June Vignette

[Lilthis]

Scratchy, dry bits of bread tumbled around Lilly’s mouth. Teeth tore into another segment of the bread loaf as her eyes completely glazed over. Sitting alone in the quiet restaurant in some backwater town left the dark elf alone to be enveloped by a snapshot of her past. The drow continued chewing and the taste of the stale tan bread jumpstarted her faraway memories of home.

Reminiscent thoughts of the quartz marbling laid upon the Shadefell’s kitchen floor penetrated Lilly’s mind. The smoothly tiled stone on the walls. The bright sheen of the black liviol table. And Tala, the maid kept on staff by the Shadefell family. Tala had gray hair tied taut into a bun. Her yellowed apron stained by countless meals she had prepared. Indeed, she was an excellent cook and her masterpiece was bread.

Her newest creation’s aroma filled the hearth and seeped into the rest of the room as the noble elf was seated at a nearby table. Once the loaf was removed from the kiln Tala took a brush caked in butter and coated the top of the baguette. The butter gushed across the surface like rain, streaming down the sides of the warm golden brown edges and glistening in the sunlight.

Once cooled, Tala cut two slices and presented them on a plate to her kitchen’s guest. An amber crust outlined the soft white core of Tala’s artwork. Beside the plate was a jar of mixed fruit preserves, also crafted by the estate’s maid. Lilthis always ate the first slice plain, the warm buttery bread was the utter pinnacle of baking. For dessert she’d spread the preserves over the second slice for a wondrous combination of sweet and savory.

Tala took a seat next to the younger woman as she finished up her snack. The older chef placed a wrinkled hand onto the smooth skinned hand of Lilly’s. Humans aged so quickly, Tala was barely sixty and already she looked so very elderly. The maid stared at the heiress with sullen brown eyes before opening her mouth and then closing it. Her forehead formed deeper wrinkles as she contemplated the words. The dark elf was not in the mood to wait, she abruptly severed the silence.

“What is it Tala?”

Another wrinkled hand joined the one currently affixed to Lilly’s. Tala spoke in a broken, hushed tone, “I just want you to know what a lovely girl you are Lilthis.” The Shadefell maid looked as if she might cry. “You need to be careful, stay near Faellint,” she offered. Tala moved in and fully embraced the slate elf, wrapping both arms around thin shoulders and pulling the girl in tightly. “Come back soon, when it’s safe.”

Normally Lilthis detested hugs. She was willing to make an exception this time. Tala had baked her specialty and taken Lilly’s mind off the looming departure. Tears streamed down darkened cheeks as slender young arms reciprocated the intimate contact.

“Thank you,” Lilly said weakly. She wasn’t ready to leave her home. Tala had practically raised her and humans truly did not live long. This very well could be the last time the two of them would be together. If only they could - -

Thud.

A hand slammed Lilly’s table inside the destitute restaurant, awakening her from her daydream. The waiter was young and seemed impatient. His irritation shone through as he asked the elf, “you need anythin’ else?”

There were no fruit preserves. No kind old women to comfort her. The floor was dusty and made of elm, not pristine artistic marbling.

She had lost a lot. Bad food was a reminder of that. Worse still was how the low quality meal forced her to think of loved ones she may never visit with again.

Lilly’s glazed over expression faded, she shifted focus to the young man. “No thank you, I’m alright,” she lied as she forced down another clump of the awful ‘bread.’