Inheritance

Part 2. Chapter 47: Mistake of Nature

The kitchen was a big room. Normally, the Astral Elves ran it with their cold, one-track-minded efficiency, but it was empty now. There were three ovens for cooking which made Taylor's eyes light up (for a reason Them didn't understand, she climbed in the half-circle hole in the bottom of one), along with multiple ladles and stirring spoons hanging from hooks on the ceiling. There were cutting boards set out on several wooden tables which were spaced a healthy distance from each other to make it easy for cooks in the kitchen to bustle between them. There were cupboards pasted up high on the walls which were at eye-level for the tall Astral Elves and had plates, bowls, and utensils stored in them.

On the stony floor was a healthy pile of dishes and a basin of smelly, soap-filled water next to it. Them was slack-jawed. I'll get no sleep... I'll spend my whole night with these dishes.

Terran's face twitched with fury when he looked upon the endless pile of dishes.

He turned to the waif and his wisp friend. "I swear I will make you pay for this. When you're not expecting it, I swear I... What are you looking at?"

Them was staring at Taylor's backside as she shoved herself deeper into the charcoal-ridden aperture at the bottom of the oven.

"I'm enjoying the view!" Them exclaimed.

Terran made a face. "I guess I should have expected that you would have no respect for your own friend's dignity."

"Come on, as if you don't enjoy staring at your dwarven friend's backside!" Them replied, nudging Terran with an elbow. The waif then called to Taylor, "come on, Taylor, we have to get started! Get your head out of the oven!"

Taylor backed her way out with a smile on her face. "I didn't get to look at the oven much before! I'm glad to give it a more thorough examination now!"

Them raised an eyebrow.

There was something different about her suddenly. She looked more self-conscious and more curious about the world around her.

"Eory?" Them guessed.

Eory leaned his head to the side. "Yes...?"

"Where did Taylor go?" Them asked—trying to hide his disappointment.

Eory shrugged. "She got bored. I hardly think she wants to spend her night washing dishes."

Eory tried to wipe some of the charcoal off his face, to no avail. Indeed, he ended up smudging it. He approached Them with a nervous smile and shook his hand. "Sorry I was so moody when we met and when Pollyanna cut my hair the other day."

His attitude was friendlier; it was eager to please. He was not like Taylor. He wanted desperately to be liked where Taylor could care less about being liked.

She wanted to be revered. And she had the confidence of someone who demanded to be revered.

Even the way Eory tucked his hair behind his paper-thin ear—a consistent habit that belonged to Taylor as well—was something done out of convenience and nervousness whereas Taylor doing it always had a sense of purpose and confidence; a sense of flirtatiousness to tempt those around her. She was sure of herself where Eory was not, and Them found it unappealing.

"It's good to see you again," Them replied with a forced smile.

Pete's large, black eyes compressed into thin lines. Don't find him very attractive, do you?

Them didn't reply but he did sneak in a very brief glare at his friend. He said to Eory. "Are you sure you want to be stuck washing dishes all night?"