Page 22 of Phixmery

A grin grows on my face. “Fine by me.” They turn to walk away and I send an illusion of myself moving with them. It will disappear by the time they’re out of my sight, but I’ve planted the seed that I left without any issues. Because I totally wouldn’t cause any problems for the guard, not even for my own entertainment.

Once they’re out of earshot, I move to where Solace was, down the dead-end corridor, and start pressing along the walls, and when I can’t find what I’m searching for I huff. She’s probably long gone anyways. I’ll get her next time though, and then I won’t let her leave my sight.

THERE'S ALWAYS ONE place you can guarantee will have the information you need, whether it be rumors or not, and that’s the kitchen. The nulls that work there always hear the going ons in the castle because they’re invisible for the most part. Other than most of the elite, the fae of our society have always treated lessers and nulls with respect—fae raised with a higher standing see them as nothing but servants, stains that blot the realm. Even though times have evolved, there will always be people who see those who are different to them as less-than.

As I stride down the halls after a long day of drills, my mind keeps wandering off to our adventure last night as I stalked Little Mouse around the castle. Everything about this female has me curious and I need to know more. I make my way towards the dining hall, but instead of entering through the doors, I press on the stone wall behind a painting of some forgotten lord. A door cracks open, revealing the servant halls that run everywhere along the inside of the castle walls, and I slip behind it, the stone grinding softly as I shut it. The dimly lit, narrow halls smell of earth and moisture as I continue down the path until I come across another entrance leading into an expansive kitchen.

The smells are mouthwatering as the staff prepare for dinner. Fresh breads and cured meat lie on racks off to the side, but before I can snag a piece, I hear the female that I’ve come here to see.

“Now, you know better than to pocket something before greeting your mother,” she chides, a kind yet mischievous smile gracing her beautiful but tired face.

My matching grin meets hers as I scoop her up into a hug. “Ah, momma. I’dnever!” I gasp. “How are you doing?”

She laughs. “Come, you can help prep some veggies for the stew with those fancy knife skills of yours.” She pulls me over towards the giant wooden prep table. Her red hair, the same exact shade as mine, swings behind her in two long braids. The other nulls who are working there greet me with small smiles as they get back to work.

We fall into a steady rhythm of shucking, peeling and chopping. The noises of the kitchen soothe something within me, and it doesn’t take long before I start hearing the whispers.

“Did you hear? That small female who thought she was a null has a familiar,” a quiet voice murmurs from across the table.

“What? How in the fates does that happen? Did you say a familiar? Really?” another asks in a disbelieving tone.

My peeling slows as I try to focus on their conversation and my mother peeks at me from the corner of her eye, shaking her head and smiling.

“Apparently Commander Ashbluff found her in an outlier village, pretending to have no magick. Had her whole village convinced. Turns out she’s a fire Elemi. No idea why she would pretend to be a null. It’s absurd,” the female states matter-of-factly.

The conversation instantly piques my interest and I turn to the females, flashing them with one of my charming smiles they seem to love. “Did you say someone was pretending to be a null? Do you know who?” I ask with semi-faux shock, hoping that this conversation is about who I think it is. They stare at me with gaping mouths, their faces turning red in embarrassment like they’ve been caught saying something they shouldn’t. Normally, I just listen and talk with my mother, but I couldn’t help myself. This is why I came here, after all.

My mother elbows me in the ribs and tsks. “You are just as bad as all these females with the gossiping,” she laughs.

I cluck my tongue. “Well training can be such a bore. Visiting you is the best part of my day, and it’s entertaining. How could I not enjoy a bit of gossip,” I tease.

“Ah, I think it’s the extra food, my dear Jespie. But I think they are referring to the small female from year one. Quiet thing, keeps to herself for the most part, or she’s with her squad.” She shrugs and then changes the subject. “Your brother has been asking about you…” she trails off.

I try to keep my face composed but she notices the slight hardening. “I don’t want to talk about him.”

She sighs, putting down her knife. “Jesp, you know he’s sorry—”

“Mom please. I love you, but I came here to spend some time with you, not talk about him,” I state harshly, wincing at my tone as her face falls. “I’m sorry, that was rude. But really, I’m not ready to talk about it, okay?”

She nods, but the air seeps with her disappointment, adding a souring scent to the delicious aroma of the kitchen. She picks up her knife and begins chopping again. We fall into quiet and easy conversation after a few moments of tense silence. She tells me about how one of the brownies found a pair of male briefs in one of the female officer’s quarters, which lightens the mood. That some of the nulls are nervous about one of the corridors in the dungeons of the castle, claiming it’s haunted. Oh, and supposedly one of the gryphons kicked up a pile of shit at one of the first years who tried to pluck one of its feathers.

That had me and a bunch of the others laughing. Everyone knows that gryphons are protective over their feathers; only an idiot would try something like that.

I help bring over the massive pots and place them on the stove before turning to my mother and pulling her in for a hug. “I’ll stop by again soon, promise.”

She stuffs what I know is some sort of pastry in my tunic coat pocket. “Yes, you will. Say hi to the boys for me and be safe out there, okay? I worry about you.”

I cup her face before kissing the top of her head. “Of course momma. As long as you try to get some rest.”

She pats my cheek and shoos me towards the servants’ entrance, and I blow her a kiss and wiggle my fingers at her, causing her to chuckle and shake her head before slowly shutting the door behind me.

Taking a breath, I push back my emotions of anger and frustration before mulling over the information. I know I can only take gossip with a grain of salt, but it seems like my Little Mouse may be hiding some secrets of her own, and I definitely plan on uncovering them. And I know the first place I’m going to start.

STRIDING OUT ONTO the training yard, I search for a certain male, and when my eyes land on him, instructing a year two archery lesson, I make my way over, pulling my cloak up to keep the worst of the snow out of my face.

“Commander Ashbluff, may I have a word?” I inquire as he moves away from the bow rack.

His shoulders stiffen for a moment before he pinches the bridge of his nose. “What can I do for you, Sergeant Verlice? Don’t you have lessons you should be attending?” He raises his pale brow.

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