Good Start to the Day

Writers: Chelle, Mirren
Date Posted: 20th January 2012

Characters: Sarban, Nikhan
Description: Sarban loiters around the kitchens for the fresh baked goods.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 6, day 9 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentor Approved Mentioned: Corowal, Aivorn

It was just after dawn but Nikhan had been up for hours. He'd made dozens of loaves of bread, let them rise, knocked them back and let them rise again. He pulled the first trays out of the large oven and slid them onto cooling trays. No doubt most would be gone before they even got cool. The smell of just baked bread always brought hungry holders down to the dining hall like a flock of flits around a pack tail carcass.

Nikhan breathed in deeply. He never got tired of the smell.

Speaking of which, one of the early risers was looking for something to munch on before he held his morning meeting. Sarban entered the kitchens and followed the smell, fortunately leading him to Nikhan. "Morning!" he greeted, hoping he might be rewarded with a lovely pastry.

"Morning!" Nikhan greeted with a smile. His mind half on Sarban's presence, half on spreading hot loaves out so they weren't touching. If they did, the steam would make them soggy and that would waste good bread. "Fine morning?" it was hard to tell from where he stood.

"So far, though how it will end is anyone's guess." He shrugged, watching the man work. He was glad no one had ever thought to make him a baker. It would have been a self defeating career since he would have eaten everything he made. "What's on the menu today?"

Now that was a topic Nikhan could get his teeth into, literally and figuratively. "The finest bread Emerald Falls has to offer, for starters," he said with a proud smile. "It's perfect with butter for the early flit. Or we have some sweet cakes which should be ready shortly. And of course, porridge, eggs, bacon, and piping hot klah. Can I cut you some bread?"

"Please." Thanking Faranth and Torene and whoever else he could think of for their good fortune in keeping such a baker, Sarban grabbed a little container of butter and stuck it on a tray along with preserves. Signaling to one of the women cooking, he managed to procure a plate of said eggs, bacon, and porridge. Turning to the left, he used the klah pot to pour himself a cup before adding sweetener and cream. "Sounds lovely. Good start to the day is important."

Nikhan reached for his sharpest knife and sliced the bread as neatly and cleanly as if it were cut by some cutting machine. He lefted two pieces and placed them on Sarban's plate. "That looks like a breakfast for a man with a busy day in front of him," he commented.

"Yeah I have the morning meeting with my understewards, then I'll check in with Corowal. We have to ride circuit again in a few days' time." It wasn't his most favorite task, but it did get him out of the Hold for awhile. "After that, might have to see the Headwoman and Aivorn, and I don't know what all else." He really needed to keep a copy of his appointment calendar in his quarters so he could check these things before breakfast.

Nikhan nodded. "Will you be sourcing some redfruit? The last lot were a bit small and sour." Those sent to the kitchen were anyway. The best were kept for just eating. Using redfruit in desserts came a poor second lately.

"Umm...we can ask the minor holders to send us better next time. Course it's colder now so they won't be growing as much until it gets warm again. Might be why." He wasn't a farmcrafter but he'd learned some things by necessity. As it was, he thought they did pretty well getting foodstuffs when they could. "Maybe we can get the riverboats to bring some."

Nikhan nodded. He wasn't a farmcrafter either and was generally used to using seasonal fruit and vegetables but at times it chafed that they couldn't get the fruit he wanted for his creations. Ideas didn't wait for season! "Of course. Redfruit tart is a favorite amongst some of the older ladies and I just can't find a substitute they like as much!" He rolled his eyes but smiled broadly to show his humor.

"I don't envy you, my good man. Hard to please everyone certainly." Sarban began to nibble on his breakfast plate as he waited for those sweet cakes. **This is so good. Sea fare tastes like dirt compared to this** No wonder he had yet to return to his old craft. Corowal had bribed him with food somehow, he was sure.

The journeyman baker nodded. "Yes it is and you know what they say, the way to a woman's heart is through her stomach!" He wiggled an eyebrow up and down. He moved a step over and snagged a sweet cake for Sarban and one for himself. One went on the steward's plate, the other he broke off a piece of and savored the scent wafting upward tantalizingly.

Smiling as if Nikhan had read his mind, Sarban looked at his full plate. "I'll leave you to your work, my friend. They're probably looking for me anyway. It was just nice to be able to eat in peace for a bit." He grabbed his tray and scooted past the baker.

A nod and Nikhan turned back to the ovens. More loaves were ready to be taken out to cool and eat. Or just eat!

Last updated on the February 20th 2012

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Good Start to the Day