Chapter 16 #2
“A little rain never hurt anyone, but you’re probably right.
Here, let me get us something,” Syrus said, crossing to one of the food stalls along the road.
Like most Eiri had seen, this one was on wheels with a canopy that could fold out to provide shade from the sun or cover from rain.
It was small enough for the owner to pull without help, with just enough space for him to work.
The feel of magic tickled his senses, and he noted several sigils carved into the wood, including one on a small box that appeared to keep whatever was inside warm.
The owner must either be a mage or know someone who was, because Eiri had seen how much mages charged for spells like that to be recharged.
“Your Highness. You honor me,” the man purred when Syrus approached. His eyes darted to Eiri and narrowed, lip curling in that all too familiar look of disdain, before dismissing him and turning his full attention to his prince.
“We’d like two of your meat pies, please.” Syrus must have missed that quick look, or he didn’t care, because he just handed over two coins for the food.
“Of course. Give me a moment and I’ll make you a fresh one. Can I get you anything else?”
“No, thank you. We’ll wait over here,” Syrus said, and it was the friendliest Eiri had ever heard him.
Was this the side of Syrus everyone else knew?
His charm clearly worked, because the man was all smiles when Syrus turned away, at least until he saw Eiri.
The smile dropped, and Eiri decided on the spot that he wouldn’t be eating anything this man prepared for him.
“Have you ever had pork hand pies?” Syrus asked when he rejoined Eiri, oblivious to the byplay from the vendor.
He shook his head. “We have a version with fish back home, but pork is rare in Canjir.”
“Really? Wild boars can live just about anywhere, I’d thought?”
“They can and do. There are quite a few on the island, but actually hunting one is more difficult than it’s worth, usually. It’s much easier to cast a net and catch a few hundred fish than send a dozen people out to catch one boar.”
“I suppose I never thought of it like that. We have pig farmers that supply the city, and while some people hunt boars for the sport of it, they usually bring along at least one mage to make it easier.”
“How is using magic against a wild animal sporting?” Eiri asked, arching an eyebrow. He knew the nobles of Vaetreas were idiots, but hunting for sport was one of the most ridiculous things he’d ever heard.
“That’s a good question. I’ve never been one for such hunts, myself, though I’ll admit I enjoy the results,” Syrus said with a little laugh.
“Maybe it’s because it’s what I’ve known all my life, but I prefer fish to any other meat I’ve ever had.
” Not that other meat was plentiful in Canjir.
Raising animals for food took resources that could be better put to keeping the people fed, most of whom struggled daily to get enough.
There was nothing extra to give to livestock.
“Meanwhile, I’ll take just about anything else over fish. Eating fish every day didn’t make you hate it? I was thoroughly sick of them by the time I was a teenager.”
“It was a simple way to make sure I went to bed with a full stomach. Good fishing days for the crews meant everyone in the community got enough to eat for once, so no, I don’t think I will ever be sick of fish,” he said with a shrug.
For some reason, that drew a frown from Syrus. Before Eiri could ask about it, though, the vendor hurried over with two wrapped parcels.
“Here you are, Your Highness,” he said, bowing.
He offered one to Syrus, then surprised Eiri by handing one to him as well.
While he’d like to believe the man had gotten over his initial reaction and was attempting to be kind, he couldn’t help but think he’d done it to ensure Syrus received that specific pie.
The way the vendor steadfastly refused to look at him only affirmed to Eiri that he would not be eating what he’d been given.
Syrus thanked the man, his smile back in place as he and Eiri started walking again. They were miles from the palace, but apparently that didn’t concern him, because he kept the pace relaxed.
“This smells amazing. Let me know what you think,” he said, unwrapping the parcel to reveal a steaming meat pie, the crust perfectly golden brown. That must be what was in that spelled box under the cart, then.
“I think I’ll save mine for when we get back,” Eiri replied easily.
“It’ll be cold if you do that, and these are best when they’re still warm.” Syrus took a big bite of his, groaning with pleasure in a way that Eiri had never associated with food before. He had to admit, it did smell good.
