It Started with Slime - Part 1

Chapter 85 - Brewyn Palace

They dismounted as the kitchen entrance came into sight. The stables where the gryphon would be kept and cared for also close by. Their approach did not go unnoticed as a couple of young stable-hands quickly came out to take the reins and immediately ignored the men. They were whistling and cooing to the mounts as they guided them back to their various stalls for some treats and a clean. Gryphon's usually took care of their cleaning and had been since their departure from Brewyn, but after a couple of weeks of it, there was some dust on them that even they had been unable to reach.

Now free of the burden of their mounts, Haemish reached into his spatial pouch and removed each man's personal belongings that they had entrusted to Haemish. Then he carried Aarav in his hand slung over his shoulder. "Hey! I'm not a sack of potatoes! I'm, and a person damn it!"

"And what did I tell you about talking!? You need to act like a sack of potatoes for a bit. Otherwise, there is going to be a problem getting you in!" Haemish hissed over his shoulder. The rest of the men continued casually, ignoring the heated whispering match among them.

Aarav quieted immediately. Something in Haemish's tone held a warning of retribution. But, it was not retribution at Haemish's hand, and that was what did it in the end. With the Slime silent on his back and the rest of the men speaking amicably, they knocked on the closed kitchen door. Aarav couldn't see it, so he busied himself, hiding all his appendages apart from one eye in the centre of his body, looking straight out at the gardens at the back of the palace.

They were beautiful, well-manicured flower beds of reds, blues and yellows, and the green grass complimented them. A knock sounded on the door, which must have been one of the four men, and then the creak of the door opening and the smells from the kitchen intensified. So did the volume of the growls.

A laugh sounded from further inside, and then, "Well? Don't just stand there! Come on in. Make yourselves comfortable, and we set you up with a plate!" there was some scuffing from inside, and Aarav desperately wanted to see what was happening. Come on! Bring me around to the front! Some friendly, or unfriendly, Aarav couldn't tell since he was facing the garden

They were out of the wind and in the kitchen in a single step. Each breath brought smells of freshly baked bread and steaming broth.

The place was a kicked anthill, Resh should know; he had kicked an anthill before. Well, not kicked precisely, but it had been quite a fun experience! All that tasty food and adventure! Aarav shook his head and refocused. Drifted off for a second there, focus, Aarav! People were rushing every which way. As the four travellers wove their way to a table in the middle of the maelstrom, the cacophony of sights, sounds, and smells quickly overwhelmed. If you focused on one thing too closely, you inevitably got bashed by something else. Taler proved it when he was caught looking at one of the younger sue-chefs and ran headlong into a large pot of stew two kitchen staff were moving. Taler rebounded, and the young man he was looking at smiled innocently, trying not to laugh. Aarav thought he had a certain charm. But not my cup of tea. Hey, it's whatever you like, buddy. He was a little too much on the skinny side for Aarav, and he was more into women, if he was honest. Still, he was cute.

Taler blushed when he saw he had been caught gawking and turned to sit quietly at the table. The young man had tentatively smiled back. Go Taler! Aarav said it in his mind but was rooting for the shy guy. Haemish, Marteen and Rion seeing the short but spicy exchange, gently ribbed the man and put him at ease. Rion also had his eye on someone and was far less shy about it. She smiled seductively back at him until one of the fat older chef women swatted her on the back of the head. I like your taste, buddy! Aarav couldn't see much from Haemish's back, but what he could see was greatly appreciated.

Taler and Rion, done staring, sat down at the table indicated with Haemish and Marteen, and a couple of the servers set plates before them. They all shared grins as they tucked in with abandon. Meanwhile, a particular Slime was slung onto the table and left there. The only positive was that not Aarav was free to look around and see everything and everyone around him. The four men sat on park bench style seating with Marteen and Haemish on one side and Taler and Rion. Aarav suspected that Rion and Taler had both chosen those seats so they could continue to, conspicuously and inconspicuously, respectively, check out the object of their affection.

The smells from the food were divine, not least because Aarav was starving himself. A growing Slime needed to eat! Where was his food? He let out a soft growl. The commotion and clamour of the kitchen meant the kitchen staff were unlikely to overhear Aarav, but it also meant the Slime had a more challenging time getting Haemish's attention. As expected, nothing. He growled a little louder, still nothing. Aarav didn't want to mess around, food! Growling deeper, Rion finally seemed to notice and gave him a nudge. I will bite his stupid hand if he doesn't toss me something!

Rion looked over at Haemish and then down at Aarav. Hoping no one would notice.

"Wass tha' then!? Looks like summin'. Iss an animal issnit! You know wha' me rules are abou' animauls inna kitchin!" Woah! Aarav thought. Her accent was tough to understand, and it wasn't like anything he had heard before. The closest Aarav could say was cockney. That was it, I think?