He said, “I think ye need much more than a cook, ye ought tae be surrounded by women. If ye were at Glume, ye would hae a lady’s maid tae dress ye, a chambermaid tae keep yer rooms, a page tae run errands for ye, a companion,” he nodded towardJen, “at least two maids-in-waiting, they would attend ye, and then yer guards.” He shoveled in more food.
My eyes wide, “So many!”
“The fine ladies living at Glume are oft surrounded by at least four lasses wherever they go.”
I said, “Well, I don’t have any need for all of that. But I guess a cook kind of housekeeper would be alright.”
Jen said, “Torin, well done! You’ll see that this is the way you get things with Lexi, you want her to do one thing, but she thinks it’s too much, so you overwhelm her with many things.Thenshe will choose the one.”
I said, “Very funny, no ganging up on me. I’m royalty.”
She stuck out her tongue. “That’s why we have to stick together, me and Torin. We’re just the lowly commoners. Aren’t we?”
“Aye, I am just a common lowly Torin, tryin’ tae get the Princess tae behave as if she is royal.”
I said, “Fine, I will hire a cook. I will keep my guard. Where would I find a housekeeper slash cook?”
Jen said, “You are the worst princess ever.”
I said, “I’ll figure it out. I’m sure there’s a phone number for housekeeper rentals. Like an hour a day or so…”
Torin said, “She will need tae live here in yer house.”
“What in the world?Really?”
“Aye, twould be unsafe tae hae yer staff come and go from yer house. They will need tae live here.”
I said, “This is all crazy talk.”
Jen laughed.
I casually said, “So, there’s a party tonight that I didn’t hear about?”
She said, “Yeah, sorry about that.”
I said, “It’s fine, I get it, Cooper deserves the night.”
“How was your conversation?”
“It was good, we’re in agreement and he’s at peace with it. He’s found acceptance, I think.”
She said, “Good, perfect. I’m glad, do you and Torin wanna come to the party?”
“No, but isn’t there a game tomorrow? Maybe I can invite everyone over for a few beers, and we can watch the game. Torin will love it.”
She said, “Sounds good.”
Her face screwed up. “Do you feel that?” She rubbed her temples.
I said, “Yeah, it’s a little like an electrical hum, right? Giving me a headache.”
I asked Torin, “You have it too?”
“Aye, it has been goin’ for a while, tis bothersome. I think tis yer world.”
Jen said, “No this is new, it started a little bit ago. I don’t like it.”
Torin said, “Aye, it foretells of somethin’ ominous.”
