A few twists and turns, and we ended up in an area where the walls were wood paneled.
“Ooo, something smells good,” Blue said.
I sniffed the air. “I don’t smell anything.”
“That’s cos you ain’t got my nose, chickadee,” Blue said. “Straight on, luv. It’ll hit you soon.”
He was right; a delicious, meaty aroma tickled my senses a few seconds later. I followed it around a bend and down a short corridor to a door that was slightly ajar. A low hum of activity made up of the bubble of water, the clatter of pans, and the low hum of conversation drifted out.
“Shall we take a peek?”
Blue shrugged. “I am kinda hungry.”
Some pari stood at the kitchen counters chopping vegetables while others stirred large pots on the stove. Erabi and Jahira sat at a table to one side, partially out of view, sharing a pot oftea, their conversation muted beneath the sounds of the busy kitchen.
“Are we going in?” Blue whispered.
Erabi turned to look at the door, her eyes lighting up. “Leela! Come, come!”
The hubbub died as everyone turned to look at me.
Jahira clapped her hands sharply. “Back to work now. Supper won’t cook itself!”
The pari ducked their heads and continued with their tasks, all except one, whose gaze lingered a little longer. I recognized her as the pari who Rajni had struck at the gathering that Chandra had taken me to months ago. She smiled tentatively before returning to the dough she was kneading.
What are you doing here?” Erabi asked, pulling out a chair for me. “If you needed something, you could have rung the kitchen bell hanging in your chambers.”
“We were exploring,” Blue said. “Ooo, is that cheese?” He leapt off my shoulder and onto the table, landing beside a plate loaded with neat cheese cubes.
“Help yourself,” Erabi said with a smile.
“Don’t mind if I do.” Blue picked up a large cube and sat down to nibble at it.
Jahira watched him curiously. “This…rodent is your anchor?” There was no disgust in her tone, simply curiosity.
Blue looked up from his treat. “You got a problem, lady?”
She arched a brow. “Actually, I do.” She reached across the table for a bowl of crackers and placed that by the cheese plate. “Romalia cheese is much tastier when eaten on a cracker.”
Blue’s ears perked up. “Now ya talkin’.”
I’d liked Jahira before, but her treatment of Blue made me warm to her more. I accepted the tea that Erabi poured for me.
“I heard what happened today,” Erabi said. “Chandra is not pleased with what the Authority is doing.”
“I know. But what choice do I have? I’ve got to go along with it.”
“You made the right decision,” Jahira said. “We commend your courage.”
“Courage? I’m terrified.”
“And that is what makes you brave,” Erabi said.
I sipped my tea. “Ah, yes, being afraid and doing it anyway.” I smiled. “My nani used to say that.”
“You must miss her terribly,” Erabi said.
“I do. She was killed by a pishachas the night I was taken from my world. She kept me safe all my life. She knew what I was. I wish…I wish we’d had more time so I could have understood…everything.”
