Chapter 12: Roasted till red

Munching a slice of the roast Dust lower his head as is trying to be one with the table.

No confrontation please.

Even with his head lowered so much he can still clearly see Follower in front at his left.

She doesn't make any noise but with the light provided by the candlestick he can see tears glistening in her green eyes.

She has the face of a passer-by. A passer-by younger than him.

Under his teeth the currant sauce and the bloody taste of the meat clash.

Follower decides to speak.

But it seems like the words she spit is as bitter as a lemon for her.

-I understand.

Contrary to her words her face show an unwilling expression but she does wipe her eyes. She doesn't cry nor does she shout.

Since Purple-belly spoke everyone apart from Two stopped their movements but when Follower take her fork to eat it is like a signal to continue the meal for everybody else.

Taking a sip of the wine to hide his relief the boy see Princess smile under her pointy nose seats aways of his position. Some wrinkles appearing at the corner of her red lips. In the same time the boy realise that wine doesn't suit his taste at all.

-I'm sorry too my dear. I hope you will forgive me.

The two girls exchange a look over their glasses.

- it's ok.

Dust then remember that he has yet to talk with Suspicious.

Swallowing his anxiety he try to do his best.

-Is it good?

The red haired man turn his head in his direction his frosty eyes in opposition with his friendly expression.

- What?

Even his voice is sharp.

-The meal. I mean is the meal good?

Dust has only one word in his mind : Awkward.

-Ah …( he drawl) it's delicious.

Then he cut another piece of meat the dripping juice coating his lips.

Fortunately for the boy Suspicious doesn't stop the conversation there. 

-It would have been good to meet the cook though…

-It would have been good to see the police too.

The man chuckle while wiping his mouth with a towel.

- I doubt they will be useful in this kind of matter. Monster, mysterious castle, collective memories loss and fainting… with premonitive dreams, invisible host, injuries who heal itself… i would say we need a sorcerer more than police.

Dust take a bite of asparagus and remark.

-You seems quite calm.

-You too.

The boy hesitate, not knowing how to continue the conversation. Ultimately, he decides Awkward for awkward it will not cost him much to give him his makeshift name now.

- I'm Dust and you?

Blue eyes give him another glance but Dust lower his head to escape it.

Because Suspicious's eyelashes are nearly invisibles it give the impression that his eyes doesn't blink, like the orbs of a faulcon. Wide and unflinching.

-Your name?

The  boy nearly stutter to answer.

-No. i don't remember my name. It is just a surname i created.

Suspicious eat in silence for one or two second while Dust fear that this is the end of their conversation.

But the red-haired man was apparently only thinking about his own surname.

-Then I'm Roast.

The boy couldn't help it.As soon as he heard Suspicious he was already supressing his own chuckle  with his hand. Did he heard it right?

Some of his strained nerves give way to an happier mood . Dust find now the task of talking with the man easier.

-You can't be serious!

-Why not? i quite like it.

The two smile at each other.

-What are you speaking about?

Recognizing the voice of Pony, Dust look past the fiery hair of "Roast" to see the girl. At the same time Purple-belly who savour his wine like  it's some kind of goldy drink turn his head too.

Apparently also quite interested in their discussion.

Suspicious naturally take the lead in answering.

-We were speaking about Roast.

Wording it like that and saying this so seriously make the whole thing  a bit funny but with the face of Pony full of questions marks  it becomes funnier.

- Stop talking, i hear other voices.

The harsh order was coming from the old man who until now was staying silent between Purple-belly and the bold girl.

Loud enough to capture the attention of everyone in the dinner room.

As fast as the good mood came it dissipated as if it never existed to begin what.

To reassure himself, Dust drop his hand under the table to touch the lantern next to his foot.

Alert he tries to hear something too but he only hear the wind.

They stay like that petrified on their sit for one second.

Then  sound of footsteps and voices really resonnate in their ears.

Who? Eyes?

But there are more than one voice.

One too?

But he is dead.

Sweeping her ponytail past her shoulder Pony whisper as quiet as she can.

-Shall we look who it is?

The old man turn his head in the direction of the sound at the entry of the dinner room while answering in a hushed tone.

- No need they are coming toward us.

One hand on his lantern the other on the knife who previously cut his meat Dust look at the entry like everyone else.

 He tries to control his breath to not be too loud.

In some way he does find that he is going overboard what his reaction.

But in another way he truly think that if he doesn't know what  to expect its better to be prepared for any unpleasent events.

The voices becomes more and more discernable. They are more than two.

Doors seem to be opened then closed. They are searching for something.

-Windows…

Dust concentrate to catch the rest of the sentence. The strangers speak in low voice.

-Can't be broken.. exit…

One second then two. if the boy trust his ears the strangers are now in the corridor leading to the dinner room.

Slowly old man rise from his seat while keeping his sight on the entry.

A women appear her face clear for all to see.

She wears a long brown dress without sleeves.

The fabric who make the dress is like liquid following each of her movement.

Dust doesn't know what kind of material it is but it gives a luxurious and elegant feeling.It even has a golden tint.

She isn't pretty nor she is ugly.

Black curly hair caress her bare shoulders, small eyes of a muddy colour, round chin and ears orned of  blood red drop jewels twisted in a majestic spiral.

She look at them warily. Somehow she has  an overbearing aura, one difficult to ignore. 

Behind her follow two mans. One of them is build like a bull. However his clothes are more casual. His face is like a mashed potatoe. All his feature pressed against each other in the center of his face, with a large forehead wrinkled in three lines.

It's him who speak first.

-Hello?