Page 50 of Wayfinder
Grasping the hilt in my hand, I attacked the slab of behia, maneuvering a series of cuts that yielded translucent slices of meat.
The Baron tried to seem unimpressed, but he issued a heavy sign of acquiescence before turning and motioning to the guards. At the crook of his fingers, his entourage carried over the gauze-wrapped object, depositing it on the end of the table.
“I wanted to speak to you about the Duke’s dinner.” Baron Oappo waved casually in the direction of the mystery package.
“Have you got the menu I prepared?” It wasn’t a question that needed approval, but a statement of simple fact.
The Baron seemed to recognize it, too. “Yes. Chancellor Qaimus speaks very highly of your boeuf bourguignon.”
Pearl turned to the Chancellor, her lips curling into a gracious smile—not a genuine smile. I knew what it was like to be on the receiving end of one of her real smiles, and this wasn’t it.
“However,” The Baron huffed, drawing her attention. “The Duke is an esteemed guest of honor. We cannot expect him to partake of the same dish as the rest of the party.” A webbed hand waved at the guards, and one of them slowly peeled the gauze away, revealing a deep red cut of thick meat marbled with fat striations.
Pearl’s blue eyes went wide, and I noticed she bit her lip to keep from seeming overly excited. “What is it?”
“It is a prime cut of meat from the stroaig, the rarest, tastiest meat in all the universe.” The Baron said proudly, his chest puffing.
“The stroaig are hand fed. Their menu is based on the flavor desired, and the beasts receive massages daily to ensure the tenderest, juiciest meat.” The Chancellor chimed in reverently, as though his words revealed the secrets of the universe.
Baron Oappo made a low warbling sound, thick, slimy lips curling upward. “This particular piece of meat cost more than what I paid for you.”
Pearl’s eyes went sharp, and she paled, although she somehow kept a smile on her face. I gripped the edge of the table, feeling my fingertips sink into the metal as I fought against the sudden rage of desire to kill the Baron.
“I trust you will prepare the stroaig with the same deliciousness as your other meals.” The words came couched as a compliment, but I knew an order when I heard one.
“Of course.” Pearl inclined her head.
“The Duke has heard of your prowess and is eager to taste your culinary efforts,” Chancellor Qaimus chimed in with no small amount of pride.
The Baron stepped closer to Pearl, leaning forward so his green, slimy face was only inches from her pale skin. The need to do violence screamed inside me.
“You will not disappoint me.”
One look, one word from Pearl, and I would kill the green bastard where he stood and face whatever the consequences. Instead, my mate merely smiled, raising her hand, and giving a dismissive wave along with a roll of her blue eyes.
“Of course not.” Disdain dripped from her voice at the Baron’s inference.
Goddess, this woman was magnificent.
The Baron straightened, awkward for a moment at my mate’s reaction to this threat, then turning on his heel, he swept from the kitchen, followed by the Chancellor and guards.
With a roll of her eyes and a giggle, Pearl waved her hand again like she was trying to rid the kitchen of any residual muck from the Baron’s visit.
Deema and Aqsa slowly crept away from the wall, not shaking off the Baron’s visit as easily as my mate. Their body language spoke of years of mistreatment, and it made me even more determined to get them and the others out from under the Baron’s control.
Pearl moved to stand beside me, her attention directed at the slab.
“It’s a gorgeous cut of meat.” Her fingertips traced along the lines of fat, crisscrossing the flesh like spiderwebs.
“Straoig is a singular delicacy,” I admitted, taking a whiff. The meat had the slightly metallic smell inherent to all butchered animals. Still, there was a grassy undertone that didn’t seem quite right.
“What’s the matter?” Pearl watched me intently.
I took another whiff, my opinion unchanging. “Does it smell...?” I hesitated, unsure of the word. “Spoiled?”
Pearl frowned but lifted her fingers to her nose and took a deep breath.
“Not spoiled.” Her expression morphed from curiosity to something more. She leaned over, almost touching the tip of her nose to the meat and inhaling deeply.
