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tamingthemuseTitle: Answer
Prompt #452 – Scullion
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 976
The day of the Chosing was approaching quickly, and nothing was ready. Not that Loneat has any responsibility in the preparation. She was a mere kitchen help, of as little importance as most of the castle staff. It was Hebolgrot, the head chef in the kitchen, who had been tasked with the making of the sumptuous banquet that would follow the ceremony. It had to be spectacular, for the Master's heir was among the candidates, and there was little doubt that he would be the Chosen one. Becoming a magician's apprentice was a great honor, and more often than not, politics prevailed on actual talent. Which magician would want to make an ennemy of one of the most powerful families in the empire? This year, the Chosing wouldn't hold any suspens.
Loneat didn't care anyway. Those realities were far away from her everyday life and her future, both of them defined by the limits of kitchen work. She belonged to the castle since her birthday, officially to repay her grandfather's debts, as her mother had since the family business had gone bankrupt. Except she knew she would never repay that debt and earn her freedom, not with the expenses paid by the castle for her food, shelter, and occasional new clothing. A perfect system for the rich, a form of slavery by other name. Sweet dreams about Chosings and magicians were for people who still had hoped, and time to waste wishes.
The remaining days until the Chosing passed like a blur. Issues with deliveries and food quality delayed all of Hebolgrot's planning, and he took it out on the kitchen staff, making them work twice more, keeping them awake late at night, with only the hearth's light to see, and demanding them back at dawn. Loneat was exhausted when the day finally came, and she wished she could rest for an entire week. She wondered, while she was whisking cream for one of the many cakes that would close the meal, how it would feel when all of that was over, the guests gone, and only the Master's family and staff was left to feed. Would it feel boring? She doubted it.
She was handing the cream to another scullion, charged by Hebolgrot to decorate the cakes when she heard two of the youngest girls working here whispering with excitation.
"The magician said he needs time to make his mind up!", one of them said. She had the angelic face of the kids usually chosen to serve drinks in the main room. She must have seen the Chosing first-hand. "The Master looked furious, but he didn't dare say anything. From what I heard, it's a very famous magician."
"That's ridiculous", her friend said. "Everyone knows master Godric is going to be chosen anyway. Why is this old man making so many difficulties?"
"I don't know, but that's the kind of things that never happens! I hope it doesn't end badly."
Loneat took a wide plate of venison, and walked to the dinning room. What would happen if the magician didn't choose anyone? What would happen if he choose someone other than master Godric? Whatever the result, she was sure it would be bad for the lower staff. When something upsetting happened to the Master, it usually ended up on the lower staff.
She brought the plate to the main table, where the Master, his family, and his guests of honor were having their dinner. She identified the magician immediately, for he was the oldest one on the table,
and wore the official robes of his rank. He didn't seem bothered by the events, eating with appetite from all the plates in front of him. The Master, on the other end, couldn't hide the anger he felt very well. Loneat put the plate down where she could find enough space, avoiding everyone's gaze, like a perfectly submissive servant. She circled the table to reach one of the end, where the heir was sitting, an empty plate by his side. She had planned to take the dish and disappear quickly, but her attentin was drawn to the mutterings of the boy :
"Where could the power be located if it's neither in his hands, nor in his head. Brains and strength are was matters, don't they?"
She should have kept her mouth shut, she knew, but before she realised, she had said loud enough for him to hear :
"One could think heart is what matters the most."
The boy looked up at her, surprise on his face, and she turned as fast as she could, empty dish in hand, to walked back to the kitchen, hoping he wouldn't remember her face too well.
The sun was barely peeking over the eastern mountains when Loneat took her service in the kitchen. She hadn't had time to eat yet, and hoped she could be able to grab a mouthful or two during breakfast preparation. The two young girls were still talking about the Chosing, looking way to bright for the amount of sleep they had likely gotten that night.
"... and master Godric found the answer, but a bit late. The magician wasn't very happy, but he accepted to take him as his apprentice. They're staying here for now, because the Master doesn't want his heir to be away for too long."
"That's a good thing", the other said. "Imagine what would have happened if the magician had chosen someone else."
"That would have been bad, that's for sure. But, you know, sometimes I think, master Godric has already a future as the Master's heir. Maybe someone else would have had better use of that apprenticeship."
"For what? That's crazy things, all that magical stuffs. The power is in the heart, really? Well, go tell that to Marysine. Being the nicest woman ever didn't save her from prostitution."
