Fin had just finished sending out breakfast for the nobles, and was leaning against the hearth with a sandwich in his hand when his peaceful kitchen was infiltrated.

The door to the hallway flew open, and Ruby entered holding the clean rags Fin had requested the previous day with a blonde haired boy, perhaps only seven years old, on her heels reading from a tome that appeared to weigh more than himself.

“-And they eat people!” The boy exclaimed while staring up at Ruby’s back with shining eyes. The lad was clad in a smart royal blue velvet jacket, tan shorts, high white knee socks, and a large burgundy bow tied around his neck that nearly swallowed his chin.

“Prince Eric, have you met our new cook?” Ruby plopped the rags down on the table, her cheeks their customary shade of red, and her expression desperate as she stared pleadingly at Fin who looked like a deer caught in torchlight.

“Then there’s another monst- oh! No I haven’t. Hello!” The boy smiled and waved at Fin, then promptly dropped the book as it toppled out of his small hand.

Ruby winced and mouthed an apology to Fin as the future ruler of the kingdom bent to pick up the novella.

The cook took a bite from his sandwich while remaining expressionless.

When the boy righted himself, he was beaming up at the grown-ups.

“Your majesty,” Fin gave a slight dip of his head then awkwardly continued his sandwich while Ruby scowled disapprovingly.

“My name’s Eric! What is your name?” The child hefted the book in his arms as he peered at the redheaded man.

“Fin, Your Highness,” he answered while slowly straightening, and placing his sandwich on the table as he poured himself a goblet of water.

“You look too young to be a cook! Our old cook, Luca, he was old, and fat!” With a great huff, the boy hefted the book onto Fin’s table, and Ruby shot him a warning look when she noticed the twitch in his right eye.

“Your majesty,” Fin began, clearly trying not to lecture the boy.

“Please call me Eric!” The boy beamed.

“That is not proper your maj-” Ruby began.

“Eric, this table isn’t very clean, your book may become dirtied." The cook cut her off, his tone surprisingly gentle.

“Oh that’s okay! I keep dropping it, so it isn’t very clean anyway. Did you know that no one has seen a dragon in two hundred years?!” The boy slapped his palms on the table around his book, his hazel eyes the size of saucers.

“One hundred-fifty years, actually. They say the golden dragon still hides in the mountains, but no one knows if they are in the mountains here in Daxaria along the Western border, or if he perhaps rests in the Northern mountains of Troivack.” As he spoke, Fin began pulling pears out of the wooden bowl in the corner of the table along with his smaller knife that was one of two he kept clipped to his belt while cooking.

“Woah! Really? I bet he is just waiting for a princess to steal! I hear the King in Troivack doesn’t have any girls, but eleven boys!” The innocent enthusiasm and seriousness until that moment had made it hard for Ruby to interrupt the lad.

"Your Highness, the Troivackian King has two boys not eleven. The maids and I were saying how it is not uncommon for Troivackians to have large families with eleven children," Ruby explained with a small hint of guilt in her expression.

A corner of Fin’s mouth twitched upward, and a soft chuckle left his lips as he sliced up the pear at a more leisurely pace than he normally would.

He failed to see the stunned look on The Head of Housekeeping’s face however, as she saw a glimpse what her female staff had been twittering about.

When the cook smiled he was...

“Well now Eric, why do you think the dragon isn’t here in Daxaria?” Fin handed the prince a pear slice.

“Because my dad wouldn’t let him live here! He’d get rid of him! Especially because my mom might have a girl, and we don’t want a dragon stealing my sister.” The boy explained wisely.

Fin smiled more openly at the child.

“What makes you think dragons are bad? What if they just want to have a nice home and family?”

“They burn down villages and eat all the sheep though!” The prince managed through a mouthful of pear, his etiquette lessons completely forgotten.

“Ever wonder why?” Fin handed the boy another pear slice once the first was swallowed, and Ruby backed out of the room unnoticed.

“Roasted lamb is delicious?” Eric shrugged. “I read about another monster that lives in the sea, and JUMPS out of the water, and eats whole ships!” He explained while leaping into the air as he mimicked his idea of the beast.

“Ahh. The Kraken.” Fin leaned on the table nodding in understanding.

It was then a soft mew was heard.

“What was that?!” The energetic prince spun around, searching the room for the source of sound.

Fin slowly walked around the table, and gestured for the prince to come closer.

“Can you keep a secret Eric?”

The little boy nodded excitedly.

“This little kitten happened to find me last night, and I’m going to keep him as my official mouse hunter.” Fin lifted an empty potato sack he had pinned using full potato bags at the top of the kitchen ledge that acted as a curtain to reveal wooden box where the fluffy black kitten with a dab of white on his chest sat up, and peered at the two onlookers curiously.

