Chapter 32 – Sera #2
Roman laughs. “Beat it up as much as you need to, but when the dough is ready, try to think some happy thoughts. I prefer to serve my brothers food made with joy.” He winks.
I raise a brow but do as instructed. I’ll take his word for it. The food we had for lunch was some of the best I’ve ever eaten.
After pouring a tiny bit of oil to coat my hands, I begin kneading the dough.
Yes, I am frustrated. Yes, I feel somewhat helpless, but working the dough, using my hands, allows me a measure of peace.
My focus is on the way it sticks to my fingers but becomes more pliant as the gluten develops.
It’s mindless and easy while also hard work.
The slight burn in my shoulders is gratifying.
Roman allows me to knead in comfortable silence, and I open my senses to the boisterous laughter somewhere outside and the clucking of the chickens chasing each other.
Roman and his brothers appear to lead a serene, idyllic life out here.
I can only hope I don’t bring trouble to their doorstep.
When the dough passes the windowpane test, I form it into a ball and place it in the oiled bowl Roman set aside for me, covering it with a clean cloth.
“You clearly know what you’re doing.” Roman grins.
“It’s peaceful and fulfilling.”
“That it is.”
“Do you need help with anything else?” I ask, feeling restless. I have no idea when Jade will return.
“Finish up the dishes and I’ll let you know,” Roman says, grabbing a broom and sweeping up the living area.
He’s no nonsense with his instructions. I enjoy how he makes me feel like part of the family instead of a burden.
When I finish drying the last dish, Roman looks up and nods. “You can go check if the eggs were collected, if you don’t mind. My younger brothers get easily distracted.”
I nod, then make my way out back to the beautiful garden to look for where the chickens roost.
A young, gangly, red-headed male flies past me, almost knocking me over, and yells out a sorry before disappearing into the barn. Gods. I’m having flashbacks to Tommy and Jamison’s antics.
Another male actually runs me over, and I yelp as I stumble and we crash to the ground.
“Oh Mother, are you all right?” the blond male asks, looking mortified as he jumps to his feet and holds out a hand to help me up.
“Do none of you look where you’re running?” I joke, wiping my hands on my borrowed pants.
“Sorry about that, my lady,” he says, his eyes trained on the ground. “I didn’t know we had a guest.”
“Please, call me Sera,” I reply. “I’m fine, just a little surprised.”
The blond male gives me a sheepish grin, wiping a dirty hand across his forehead and leaving a streak of mud. “You can call me Atley.”
“Nice to meet you, Atley.”
“What are you doing out here anyway? Was Roman making you do too many chores?”
I snort a laugh. “I’m looking to see if the eggs were collected.”
He frowns. “That’s my chore.”
“Perfect. Did you get it done?”
He stares at his feet again before daring a look up at me. “Can you keep a secret?”
“As long as it won’t hurt anyone.”
“I forgot to get the eggs,” he whispers conspiratorially.
I try to hide my smile. While I’m not sure exactly how old he is, he appears to be barely out of the youngling stage, which once again makes me feel guilty for possibly bringing dangerous hunters to their home.
“Well, it’s a good thing I’m here. We can do it together and get it done before anyone finds out! ”
“Deal.”
Atley leads me to the chicken coop, and I sling a large basket over my arm as he quickly fills it with eggs. They’re all different sizes and colors, and Atley is really excited about the ones with a greenish hue.
When we’re done, he shows me where to store them, and we carefully put them away.
“There were a lot of eggs today,” I say.
“No more than usual.”
“Well it seemed like a lot to me, but it’s my first time,” I admit.
“You did a pretty good job,” he replies. “Where you off to now?”
“Can you show me the pond?”
“Of course! Follow me.”
Atley takes off in a run and I chase after him.
The pond is larger than I expected, and he sits at the edge, splashing his feet. “Come sit! The water is perfect.”
I acquiesce and join him, dipping my feet into the cool water.
It feels wonderful. The murky color sends a bolt of fear through me, but it’s unlikely the pond is deep enough to hide anything big enough to hurt us, and I doubt Atley would be here if it were dangerous.
A phantom pain aches in my calf at the memory of the beast that tried to take me out.
“Do you know how to swim?” I ask him.
“Not very well,” he admits, “but the water isn’t that deep. There’s a lake my older brothers like to swim in if you walk that way for a while.” He points north. “They usually leave me behind because I’m not a strong enough swimmer yet.”
“That must be frustrating.”
He blows out a breath. “It’s my own fault for not practicing.”
“Are you the youngest? Who was the red-haired male I saw earlier?”
“Oh, that was Meric,” he explains. “He pranked me, so I was chasing him.”
I laugh. “My sister Gabriella used to prank me when we were young.”
“Where is your sister?” Atley asks.
I look north somewhat wistfully. “She’s really far away.”
“I’m sorry,” Atley says. “Siblings can be super annoying, but I’d be sad if they were far away.”
Considering we were realms apart and I thought I’d lost her, the distance doesn’t seem too terrible, but I hope we can be reunited someday soon. Over a century without my sister has felt like a lifetime.
With each moment spent in this little bubble of life amongst a family that clearly loves and dotes on each other, my resolve grows. While I don’t yet know how, I must find a way to defeat the queen and bring Gabriella home before the enchantress destroys it all.