The King's Gambit by Odessa Lynne

Author:Odessa Lynne
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Gay Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Odelyn Publishing
Published: 2015-01-31T06:00:00+00:00

11

As soon as Geran sent Yohan away with two of his best guards, he turned to Thad, who stood to the side of the table that had been between them and Yohan, watching and waiting.

“You’ll help me find Heria’s son.”

Thad reacted to the order with raised eyebrows. “Of course.”

Several hours later, after questioning the Elder Laundress, her assistants, and the assistant to the Elder Groundskeeper, Geran had made his way into the kitchens. The Elder Chef’s hunched form stood over a boiling soup pot so large that a fully grown man would fit inside.

“He was wearing those dark clothes that are popular over the mountains, and I haven’t seen him around before. Maybe he’s your fellow. He left with Rand and I didn’t ask what mischief they were about to get up to because I might be an old man but I remember what it was like to be young.”

“You think the boys intended mischief?” Geran asked.

The Elder Chef’s wrinkled face twisted. “Well, there’s mischief and then there’s mischief, you see. You’d probably understand better than that one would.” And he nodded abruptly toward Thad.

Geran snorted; Thad looked affronted.

Geran thought he understood though. “Because Rand is gay. Is that what you mean?”

“Exactly what I mean.”

Geran hadn’t known, but then again, what he knew of Rand had more to do with his standing as the assistant to the Elder Mage than his personal life. Rand was young enough that his sexual activities hadn’t seemed relevant to Geran. Maybe he should have considered the fact that Rand was just about at the same age Geran had been when he’d gone from thinking about sex all the time to acting on those urges.

“How long ago did they leave?”

“Hour or so, maybe less.” The Elder Chef turned haltingly, his hunchback making him look even more lopsided than his uneven hips. “It’s been busy.”

Geran acknowledged the truth of the Elder Chef’s words with a nod.

A young woman stepped to the side of the huge pot and dropped in a basket of chopped vegetables. Hot liquid splattered up out of the pot.

“Careful!” the Elder Chef said.

The young woman cringed. “Sorry!”

He shook his head and waved his hand. “On with you. That wasn’t even half what we need for tomorrow’s feast.”

“Of course, Elder Chef. I’ll work harder.”

“Smarter,” he said, pointing to his temple. “Harder will just wear you out faster and we have too much to do for that.”

She gave him a small smile and hurried away.

The Elder Chef returned his attention to Geran. “Hope the boy’s not in trouble. That one’s my favorite. The rest of my grandsons are lazy twits.”

“Rand’s proved himself to be a loyal, hardworking young man,” Geran said.

“He’s got potential,” the Elder Chef said. “I’d like to see him become the Elder Mage someday, but I doubt I’ll live that long.”

Thad still hadn’t spoken, but his mouth curved at the Elder Chef’s words. Geran understood the reaction. Despite his hunchback, the Elder Chef didn’t appear to have a sickly bone in his body.

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