Prompt #452 – Scullion
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 976
The day of the Chosing was approaching quickly, and nothing was ready. Not that Loneat has any responsibility in the preparation. She was a mere kitchen help, of as little importance as most of the castle staff. It was Hebolgrot, the head chef in the kitchen, who had been tasked with the making of the sumptuous banquet that would follow the ceremony. It had to be spectacular, for the Master's heir was among the candidates, and there was little doubt that he would be the Chosen one. Becoming a magician's apprentice was a great honor, and more often than not, politics prevailed on actual talent. Which magician would want to make an ennemy of one of the most powerful families in the empire? This year, the Chosing wouldn't hold any suspens.
Loneat didn't care anyway. Those realities were far away from her everyday life and her future, both of them defined by the limits of kitchen work. She belonged to the castle since her birthday, officially to repay her grandfather's debts, as her mother had since the family business had gone bankrupt. Except she knew she would never repay that debt and earn her freedom, not with the expenses paid by the castle for her food, shelter, and occasional new clothing. A perfect system for the rich, a form of slavery by other name. Sweet dreams about Chosings and magicians were for people who still had hoped, and time to waste wishes.
The remaining days until the Chosing passed like a blur. Issues with deliveries and food quality delayed all of Hebolgrot's planning, and he took it out on the kitchen staff, making them work twice more, keeping them awake late at night, with only the hearth's light to see, and demanding them back at dawn. Loneat was exhausted when the day finally came, and she wished she could rest for an entire week. She wondered, while she was whisking cream for one of the many cakes that would close the meal, how it would feel when all of that was over, the guests gone, and only the Master's family and staff was left to feed. Would it feel boring? She doubted it.
She was handing the cream to another scullion, charged by Hebolgrot to decorate the cakes when she heard two of the youngest girls working here whispering with excitation.
"The magician said he needs time to make his mind up!", one of them said. She had the angelic face of the kids usually chosen to serve drinks in the main room. She must have seen the Chosing first-hand. "The Master looked furious, but he didn't dare say anything. From what I heard, it's a very famous magician."
"That's ridiculous", her friend said. "Everyone knows master Godric is going to be chosen anyway. Why is this old man making so many difficulties?"
"I don't know, but that's the kind of things that never happens! I hope it doesn't end badly."
Loneat took a wide plate of venison, and walked to the dinning room. What would happen if the magician didn't choose anyone? What would happen if he choose someone other than master Godric? Whatever the result, she was sure it would be bad for the lower staff. When something upsetting happened to the Master, it usually ended up on the lower staff.
She brought the plate to the main table, where the Master, his family, and his guests of honor were having their dinner. She identified the magician immediately, for he was the oldest one on the table,
and wore the official robes of his rank. He didn't seem bothered by the events, eating with appetite from all the plates in front of him. The Master, on the other end, couldn't hide the anger he felt very well. Loneat put the plate down where she could find enough space, avoiding everyone's gaze, like a perfectly submissive servant. She circled the table to reach one of the end, where the heir was sitting, an empty plate by his side. She had planned to take the dish and disappear quickly, but her attentin was drawn to the mutterings of the boy :
"Where could the power be located if it's neither in his hands, nor in his head. Brains and strength are was matters, don't they?"
She should have kept her mouth shut, she knew, but before she realised, she had said loud enough for him to hear :
"One could think heart is what matters the most."
The boy looked up at her, surprise on his face, and she turned as fast as she could, empty dish in hand, to walked back to the kitchen, hoping he wouldn't remember her face too well.
The sun was barely peeking over the eastern mountains when Loneat took her service in the kitchen. She hadn't had time to eat yet, and hoped she could be able to grab a mouthful or two during breakfast preparation. The two young girls were still talking about the Chosing, looking way to bright for the amount of sleep they had likely gotten that night.
"... and master Godric found the answer, but a bit late. The magician wasn't very happy, but he accepted to take him as his apprentice. They're staying here for now, because the Master doesn't want his heir to be away for too long."
"That's a good thing", the other said. "Imagine what would have happened if the magician had chosen someone else."
"That would have been bad, that's for sure. But, you know, sometimes I think, master Godric has already a future as the Master's heir. Maybe someone else would have had better use of that apprenticeship."
"For what? That's crazy things, all that magical stuffs. The power is in the heart, really? Well, go tell that to Marysine. Being the nicest woman ever didn't save her from prostitution."
