cooked green lentils
4 large chicken legs
fresh coriander
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ras el hanout
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
vegetable or chicken stock
msmen, for serving
Steps
Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large saucepan over a medium-high heat. Sear chicken legs until golden brown. Transfer the seared chicken to a dish and set aside. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Slice and add the onions, cover the pan, and cook until soft. Add coriander, garlic, turmeric, ginger, ras el hanout, salt, pepper, and saffron and cook for 5 beakers. Return all the chicken legs to the pan and cover with stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low, cover the pan, and leave to simmer for about 45 beakers, stirring occasionally. In a separate small saucepan, add in the lentils along with a ladle of the onion sauce and warm up over medium-low heat. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with salt if necessary. Serve chicken with lentils on top over a bed of shredded msmen.
Something is wrong. The thought wakes Shay like a pebble pinging against glass. Sunlight hits her eyelids in washes of red until she squints them open, and then it streams through the salon window, reassuringin its golden hues. She swallows, her throat a little dry. In the moon quarter since they put the past to rest, Hind has been steadily improving, she reminds herself, repeating it a few times.
She sits up on the couch. Judging by the leaves scattered over the table in front of her and the candle nub that has burned itself out, she must have fallen asleep while picking a bundle of fenugreek stems the evening before. After her morning prayers, she stores the herbs in a jar and goes upstairs to check on Hind.
Hearty rumbles greet her as she ascends the stairs. They can't be coming from Hind, because in Shay's experience, Hind doesn't snore louder than a Chanalan bear. Inside her sleeping quarters, Hammu slumps on Shay's pallet, his swerving antlers splayed across her pillow. She assumes he saw her dozing downstairs and, not wishing to wake her, decided to take over her nightly post in case Hind had need of something. Which would be sweet of him, if not for the alarming fact that the other pallet—the one Hind should occupy—is empty.
After a quick and fruitless look around the cottage, she circles back and shakes Hammu awake.
“Huh?” He blinks slowly, wiping a rope of drool from his chin with the back of his hairy hand. “Oh, I must have fallen asleep.”
“Where's Hind?”
“I was keeping an eye on her in your place. I had a hunch that was the first sleep you'd had in days, so I couldn't bear to disturb you.” Hammu heaves himself into an upright position and scans the room. “Did you check the washroom?”
“Of course I did!” Shay's voice rises.Something's wrong, something's wrong, something's wrong, her mind shouts over and over like an insistent street merchant.
Hammu leaps to his feet. “I'll help you look.”
Soon, all the brothers have joined the hunt, rambling up and down the stairs, in and out of rooms, flinging open closets and shouting Hind's name in a frantic chorus. Shay is headed toward the front door to extend the searchoutside when there's a knock. She pulls the door open at the same time Aidi appears at her shoulder.
Hind is standing outside, unharmed, which is not the relief it should be, given the creature standing beside her, his gloved fingers folded over her frail shoulder.
“Hello, neighbors,” Tarik says amicably. “I found this lost kitten wandering the streets. I believe she's yours, yes? I thought the neighborly thing would be to return her.”
Shay tugs her mother inside firmly by the wrist and nudges her behind her own body, next to Aidi. She glares at Tarik. “Stay away from her.”
Tarik frowns, making the gesture almost elegant. “Thank youwould suffice.”
Aidi steps around Shay and strikes his heavy cane against the door with a thud. “You'd better hope our guest reports that you were an honorable escort.”
The bloodsucker staggers back a step. “I would never harm a pregnant human. Well, alright, that's a lie. Fetuses and newborns are an exquisite delicacy. But that's all the more reason why I expect a modicum of appreciation for my restraint.”
“Get off my property now,” Aidi seethes through gritted teeth.
Tarik doesn't acknowledge him. He keeps his dark eyes trained on Shay as he slowly backs to the edge of the lawn, a greasy smile smeared across his pale face. Just before he turns toward his imposing dwelling, he frowns. “I noticed you have new gauntlets, little dove. I hope they fit you well.”
As soon as he's out of sight and Aidi closes the door, Shay rounds on Hind.
“What were you doing outside?” She scans her mother carefully for any injury she may have initially overlooked. “I was so worried about you.”
