It felt as if every new place they went held more people than she had ever seen, and Kirkwall was no different. In fact, it took that sentiment to a faintly ridiculous extreme — how could there be so many people in the whole world? Leena could not fathom it. How did the city feed them all?
Wrapped in her cloak, lingering behind the restaurant, Leena watched and listened as others went about their day. Dishwashers and servers, who also visited the alley, gave her questioning looks while she smiled and begged off. Not a bit of it was a lie. She was waiting for someone.
But oh, if they stayed here, if things didn’t work out with the ship … She could do these sorts of jobs, she knew it. It didn’t seem much different from serving in Lord Frost’s kitchens. If only she could work up her courage and just ask. Though the longer Leena thought about it, the more doubts began to creep in.
They wouldn’t be safe until they left the Marches, where Bastien might have mysterious influence over local authorities. If even half of Rahse’s wild tales were true, he wouldn’t stay forever – not if she showed signs of putting down roots as a common kitchen scullion. The worst part was, she couldn’t quite blame him for it; not even the imaginary version of him that lived in her head.
After all, she wanted adventures too. Wouldn’t be much opportunity for that here.
Soon enough, it was time to go in. Leena slipped in the rear entrance, smiling as she spotted Rahse sitting alone. She dropped into the chair across from him, brows climbing as he pushed his bowl over to her.
“What? You don’t like it?” She gave the cloudy reddish broth her full attention, lifting the spoon and chasing around a chunk of flaky white fish. It smelled okay. Bringing the spoon to her lips, she tasted it and shrugged. Tomato and smoky paprika were the overwhelming flavors.
“Seems fine to me. You have to eat, Rahse.” Turning her head to scan the restaurant, she waved down one of the servers she’d spoken to outside. She ordered another bowl of soup and a basket of bread before Rahse could object. After the sale of Larissa Frost’s jewels, a single meal wouldn’t bankrupt them.
“How did it go with the Captain?”
@Rahse Hythule
Wrapped in her cloak, lingering behind the restaurant, Leena watched and listened as others went about their day. Dishwashers and servers, who also visited the alley, gave her questioning looks while she smiled and begged off. Not a bit of it was a lie. She was waiting for someone.
But oh, if they stayed here, if things didn’t work out with the ship … She could do these sorts of jobs, she knew it. It didn’t seem much different from serving in Lord Frost’s kitchens. If only she could work up her courage and just ask. Though the longer Leena thought about it, the more doubts began to creep in.
They wouldn’t be safe until they left the Marches, where Bastien might have mysterious influence over local authorities. If even half of Rahse’s wild tales were true, he wouldn’t stay forever – not if she showed signs of putting down roots as a common kitchen scullion. The worst part was, she couldn’t quite blame him for it; not even the imaginary version of him that lived in her head.
After all, she wanted adventures too. Wouldn’t be much opportunity for that here.
Soon enough, it was time to go in. Leena slipped in the rear entrance, smiling as she spotted Rahse sitting alone. She dropped into the chair across from him, brows climbing as he pushed his bowl over to her.
“What? You don’t like it?” She gave the cloudy reddish broth her full attention, lifting the spoon and chasing around a chunk of flaky white fish. It smelled okay. Bringing the spoon to her lips, she tasted it and shrugged. Tomato and smoky paprika were the overwhelming flavors.
“Seems fine to me. You have to eat, Rahse.” Turning her head to scan the restaurant, she waved down one of the servers she’d spoken to outside. She ordered another bowl of soup and a basket of bread before Rahse could object. After the sale of Larissa Frost’s jewels, a single meal wouldn’t bankrupt them.
“How did it go with the Captain?”
@Rahse Hythule
01-20-2025, 11:08 AM
