Darkefyre (On Hold)

Three

The cold dawn blew in through the azure drapes and swept across my open palm. I rolled over and opened my eyes slowly. Shae was already stood by the small, squat tea table; a basket laden with mangoes, dates, long thin bread rolls and a plate of sweat meats in her arms. Saffy stood on the other side, her arms leaden with my favourite blue jar of tea. I watched as they watched me back. I looked out at the sun coming up lazily over the horizon and smiled, one side creeping up higher than the other. I turned back to both handmaidens and pulled back the sheets.

I stood up and shuffled towards the table before kneeling onto a bright cushion as fat as Lord Osin. A lord from the town of Kasida, whose belly happened to be even bigger than his rotund brown eyes. I sat back on my heels and motioned for Shae and Saffy to sit too.

"Drink, please." I whispered.

Saffy nearly spilled the tea she was pouring me, but I pushed a small blue cup straight under the steady steam of amber water just in time.

"I've already had one cup of tea, and a bread roll my lady." Shae replied.

I observed Saffy again as her thin lips broke into a small smile, light glimmering in her eyes. I looked up and again, motioned for her to be seated on another bright cushion to the right of me. I grabbed a matching blue plate and placed it in front of her along with a cup too. Picking up a tiny silver two pronged skewer and a knife, I speared a slice of sweat meat, most likely lamb, and went to put it on her plate. She stopped me with an imperceptible shake of her head. I moved the slice back over to my plate and let it hover for a little while just in case, but when she still shook her head I just shrugged and speared two more slices for myself. I reached for the bread next, the warm golden tops gleaming at me. Clearly, Shae had glazed them in eggs from the chickens out in the gardens. I grabbed it with my fingers and smiled heartily when the crisp sound of bread tearing in half filled my ears. I put one half on mine and the other on Saffy's. She smiled, and it was like the sun had shined on her face for the first time.

Saffy sniffed the bread, inhaled and started laughing. It was like hearing the music of songbirds, so light and free. She stopped when she saw my quizzical face. Her lips immediately went back to the straight line it was before.

"Please, don't ever stop laughing. Silence is the sound of an unhappy heart." I said, sipping some tea. The waft of jasmine filled my nose, as steam split across my face. Saffy smiled again, this time she reached for a mango from the basket and set it on her plate.

"You'll want some dates to go after the bread, it tastes better," I said.

She hastily grabbed a handful and put them in her mouth. Shae laughed.

"It's not a custom. But it just adds something." She smiled.

Saffy stopped chewing and her face fell again. I sighed.

"Everyone here, while in my presence, is seen as equal. Where you come from and who you think you are is not my first worry. Breakfast with me every morning is my thank you for all the hard work you do. Please enjoy it." I sipped more tea before slipping some meat between my teeth. It melted immediately and mingled with the taste of the jasmine, it was divine.

We ate the rest of our meal in companionable silence. Until the bells from Kalina's temple rang in the distance. I put down my tea and stopped chewing. Saffy followed and closed her eyes. Shae did the same and placed her hands on her lap. I watched as their lips moved, reciting the lightfyre deity's prayer. I spoke up reverently.

"In light we love. In light we live. In light we believe. Darkness shall not prevail where light will dwell. Blessed is Kalina." I drifted off.

"Blessed is Kalina" they both whispered before opening their eyes and slowly standing. Saffy and Shae busied themselves with clearing the plates and the food. I sat silently and finished the last of the tea. My thoughts drifted, and I began fiddling with the ties at my wrist. I worried them until they came undone, but Shae's hand crept into view and stilled mine. I looked up to her and smiled weakly.