“Yes, ma'am.” The corporal pulled the convergence down from the shelf.
It was about a foot tall and half that in width. A glass carafe nestled into the body of the thing, and a steel funnel topped it. Cine carried it to a worktable and set it down. As soon as he stepped back, Lena put the coffee in the steel funnel.
“This device grinds the roasted coffee and then brews it.” Lena motioned at the convergence. “You put the coffee in there, and then you fill the pot with water.” She took the carafe to the sink and filled it from the tap. But instead of replacing the carafe, she opened a compartment in the device's top and poured the water into it. “Always use the pot to measure the water.” She held up the empty carafe to show the corporal. “As much as you put in is how much you get out. You don't want to put too much water in, or it will overflow the carafe.”
“I understand.” Corporal Cine peered into the water tank.
Lena covered the compartment and then turned a dial on the front of the convergence. “This sets how dark a brew it makes. I like it medium. Just don't touch the dial, and you'll be fine.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
“Now, just push this button.” Lena pushed a button, and the machine came whirring to life, the magic stored inside it fueling it instead of the geothermal electricity Nethren used underground.
The entire kitchen staff turned to watch as the convergence ground the coffee, making a horrible racket. The open funnel allowed Vor to see the beans become powder. Then the powder flowed down, out of sight. Meanwhile, a bubbling sound started.
The staff gathered around the table to watch as water fell into the carafe, but it was tinted brown. The combined sound of bubbling and trickling was comforting. And then came the smell. It was unlike anything he'd smelled before. Earthy, but not in a green way. More like chocolate but without the milk and sugar.
“That is the most delightful aroma,” one of the staff said.
“Indeed.” Vor leaned in to inhale deeply. “It's both soothing and invigorating.”
Lena smiled. “That's it exactly.”
Vor gaped at her. A simple smile transformed her face. Not that it made her more beautiful. That wasn't possible. But her smile shifted her beauty into another version of itself. She went from the somber maiden to a carefree spirit. And Vorfound he craved both. As everyone watched the coffee brew, he watched Lena.
“Oh, where's the sugar?” Lena asked the corporal when the convergence had finally come to a gurgling stop. “And I'll need a little cream as well.”
“Yes, ma'am.” Cine went to fetch the items.
The rest of the staff remained, eyeing the carafe. A few moments later, Cine set down a jar of sugar, a bottle of cream, and two mugs. Vor eyed the mugs pointedly.
“Uh, I thought I might try a little,” Corporal Cine said. “Just so I'll know when it's brewed properly.”
“I should as well!” another kitchen worker said.
Soon, everyone was searching for mugs.
Vor rolled his eyes. He didn't care how delicious it smelled. He didn't want to be reliant on a drink. Especially one that would exact revenge for disloyalty.
Lena showed the kitchen staff how she liked her coffee, pouring a little cream in before adding two spoonfuls of sugar. “This makes it more palatable. Without the sugar and cream, it's bitter, but try it alone so you know how much sweetness and creaminess you want to add.”
“It's like chocolate,” Vor murmured. “I thought it smelled similar.”
“Yes, precisely. Chocolate is bitter too until you sweeten it. And it's made from the seed of a plant as well.” Lena poured cream into her mug and then added a few spoonfuls of sugar. Asshe stirred, she looked up at him. “I never realized that. I guess they are similar.”
Vor smiled, utterly enthralled.
Meanwhile, the staff passed around the carafe, pouring just a little into their mugs. They swirled it to cool it, smelled it, and then drank as if it were a culinary experiment.
“Oh, that's awful!” Cine declared.
Vor chuckled.
Everyone turned to look at him.
He cleared his throat.
“Now, pour a little more in your mug, add just a little sugar, and then a splash of cream,” Lena suggested. She sipped her coffee and sighed in bliss.
