Chapter 7 - A Day In The Life
Aurora groaned, woken up by the harsh mid-day sun. She flipped onto her side, got a nose-full of petals and rose up bothered, now her nose was itchy, and she kept rubbing the sides of it. Klaus was snoring beside her, mouth agape. She rose to her feet with a yawn, and moved to the dining table, and on it, was the lower half of the king otter. Demitri took the top half, and Toskr didn’t need any, all he needed was the blood. She placed the palm of her hands on the frozen carcass, and blew a raspberry. She smacked her lips, and it felt dry. Water well up in her hand, and she drank straight from it.
“Much better.” She conjured a small stone tray, and placed it beneath the table, and flames wrapped around her hands. “Wait, why am I doing this in here?” Suddenly more lucid, she picked up the frozen carcass and brought it outside, and set it out on the garden on a bed red grass and flowers.
Flames returned to her hands and she placed it on the frozen carcass to melt it. Water flowed onto the grass beside it. After a few minutes, the carcass was free. She used the stone knife she conjured and got to work. First, the legs were severed and placed in a separate box. Next, the genitals. She dragged the now flaming knife across the skin, burning off the king otter’s fur. She did this multiple times, ensuring there were no bits of fur left. Then, she split the mid section open, revealing glistening red intestines. She snipped of the sides and the part connected to the rectum. She quickly split the intestines in half, and shot water through the opening she just made. Whatever was left of the king otter’s last meal were flushed out onto the grass. She folded it, and skewered it with an ice pick, so that it wouldn’t unravel itself. Water covered her hands, and she blew it dry with a quick gust of wind before she scratched her head. The last thing she wanted was any blood on her hair. She set the folded intestine aside, and began shattering whatever bones were left in the carcass.
She severed the stomach from its walls and acid began pouring out. She funneled water into the carcass to flood and let it overflow. Blood soaked water mixed with stomach acid flowed out and onto the grass beside it. Then, she channel a constant gust of wind, to clear out anything else that the water couldn’t pick up. She kept repeating the process, clearing out its remains and setting aside what was and wasn’t edible. Everything that was, would be frozen and given to Klaus, anything that isn’t would be turned into compost for the garden. She carried the edible frozen parts, and left it back on the table. She stared at Klaus, mouth still agape. She thought back to when Klaus focused on the vultures instead of helping out. I really didn’t want to chew him out there, but, I had to. She looked at sky through the opening in the roof. Did I do the right thing by hiding what I found? Luckily, they only intended to steal our kill. What if they had intent to steal our kill, and kill us? She thought as she returned to the garden. Not spotting things like this is common, and has lead to many stolen kills. Taking on the role of an observer does mean I should observe until necessary. They need to learn from this experience, as should I.
Aurora moved towards Abdo’s study, the door sealed shut. “I’m heading out for the day.” She answered after knocking on the door a few times. “Fine, just get back before nightfall.” He once again request. “Sure.” She said before leaving.
Klaus has been staring at the sky for a few minutes now. The cool grass pricked at him from below, urging him to rise and begin his day. Grunting and groaning, unwilling to get up, a sudden force pried his mouth open as he yawned. “Fine.” He sighed, and got up. Time to eat. And moved towards the dining table, where processed remains of the king otter greeted him, preserved in ice.
Glancing at the bed of carnations, then towards the door. “Aurora?!” Her name echoed throughout the empty home. No response. “Aurora?!” He tried once more. “Zip it! I’m trying to work here!” Abdo yelled, frustration in his voice. “Guess I’m not alone.” He whispered. “Sorry!” He apologized, while rolling his eyes. A sigh escaped his lips, “Do you want lunch?” He yelled. “Later.” Abdo yelled back. Guess I’ll save some. He thought.
Klaus formed a tray made of ice, and placed the intestines and meat on it and ferried it over to the counter deeper into the home. He walked towards the garden, and stared at what was available, contemplating what he wanted to have as his leafy greens. “Mhmmmmmmm.” He let out, and sustained it. Until it annoyed even himself, at which point he stopped. “Sure.” He went over to the cabbage and stepped on something wet, he inspected his feet and he wasn’t even sure what it was. His face dropped and he quickly covered his feet in water before blowing it dry with air and sterilizing it with some flames. He quickly retrieved his cabbage and returned inside.
