The Quest

Chapter Two

 Chapter Two

Faith only had a slight headache the next day but after ordering some breakfast, she felt normal again. When she was finished, she placed her hand back on the table, as she had seen Ilmr do yesterday, and her plates disappeared. She thought it was worth a try to order some boiling water and milk and sure enough, it appeared moments later.

With a wicked smile, she went to her trunks and withdrew two boxes. The first had a teapot and two mugs, the second larger box housed tea and sugar. She brewed her tea with relish, even although it had been less than a day since she’d had her last cup. She practically devoured tea, in the same way that most people mainlined coffee. She had brought a lot of different kinds with her but right now, she wanted Twinning’s breakfast blend. She sipped the milk before adding it and while not quite like cow’s milk, it was nice; a little sweeter than she was used to, and she made a mental note to ask Ilmr what animal it came from.

While the tea brewed, she dressed, in an outfit very similar to yesterday, then browsed the book shelves in her room. She picked a tome on modern Adgardian history and took it to the table with her to read while she sipped her tea.

She was on chapter three when three when Ilmr arrived, looking in quite a state. Clearly the poor girl was hung over.

“My Lady, I’m so sorry I’m late. I overslept.”

Faith smiled. “Its fine,” she assured the girl. “Like I said yesterday, I can take care of myself.”

“You must be starving, we missed dinner last night.”

“Don't worry yourself,” Faith assured her, “I’ve eaten.”

“You didn’t call the head maid, did you?” She looked utterly terrified and after her conversation with Loki last night, Faith had a worrying thought.

“Ilmr, your job here, it’s voluntary, right?”

“I don’t understand.”

“No one ‘owns’ you, you aren’t a slave, you won’t get beaten for not doing your job, right?”

Ilmr laughed. “This is Asgard, the shining city, the golden realm, we don’t have slavery.”

“Indentured servitude?”

“Nope.”

Faith relaxed.

“What would make you think such a thing?” Ilmr asked.

“I was talking to Loki last night, and he said something about not allowing his servant to be seen…” how did she phrase this without causing offence. “Well, that he wouldn’t allow him to party in public. Then you seemed so frightened this morning, I wondered if you were something other than a servant. I apologise if I offended you.”

Ilmr smiled. “I work here of my own free will and I'm worried because, well, you’re my first charge, all on my own, and if you were upset with me, that would impede my progress through the ranks and could even get me fired. Being a servant in the Palace is a very respectable job but being a servant to the House of Odin, well, that’s practically on a par with being lower nobility. I’d hate to lose this job.”

“Well you can rest easy, I didn’t tell anyone you were late, nor do I plan to. I ordered my own breakfast, just like you showed me.”

“But…” her words trailed off and a frown marred her youthful features. “You need at least a little magic to order meals by yourself.”

Faith placed her hand on the dining room table, asking for the pot of boiling water and milk to be taken and replaced with fresh. The items disappeared and moments later, new replaced them.