The Queen of Thorns and Gold: The Crown of Thorns, Book 1 by E.R. Browning

Author:E.R. Browning [Browning, E.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-05T16:00:00+00:00

46 NAVA

Nava pulled a bucket of water from the well and set it down on the ground. She looked up at the blue sky and watched as clouds lazily floated overhead. The morning twitter of the birds filled the farmyard, and the two moons were still barely visible in the rising light.

Nava picked up the bucket and brought it into the farm home as Neve busied herself with breakfast. The young boy tittered in and out of the house as he ran jobs for her in town, stopping only once to say hello to the half-elf. Nava set the bucket on the counter, and the woman gave her a quick thanks before turning back to the pastries on the table.

“What is it?” Nava asked, studying the way she folded the dough with her hands.

“One of my favorite pies. We save enough money from our livestock each year to be able to make this orange pie,” she said.

Nava took an orange from the counter and rolled it in her hand. “I’ve never had orange pie before,” she said monotonously. She smelled the sharp citrusy peel and wrinkled her nose.

“We get them imported from the capital. It’s a fine day when we can get our hands on one.” The woman smiled and wiped her hands on her apron. “You are in for a real treat. Come, come,” she motioned and grabbed Nava’s shoulder. “Wipe your hands, and then let’s get to work.”

Nava pulled back slightly. “You want me to bake with you? I’ve never—"

The woman quickly silenced her with a spoon to the hand. Nava flinched, and the woman grabbed a rag from the counter and put it into her hands. “No excuses. It’s about time you learned, girl. You will need to learn to bake if you wish to have a family with him,” she sang.

Nava flushed. “I’m not—we aren’t together!”

Neve puckered her lips and ignored the girl’s remarks, humming to herself. “Put your hands like this on the dough and use your palms to flatten it,” she showed, then flipped it over and did it again. She brought the bowl of flour over, and Nava dipped her hands in and patted them dry.

“Try it,” Neve motioned, scooting the dough over to her. Nava squinted her eyes and kneaded the dough, and used her palm to flatten, then flip. The woman nodded her head. “Just like that. You don’t want to go too long or kneed it too hard, or the dough won’t rise well. You must learn just the right amount.”

Nava continued as Neve began peeling the orange and cutting the rinds into small strips. The melodic action helped Nava to focus on the bake and nothing else. It had been some time since she simply felt content. In her mind, she was back with her mother, watching her bake tiny berry cakes. The villagers would come over as soon as they smelled the delicious cakes baking and she would hand them out, one by one, till only two remained.

Then,

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