Descendants of the Kings (Book 2)

Ch 34: Unloveable

"Sweet merciful fates, this cannot be real," Cedric groaned, eyes closed in bliss. "How is this possible? Did you put some strange fairy magic in this? Is this the part where I dance till I drop dead? You know what, I don't even care. It's that good, that I'll gladly die."

He sopped a piece of sourdough bread into the thick stew and dropped it into his mouth, humming in delight. His second plate yet, and he was eating up like he'd never eaten in his life.

"Good grief, you are a ham," Ella tutted, spooning her meal into her mouth. "He's only doing this so you'll give him another helping," she told Aedion. "Hart would sell his soul for good food."

"Everyone has a price, mine happens to be a good meal," he tossed back, unoffended, extending his bowl for more food like an eagre dog.

Aedion watched with amusement, topping up his plate. "No fairy magic, only garlic powder, rosemary and thyme. Do the humans not have those?"

"Yes, but it still doesn't taste like this. Besides, you made all this on an open fire in the middle of nowhere," he insisted, waving a hand at the quickly diminishing pot of thick lentil stew. "How on earth did you even manage that?"

It sufficed to say that even Aedion wasn't above flattery, a begrudging smile tugging at his lips. He leaned back against a  log, plate half-full, mug of mead in his hands. "Plenty of years cooking at the military camps with reduced rations will do that. I find you can make even a stale piece of bread taste good if you season it correctly."

"This is nothing, really," Ella said. "You should see what he can do with an actual kitchen. The other day he cooked a roasted leg of lamb with a red wine gravy, and it was so tender, it practically melted in the mouth. Oh, and he even made this lovely lemon and raspberry sponge cake for dessert." Ella closed her eyes and hummed in delight. "It was downright glorious. I swear I've gained at least twenty pounds, and it's all thanks to Aedion and his cooking."

"Oh, so it's my fault you stuff your face like a holiday turkey?" Aedion arched a brow, mouth quirking in amusement.

"Yes, it's clear you plan on fattening me up so I'll lose during our sparring. Devious of you, truly," she sniffed, brazenly holding out her plate for a second helping of stew. "It's the only way you'd win."

"You've found out my plan," he deadpanned, topping up her plate nonetheless.

"Listen," Cedric said, swallowing a piece of bread. "You need to hurry up and lock him down before someone swoops in and snatches him away. And by someone, I mean me." He turned to Aedion with a cheeky wink. "How do you fancy moving to Codshire and becoming my cook? I don't know what currency you take, but I'm sure we can figure something out."

Even Aedion, who was reluctant to like strangers, had to laugh at that, shaking his head as if he couldn't help himself.

"Get your own, you tart," Ella kicked Cedric's knee, fighting back a smile.

She then turned to Gidden, who observed them in amusement, looked down at his plate—the second one yet—and arched a brow. Gidden pressed his mouth into a line. Ella cleared her throat pointedly.

Gidden sighed and grumbled under his breath, mouth turned down sourly. He waited for a moment, as if bunching up patience. "Thank you for dinner," he muttered, pointedly avoiding looking at Aedion. "And for making sure it was meatless."

Aedion's eyes gleamed maliciously, likely gearing up to say something scathing, but before he could, Ella knocked her elbow into his side and gave him a look. He rolled his eyes and scoffed, greatly put upon.

"You're welcome," he replied curtly, mouth pinched in annoyance.

Ella grinned smugly. She leaned back and sipped her wine, like a queen who'd resolved a pressing, kingdom-wide issue.