The Mage's Son

3

The next morning, I take the same carriage ride to the castle. Mrs Saran had some important news to tell me.

"Haven, you have been promoted to kitchen duties. The king highly recommended you since you did good service for his son. Go now."

I run to the kitchen. I basically wash the dishes and serve the royalty their food.

First thing I did was clean the saucers. I use a toothbrush to clean the fine edges. Then I clean the plates. Then the silverware.

"Eh, newbie. Get that plate will you? You have to serve the Prince's lunch." Gertrude, the chef, fusses in her ridiculously low voice.

I grab the serving tray, "Yes ma'am."
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Knock knock

I gingerly knock on the Prince's door. It was fresh dark oak.

"Come in." Avalon says.

I gingerly pull the door open. His room was beautiful. It was red and gold walls with a large window in the middle. His bed was golden silk. He had a closet the size of my bedroom. His bookshelf sat at a corner. He had a lamp on the side of his bed and his crown was in a glass case.

I walk inside.

"You again! Good. Just place the food on the table." He says enthusiastically.

"Here you go sire. Good day." I start to walk out.

"Wait! Come sit down." He smiles as he walks to the table.

"The rules state that I can not touch royalty's possessions."

"It's an order." He opens the platter. Grilled shrimp and asparagus tips.
"What are you eating for lunch?"

"A sandwich from Mingus's. They're one pence." I happily reply. I sit at his table.

"That sounds awful. Try this." He sticks a forkful of asparagus in my mouth.

I chew and smile. It's delicious. Scrumptious. I have never tasted something so good.

"Good isn't it?"

I nod. He sticks a shrimp in my mouth. That was even better. I could eat this all day. But I can't.
"Sire, this is your food that you are feeding me. I am breaking rules."

"Screw the rules. Eat. It's an order." He takes a smaller plate and scrapes some of the food on there. Then he eats.

I have the big plate. Oh no. I eat with guilt. I am breaking the rules.

"Sire, why are you letting me eat at your table?" I ask.

"You look like you haven't seen a meal in weeks. I'm nice. Eat." He wipes his mouth with a napkin.

Knock knock

"Sweetheart! I'm here." Princess Askari speaks through the door.

"Hold on. The servant's cleaning my lunch mess." He yells.

He puts his plate on the tray. I do the same and pick it up. I walk out of the room. Princess Askari looks at me like she was impressed.

"For a peasant, you are a very thorough worker. I applaud you. By the way, can you fetch me a cup of water?" She grins.

I walk to the kitchen. Gertrude claps the flour off of her hands.
"Glad you're here. Cut these onions for me."

"Oh, no ma'am. The princess asks for a glass of water." I sniff the air. It smells marvelous.

"That snotty tot. I can't stand her little prissy butt. She treats the prince like a dog. Then she reels him in with nature's fishing pole." Gertrude smacks her teeth.

I am confused. Nothing I know is nature's fishing pole.
"I'm confused."

Marjorie, who had an Irish accent, blurts out, "Sex deary. That prince isn't an angel either. My sister, Darby, remember her?"

Gertrude spits in a trash can, "Isn't she the bloke working in Valkyrie square? Yeah, she's a milkmaid."

"Aye. Turns out when she was workin' here, the prince wanted more than service. She quit as soon as she could. Newbie, you better be careful. Handsome hides one's ugly." Marjorie passes me a gold cup with spring water.

I walk down the hall to Prince Avalon's room. I knock on the door. No one answers. Instantly, I open the door. I should've knocked again.

"OH MY GOD! Miss......" I almost drop the cup. Nature's fishing pole all right. I walked right in the middle of it.

"Bring it in, silly." She covers herself. I cover my eyes and put the cup on the table. Then I had to sneeze.

ACHOO!

I accidentally caught a glimpse of Askari's butt. I run out of the room quickly and slam the door.
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"Haha haha! You walked into that one." Marjorie laughs loud.

Gertrude stirs her hot pot. She looks at the window.
"Shouldn't you be going to your hatch?"

"What's a hatch?" I ask.

"Your room. The place you'll be staying at. The servant's hatch is where all of the maids sleep. Oh lady, you haven't been going back and forth have you?"

Turns out the hatch was a stable with some beds in it. I slept on a top bunk. I didn't have a change of clothes either. I sleep peacefully, pretending not to see that image. Also, pretending not to want to be in that position.