Chapter 56 Stew
Chapter fifty-six
Stew
Alaceandra
We enter the kitchen to find Sylvie mixing a stew, three little purple bottles sit next to chopped veggies and meats to her right. When she notices us, she turns.
"Oh! I am almost done! Is it dinner already?" She fidgets with a cloth tucked in her pants.
"Oh no! Sorry I did not realize we were early. We were thinking of maybe taking some food and eating with the others in their cottage. Would that be alright with you?"
"Sure, sweetie." Her smile is twitchy and she is avoiding our eyes. "Just give me a couple more moments to finish up. Feel free to sit at the table."
"Okay…" I hesitate. "Are you doing alright Sylvie?"
"Me?" She busies herself with the food, but her movements are slightly off somehow. More robotic, instead of their usual fluidity. "Um, yes." She clears her throat. "Well, no I guess not." She turns back towards us. "Hayford and Lyza left last night and have not made it back."
"What?" The prince says. "Sylvie you should have-"
"No, no. I did not want to worry you all with it. You seem really busy, and she is with her father, I just—" she sighs. "I think I know where they are now."
"Where are they?" The prince demands.
Sylvie smiles, but it is one filled with grief and turns jerkily back to the food. "It matters not. I know how to get them back I just—" She sighs.
"Sylvie?" The prince questions. She stays quiet for a moment and continues stirring the pot of food. "Please tell us Sylvie we want to help."
"Let's not discuss this tonight," she says, her voice hollow.
"I do not want to burden you all with my bad mood.
" She grabs some bowls and places them on a small tray before scooping soup into each one.
She hands it to the prince. He stares at her and her shoulders drop.
"I promise I will tell you tomorrow… I just need time. Please?"
He nods. "Tomorrow."
She nods and turns back to the soup.
We leave her and go down the hatch to the other cottage.