He returned to the kitchen, and stared at the processes king otter. His mind wandered back to how their kill was stolen. Can’t believe they got away. That should never happen. Shouldn’t just canvas the kill site, but the wider area too. Could Toskr not hear them? He sighed, and began removing leaves from the stem. The waterfall made it too loud. Damn. He conjured a knife with ice magic and began chopping the leaves. “Still, we shouldn’t have been caught off-guard, and Demitri and Toskr wouldn’t have been in that position anyways. Instead of getting one, we’d get two.” He seethed silently, otherwise Abdo would be an ass and get him to shut it. He sighed, as his magic grew out of control, and ice formed around the entire knife, freezing his hands to the kitchen counter. “Damn it.” Keep calm, keep calm. You’re not that kind of person. Just, calm down. His hands began to heat up, and the ice started to melt. A tray made of earth formed below the counter, and the water filled it up.
Once freed, Klaus picked up the tray and transferred the water into a bowl of earth, and lit a fire under it. He picked up some salt and tossed it into the water, before he continued to chop the cabbage into slightly smaller chunks and set it aside once done. The melted the frozen chunks of meat and tossed it into the water and added more salt. “Should get some more veges.” He muttered and returned with onions, garlic and carrot which he tossed into the water along with the cabbage. Now to wait. For a while.
In Abdo’s study the items on the desk, ledgers, tablets, and all sorts of papers stared at him, and he stared back. “Third New Geo.” The words slurred, a consequence of leaning back into his chair. Even at this angle, the items on the desk still stared at him. A quick sigh, and shut eyes solved that particular problem. Now, in the darkness of the mind’s eye, “These friends of yours sure are persistent.” Bounced around. All thoughts were purged from the mind’s eye, the silence was appreciated, until, “Friend.” Rung once more. No image appeared in his mind’s eye. Nothing. “Friends, huh.” He righted himself, and stood up. The chair’s legs groaned against the stone floor. Both hands raised high above his head. Stretching himself. Exhausting his strength, his hands returned to his sides. “This is damning evidence.” A glance was afforded to small pouch filled with coin, “Odd that it wasn’t collected.” The informant he hired, did not meet him at the appointed time.
A gentle aroma wafted into his nose, as soon as he left the study. It guided him towards the kitchen. Klaus was enjoying his lunch at the table with glee. Reading from a stone tablet, no doubt some comedy piece. “That’s all he reads.” Abdo smacked his lips. Klaus raised his gaze and their eyes met. Nothing was said. Until, “What are you having?” Abdo said and moved closer, all the while staring at Klaus’ meal the whole time.
“It’s from last night’s hunt,” Klaus said quietly. Abdo’s brow furrowed, forehead creased. Forcefully putting a stop to his next words. “King otter soup, and intestine noodles.” Klaus answered.
“Next time, say it louder.” A chair opposite Klaus was pulled out from under the table. “Saves you the effort of needing to repeat it.” And took a seat. Pointing at the bowl, “Leave any for me?”
“Yeah. Yeah.” Klaus nodded and went to the kitchen. Leaning towards Klaus’ meal, revealed just how rich it looked. Red soup, orange carrots, brown king otter meat and the sight yellowing of the intestine noodles.
“The soup was made with onions, garlic and carrot.” The bowl was gently set down in front of Abdo. “It wasn’t spicy, so, I added these.” Pushing a small bowl of chili paste into view. “That’s why soup is red and yours is yellowish.” Klaus skipped back to his seat, eager to resume his reading.
Abdo’s hands shone for a moment, magic particles gathered and formed into a spoon made of stone on his left hand. A few sips were taken, each sip waking him up more and more. It was warm, and it felt cozy. Eyes more focused, less tired. Another gentle glow of magic and chopsticks were formed on his hand. “Finally. Something I’m going to enjoy.” A smile crept up, and it was welcomed. The spoon and chopstick were set aside, he had to. Too much was eaten, too quickly. Catching his breath, he idly pushed the remaining chunks of meat with chopsticks, “There’s not a lot of meat. How many did you bring back?” He asked.
