Page 76 of Acedia

Was that what I was doing?

“She doesn’t want to marry me,” I pointed out.

“She didn’t want to marry youthen. You did ask very early on,” Ophelia chided gently. “Iris had an even steeper learning curvethan the rest of us in adjusting to life here. Once she’s had time to find a new normal, who knows what she’ll want to do?”

I grunted in agreement, wanting this conversation to end. Everyone was staring at me and this wasn’t the kind of attention I enjoyed. I liked when everyone was laughing at my jokes, not giving me vaguely pitying looks as they remembered that time I proposed and she said no.

The fact that Soren and Astrid didn’t look at all surprised by this news just added insult to injury. Now everyone knew about my failed proposal.

“Can we get started now? I want to make Iris breakfast.”

Ophelia suppressed a smile. “It’s not really a breakfast food. Then again, roasted meat isn’t either and I’ve gotten accustomed to that, so why not?”

Allerick frowned as she stood. “I was hoping we could discuss what the mood around court is after the negotiations yesterday. I know some of the information has already leaked.”

“No secrets at court.” I shrugged. It had been that way our whole life.

“There are some concerns,” Soren admitted, piling food onto Astrid’s plate. “Mostly around placing our trust in the hands of Hunters to both keep their word and to patrol the area while we feed. Understandable concerns.”

“Have you heard anything that worries you?” Allerick asked him.

Soren shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. If this was a few months ago—when Ophelia first arrived here—then yes, I would have been concerned about the rebels using this information as justification for further violence. But, for the most part, the ex-Hunters are a fixture here now. Certainly at court, and increasingly in the wider realm. The energy stores have been decreasing, yes, but at a vastly slower rate thanks to them. Andthey’ve all made a concerted effort to adapt to life here. There’s a level of trust now that makes this plan feasible.”

“Great, sounds wonderful,” I interjected. “Can we go now? I want to make Iris’s breakfast.”

Allerick snorted. “Go on then. It’s nice to see you out of sorts like this. I believe it’s doing you wonders.”

“I’m so glad you’re enjoying it,” I snarked, annoyed that I’d given him grief about his relationship too many times in the beginning to be offended that I was getting it back.

“Come on,” Ophelia said affectionately, leading me out of the room. “Let’s go pester Calix in the kitchen.”

“I wouldn’t be doing this if you weren’t here,” I admitted. “He’s nicer to the ex-Hunters than he is to me.”

“Calix? Oh, he’s a big ol’ softie. You’re all so dramatic.”

The softie in question flipped his carving knife in his hand like it was made of shadows as we walked in, impatience written all over his face.

“What do you want?”

“We’re going to make a special human realm treat for Damen’s lady love,” Ophelia announced, clapping her hands together once and bouncing on the balls of her feet. “Can you spare us some bench space?”

“No.”

Ophelia rolled her eyes. It was a very human gesture and it never failed to make a small shudder of revulsion run down my spine. Fortunately, Iris never did it.

“Caliiiiiix,” she whined, dragging out his name. “Don’t be mean. Levana would be so disappointed in you.”

He gestured dismissively at a small patch of the counter, though I could have sworn he laughed as he turned away.

“Perfect. There’s a small cupboard of ingredients that Astrid’s collected up—let me grab what we need. Ooh, look there’salready a tomato sauce here. I wonder if Tallulah made that. She mentioned that she was going to start preserving stuff.”

“Do you know what you’re doing?” I asked as Ophelia set down an assortment of unfamiliar ingredients on the bench, looking less certain of herself with each one.

“Sure, I do. I’ve made dough before. There was definitely flour and water involved. And yeast—we have that. I don’t remember the exact amounts, but I can eyeball it.”

“I have lost confidence in this venture,” I told her solemnly.

“What’s this you’re making then?” Calix asked moodily, peering over her shoulder.

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