A Good Man Awakens

Chapter 31: A meal with Trendil

I found Trendil in the kitchen, a lavish spread already laid out on the long wooden table—more food than I had seen in months. Plates of meats, cheeses, fresh bread, and bowls overflowing with fruit were arranged as if meant to feed an entire battalion. The rich, savory smells filled the room, making my stomach growl and my mouth water before I even sat down.

"Come in, lad. Take a seat," Trendil called with a welcoming grin. "There's plenty to go around. Tuck in—better than what we've had on the road, eh?"

Trendil had bathed and trimmed his beard, which now appeared darker, more black than grey. His plain light orange tunic flowed loosely over his frame, erasing the sharp, battle-worn edge that had clung to him since we'd met. Gone was the hardened traveler; in front of me sat a man who could have easily been mistaken for a noble gentleman, his lines of worry and hard work washed away along with the dirt from his face.

I didn't need to be asked twice. I sat across from him and immediately reached for a piece of meat on the bone. The warm juices flooded my mouth as I bit into the seasoned flesh, sending a shiver of pleasure down my spine. My eyes rolled back in my head, and I couldn't suppress a sigh of contentment. Ros had always been a decent cook, but her meals, hearty as they were, lacked the refinement and spices I had known in Allensmore, in my previous life. I suspected spices weren't common around here—at least, not until now. And at the farm, there was never enough to go around; it was always first come, first served. If you were late, you missed out. But here, this... this was pure indulgence.

Between bites of tender meat and rich cheese, I scanned the room. I neglected the fruit—it wasn't filling enough for the pit in my stomach that felt bottomless. The kitchen was enormous, more suited to a keep or a stately manor than a hidden mountain sanctuary. It was easily big enough for a team of cooks and servants to bustle about, yet only Trendil and I occupied the space. No used pots or pans cluttered the stove or wash area either, and everything was spotless. How could he have bathed, cooked, and cleaned all this? Unless I had slept far longer than I thought, there simply hadn't been enough time for him to prepare all this on his own.

We ate mostly in silence, the sounds of tearing meat and the occasional pouring of wine the only noise between us. Oh, how I had missed wine. There was none at the farm, not even for Ged. The wine here was rich, with a sweetness I hadn't tasted in years. It flowed down my throat smoothly, warming my chest. I belched loudly, so much so that I half-expected to startle deer at the base of the mountain.

"You might want to take it easy on the wine, lad," Trendil chuckled, amusement flickering in his eyes. "It takes some getting used to. Can be the downfall of many a man."

I smirked, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. "I've had my fair share of drink, more than most. If it's cold and wet, I'll drink until the bottle's dry and still be fit for work the next day."

Trendil raised an eyebrow and gave me a quizzical look, tilting his head as though surprised by the boast. I suppose it did sound ridiculous, coming from someone who looked like a lad barely sixteen, claiming the tolerance of a seasoned drunkard. The wine had loosened my tongue, but I let the thought drift away. I wasn't ready to reveal the truth to Trendil—not yet.

He'd saved my life, and he'd been kind enough, but that didn't mean I could be careless. They had killed and burned the farm just because they suspected magic. Until I learned more, I had to be careful.

Taking a slice of darker meat seasoned with exotic purple and green spices, and a sizable chunk of cheese, I leaned back in my chair and fixed my gaze on Trendil. "You mentioned before... or, rather, you asked if I was a Bloodburn, Windgeist, or something else. What exactly do you mean by that? What are these things?"