Mathieu (White Flame Trilogy) - By Paula Flumerfelt Page 0,21
late.” The design had a sun within a star-like shape with pointed edges. It was tribal, almost. “Also, it’ll make sure no one gives you crap if you wander away from me.”
He considered the design for a moment. “Appropriate.”
Slowly, her smile softened. She looked across the gently swaying lawn to the castle, her eyes far away.
“Can I…” he hesitated, “ask you something?”
Avian nodded, eyes still glazed over. “You may.”
“What’s Korinth like?”
Her eyes flicked to his, brow furrowed. “What?”
Mathieu flushed slightly. “I-I was just curious.” His tone was defensive, arms folding over his chest.
“I can’t answer that very well,” She finally answered after a long pause, then continued, “however, if you wait until tomorrow, you can ask Professor.”
“The one you assaulted with the globe?” He said, trying not to laugh over the scene he had seen earlier. It was still fresh in his mind.
“Yep.” She grinned again. Mathieu noticed that her teeth were very white, even against her pale skin.
Rolling his eyes, he popped open the watch, looking at the time. “It’s nearly dinner time…We should head back inside so you aren’t late.”
She wrinkled her nose with a huff. “Fine. If we must.” A dramatic sigh graced her rise to her feet.
“I’m pretty sure Narrie will scalp me if we aren’t on time. She seems to take her job very seriously.”
Avian waited for him to offer his elbow, which he did, and they began to walk together. “Shall we?”
“Yeah.” He was only able to lead her to the door before she had to take over, as to prevent them getting lost. That was something he hoped wouldn’t happen for too long; he hated needing to rely on her to go anywhere.
The dining hall was large and long, the only room he’d seen with wood, a cherry color, in it used for both the floor and walls. The table in the center was made purely of glass, the legs designed as spiraling columns, the top polished with beveled edges. The chairs were made of something heavier but had the same sheen as the glass.
“Everything here is so extravagant…” Mathieu sighed, looking around. At first it had been something to marvel at, the decadence seeming so grandiose, but now it was getting tiring. Everywhere he looked were silk tapestries, overdone room décors, and unique stone work.
Avian wrinkled her nose again. “I suppose it is. I’ll see you soon.” With that, she released his arm and headed towards the table.
Mathieu looked around the room once more before going out and wandering around the hall aimlessly. He somehow managed to find a kitchen, however, it was empty. Peeking into the cabinets, he discovered that it was a completely empty room. There wasn’t even a crumb. Disappointed, he searched a bit more, how else was he supposed to learn the castle, and nearly took Narrie out as he came around a corner.
“There you are! I thought you were going to miss dinner.” She took him by the upper arm in a claw-like grip, dragging him down a hall with all the persistence of a mother.
“Thanks, Narrie…”
Nodding, she pushed him into the servants’ dining room; it was packed, but homely. There were several small tables pushed together to make a big square with over a hundred chairs around it. People were pressed together, eating and laughing as they talked about the day. Elbows and hands bumped together as everyone moved like a multi-armed organism. Only one seat was left open.
Many calls of Narrie’s name rose from the group. She smiled and gave a small wave, dragging Mathieu behind her. As she headed for the single straight back chair, a second chair appeared next to the first for Mathieu to sit in. He took it and politely thanked the girl who had retrieved it for him. She patted his shoulder with a genuine smile and reclaimed her seat. They were like a family. It made something inside him ache.
Looking down at the plate that was put in front of him, he thanked that person too. Oddly, they actually told him ‘not a problem’. Not a problem? It was as if it was expected of them, and he found that strange.
Mathieu didn’t say much as he ate with the other, only a few people actually acknowledged him, but that was okay. He felt like he was a part of something there, and that feeling was enough. As dinner concluded, he helped clean, drying part of the dishes with Narrie.