“I will be your point of contact for the entirety of your stay. Should you have any issues, you will address them with me. Inform the guard stationed in your corridor to request a meeting.”
I nodded.
“Allow me to introduce you to Allura and Maris.” The two women rose and flanked Leanna. “Over the next three weeks, you will get to know one another. That’s if you aren’t dismissed first.”
Maris rolled her eyes up to the wall, focusing above me. Allura offered a gentle smile, her fawn eyes as welcoming as the soil in my garden. They were both more suited for Prince Sutton than I was, and we all knew it. My time at the castle would be short, but I’d need to make the most of it.
An attendant entered the room carrying three plates brimming with fruit and cheeses. She set them on the small tables next to each stool and went to leave.
“I’m sorry, Miss, but I can’t eat oranges.” Allura’s voice was soft. “The last time I had citrus, I had a terrible reaction—nearly stopped breathing.” The woman chuckled nervously.
“Oh dear. Retrieve a new plate,” Leanna requested, “and send one up to Audryn’s room, she will be settling in.”
“Thank you.” I eyed the selection. The fruit was dry and sad compared to what my garden produced—or at least what it had before it was trampled.
“You’ll be notified of dinner, so take the afternoon to rest,” Leanna advised. Resting hadn’t crossed my mind when I’d barely just arrived. Before I could argue, she stepped away and returned to her seat.
I was guided down a flurry of halls and taken to my assigned room. The bedroom was three times the size of mine, large enough for a small sofa near the window. The bed and armoire were twice the size of what I had at home. A bathing room adjoined my bedroom with another. Various oils and perfumes lined the counter. Whether they belonged to someone else or were there for me to use, I wasn’t told. A large tub sat in the center, nearly long and deep enough for me to submerge myself entirely.
I unpacked my clothes and tucked away my bag with thesmall glass tube hidden inside. Leaving it behind was risky, but it was more of a danger to keep the liquid on me. If a guard found it, I’d be punished—maybe executed just for carrying it. I was already taking a risk by keeping Jaspar's dagger strapped to my thigh.
Afternoon turned into evening and, before I knew it, a meal was delivered to me. The attendant informed me dinner had been canceled, but offered no information as to why. Before leaving, they asked if I had any food preferences or restrictions. Not wanting to seem difficult on my first day there, I lied and said I ate everything.
I sat on the sofa and dug through the food. I first tasted the thick slice of golden-crusted bread. Topped with a pad of butter, it still wasn't as good as Benton's. I poked at the rectangular hunk of ground meat, unsure at first. I couldn't quite identify which animal it came from, but at least it wasn't fish. The fresh herbs made it tolerable. The roasted carrots and creamed potatoes lining the edge of the plate were the best part of the meal.
Exiting my room, tray in hand, I looked down the hall at the lonely guard standing at the end. Another tray sat on the floor in the hallway, the remaining contents stacked thoughtfully. Careful not to spill, I walked toward the dark-haired guard, sure to avoid eye contact.
“I … I’ll get somebody to take that from you,” he said, looking on in horror and interrupting my steady pace.
“No, it’s fine, I can clear my own dishes.” I scanned his uniform. “Guard Roark, will you please tell me how to get to the kitchen?” His demeanor was much calmer now than when we first met at the market.
He hesitated, but provided the directions I sought. Giving him a tight smile, I skittered away before he questioned his choice. If I could befriend the kitchen staff, maybe I’d get access to the king’s food; I’d only need a moment to pour ipecac into a drink or bowl of soup.
Three corridors later, I arrived at the doors of the bustling room. Dishes clanked and voices hummed behind the barrier. I set the tray down and straightened my dress.
Sucking in a breath, I picked up the tray and pushed through the door. Staff wearing white uniforms stopped to stare. One man wearing an enormous hat stepped forward with a faint sneer. Focus on the most difficult, and the others would follow, I reminded myself.
“Hello.” I dipped into a curtsy. “I’m Audryn and I’m staying?—”
“I know who you are,” he interrupted. “What I don’t understand is why you’re standing in my kitchen, especially when we have meals to serve.”
Earning his friendship would be more of a challenge than I had expected. I lifted my tray. “I just wanted to return this. No need to make others clean when I’m capable of doing so myself, right?”
“Hmmm.” The male’s brow furrowed.
“The meat was delicious,” I said, attempting to find common ground between us. “I’m probably wrong, but was that saffron I tasted?” I knew it was saffron. It was an herb I’d grown but given up on because of the demanding amount of labor required for it to flourish.
“Indeed,” he said, his face softening slightly.
“I have a garden at home and dabbled with herbs, but my cooking is atrocious. I wasn’t able to use them as creatively as I would’ve liked, so I stick to fruits and vegetables now.”
The male waved a hand at the kitchen staff, and they returned to their tasks. He gently grabbed the tray and placed it on the counter. Carefully, he wiped his hands on the towel tucked into his waist.
“Which dishes do you have difficulty with?” he inquired.
“All of them." I forced a chuckle. "But I’d love to learn andmaybe impress the prince by creating something for his father. Does the king have a favorite dish?”
The door swung open, and I turned to find Leanna and Allura standing at the threshold. The princess tilted her head at me. Her hair had changed and was placed into an intricate swooping design high on the top of her head. Multiple pieces crossed one another in a pattern similar to several pairs of laces up a boot.
