Soup from Servitude
Jason DeMatteo
Malley scrambled for the parchment containing the recipe for her grandmother’s spiced beet and carrot soup, while Lady Hickory’s steps grew closer to the kitchen. She pondered leaving the manor all morning.
“You need to have the soup ready by dusk. Our guests, the Tall Ones, are coming from far away and shall be hungry. Prepare enough for twelve people and dress neatly in case of a tour. Those rags and that rusted locket won’t do.”
Lady Hickory mentioned Malley’s locket, a cherished keepsake passed down by her mother, who succumbed to the flu long ago. The locket, adorned with twine and serving as the sole remnant of her family, remained nestled close to her heart. Malley received information about her father’s demise on the battlefield, which left her orphaned and seeking solace in her employment within the manor’s walls. Securing the locket within her shirt, she continued her search for the elusive recipe. And after ten minutes, she unearthed it from beneath a jar of dried mushrooms on a nearby shelf. Though the writing had faded over time, it remained legible enough to decipher. With haste, she gathered the remaining ingredients while her feline companion, Emily, pranced into the kitchen, leaping onto the counter where the soup components lay in readiness.
“You don’t want Lady Hickory catching you in here. She’ll demand that I add you to the soup.”
Emily meowed and demanded attention. Malley petted Emily’s tabby striped head, and she plopped down for her daily belly rub. Afterwards, she ran off in search of a meal.
The mid day sun, the fire underneath the cooking pot and the rush to finish the meal all made Malley uncomfortable. She took off her locket and placed it near the ladle. After stirring the vegetables and spices, she reached for the ladle but knocked the locket off the table and onto the floor. Alarmed, she reached down to grab it and noticed the rust and dirt on it broke off, revealing a shiny emerald inside the opened locket. She grabbed it and a wind blew over her. Everything around her remained in a state of absolute stillness. The flames under the cauldron paused, and the dust in the few rays of light in the room froze around her. Time stopped, but she swayed. She put the locket on and left it opened. She walked out of the kitchen and into the main hall, which had several attendants frozen in step. The main chamber lay ahead of her, where Lady Hickory and her guests would seat themselves in the evening to partake in their meal.
The locket shook and closed on its own. She ran back to the kitchen as it closed to allow time to move again. The soup resumed cooking, the fire continued to heat the pot, and the light with dust in the air appeared normal. She continued to cook, with Emily returning to keep her company.
“I think we can spend more time together while the soup simmers. Let’s go outside.”
She opened the locket, and as before, a gust of wind swept forth, freezing the entire surroundings in its embrace. With Malley holding Emily, they ventured out into the courtyard. Excitement filled the air as Emily chased after a playful string, guided by Malley’s animated movements. Their delightful escapades led them to a stairway, revealing a hidden cellar concealed beneath the grand manor. To Malley’s astonishment, the cellar unfolded before her eyes—a treasure trove of splendid furniture and chests, representing various cultures and tribes. Amongst them, one box bore her name.
As she unlatched the box, she discovered a collection of long-lost garments and cherished keepsakes, which she thought had been lost forever. Additional boxes contained various belongings, including her mother’s precious jewelry and her father’s mighty sword. These precious items were now revealed in their true glory.
The locket started its own closure, prompting Malley to rush back to the kitchen, where time resumed its course. Determined to depart with her cherished possessions under the veil of nightfall, she waited for the soup to summer. However, she recognized the need for an additional ingredient, one that eluded the confines of the recipe.
As the servants placed the pot of soup onto a cart and wheeled it away, Malley bided her time until the melodious sound of a bell echoed through the air, signifying the guests. With dusk descending upon the manor, she opened the locket, and as expected, a powerful gust of wind encapsulated the realm, halting the passage of time. Seizing the opportunity, she made her way to the cellar, collecting as many belongings as she could. Among them, a satchel served as a vessel for her mother’s pilfered possessions. Though her father’s armor proved too cumbersome to don, she contented herself with donning his leather tunic, gloves, and wielding his formidable sword.
Her last stop before the locket closing was the main chamber to say goodbye to Lady Hickory to reclaim her freedom. She opened the door and saw the guests all comatose with bowls of soup emptied or on the floor. Two sleeping soldiers blocked the main exit by forming the letter A with each one helmet to helmet leaning on the other, snoring loudly. Lady Hickory was asleep because of the sleeping herb Malley added as the last ingredient. The Tall Ones were elves who appeared immune to the sleeping herb but standing and evaluating Lady Hickory’s jewelry and other expensive items in the dining hall. Most of it stolen, including an elvish mirror. Malley closed the locket and time flowed.
“There is a cellar full of stolen treasures in the back of the manor,” she said and walked outside.
Malley dressed a horse with a saddle and attached a sack to hold her belongings. Emily greeted her with a meow as she picked her up and together they trotted into the night.
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