Who Could Say No?

Writers: AmajoS, Yvonne
Date Posted: 14th April 2019

Characters: Rothen, Jisalle
Description: After training with his new canine partner, Rothen gets a snack from Jisalle and possibly pie.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 10, day 12 of Turn 9

Rothen entered the dining hall well after the time that lunch was
served. In fact, he thought it might be much closer to dinner time.
He'd been training with Dagger and then with his own puppy for the
better part of the morning and afternoon. He hoped there'd still be
something available. There usually was some sort of food at all times
for people who worked odd shifts or for whatever reason, but this
close to dinner, the pickings were probably slim. The puppy he'd spent
the afternoon working with was at his side, of course, her harness
attached to the lead in his hand.

A woman came out of the kitchen with a precariously balanced tray in
either hand, each holding four steaming pies. She glanced up when she
saw Rothen and smiled. "Looking for a snack, guardsman?"

"Absolutely," Rothen replied with enthusiasm when he saw the trays.
"Let me help you with those," he reached out with his free hand,
offering to take one of the trays from her. The fragrance of their
cargo wafting over to him and making his stomach growl. "I missed
lunch," he added.

"I can see that!" Jisalle gratefully handed the guard one of the trays
of pies. She could manage two on her own, but help was certainly
appreciated. "Are you looking for a meal or something to tide you over
until dinner?"

He considered this question. He was hungry enough for a whole meal,
but if he ate that much this close to the evening meal, he wouldn't be
hungry for that. Then, he'd just be hungry again much later tonight.
Plus, his mother would scold. "A snack, I think."

"That's easy enough to accommodate. Here-- we'll just leave these here
to cool." Jisalle slid her tray onto one of the large serving tables.
They would be cool enough to cut in time for dinner. She wiped her
hands on her apron and turned to the guard. "It's... Rotan, am I
right?"

Rothen set the tray he'd taken down next to hers and then replied,
"Close. Rothen," with a grin.

"Rothen." Jisalle made a face. "My apologies, Rothen. It's my goal to
learn everyone at the Hold's names. It's a work in progress."

The guard smiled, "I wish you luck. I've lived here for a few turns
now and I still don't know -everyone's- names."

"A lady's got to have goals. Come on-- follow me." Jisalle started to
lead the way back to the kitchens. "Where are you from, Rothen? And...
what's your canine's name?" She knew enough about the guards of Amber
Hills and their canines not to fuss over it, but darn was that little
bundle of fur cute!

"Originally? I was born at Topaz Seahold," he replied. "And I'm still
working on the name thing. She answers to 'Pup,'" and as if to prove
him right, as soon as he said the word, she gave a yip and cocked her
head to the side as if asking what he wanted her to do. "But that's a
terrible name for a guard canine, don't you think?"

"Well you can't name her 'Killer' or 'Teeth' -- she's far too cute to
grow into a name like that. Sit there." Jisalle pointed at a small
table in the corner of the kitchen. A few of the other kitchen workers
looked up as they entered but quickly went back to whatever they were
doing-- chopping tubers, stirring pots, turning spits and kneading
dough for the next morning. "How about I fix you a plate with some
bread, ham and cheese? The spring veggies haven't come in yet and
we're down to preserves for fruit." She paused. "I could get you some
jam too, if you'd like."

"I think ham, bread and cheese sounds great," Rothen replied as he
took the offered seat in the corner. He checked the puppy, and despite
her obvious interest in the smells around her, she dutifully followed
him to the chair and waited.

"Sit, Pup," he commanded, making a downward gesture with his hand.
When she sat, he gave her a quick scratch behind the ear. "Good girl.
If you keep being good, you might just get a bit of cheese," he said
to the puppy with a conspiratorial wink. Cheese, he had discovered,
seemed to be her favorite treat.

Jisalle bustled around the kitchen assembling the plate and sneaking
glances at the puppy on the floor. The ham she sliced off the cured
hock in the corner, the bread came from a basket of rolls that had
been baked that morning. The cheese was sliced off one of the larger
wheels in the back pantry. It had a bit of a pungent odor but was soft
and creamy to taste-- her favourite. The guard seemed like a nice man
so she added a small pat of butter and a couple spoonfulls of redfruit
jelly to his plate as well before she returned to his table and set it
in front of him. "And here you go! Just enough to keep you going until
dinner time. Tonight's going to be a good dinner." She winked.
"There's even pie for dessert."

He smiled and began placing some of the slices of ham and cheese onto
one of the slices of bread, then he folded it over and took a bite.
"Mmm," he made an appreciative noise and nodded. "Thank you, that hits
the spot," he said once he'd swallowed his bite.

Before he took another he tore a corner off one of his cheese slices
and eyed the puppy who was still sitting where she was supposed to be
but shuffling her front feet a bit. "Be still, Pup." He held the
cheese up and waited until she was still and focused and then he gave
it to her saying, "Gently."

Once that was done, he turned his attention back to Jisalle, "Those
pies wouldn't be the same ones we just set out would they?" His tone
was hopeful. The had smelled delicious.

She nodded. "If you're going to be late to dinner, _and_ if you ask me
nicely, I can save you a piece."

"I shouldn't be late to dinner," Rothen replied. "But I'll go ahead
and ask nicely just in case. Would you mind saving me a slice of that
most amazing smelling pie, my good lady?" He adopted a high-born
manner and gave a short bow from his seat to go along with the
play-acting.

Jisalle laughed. "How could I possible say no to a request such at
that, Guardsman?"

"Hopefully, it's impossible," Rothen grinned and then took another bite.

"And I suppose _you'll_ find out at dinner time," Jisalle replied.

Last updated on the April 16th 2019

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Who Could Say No?