Everyone in the castle was running from room to room dusting, sweeping, and mopping. It was reported that King Leon and his procession was spotted near the capitol and the castle staff knew they did not have much time left. Lines were replaced on bedding and the black drapes were removed from the windows. Down in the kitchen cooks began prepping the ingredients needed for this evening’s meal. Some of the finest and rarest produce and meats were brought to the castle in anticipation of this moment. Each cook knew there would be few chances to show what the kingdom had to offer. All of them were startled when trumpets and drums rang through their kitchen. They all froze as the sounds grew closer before they vanished. Individually the cooks slowly returned to their task until the kitchen was bustling again. Once again their preparations were halted by sound drawing closer, but this time it was the slapping of footsteps on stone. Looking up at the door the head chef watched as a page boy stumbled into the room. The boy righted himself before taking a deep breath.

“King Leon has arrived at the castle. Our great and wonderful King Everet is requesting dinner be served in the main hall in two candlemarks time.”

“Please let the king know we will prepare a feat worth of this kingdom.” Nodding the page boy turned around to leave when he bumped into a maid. Off balanced, the page boy stumbled backward into another chef caring a tray of meat. Everyone watched as the tray fell from the chef’s hands and the meat flew out the window. Silence once again permeated the kitchen, disbelief was on everyone’s faces. The chef rounded on the boy, stepping close and grabbing his shirt.

“Do you know what you just did?” asked the chef. “That was prized beef from the Catskal providence. Do you know how much it cost or how hard it is to get?”

“I’m sorry.” the page boy answered, trying desperately to free himself. The chef did not let go and began to shake the boy.

“You’re sorry. Sorry, will not fix your blunder. That beef was…”

“William, that is enough.”

“But head chef he ruined tonight’s main course.”

“That may be true, but you are wasting time terrorizing the boy instead of figuring out an alternative dish for tonight.” William let go of the boy, who did not take long to run out of the kitchen. “Now since our original plan for tonight has been hindered, does anyone have a suggestion for the main dish.”

The head chef scanned the room and watched as one by one the other chefs would not meet his eyes. Just as he was about to give up a lone figure in the back, standing by a crate of eggs spoke up.

“I have a dish that I believe could work without having to change the whole menu for tonight.” The head chef motioned him forward.

“Well come here?”

“Jacob, sir.”

“Well come here Jacob and tell me of this dish.”

--

Working tirelessly, the chefs prepared each dish, until it was time to serve. One at a time each course was arranged on plates, then placed on carts that carried them to the main hall. Jacob ignored the commotion of the people coming in and out of the kitchen. His focus was on his dish and getting the timing right for the most important ingredient. Taking a deep breath Jacob pulled twenty-one objects from the water. Cracking one he let out a sigh of relief, it was perfect. Quickly assembling the rest of the dish in its bowel, Jacob placed the last item on as the page boys were rolling their carts toward him. He watched as the last of the carts disappeared through the door. It was over and now all there was to do was to clean and wait. Jacob pushed up his sleeves and began to wipe down his area and tools when a commotion at the front caught his attention. The king’s seneschal was speaking with the head chef.

“The king is demanding that the creator of the last dish be brought to the main hall immediately.”

“We will send him right away.” The head chef looked over to Jacob. “You come here now, the king has summoned you.”

Jacob wiped his hands on a rag and followed the seneschal out the door. He was led down a narrow corridor until they came to a door. Before opening the door the seneschal turned back to Jacob.

“I will introduce you, but do not speak unless asked to. Also do not forget to show proper respect to his majesty and his guest. Do you understand?” Jacob nodded and the door was opened. Stepping through the door it took a few heartbeats for Jacob’s eyes to adjust to the brightness. Once they did he regarded the main hall with wonder. The light was reflected off crystals hung from the chandeliers and tapestries bearing the king’s crest covered the walls. Jacob was not given long to gawk before he was prodded forward. He was led to the front of the table where King Everet sat with King Leon to his left.

“My Lord, the chef of tonight’s main course.” The seneschal bowed and Jacob followed suit.

“Thank you Snyder for bring him, you may return to your post.”

“At once my lord.” Snyder bowed once more and left. The king starred at Jacob not saying anything for a while.

“So you are the creator of this dish.” The king gestured to the bowel in front of him.

“Yes sir, your majesty.”

“You seem to be quite young, have you been at the castle long?”

“Not long sir, just a little over two moon cycles.”

“That is a short…” A voice interrupted the king.

“Everet you are scaring the poor lad. Besides you are not asking the right questions.” King Everet turned to King Leon.

“And what questions should I be asking?” King Leon leaned forward.

“How did you make it lad?” King Leon asked.

“Make what sir?”

“The creamy yellow nectar that we poured over the dish.”

“It was an egg sir, with the yolk not fully cooked.”

“An egg.”

“Yes sir.”

“I have never seen eggs of that size before.”

“They come from Spotted Monos that live on the cliff faces in my home providence.”

“That is located where?”

“North of here sir, the providence of Polymer.” King Leon sat back and began stroking his beard.

“Polymer providence, Everet I have a proposal for you.”

“Let us wait until the meal has finished.” King Everet turned back to Jacob. “You may leave.”

Jacob bowed and quickly made his way out of the room. Passing through the door that led to the kitchen, Jacob made it a few feet down the corridor before he leaned against the wall and slid down to the floor. Bring his knees up Jacob just sat there, breathing in and out.