Chapter 26 #2
He didn’t seem convinced but nodded and followed me as I entered a side street filled with restaurants and cafés. I spotted a small place that had just opened for the lunch rush and where plenty of tables were still unoccupied.
“Come on, you wanted an adventure, let’s do it!” And with that I skipped off in the direction of the restaurant.
“Excuse me, we need a table for two with lots of space to try all of your dishes.”
The waiter blinked in surprise, looked me once over and was probably trying to decide if I was making fun of him. Then his eyes went up to Theo, who had walked up behind me, and something seemed to shift in him.
“Why yes, of course, your lordship.” He actually bowed and pointed us towards a table in a booth off to the left of the café. Before we even sat down, the waiter had already laid out the menus in front of us and took our drink order.
There were plenty of items on the menu, most things I had never heard of. When the waiter returned with our drinks, I asked, “Would it be possible to get everything on the menu, but smaller portions? We would like to try all of it!”
The waiter didn’t lose a beat.
“Of course, my lady. We are honored to have you.”
And with another bow, he exited.
“And here I thought nobody knew who you were.” I chuckled.
“They don’t know who I am, but Fairies have a good sixth sense and they can feel my magic. They know I am some sort of deity, but I doubt they have any idea who I am personally.”
That made sense, he looked like a God in any setting. It probably didn’t matter if he was wearing a clown’s costume or a potato sack, he had this look about him that just exuded confidence and authority.
The first dishes of food arrived and were placed in front of us, smelling delicious.
“I have no idea what we’re about to eat,” I said, scanning the colorful dishes being brought to our table, “but I’m excited to try something new. One of my favorite parts of traveling is tasting the local cuisine, it tells you so much about a culture.”
Theo arched an eyebrow.
“Is that so? And what, exactly, can you tell from looking at these dishes?”
I leaned forward slightly, gesturing at the plates.
“Well… they love color, for one. And spices. They’re adventurous people, they like variety. And some of these herbs clearly aren’t from this city, so they must trade, or travel, or both.”
He studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable, before a small smile tugged at his lips.
“Impressive. That aligns with what I know of Vhalyra. The capital is one of the oldest on the continent. When the Gods withdrew from the mortal realm, Faeries and other magical beings gathered here. Their cultures mingled over centuries, shaping the city, and, apparently, its cuisine.”
I grinned. “See? The food says it all.”
He reached for a dish, picking it up with carefully.
“Fascinating,” he murmured, studying the textures and smells before tasting it. “All my knowledge… but I’ve never experienced it like this. It’s one thing to read about a culture in a book, another entirely to taste its history.”
I watched him take another bite, his eyes momentarily lighting up.
“I think food like this… it’s a language of its own,” I said softly. “And now you can understand it, not just in theory, but with all your senses.”
Theo nodded slowly, savoring the flavor.
“Indeed. A tangible layer of knowledge no book could ever provide.”
I smiled. “There are still a lot of things to explore for you when the prophecy is fulfilled.”
He nodded.
“So, tell me about your life before we ambushed you and took you to the God realm,” Theo said when the waiter cleared the first course of dishes.
“Hm, there isn’t much to tell. I have lived a pretty ordinary life. My parents didn’t think they could have children, so when my mother got pregnant, they didn’t know what to do with me. I was surrounded by adults most of my life.”
He nodded. “I understand, I was never truly treated like a child growing up. Most people didn’t feel comfortable around me, I was a God after all. Even when I was too small to reach the faucet.”
“I can’t imagine you ever being small .” I laughed.
“Actually, I was born prematurely, so I was indeed a tiny babe,” he said.
“Is it all right to ask about your mother?” I asked cautiously.
He nodded.
“Did you ever get to meet her, get to know her?” I asked.
“When I was little, she used to send me letters and pictures of herself. She tried hard to love me and build a connection with me, but I think eventually she gave up. The sudden pregnancy, the trauma of giving birth because the Fates willed her to and the priests ripping me out of her arms probably didn’t help the situation. ” He laughed sadly.
“I am sorry, Theo. Neither you nor your mother deserved this.”
“Thank you for saying that. It’s been a long time, and I have made my peace with it. I have built my own family in a way. But let’s talk about happier things.”
The next course arrived, and we kept talking about everything and nothing. He shared stories from his early teenage years and the antics that had angered the Abbot. I ate until I could barely fit another bite and leaned back in my chair.
The late afternoon sun was already out by the time we finished eating and the restaurant had emptied out quite a bit.
Not that I had noticed any other people around us, I had been too caught up in watching Theo talk and smile and just being himself.
He was always breathtaking, but seeing him so carefree and relaxed was another level of happiness.
“There is one last thing we need to eat,” I said with a sheepish grin and gestured to the waiter.
“Could we maybe get two Zerquins and a spoon?”
The waiter looked surprised, but nodded anyway. Theo was laughing hard when the waiter returned with a small tray and two Zerquins already cut up, smelling heavenly.
“Someone told me once that this was your favorite food.”
Theo grinned at me and nodded, taking one of the Zerquins in his hand.
“I haven’t eaten one of those in centuries,” he admitted while lifting his Zerquin in the air, and we toasted each other with the fruits.
It was just as delicious as I remembered, and we were both laughing from the sensation in our mouth and the sour taste it left on our lips.
Our conversation slowed down, and we both sat there in amicable silence, watching the people on the street walk by, enjoying the last rays of sunshine for today.
“Thank you for spending the day with me, Mae,” he said softly, and as I looked up into his face there was the essence again, swirling purple behind his eyes.
I gulped and put my hand out on the table. He placed his hand right beside me, so that our little fingers almost touched.
Almost.