“Half of a king otter,” Klaus answered, eyes still fixed onto his daily reading. “we had two but they were stolen by vultures.”
“How many in the party?” Abdo asked, still aimlessly pushing the chunks around.
“Four.” A quick response, that was just audible. Unsurprising, as much of his focused was on his reading.
Abdo’s free left hand, tensed and dug into the table. “How many vultures?”
“Two.” Another quick response, just as soft.
Abdo scoffed, left leg bounced rapidly for a moment. “Four couldn’t handle two?” Was delivered in a sightly raised voice. This was enough for Klaus change his focus from the stone tablet. The tablet was set down with a soft thud and the two eyes met.
“A lot of things happened, alright?” Klaus’ eyes firm and sharp. Resolute. “You weren’t there.”
There was no helping it. Abdo’s expression shifted, lips curved slightly downward, nostrils slightly flared. “Be weary of how you speak, it does not reflect on you well.” It was Klaus’ turn. His expression changed, he rolled his head back and sighed. Abdo clicked his tongue, “So, it appears you are unable to speak properly. But,” A finger pointed straight at Klaus, “You can express your disrespect.”
“What?” A breathless reply, Klaus shook his head and scoffed.
“I could not be clearer.” Abdo’s eyes narrowed, “Mind your words. In addition, mind your actions as well.”
Klaus’ lips parted, and then joined, and then parted. His hands would take part in this as well, with each attempted reply, they would be raised and then lowered and then raised, and then lowered. Finally, he threw his hands in the air and let it fall onto the table which a thud. “Who speaks like that?” Klaus defeatedly replied, leaning forward and rested his hand on his palm.
“Many a people speak as such. Many.” Klaus expression was not colored with just annoyance anymore but confusion as well. That wasn’t enough, “My fri…” The reply trailed off into silence. An image flashed in his mind’s eye, it wasn’t blank anymore. Finally! Though… It wasn’t something that was appreciated. It flashed back to an earlier moment, it was him in the study. Where nothing came to his mind’s eye when the word, “Friend.” Was thought of. Returning to reality, Klaus carried a smile.
“Your friends?” Klaus said, once he noticed Abdo’s return to reality. “Who?” The smile Klaus bore grew wider. “Who?!” He repeated. “You sure never mention them.”
“Friends.” The words rung around Abdo’s mind once more.
Still leaning against his head against his hand, “You’ve heard of Demitri right?” Klaus cut through the silence. “It was because of him, we could go on a hunt with a new friend.” Abdo’s silence watered his confidence, he righted himself and sat straight.
Abdo’s eyes narrowed, “I have friends, alright?!” Hand slammed against his chest. It tensed and fingers dug slightly into it, “Just because I don’t mention them, doesn’t mean I don’t have friends.” A few breaths, and his hand returned to the table. “I cautioned your word choice because you owe me respect.” Hands raised, motioning to the entire home. “Without me,” A thumb pointed towards himself, “Neither you,” Then a finger towards Klaus, “nor Aurora,” To the bed of carnations, “Would be here.” Slamming his palm on table, the table groaned once more, unaccustomed to the amount of activity.
Klaus’ furrowed brow, narrowed eyes and clenched cheeks all faded away. “You’re right.” His reply calm, and clear. “We wouldn’t be here if not for you.” Klaus pointed at Abdo, eyes flashed wide. “So, thank you.”
Relaxing at this response, Abdo leaned back into the chair. “Good. Next time, you will conduct yourself with more respect towards me.” Klaus simply nodded, and continued eating and reading. Lunch? Thoroughly enjoyed. Hunger? Sated. Easily. The cluttered desk once again filled Abdo’s vision. A ledger was singled out, recordings of a conversation. Skipping past the prelude, the most damning phrase is easily this: “Good work, Luden. Your years of service have been acknowledged. As usual, collect your reward at the appointed time. You are now free from our service.” A smile formed, “Just a little bit more!”