Page 19 of Three Scorched Kingdoms

Inside is the tea room, which is apparently code for a dining room the size of my entire apartment back home.

The young maid follows me inside and then perches herself near the wall. On the table in the center of the space, the extensive spread of rolls, cheese, and fruit along with several drink choices is more than I could eat in a week.

Maybe we should wake the others after all.

I glance back at the maid.

“Is something wrong?” she asks.

“I can’t possibly eat all of this by myself.”

She frowns. “Should I wake the other guests?”

“No, no. They deserve to rest.” I pause and then blurt, “You should join me.”

Her eyes widen. “Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly.”

“Please? It’s so wasteful to let it all just sit here untouched.”

She bites her lip and then takes short, quick steps over to the table before perching on the edge of the seat farthest from mine.

“I’m Paige,” I tell her.

“I know.” She nods quickly, averting her gaze.

“And you are?”

She looks up, cheeks flushing. “Me? I’m just a maid.”

“No one is just anything. What’s your name?”

“Lucinda.”

“Lucinda,” I say. “Does anyone call you Lucy?”

Her eyes widen, and her mouth hangs open.

“Lucinda it is,” I say hastily. “I’m not familiar with all the fruits you grow here. What’s this?” I point to a fruit the color of raspberries but in the shape of tiny stars.

“That’s a starberry.”

I pop it into my mouth and immediately hum in pleasure. “It’s delicious.” I grab something else. “What about this one?”

“That one’s called moon melon.”

After she gives me a short lesson, which seems to make her feel better about sitting with me, I make sure that we both eat the fruit, and soon, Lucinda is relaxed and laughing.

“You really have a fruit called yucca?” she asks. “Is it gross?”

“No, it’s actually pretty good.”

She laughs again. “My sister would call that irony.”

“So, you have a sister?” I ask.

Lucinda nods. “Brigita. She’s older by two years. She’s a scullery maid.”

“What’s a scullery again?”

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