Katharine Kerr - Deverry 04 - Dragonspell_123

an a few of
the guests giving him a good looking-overRhodry became profoundly nervouswondering if his mistress
would insist on his escorting her like a free man. As they passed a group of the curiousthoughshe made
a point of telling himin a clear and carrying voicethat he was to go and help Malina’s cook with the
dinner. Before she could contradict herselfRhodry went straight to the refuge of the slaves’ quarters.
The kitchen was a madhouse fogged with delicious-smelling steam. In one corner two slaves were
frantically rolling out rounds of bread and slapping them onto a crackling-hot bakestone; at the hearth
huge pots of spiced vegetables simmered while the cook rushed back and forth to stir themtasting one
pot hereadding something to another thereand yelling orders over her shoulder the whole while. Other
slaves were chopping fruitfilling condiment bowlssugaring little cakes and arranging nuts and
sweetmeats on platters. Just outside he could see a couple of men roasting a whole hog at an open fire.
The cook glanced at Rhodrypushed sweaty hair up off her foreheadand pointed to a four-foot-high
amphora near the door.
‘The dippers are on that little shelf. Take the wine out to the serving table. The cups are already
there.’
With the help of a young boyRhodry wrestled the amphora outside and got its pointed bottom
planted in a flower-bed near the table. Guests promptly appearedholding out eager hands. For the next
hour he was kept too busy serving wine to worry about proprieties. He did have time to notice that a
whole horde of Wildfolk had materialized around him. They seemed hysterically excited about something
leaping up and downpulling on his tunicdashing back and forth under the table and even occasionally
pinching one of the guests. Once the meal was laid out and everyone servedhe filled a silver pitcher with
wine and wandered around the garden to refresh the guests’ cups. He found Alaena talking to her
brother-in-law and hi fashionable ankle boots