The prince’s eyes went wide as saucers.

“What’s her name?” The little boy whispered. He was clearly trying not to scare the kitten despite his obvious excitement.

“I haven’t picked one yet. Would you like to help me name him?”

“It’s a boy?” Eric turned to stare at Fin who was crouched beside the box, already picking up the little mass of adorable fur.

“It is indeed.”

“Can I… Can I pet him?”

Fin smiled. “You sure can, but gently. He is too young to not have his mother.”

The little boy reached out, and stroked the downy fur shakily. He looked as though he were holding his breath as the tiny kitten began to purr at his careful caresses.

“Can we name him Kraken? He could be the sea monster, but for mice.”

Fin lifted the kitten and looked into the tiny green eyes.

“What do you say, is your name Kraken?” The kitten mewed again, suddenly it seemed more animated as though excited for such a fearsome and respectable name.

“Well you must be wonderful at naming things, because I think he likes it. He shall be known as Kraken the Kitchen Cat. Has a nice ring to it don’t you think?”

The prince giggled, beaming proudly that his name was approved.

“Maybe you should be the one to tell Ruby that there's have another staff member in here. I think she’ll be more accepting of his presence if it comes from Your Highness.” Annika stood in the doorway with her arms folded across her chest. She wore a burgundy gown that looked far more expensive than anything Fin had seen her in thus far, and had pearls wound into her hair, while her hands glittered with golden rings. She didn’t usually wear so much finery…

“Lady Jenoure! You can’t tell her! It’s a secret!” The prince’s panicked face warranted a strained expression from the woman as she tried to hide her smile.

“For now it is, but she will find out once Kraken decides he’s ready to begin earning his keep.” Annika strode into the room then bent down to scratch the kitten’s head.

“Well… I’ll tell her when he starts hunting.” Eric conceded with a firm nod of his head.

“Your Majesty, I’m here to tell you that the Queen is looking for you.” Annika smiled with genuine affection down at the boy, who grinned back. Not that he had ever stopped smiling- the childwould outshine the sun at the rate he exuded unbridled excitement and happiness.

The prince leapt to his knees, rushed over to the table to grab his book, and then staggered to the doorway.

“Don’t worry Fin! I won’t tell anyone! Bye Kraken!” The prince gave him an enthusiastic wave, and once again dropped the book. He scrambled to pick it up before darting down the hallway away from the kitchens leaving both Fin and Annika crouched by the wooden box with Kraken patting a curious paw on the Lady’s golden rings.

“Was the Queen actually looking for him? Or are you finally going to tell me what it is you want from me?” Fin stood up after putting Kraken back in his box- his face back to its usual dry expression.

“She was looking for him as he ran off without eating breakfast.” Annika straightened herself, and strode over to the window to peer out at the brilliantly sunny day.

Fin slowly walked back over to his work table, and resumed eating his sandwich while leaning an elbow on its surface while facing the hearth.

“Good day to you then Lady Jenoure.” Fin didn’t bother turning around to dismiss her.

“Where are you from Fin?” She asked casually while turning to stare at him with the glow of daylight behind her, making her appear all the more angelic.

The cook slowly placed his sandwich down, and turned to face the woman with his arms crossed. He didn’t want to tell her anything. If he lied and got caught however, that could have an unfortunate outcome.

“The southern islands.”

“Which one?”

“The Isle of Quildon.”

“Do you have family there still?” She asked tilting her head to the left, a mysteriously pleasant smile on her face.

Fin placed his hands on his hips, then slowly walked until he stood less than two feet in front of the Lady, and stared down into her upturned face with his own odd expression.

“You know Lady Jenoure, there was a mysterious stranger who delivered Kraken to me,” he began innocently as theories began to form in his mind as to why the woman was suddenly incredibly interested in him.

She didn’t bat an eye as she smiled a little wider. “Oh? What a kind stranger. Now, what were you saying about your family?”

Fin frowned slightly, but didn’t move out of her personal space.

“I wasn’t saying anything about them. Might I ask why you are interested in my kin?”

“I’m curious! A man with your talents is incredible given your youth.”

“It is also curious how a noble woman is unmarried at your age.” He replied evenly.

She paused, and swallowed. “My husband died.”

Fin took a step back in surprise.

“Oh… I’m sorry to hear that.” He looked incredibly sheepish, which surprised Annika immensely.

“It’s fine. It was a year ago, and we had only been married a few months. He was more than forty years my senior.”

Fin’s hands moved to his pockets as he listened. “Even so, I’m sorry for your loss.”

She shrugged, but Fin could see that the man’s death had meant more to her than she wanted to let on.

