“You’re coming with us? We can’t take civilians on a journey like this!” Ivory protested and wilted a bit under Ingrid’s fierce glare. “It’s dangerous.” She said weakly. Ingrid stomped over and glowered down at Ivory, jabbing a finger in my direction.
“He doesn’t know a sauce pan from a stir fry, and you expect me to sit idly by while you three come trapsing back in here with the wrong items? Not a chance.” She turned back to Cain, and called loudly into the kitchen. “Posey, come here!” A frantic scramble and a small, fresh-faced elf came bursting out of the kitchen, looking nervous and excitable all at once. If Iain was an elf, he would look like Posey, I thought to myself.
“You called, Chef?” Posey said, standing at attention. Ingrid fixed her with a stern stare before nodding her head slowly.
“While I’m gone, you’re in charge.” Posey paled. “Now, now, none of that.” Ingrid’s voice changed from gruff and hard to soft and almost caring as she laid a gentle hand on Posey’s shoulder, stooping to look her in the eye. “You can do this. Just remember everything I taught you, listen to your staff, and whatever you do,” she jerked her thumb at Cain. “Don’t let him into the kitchen.” Posey laughed and Ingrid gave her a firm pat on the arm.
“Okay, Chef. I won’t let you down.” Posey gave the rest of us a quick nod of her head and vanished back into the kitchen. Her voice boomed from within as she barked orders just like Ingrid, who folded her arms, looking proud. The moment fizzled as she rounded about and stomped to the stairs, grumbling about packing. Ivory and Torpor refilled their glasses and took to a booth near the fire pit, looking a bit put out at having to hit the road so soon. I, meanwhile, stared at the stairs Ingrid just vanished up. Cain chuckled at the look on my face.
“Manny, close your mouth before you drool all over my new floor.” My teeth clacked together as I came back to myself. I knocked back another shot of the wine and stood, swaying slightly.
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