Out of Hiding

Writers: Dana, Nici
Date Posted: 3rd July 2005

Characters: Badia, Cinale
Description: Badia visits the Vintner Hall kitchens and finally meets Cinale.
Location: Vintner Hall
Date: month 7, day 1 of Turn 3

Cinale

Badia peeked into the Hall's kitchens, admitting that she was rather impressed with the set up. After becoming used to the Hold's kitchens, it was a welcome sight to see another well organized kitchen. Then again, after the meal that had been served at her wedding, she'd really expected nothing less.

Still cooks were notoriously cranky and she hoped this Cinale was the opposite. She was nervous enough at asserting herself after so many days spent. 'enjoying' her new marriage. She'd mostly been requesting lunch baskets for Fielton and hadn't met the woman yet.

"Well, don't just stand there dawdling about, girl!" came a sharp, but rather friendly call from the other side of the large hearth in the middle of the room. The last thing Cinale needed right now was for young, attractive girls standing in the doorway to distract Araster's manly imps from their punishment duties. She _did_ need that meat prepared after all, and with them gawking at that pretty young woman, they would never get their job done! "Come over here and tell me what you need!"

The 'girl' part made one of Badia's brows rise and her resolve to act timidly melted as she straightened herself and entered. "I'm Hallmaster Fielton's wife and I'm looking for the head cook. Can you direct me to her?"

Cinale's eyes widened just slightly in surprise. So _this_ was Fielton's lovely. She had been wondering when Badia would assert herself down here. And she certainly was a lovely. No _wonder_ the Hallmaster walked around with that certian look on his face. "Forgive me, Lady, I didn't recognize you," she told the young woman with a friendly smile as she came forward. "I'm who you're looking for."

Badia returned the smile. "No need to apologize. I've certainly kept myself hidden for quite a while save for the odd journey's here for lunch baskets for Fielton. We've just kept missing each other. It's finally good to meet the woman who impresses my husband so much with her cooking."

She grinned at that and inclined her head at the compliment. "What can I say, Lady? The Hallmaster loves his food - and his bread especially! And it is good to finally meet you," she offered her hand to Badia, and for once it wasn't covered in flour.

Badia shook the offered hand, and supposed it wouldn't be polite to let the cook know that if her husband had a choice of a full basket of food and _her_, then the food was often forgetten! "How long have you worked for the Hall, Cinale?"

"Ever since I was a youngling, Lady. Most of the time in here," she gestured around the kitchen.

"So it was a calling for sorts," Badia replied thoughtfully. Frankly, she'd have rather been off having fun, like a normal child but then, that was her.

Cinale shrugged an eloquent shoulder. "You could say that," she smiled. "I love cooking, and people love my cooking, so it works out nicely."

"I suppose so!" Badia smiled. "And now to the main reason I'm here. I just wanted a basic overview of how things are run here and, if we were to have a special event, how much input I'd be allowed. I'm certainly no expert but I want to _learn_ just in case the assistance is ever needed."

"When there's a special event, you can come and give me some ideas of what you and Fielton might like to have to eat, or what our guests might like. It's always very nice to impress our guests, and one of the easiest ways to do that here is through good food and good wine," Cinale grinned. "And once I get an idea of what you're looking for, I can dig through all my recipes and find something suitable. Then I can show them to you."

So she'd not mind if Badia had suggestions. That boded well. "That sounds wonderful. I'm going to try to learn as much as I can about the wines we make here. I've heard that a good wine can compliment a food, although I must say I've had limited experience with many wines." Badia hated being ignorant. So, if it meant looking in dusty record books behind Fielton's back then she was going to do so so she'd know _something_ of what her husband did.

"And it certainly does! But I'm sure that your experience level'll change quite a bit since you're living here now," the cook smiled. "You can't live here and not experience the many, _many_ good wines we have to offer."

"Oh, I've already tasted a few that make me rather glad that I'm living here now, Cinale," Badia said. "And I'm sure you're a busy woman so I won't keep you too long....I'd hate to have the Hall after me for causing a late meal!"

"I'm _always_ a busy woman. It takes a lot of effort to keep everyone well-fed!" she chuckled. "But don't ever hesitate to come and ask me any questions that you may have, hon."

Badia nodded, somewhat taken aback at the 'hon'. It seemed rather familiar after only one meeting _and_ considering she was the Hallmaster's wife. Still, perhaps the woman was just really, really friendly. "Thank you again, Cinale. We'll talk soon." With a final nod, she made her exit, feeling a lot more confident leaving than she had arriving.

Last updated on the August 17th 2005

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Out of Hiding