Chapter 16- New worker

The next morning, while I struggled through bath and dressing up, I thought and thought about yesterday night.

It seemed that no sooner had I laid down to sleep, morning had crept in and the sounds of feet had signaled the job to be done for the day. I pulled myself up from the bed, groggy from sleep and tired.

I had my bath and dressed up and in another hour, I and the other workers of the kitchen had gathered in the kitchen.

Orla was in the kitchen soon enough. She looked bright as she watched us all. I avoided her gaze. She began to give us orders for the breakfast  that the royal family would be having this morning. The family usually had breakfast together almost ceremonially. Most other times, their specific orders were sent to their lodges and apartments in their private castles. They would be having breakfast today as a family and what a great opportunity it would be for the hooded man and his master. 

I felt my stomach clench and I tried to hold in what food I had not eaten since that morning started. We couldn't eat yet until the royal family had, of course. But given what I knew, I felt less and less inclined to taste anything. 

Orla had given us orders on what we would be cooking- in other words, everything: bread and cakes, broth and porridge, meat and stew, salad. 

We began work in earnest. For a while, I lost my thoughts in work… Until I noticed a new worker. He was exceptionally pale, with a smooth, bald head and sunken eyes.

He looked ill and I watched the balls of his eyes and it seemed like they were just slashes of pupils like a snake's. I was feeling nauseous already and I wanted to leave, but I didn't want Orla to notice me. I swallowed as I tried to focus on the vegetables I chopped. 

We finished the first round of meals and Orla chose the people that would go on server duty. I watched her pick about fifteen of us, including the new worker. 

She did not pick me. I stayed back. I haven't been on server duty since a week ago, so I wasn't surprised. I didn't know when I would earn server duty again.

While the others followed Orla to the Grand dining hall. The rest of us would clean up and prepare to make lunch.

I was cleaning up dishes and pans as I tried to dissuade myself from going to the Grand dining hall. 

If the hooded man was right, whatever new order or administration that would come would be even more severe to the Fae and the humans. That was going to be problematic for a lot of reasons. I was human most importantly and while I was working here, I didn't want to be seen as a slave. The new order was going to relegate the Fae and the humans to a life of slavery. 

Slavery meant that I had to work for the sake of it- not because I was being- going to be- paid.  It meant I worked or I paid in whipping or worse punishment.  

The system was not so great currently, but at least, one did not become a dungeon-worthy slave until they rebelled and were caught.

I turned to the Fae workers among us and it occurred to me that they had not the slightest clue that their lives were going to drastically change that morning.

I gave a huge sigh, making my mind up, finally. I did not like the current Elven administration, but compared to what might succeed the Volkov dynasty, it was the lesser of two evils. 

I cleaned my hands on a rag as I left the washing tub and headed for the door that connected to the pathway that led to the Grand dining hall.

A few quizzical gazes followed me, but no one said anything as I left. They were going to trust that Orla would find me and appropriately discipline me.

I walked down the glass bordered-walkway as quickly as I could.  Hopefully, the royal family wasn't already taken care of. With the size of the meals, the taster should still be tasting the food.

I remembered the path all too well even with the diversions on both sides that led to other parts of the Imperial complex. I half ran as I noticed the familiar double doors with the Phoenix insignia on the door handles.

Two guards were posted on both sides of the door. As I approached, I saw their spears bend diagonally to face me, the better to dig into my essentials with.

I made the best impression of a courtesy I could when I reached them. 

"A fine morning to you dear guards," I said quickly. They watched me dubiously, waiting for me to finish and then turn me away.

I smiled. "I have a very important message to give to the emperor and I would just appreciate it if you would not bar me from entry."

My attempt at courtly speech did not sway them. After all, I was still human and still dressed in the female workers' attire.

"Be gone, wretch," one of the guards said.

I still tried to smile. "I'm afraid I cannot be gone. The matter I come to seek an audience with the emperor for is of utmost importance. A matter of life and death, if I do say so myself."

The guards looked bored, their gazes dismissive. "If that is so, then this empire would not depend on you to warn the emperor."

"I tell you. The royal family is in danger!" I said. "I am just sympathetic to the royal family.  That is why I take the time out of my veery busy servant schedule to make this visit. It is imperative that I see the emperor now."

"Go now, and you won't spend the rest of the day in the dungeons. We are empowered to dispose of erring servants in the dungeons."

I felt a strong arm grip my arm. "I tell you, I am a friend of the royal family. I- I am even good friends with the silver knight, Rhysand Thorne- I would have informed him of this plot, but did not want to bother his knightliness-"

I felt the grip on my arm drop when I mentioned Rhysand Thorne's name. It seemed like a magic word. Not many people must know the Silver knight's name.

"What did you just say?" The guard that had been holding my arm asked. 

I smiled. "Oh Rhysand? He's a veery special friend of mine. Surprised I know him? Oh we had this long conversation- like we usually do- where he told me all about his life- his name inclusive."

"On the oath that  you share a relationship with the Silver knight, we will ask him to invite you inside," the guard said.

"Oh," I said. " His knightliness is inside...and will have breakfast with the royal family? Well of course, tell him his dear friend Avril of the Landolyn estates is here to  speak with the emperor and would need an invitation to the Grand dining hall."

The guard left me and headed for the double doors. 

"Oh sir, you're too kind," I called out coquettishly. That got me a grunt from the other guard. 

I know- I wanted to hiss at the other guard- that I wasn't so good at affecting a noble lady's behavior. Still, that didn't give him a right to act like he was inhaling a mist that boiled his insides.