“What about yourself? No wife or children waiting for you back home?”

His expression became guarded. “No.”

Fin turned, stepped back to his food, finished his sandwich, then placed the plate in a bucket of water on the floor beside the table. His ‘helpers’ were tasked with the dishes and cutlery every day, and given the cook’s insistence on them being washed with hot water, his aides spent most of their days outside with a large boiling cauldron of water.

Annika still wasn’t leaving, and so Fin began pulling out ingredients for the soup he was planning on serving for the midday meal, hoping she took the hint.

“Is there anything else, Lady Jenoure?” he asked pointedly as he began deftly peeling the carrots.

“Why do you insist on an empty kitchen?”

The cook's gaze cut to her sharply. He was almost completely certain he knew who the knife wielding intruder had been the previous night. Prior to that morning, she had only been interested in taunting, and trying to manipulate him. Now, out of nowhere, she wanted his life story?

“I am good at my job, and people tend to get in my way or make a mess. I also have strong opinions regarding certain behavior between the Knights and serving staff,” he replied tersely.

“I was very surprised how good you were with the Prince. You do not seem like you would be the type to be tolerant of children.” She switched her approach swiftly at hearing his irritable tone, and Fin was back to staring at her appraisingly.

“I prefer children to adults most days. They generally follow orders, and are usually honest to a fault.”

Annika smiled coolly, and sidled casually over to Fin, only this time she was the one to invade his space. As he turned to face her while placing down his knife and carrot, she stood close enough that if she bowed her head, it would touch his chest.

“You need to watch what you say, Fin. One of these days that frank opinion of yours is going to get you in trouble.”

“Another excellent reason for me to avoid people,” he said while trying not to focus on the faint smell of spices coming from her.

Didn’t most women smell like flowers?

Why did she smell like a spiced oil, or-

She laughed.

It wasn’t her dainty fake laugh she had tried on him before, but an honest chuckle.

“I like talking to you though.” She smiled up at him, and shrugged her right shoulder.

“No you don’t. I annoy you, so why not end your misery and tell me what you want? Then you could kindly take your noble company elsewhere.” He was not going to allow her to trick himself into believing she was devoid of guile.

“I want something different now.” She managed to look sincere, but Fin still wasn’t buying it.

“Will you tell me what this new thing is?”

The Lady did a dramatic pause as she feigned considering his suggestion.

“What I want…” she trailed off and tapped her finger against her lips in exaggerated thought. “I want answers.” Annika smiled up at him, then abruptly turned, and walked over to the door.

Fin rolled his eyes to the ceiling annoyed. This woman and her games…

“As long as you don’t pry into my privacy, I’ll be glad to give them to you. Oh, and Lady Jenoure?” Annika turned feeling confident, until she saw what was in Fin’s hand.

“Maybe knock instead of throwing knives at me next time, hm?” The black handle of a superiorly crafted blade was pointed towards her to take, and while she blanched for a single second, she lifted her gaze with a concerned frown.

“That isn’t mine. Though it is good to know you’re making new friends.”

Then she left.

Fin shook is head after watching her leave, and placed the blade on the table.

He still didn’t believe that it wasn’t her, but if by some act of the Gods it hadn’t been the Lady… Why in the world was she asking him so many questions?

*

The cloaked figure stood on the ribbon of lawn that ran between the King’s forest, and the royal rose maze in the chilled May evening. Their black cloak shielded their face, while they waited without moving a muscle until the glint of plate armor caught their eye coming through the mist amongst the trees. Despite the overcast night, the large man wasn’t hard to spot… or hear for that matter.

“Idiot,” the figure hissed quietly before their guest could hear.

When the tall muscular man stood eight feet away, he called out,

“I must say I am enjoying these cooler evening temperatures.”

The cloaked figure was struggling not to stab him. It took the lunkhead another moment to realize he had not issued the code.

“Oh, right! Tomorrow the roses might bloom, unless the bats eat them.”

The cloaked figure pinched the bridge of their nose under their hood briefly, before slowly lowering their hand.

“What news is there Corey?”

“There has been confirmation that the Troivack King intends to declare war on Daxaria.”

The figure stiffened. “What are their numbers?”

“That I do not know. You will have to wait for-”

“Do not speak his name!” The figure snapped.

“Shit, right. Sorry Dragon.”

“Just keep your mouth shut. I won’t be able to meet with you until after Beltane.”

“I understand.” Corey bowed, his long wavy hair that was pulled back as always in its ponytail bristled in the wind.

The Dragon turned after giving one final disapproving head shake, and disappeared into the mists, leaving Corey to straighten and sigh alone.

He needed better pay than the mere promise of knighthood.