Tristitia: A Shades of Sin Novella by Colette Rhodes

Author:Colette Rhodes [Rhodes, Colette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-12-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

“Boss,” Torin called, the scent of his blood reaching me at the same time his voice did. I sighed heavily, gesturing for Katriel to take over stirring the cauldron of stew over the fire.

“What have you done, Torin?”

“I, uh, seem to have cut off the end of my finger, boss.”

Katriel shrieked, splattering stew against the wall as she took in the bloody mess that had once been Torin’s finger. At least he looked appropriately shamefaced about it.

“Come on then,” I sighed, snatching up a clean cloth and wrapping it around the wound so at least he didn’t trail blood through the whole palace. “Let’s go find a healer, though I’m sure all they’ll tell you to do is go to the stores and feed.”

He looked even more guilty at that. In the short time since the portals had closed, all of us young, healthy Shades had been taking the bare minimum from the power stores.

“I’m sorry, boss. I was trying to chop fast, the way you do.”

Damn it, he made it so hard to stay mad at him. “Torin, I’ve been cooking longer than you’ve been alive. What makes you think you should be doing anything the way I do yet? You’re young, and I’d like you to live long enough to get old. So stop doing stupid things.”

“Yes, boss.” He went quiet for a moment, keeping up with the quick pace I set through the corridors to the healer’s wing. “Am I fired?”

“No, Torin. You’re not fired.”

“My mother says you’re going to fire me soon.”

“Does your mother know me better than I know myself?”

“No, boss.” He was saying the right things, but Torin didn’t look like he believed them. There really was no criticism with more long-lasting damage than that delivered by parents.

“Torin, so long as you keep trying to do a good job, trying to learn, trying your best, I’m not going to fire you, got it? You’ve got a good palate for flavors—I can’t teach that—and a good work ethic. Stop trying to be Calix. Torin is plenty good enough. Alright?”

“Yes, boss.” He sniffed. “Thank you, boss.”

“I might fire you if you start weeping,” I warned. “This is as comforting as I get, don’t push your luck.”

He shot me a watery smile.

“I’m really glad I came to work here. You don’t need to come in with me,” he added, pausing before the enormous stone archway that led to the healers. “I’ve got it from here.”

“You sure?”

Torin winced. “I’m not sure I want you there when I describe how I did it. You might get annoyed again.”

“Probably,” I agreed, imagining him trying to flip the cleaver between slices. “Take some time off, no coming back to work until you’re fully healed. You cause enough disasters with all your limbs intact.”

Torin laughed, all signs of wariness gone. “That’s true. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”

He headed cheerfully through the archway, perhaps not realizing that the healers were the scariest Shades in the palace and would have far more to say about him being irresponsible with a knife than I would.

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