Page 43 of The Fae King's Labyrinth

“Is that sanitary?” Fletchere demanded as he pushed his way through the crowd.

“I say!” Grizzlemunch yelled from farther back. “Make way! What is this? A circus? Head cook!”

The head cook met my gaze and rolled his eyes before turning to address the arriving noblemen. “Yes, my lord, how might I be able to assist you?”

“Is this slovenly operation how you run the kitchens? It’s a disgrace!”

Ghost and Keddle arrived just as the head cook began shooing the staff back to their stations and tasks.

“And see that order is maintained,” Grizzlemunch blustered, despite the fact no one was listening to him at all. And he kept on muttering things about the disgrace of servants not knowing their place.

I ignored him, watching Calypso instead. Her ears swiveled and perked as she listened to our surroundings before returning to washing her paws. Wondering how much better her senses were as a cat, I reached out and stroked her back. She paused her grooming to study me. She had no eyebrows, but if she were in her human form, I would’ve been getting an inquisitive look.

“What do you wish to eat?” I asked.

“Merrt?”

Grizzlemunch stiffened as though she had uttered an oath. “Are you actually asking the cat for its opinion? Have you lost your mind?”

“See here, Grizz,” Fletchere protested. “That was too far. Pets and owners have made-up conversations all the time.”

The head cook returned to the group. “Your meal, sire.” He set out a generous portion of chicken, beef, and roasted vegetables. Another servant approached with a gelatin encasing what looked like fruit.

“What is this?” Fletchere demanded.

“They are leftovers from the staff noon meal,” the cook replied. “And something special for the little lady.” He set a saucer of shredded roast chicken in front of Calypso.

A lad appeared at the cook’s elbow with a tray containing glasses, a small bowl of water, and a bottle of wine. The cook took it and distributed the contents, setting the bowl of water before Calypso.

As Ghost reached around me to take a sampling of my food, the head cook bowed. “Is there anything else you wish, sire?”

“No, thank you.” I offered the brownie a smile.

Ghost reached over and sampled a piece of Calypso’s chicken.

“This is too much!” Grizzlemunch exclaimed. “His bodyguard is taste testing the cat’s food!”

Fletchere wrinkled his nose but remained silent.

“If it is an ordinary cat—” Keddle began.

“Our reputation as a fae court is already in question with all of this curse business running rampant,” Grizzlemunch continued as though Keddle hadn’t spoken. “If you had just kept your mouth shut, we wouldn’t have this blotch on our record. And now, with the curse broken—”

“It isn’t,” I pointed out.

“—we have to deal with a new set of idiosyncrasies. Cats being treated like fae, of all things. Nasty creatures.” Grizzlemunch shuddered dramatically as he pressed closer to the table. “If your brother hadn’t sworn to never take the throne—”

A hiss from Calypso was the only warning before there was a loud crash as the pitcher of water and water bowl toppled off the edge of the table, spilling down the front of Grizzlemunch’s expensive clothing.

“Possessed creature!” Grizzlemunch raised his hand to strike Calypso, but I had reached my limit.

“Enough!” I rose to my feet, shoving the table back and frightening Calypso. But unlike a normal cat, Calypso didn’t run for the nearest small hidey hole. Instead, she launched herself at me, clawed her way up my front, and perched on my shoulder, hissing and glaring her indignation at Grizzlemunch.

“My cat and I are no longer available for an audience.” Picking up my plate and Calypso’s saucer, I tapped into my magic, opening a portal to my study. Ghost, accustomed to my impatient habits, stepped through the portal practically on my heels, so when I closed it behind me, the three of us stood alone in my study.

Calypso jumped from my shoulder to the floor and shifted into her human form. She immediately leaned back on her heels and glared up at me. “Why do you let them talk to you like that?”

Twelve

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