60 Change Of Plan

The first time Brightise prepared Zelna's meal she made the mistake of asking Meesa to serve it.

Meesa laughed in her face.

"I'm not your helper here, girl. You are mine. Plus, there is no way I'm going to take credit for that abomination!"

Brightise looked down at the contents of the metal plate. The vegetables looked fresh enough, but the meat was definitely overcooked.

It was not fair. Brightise was sure she would have done a way better job if she had been allowed to use a more conventional cooking method than her own fiery breath, but she had to follow the Queen's orders if she wanted to stay close to her little sister a little longer. Plus, she did realize that this was for her own good. Now that she knew what the nature of her power was, it was in her best interest that she learn how to harness it as soon as possible.

Thus, it was not a surprise when the Queen had told her that she would be one of the kitchen helpers she had promised Meesa.

It was an unpleasant surprise for the Queen's sister though.

"I asked for help. She is a burden!" she had said right in front of Brightise.

Brightise had taken no offense. Her own sister, who loved her and had practically raised her, had not let her stay in their kitchen longer than it rook for her to finish a meal.

Brightise knew her strong points, and cooking was not one of them.

Zelna seemed to agree. As soon as Brightise set down the plate in front of the Amazon in the middle of the dining room, Zelna's expression turned to disgust.

It didn't help that the burned side of her face made her look even scarier. Brightise tried not to stare or flinch as she looked at her. This was the first time she had seen Zelna ever since she and Neleah had taken her to the infirmary.

Brightise had been locked in that room in the dungeons for the next couple of days, so Zelna was already up and running by the time she got out.

Although Brightise couldn't say she was glad to see her, she was happy that she hadn't killed her. One couldn't just go around killing people they didn't like.

"You call this food?" Zelna asked her with a grimace.

Brightise suppressed the urge to talk back. "Yes," she said quietly.

"I don't. Take it back and bring me something edible!"

Brightise obeyed.

This conversation was repeated four more times, until Meesa stormed out of the kitchen angrily and walked over to Zelna's table.

"We do not waste food around here! I know you agreed to the Queen's plan, so if you do not like her cooking, which I admit is pretty awful, just let her off the hook and be done with it!"

Zelna did not seem happy about this ultimatum. She had obviously been planning on ordering Brightise around for a while, but Meesa's strict expression made her reconsider.

"Okay," she said reluctantly. "I don't like you any more than her, but I'd rather you cook for me. At least you won't give me food poisoning," she told Meesa.

The cook nodded curtly and walked away.

The next day, the Queen told Brightise that she would be preparing the children's meals from now on. It seemed like Brightise would have to learn how to use her own fire properly if she didn't want to poison her own sister.