Page 28 of The Promise Born
“You will?” Asante sounded as shocked as I felt.
“Yes.” Already I was thinking of ways to change my food so they wouldn’t recognize it. “Wait, do I have to meet them?”
“No, you’re not officially a part of the family. No one would expect you to attend such an important meeting.”
“Great, I mean, it's enough pressure as it is just to be making the desserts.”
“I understand. And I appreciate you doing this for me.”
“It’s for the betterment of our people, right? How could I say no to doing even a minor part to make that happen?”
He grabbed my hand again. “Thank you, Kiala.”
“You’re welcome.” I nodded. “When are they coming?”
“Three nights from now. We just got word. Apparently, our side of the island isn’t the only one the trolls visited.”
A sudden, sharp pain shot through my stomach at the horrifying thought of trolls invading my home; the image of their grotesque faces flashed before my eyes followed by a deep feeling of guilt. I should have been there.
“That should be enough time.” I tried to act as if timing was my only concern. But deep down, I had so much more to be worried about.
I spent the next two days preparing for the event. I locked myself away in my kitchen, making variations of my recipes, hoping to make them different enough so they wouldn’t be recognizable, but not so much that Asante would question me about it. There were other questions that fluttered through my mind. Like how many people would I have to cook for? Would the king of Starwell also be there? Would other members of the royal family from Frostspire be there?
It didn't matter. Whoever attended the meeting wasn't my concern. I wouldn't have to be a part of it. All I had to do was bake sweets, hand them off to be served, and hide until the party ended.
If I could do that, I could avoid any drama.
Asante visited me the night before the event. I stood in the kitchen covered in flour and served him the best versions of my desserts. It was the first time I’d seen him since he asked me his favor. The smile stretched across my face as I watched his reaction to the food. He could be mad at me later if he didn’t like how the variations tasted during the meeting.
“They are going to love these.” He smiled and licked the fragranced cream from his lips.
“I hope so.” I smiled nervously.
“You’re being modest. You know they will.” He looked around the kitchen. “You’ve really made this space your own. Are you sure this is okay for you?”
“It’s perfect, cozy and quiet.” I smiled. “Thank you again for giving me this space to work in.”
“Of course. I want you to be comfortable here.”
I thought about what his uncle had said to me. Asante was a softy beneath the tough exterior.
“I hope everything goes well tomorrow.” I wiped down the table between us as if I hadn’t already cleaned it twice before he came.
“You need to relax.” He grabbed my hand, stopping the frantic motion. “Come on.”
“What?” I frowned as he stood and led me to the door.
“Let’s go for a walk.” He looked back at me. “It will be good for both of us.”
This time, we strolled through an unfamiliar part of their property. The sounds of birdsong filled the air. Moonlight from Rhyxis, the moon rumored to guide the subconscious, bathed the grounds, casting long shadows and creating an ethereal glow. Lunaterra had thirteen moons, all representing different faiths and practices. My favorite was Sylvos. It was the moon of the forests where I had often daydreamed about running off to live.
But I had to stay in the present, which made me think of Asante’s requests.
It felt even heavier thinking of the timing. It was a special time of year when new mates showcased their love. And because of that, dragons flew together in pairs, creating dancing spirals above our heads.
“Don’t worry.” Asante nudged me with his shoulder. “I won’t ask you to fly with me again.”
A nervous chuckle slipped from my lips. “I appreciate that.”
