Page 32 of The Chef

“Um,” Char said, unwilling to commit to anything when it came to the three kids, particularly since Karl was technically here as punishment and might not be allowed to leave to go to the city. Ralph shrugged when Char glanced at him for help. “Tell you what,” Char said, coming to a decision. “You can come out to the courtyard with me where Commander Fen will be waiting. If the commander says you can go, I’ll allow it, but if he says no, you’ll have to see if one of the captains could use you for the day instead.”

Karl grinned. “Thanks, Chef!”

“Thanks!” the other two added.

Char sighed but let it go. He put together five plates from the leftovers the helpers were preparing, and he and the kids joined Ralph at a table to eat. By the time they were done, the last of the bread was also ready. Char left it to cool, wished the kitchen helpers luck, and led the way out of the kitchen, through the barracks, and out the front door. The walk to the courtyard didn’t take too long, even when compensating for Emily’s shorter stride, so soon enough they joined the small throng of people and horses.

Fen was waiting by Char’s donkey—the same donkey from their trip over the mountains, who appeared to be happy to only be working during Char’s market runs—so Char headed over there.

“Here ye are,” a hostler said when Char reached Fen’s side. “Yer donkey and the empty saddle bags. I know he’s technically your beast, but we’ve taken to calling him Wise—” He cut off at the sight of the three kids behind Char and amended the second half of the name with barely a hiccup.“—One. Hope you don’t mind.”

“WiseOneis a great name for a donkey,” Char replied, taking the reins from the hostler with a smile. “Thank you for getting him ready.”

“Of course. Chef. Commander.” He saluted them both before trotting off.

Bemused at being saluted, it took Char a moment to realize Fen was frowning at Karl, Shan, and Emily rather than after the hostler.

“If you go with Char, you’re going to be part of his security detail. You understand?” Fen asked them, his voice stern and unyielding. “You will coordinate your actions with Sergeant Ralph and behave yourselves. You’re representing the royal guard, and I expect you to act accordingly.”

All three kids nodded solemnly, Emily’s eyes as wide as saucers.

“Right. Let’s mount up and get going.” Fen shared a brief, private smile with Char before heading in the direction of the waiting horses. Char was going on foot, since even the donkey was technically too much to take into the busy market, but Fen kept the horses to a walk so they stayed together as they left the compound. Only when they reached the fork in the road where Fen went toward the palace did they separate. Char waved but continued onward in the direction of the main city gates.

Emily rode on the donkey, Karl and Shan walking on either side. Ralph was in front and Sherri in back. They maintained that formation even as they entered the line of people waiting to be admitted at the gates. Luckily, Ralph showed something to one of the guards so they bypassed the line, going into the city much faster than Char was used to when he went by himself.

The main city market was only about ten blocks into the city, close to the gate for merchants and farmers to come and go withease and along the wide thoroughfare that cut through the center of the city. The morning was still young enough the crowds hadn’t yet emerged, the current smattering of people nothing in comparison to what the crush would be when they left in a few hours.

Char ran through his mental list of what he wanted to buy. A couple hundred canning jars would be his main purchase—which he would have delivered since Wise One wouldn’t be able to carry those in his saddle bags—but Char also wanted to start stocking up on high quality dried ingredients. Merchants would offer their wares and their business cards at the market, and Char would buy enough to experiment with the options before contracting for a regular delivery with the merchant directly. He also wanted to find some quality extra-large soup pots to supplement what the kitchen already had on hand since he hoped to serve soups and stews all winter at both lunch and dinner.

They traveled for about three blocks before Ralph swore quietly and stopped, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Char glanced around, gulping. At first glance, the twenty or so people surrounding them looked like other shoppers heading to the market. Yet, something about the way they stood read like a formation—too organized to be a coincidence. Plus, they stopped when Ralph stopped, and then suddenly drew their weapons and charged, not waiting for Ralph to finish drawing his sword.

After that day in the tent, all those weeks ago, when Char had learned he could use his magic to stop bladed weapons, he had practiced. Mostly by himself in the late evenings and never against an actual opponent, he was good at calling the magic to his arms or chest where he could more effectively shield himself. He coated himself now, glowing blue just in time, as a long knife was thrust in his direction.

Char blocked with his forearm, sending the knife wide to his left, and then shoved the attacker, who went sprawling and knocking over a couple more attackers as he fell. That wasn’t nearly enough to help stem the quantity of people. Sherri was fighting at least five on her own, but they were effectively drawing her farther away from the group as they circled her. Char blocked and shoved a second time, but this time the attacker only fell back a single step before charging again. Emily rolled off Wise One with a shout and suddenly Shan was there, a knife in each hand, jabbing and slashing at the attackers like he knew what he was doing. Emily resurfaced from the scrum holding a knife, which she promptly sank into the nearest calf, thrusting with her whole body behind the move in a trained motion that Zain must have taught her.

Ralph had taken on nearly ten attackers, trying to draw the main group to him and away from Char. He was holding his own even against those odds, although Karl popped in and out of view, a pair of knives in his hands, helping to even the playing field.

Then, in the next moment, a flash of red magic erupted next to Ralph, who let out a pained shriek and went down.

“Ralp—” Char tried to yell, but then dark fabric dropped over his head. Apopsounded, blasting what felt like a sickly sweet-smelling powder all over his face, and then…nothing.

Interlude

THE BREAKFAST ROOMwas as full as usual when Fen walked inside, except for Braxton’s seat, which was empty. Mother looked up and smiled when she caught sight of Fen and waved one hand toward Fen’s usual spot.

“I wasn’t certain you were stopping by this morning,” she said. “Weren’t you taking a contingent of your newer recruits into the woods for wilderness training?”

Fen shrugged. “Captain Wong volunteered since most of the new recruits are in his unit.”

“You usually join them anyway as a show of solidarity. The commander leads from the front,” Ayer began, but then he paused and shared a smirk with Shairon. “Ah, your chef is in the city today. I forgot.”

Shairon nodded, still smirking jovially. “It’s market day. Our dear brother wouldn’t dare be miles away, lost in a forest, when his pretty chef might be in peril.”

“I assume you took precautions?” Mother asked. “And sit, down, dear. You’re not addressing the military council.”

Fen sat and then waited while servants placed a plate in front of him—scrambled eggs, toast, cut fruit, and an assortment of jams—and poured him some tea. He took a bite and stifled asigh, wondering if he could have Char stop by the kitchens on the mornings Fen was going to eat breakfast at the palace. Fen had no idea what was missing from the eggs, but they definitely didn’t taste as good as when Char served them.

“I took plenty of precautions,” Fen began after he swallowed his first bite. “The city guard knows this is an opportunity to catch any Namin spies trailing after Char, so they’re on high alert. Plus, I sent Sergeant Ralph with Char.”

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