashers from her and dropped them into the hot pan, the meat letting out a satisfying hiss. After a moment, the aroma of meat, mushrooms and spices mingled in the air, making her stomach grumble.

"I take it back, you can be snobby if you want," she hastened to add, sniffing the air in appreciation.

"You would say that, wouldn't you," Aedion shook his head, removing the pan from the heat and setting it aside. "Pass me the bread."

He took the sour-dough she'd sliced and scooped the mixture inside, which he topped off with the fresh sorrel they'd found. Perfectly browned and spiced bacon and mushrooms, wedged between thick slices of crunchy bread.

Ella closed her eyes and hummed, the zesty tang of the sorrel just perfect with the smokiness of the meat and the nuttiness of the mushrooms. "This is beautiful. Stunning, really. Continue being a snob, please."

Aedion watched with a lopsided smile, as if finding her antics highly entertaining. He munched on his sandwich with the manners of a prince, wiping crumbs from his mouth before commenting, "I never did see anyone who makes such a show of eating. One would think you'd never tasted food before."

Ella shrugged, unbothered, and continued to devour her food, her shoulders swaying ever so gently, like a happy sort of dance. "You like cooking, no?" she said after a moment.

"I do," he followed along, just to see where she would take this.

"Well, there you go. You like cooking, and I like eating. A perfect combination. Otherwise, who would eat all that food you make?" She grinned cheekily. "You're welcome."

Aedion looked at her for a moment, before breaking out into a rumbled laughter. "Thanks ever so for your generosity," he answered dryly, shaking his head.