Chapter 1985: Eldritch Culinary Wisdom

The evening rolled on as everyone enjoyed both Georg’s sumptuous cooking and the selection of wine he’d provided. Conversation grew more and more relaxed with each cup, though everyone seemed to be holding back to some extent or another.

Micheline was, perhaps, the least restrained when it came to the wine, and within an hour, her gaze was slightly unfocused while she leaned back in her chair.

"It’s really wonderful though," Micheline said, holding her goblet up and pointing at Ashlynn with one finger. "You found a way to make it all really wonderful. Wonderful castle, in the mists like a fairy story, and a beautiful princess all to yourself. It’s lovely," she said. "And I’m very, very happy for you."

"But isn’t it a bit much?" Micheline added, gesturing to the empty plate in front of Ashlynn and the one in front of Nyrielle as well. "How is it that you ate twice? Twice as much as the rest of us? And I feel like, like if I have one more thing, I’m going to burst the seams of my dress. But you, you’re so beautiful, and you look like it was no trouble at all..."

"That’s because I ate Nyri’s portion too," Ashlynn responded, as if saying that the food belonged to someone else explained why she could eat so much of it. "Because I’m eating for her and I’m eating for me."

"And she eats me," Ashlynn said sweetly, before she cupped Nyrielle’s face to draw her into a deep, passionate kiss that lasted at least three heartbeats.

"And that’s how it works," Ashlynn said, her face heating slightly as she realized that she might have been a bit too free with her affections in front of her family.

"Ash," Maela said, pressing the tips of her fingers to her brow as she watched her daughter’s antics. "What do you mean that you eat for her?" Maela asked, trying to understand whether it was the wine that made Ashlynn jumble her words, or if she’d just said something alarming.

"It’s a small cycle," Nyrielle said, answering for her tipsy lover. "My darling shares a measure of her blood with me," she explained, gently caressing the fresh bite marks on Ashlynn’s neck. "Never enough to harm her, but occasionally, enough to leave her weak. At times like that, the body needs to replenish itself," she said, gesturing to the bones on their plates.

"There are more efficient ways to recover," Nyrielle told her mother-in-law. "Beef liver is one of the most traditional, paired with onions and peppers. Something my teacher discovered long ago," she said, speaking in a tone most women would use to discuss the latest additions to their flower garden or the current trend in hats.

"Liver alone is good, but combining it with peppers helps the body more," Nyrielle said. "The result is a dreadful dish no matter how you season it, but after a few days of eating it, with a week of rest, a loyal servant could make an offering again."

"That sounds... practical," Maela said carefully as she looked at her tipsy daughter. "But if liver with peppers and onions is best for her..."

"No, no, I don’t need them," Ashlynn said, shaking her head vigorously. "Georg has better ways. The beef rib is almost as good as the liver; I just needed to eat a teeny, tiny bit more of it," she said. "And he found tastier things to eat instead of peppers. Not that I mind peppers. I can eat all the peppers I want. Even the spicy ones," she said, sounding very proud of herself.

"But I like what Georg makes for me instead of liver and peppers," Ashlynn said. "It’s time, isn’t it?" she asked, reaching for a bell on the table.

"Time to ring the bell for sweets!" Ashlynn declared.

It didn’t take long from the time Ashlynn rang the bell until the door opened to admit a small army of horned servants who quickly cleared away the dishes on the table before setting out fresh utensils and crystal goblets intended to accompany a lighter, honeyed wine.

"Georg," Ashlynn said the instant the bearish chef walked into the room. "What kind of sweet treats did you make for us today?" Ashlynn asked with sparkling eyes.

"Frost-kissed persimmon puddings," Georg said, setting down an elegantly cut crystal bowl shaped like a tulip. Nestled in a layer of whipped, sweet cream was a rich, dark golden pudding the size of a small plum. The whole thing had been drizzled with honey and garnished with a sprig of fresh mint. ℴ

When Maela looked at the one set in front of her, she expected the aroma to include a bit of the headiness of Ship’s Bell Pudding that came from soaking dried fruit in strong wine before using it in the pudding, but her nose detected none of that. Instead, there was an earthy woodiness to the dish that blended with the clove, mace, and nutmeg of the pudding.

"You did it, didn’t you," Ashlynn said, picking up the dish and holding it close to her nose so she could inhale the deep, woody aroma that felt like taking a walk through the forest. "You used one of the recipes I brought back from Amahle."

"The cream was infused with pine needles before chilling and whipping," Georg said, puffing his chest out with pride. "Her Dominion’s notes were very clear on how long to steep the needles to help the body recover from wounds and heavy menses," he said, his ears twitching as he felt the attention of all the women at the table gathering on him.

"I just had to experiment with different syrups to sweeten it to find the right flavor," Georg added quickly, afraid of what would happen if he lingered on the topic of recovering from blood loss. "I think it’s finally ready."

"You work so hard, Georg," Ashlynn praised. "In a few days, I’ll go fishing for you and cook something special. We can all go fishing," she added, looking at the rest of her family. "And then I’ll cook something for the best cook to say thank you for working so hard for us. Because you do, you work very hard, and you should know how much all that hard work means," she rambled.

"If you want to praise him," Nyrielle said, after spooning a small portion into her mouth and licking a stray drop of cream off her lower lip. "You should taste his delightful dish so you can tell him what you think..."

"I should, I really should," Ashlynn agreed as she reached for her own spoon.

"Mmm," Ashlynn said as she savored the combination of the smooth, buttery, almost caramel-like pudding and the light, fluffy sweet cream. "So much better than liver and peppers," she said, praising the dish.

"Ash!" Jocelynn said, tapping her sister firmly on the arm as she heard the compliment her sister offered. Sure, it made sense in the context of the conversation they’d been having, but to compare such a decadent dessert to... to beef liver... It was just criminal.

"Master Georg, this is good, very, very good," Jocelynn said, repeating herself to make sure he understood how good she thought it was. "I’d say it’s better than Ship’s Bell Pudding, but if you ever tell Master Ivar that I said that, I’ll deny it, so don’t get me in trouble with the person who makes my birthday puddings..."

"I wouldn’t dream of it," Georg said, smiling warmly as he saw Ashlynn’s family looking so comfortable and relaxed. He knew what Ashlynn meant when she offered her compliment, just as he knew how strong drink affected her.

But tonight, Ashlynn was finally home in the Vale again. And this time, she wasn’t alone. She had her family with her, and they were all smiling and laughing... Compared to when she’d first arrived in the Vale of Mists, and the driven, determined woman she’d been who pushed herself to the limits every day in order to obtain her vengeance...

Georg much preferred this version of Lady Ashlynn. And if his cooking could help to bring this joy to the surface, then that was all the praise he needed.

On the other side of Ashlynn, Nyrielle seemed to have a similar opinion of her darling’s slightly inebriated state. There were problems that still plagued them. Some of those problems, like the olive seed in her lover’s chest, were ones that Nyrielle couldn’t face on her darling’s behalf. She would have to overcome them herself.

But if Nyrielle could help lighten her darling’s heart while she faced the challenges ahead, then she would spare no effort to see Ashlynn smile.