We all nod in thanks and watch her move back into the shop.
“I was telling Mana on the way here that I had the best sleep last night,” Holis sits back in his chair comfortably and looks down the village road.
“Cal and I were mentioning the same as well. He thinks it’s the village,” I reply, taking in the gloomy morning and covered forest around us.
“Could be,” he nods, “it’s definitely got a sleepy feel to it.”
“Too sleepy,” I mumble.
“It would be a nice place to spend your final years,” Mana adds quietly, nodding in appreciation.
I smile. Of course the quietest of the twins thinks this sleepy village is a good place to retire.
The Discerni woman brings out the kettles and places a few mugs on the table.
“Let’s see. I have apple cider oatmeal, a few crumble muffins about to pop out of the oven, and some sticky beef buns this morning.”
“We’ll take the lot of it,” Cal smiles, “enough for the four of us, please.”
The woman nods, looking at us with a wide smile, “in Knowledge fashion?”
Without hesitation, the four of us grin and reply together, “in Knowledge fashion.”
“It’s been a while since we’ve taken a proper meal together, hasn’t it?” Holis reclines deeper into his chair when the woman leaves, thoroughly content.
“It has,” Cal smiles, “fitting that we’ll do it here, just a few days before crossing the border.”
A cool breeze flows across our table just as he says the words. I reach for the hot coffee and let the steaming liquid warm my hands.
“Are the Bulwark Plains inhabitable?” I ask the table, taking a small sip.
The men sit contently, considering the question.
“I’ve heard the flat plains are thin of grass and dying, that the shrubs are a light yellow and brown for as far as the eye can see. It would be hard to think of anyone living on that land,” Holis replies.
“But if the rumors are true, then some do?” I press.
“The nomads of Livyatan,” Mana nods quietly, “they roam the plains that border the Riverlands.”
I frown and take another sip.
“But our travel has us taking the road towards the border of Pyre, Alex, not Livyatan,” Cal muses.
“Foreign land is still foreign land,” Mana shrugs, “there is always a risk that we run into foul parties.”
“I suppose we’ll just have to get Cal drunk enough so he’ll start singing,” Holis chuckles, “that’ll keep them away.”
Cal mumbles something that sounds a lot likeI hate youas the older Discerni woman brings out our breakfast, the smell of Knowledge food making my mouth water.
“I’ve put everything on the large platters and have your individual plates here,” she nods, laying three platters in the middle of the table while she hands Holis four empty plates. We all smile in appreciation and quickly dive in.
When eating in Knowledge fashion, you host the food in the middle of the table for everyone to share and pass amongst themselves. There’s nosingle plated meals, just a big combination of all the food placed in the center. It’s a type of meal that’s extremely intimate, one that makes you engage with the friends at your side by passing the platters to them. It’s also a type of meal that shows a deep love and appreciation for the people that you eat with, emphasizing the fact that you respect both their time and their company.
I haven’t had a proper Knowledge fashioned meal since two months ago at court, so it really is fitting that the four of us share one at the edge of Disce borders, right before we embark into foreign lands.
The four of us pass and pile our plates with food that reminds us of home. We continue in conversation throughout breakfast, with Cal and Holis spending a great deal of time debating over which sticky buns are better, Chef’s or the Discerni woman’s. I still think Chef’s are better overall, but there is something about sitting outside in the cool of the forest with the warmth of the food and these three men that has me re-considering the thought.
We’re nearly done with our meal when the sound of strong hoofbeats patter from behind our table. The four of us turn in our seats towards the riders and quickly stand from our table, watching as the Princes and Lord Daniel all slow their horses in front of the courtyard gate.
