Friday Funsies

Happy Friday readers!

As promised here is the second installment of Cassidy's story. I hope you enjoy!

CHAPTER 2

Supper that night was an extravagant selection of warm breads and hearty vegetables with a grilled meat that tasted enough like chicken that she was happy to pretend that’s what it was. As always, chef had managed to create flavors that made her mouth water and killed her willpower. She’d eaten entirely too much, but when the kitchen started wheeling out the deserts she knew she was in trouble.

Macier puffs.

She wasn’t sure what they were actually called, but chef constructed them from the macier fruit, whipped and hardened somehow. They were like chocolate, but with a creaminess that was lacking from most dishes, given the absence of dairy animals on Callaphria. Chef often spiced them with hivasa too, which gave it a slight heat. It was her most favorite dessert even if she was going to regret gorging herself.

“I think he does it on purpose,” a woman next to her stated. Cassidy turned to find Ashley, the chef’s wife, taking the chair next to her. Her shoulder length blond hair was pulled back tightly, making the sharp angles of her face stand out a little more. Her features seemed harsh, like the woman herself, so Cassidy was a little surprised that the woman was talking to her. The stains on the front of her clothing indicated she had been working the kitchen this meal. “He knows it puts us in a good mood and he’s hoping to get some tonight.”

Blessedly Cassidy had nothing in her mouth or she might have spit it all over the table. She must have made a strange face anyway because Ashley smirked at her.

“What? We’re both grown women...and for the record it will probably work.”

Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

Ashley only sighed. “If you’re going to grab some you’d better get going before the swarm takes over—shit.”

Cassidy blinked toward the desserts. She had been subtly waiting until a few others had gone up so she didn’t look like some sort of addict in need of a hit, but it seemed like all the women had the same idea. That wasn’t what had Ashley cursing, however. What had her cursing was the sight of Becky eagerly lining up behind a few of the others...and Tor, the medic, crossing the entrance threshold and storming right toward her.

“Damn,” Ashley whispered. “I was hoping to sneak one before clean up, but now…”

Already tension filled Becky’s figure, as if she sensed his presence before she’d even seen him. She turned toward the door, the look on her face anything but welcoming.

Well damn. Ashley was right. They were blocking the path to the dessert and there was no way she was going to be brave enough to tread those waters.

“Well, that was a bust. You want me to see if there are any left in the kitchen that didn’t form up right? I’m sure they still taste the same,” Ashley offered, standing up and stretching her slender arms.

“Oh my god, would you?” she breathed.

“On one condition,” Ashley smiled, and it reminded Cassidy of a shark, grinning at its prey.

Suddenly Cassidy wasn’t sure dessert was worth it.

“What’s that?”

“Sneak me some fiska root.”

Heat burned at Cassidy’s cheeks. What was with the compound population lately? Fertility mushrooms and now the fiska root. A root that was basically the little blue pill for Livarians. There was a small clump of fiska near the med building, but its use was monitored and regulated. Meaning generally the guards did not allow random plucking...or digging up of the plant. The only reason she knew about it at all was that the women had suggested re-cultivating the plot it grew within and were met with firm – pun intended- resistance from the Livarians. They had kept at the request until one of the men had finally caved and described its importance.

“What...why...can’t you just ask for some if you are having...problems?”

Ashley scoffed. “First of all, I promise you there are no problems with that.”

“Then why…?”

Ashley grinned. “Oh it’s not for me…” her eyes landed across the room where Mia sat with the compound's leader, Draven.

“Why don’t they ask for it?”

“...It’s less of a necessity and more of a...unspoken favor,” Ashley hedged.

Cassidy finally caught on. A practical joke.

She looked at the couple. They were leaning in toward each other, obviously in love, obviously happy. A night of...uh...extra vigorous activity probably wouldn’t hurt anything.

“The guards aren’t going to just let me dig it up,” she told the woman.

“I’m sure you could think of something,” Ashley patted her shoulder.

Cassidy studied the table and looked back to the dessert line. The medic and Becky had moved off, but the blockage had burst like a dam and now the cart was surrounded by veracious women. She would be lucky if there were any puffs left at all.

“Fine. I’ll try at least, but you owe me dessert for a week.”

Ashley thought about it and then nodded. “Done.”

Okay. This was fine, she could do this, it wasn’t as if she was hurting anyone.

She was distracted enough with her new dilemma that she nearly missed the approach of the Livarian male. Suddenly there was a broad body before the table, muscles defined by a tightly fitting gray shirt. Cassidy looked up into his face, startled a little.

Oh. She allowed her self to relax. It was Lim. Lim was one of the guards she was more familiar with, and he was recently married, so she didn’t have to worry that he was here to present his interest.

“Cassidy, may I speak with you for a moment?”

Cassidy pinched her brows together, “I mean, you already are talking to me, but you can sit down if you’d like, I guess.”

Lim gave her an awkward smile, but he took the chair to her left, the one that Ashley had just vacated.

“We’re having a problem with a portion of the orchard. Becky said you might be able to help.”

Cassidy frowned. “She did?”

“She said you grew up in an orchard?”

Cassidy’s stomach tightened, the instant reaction to the reminder of her childhood. It took her several deep breaths to control the feeling and un-clench her jaw. This wasn’t Georgia and no one here knew about the Bronwin family. This wasn’t some sort of slight, but a real, honest question.

“I grew up next to an orchard,” she answered carefully. “My parents worked there seasonally, I don’t think that qualifies me to help you.”

“It qualifies you more than anyone else here. Would you come and look at it at least?”

Her gut still twisted, like someone was taking a wooden spoon and stirring at its contents vigorously. Why her? Why not Becky? At least she had some sort of fancy degree. Cassidy had barely passed high-school. Of course the two part time jobs and raising of her five younger siblings had contributed to that a little. It didn’t change the fact that she was under-educated for the task.

“Can’t Becky…”

Lim held up a hand, interrupting her. “We already asked. She says she doesn’t know enough about the diseases of fruit trees.”

Cassidy snorted. And he thought she did?

Lim focused on her. No judgment or criticism in his gaze, just simple hope. “There really is no one else.”

Well. What was she supposed to do with that?

“I can try, but I really don’t know much about orchards…”

Lim’s face broke into a relieved smile. “That’s all we ask. I have faith in you.”

Yeah, somehow that didn’t make her feel any better.