He had two options. Either he could argue and insist on waiting, which would likely lead to an argument, or at least upset Syrus. Or, he could concede and hope that he’d read the vendor wrong and the food was safe.
Sighing, Eiri unwrapped the thick paper wrapping and peeled back the edge.
At first glance, it looked just like the one Syrus was eating, with a perfect crust and a gentle swirl of steam coming from the little vents cut into the pastry.
For just a moment, Eiri wondered if he’d overreacted.
Then the wind shifted, and he caught the scent of it.
Cooked meat, heavy with spices, but there was an odd sweetness that lingered, subtle but distinct.
Resigned, he tore off a corner of the pastry. Where the meat in Syrus’ pie was pink and succulent, the pieces he could make out in his own were gray, with a grainy, mealy texture. His stomach twisted as the smell of rancid meat hit him, and he quickly wrapped it back up, swallowing back his nausea.
“I suppose I’ll take your word for it,” he muttered.
When he got only silence in response, he glanced over at Syrus to see him staring at the parcel in Eiri’s hands.
The sharp look on the man’s face was so reminiscent of the soldier he’d fought for years that his first instinct was to reach for a weapon to protect himself.
It took a moment to realize that the anger in Syrus’ dark eyes wasn’t for him, for once.
“It’s fine. Let’s just get back, alright?”
If anything, that only pissed Syrus off even more. “No, Eiri, it is not fine. You could have gotten sick if you’d eaten that.”
“Maybe it was just an accident.” If it were, Eiri would eat his shoe. “Come on, it’s starting to rain.”
“You expect me to believe he accidentally served you spoiled meat, but mine was perfect?” Syrus countered.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it—”
“No, Syrus, it doesn’t!” Eiri cut him off.
“Honestly, I expected it. That’s why I didn’t eat it, alright?
I’m nothing but trash to these people. I know that.
Even if I’d dressed like you, I don’t look like one of you, and I never will.
I consider myself lucky that he was so obvious about it and didn’t try to disguise what he did.
You’re right that it isn’t fine, but like I said…
it doesn’t matter. It’s just the way things are.
So, can we please just get back before the storm hits? ”
He hadn’t meant to turn his protest into a rant, but Eiri couldn’t say he regretted it. Syrus might be an experienced soldier and several years Eiri’s elder, but in some ways, he was unbearably na?ve.
Syrus didn’t respond at first, just staring at Eiri, then at the food in his hands.
He didn’t have to know the man to know he was contemplating going back and confronting the vendor, and the outcome of that was easy to predict.
The man would of course apologize, but it would only fuel his animosity toward Canjiri in general and Eiri specifically.
He likely had friends and family members he’d tell the story to, and Eiri would inevitably end up the villain in that story.
Word would get back to the palace and the royal family, who would no doubt find a way to make this entire thing Eiri’s fault.
Just thinking about it exhausted him.
“Syrus… just forget about it. Please?” He hated that word, but he didn’t know how else to snap Syrus out of his fury. It worked, to his surprise. The older man froze, his attention coming back to Eiri and staying there.
“It’s not right, and you know it.”
“I do, but going back and fighting with him won’t change anything. It will just make them hate me more, which is the opposite of what we’re hoping to accomplish here, right?”
“I guess…” Syrus reluctantly agreed, sounding petulant.
“Then let’s just forget about it and go. We’re already going to get soaked. There’s no point in making the trip back even more miserable.”
“Fine, but just so you know, I don’t like this.”
“I’m aware. But you can’t fix everything.” Syrus seemed to like that statement even less, but it was the truth, even if he didn’t like it.
“I can try,” he muttered under his breath. He took the pie from Eiri and tossed it to the side of the road, followed by his own half-eaten one.
“There was nothing wrong with that one. Why waste it?”
“I won’t eat food from a man who tried to make you sick. End of story.”
Syrus set off walking, but Eiri fell behind for a moment, stunned.
Hearing Syrus defend him was surprising enough, but throwing away food over a slight against him?
Here in Vaetreas, where food seemed plentiful, that might not be a big deal, but to him, it was inconceivable and said far more than any words Syrus may have spoken.
Maybe there was hope for this truce between them, after all.