30. Kerry

Chapter 30

Kerry

W e entered the dining area that had to be at least fifty feet across and paused. While Nevarn nodded at a few people looking our way, I glanced around at the long stone tables set up in rows with stone benches on either side. Zuldruxians sat, eating from platters and plates. I only saw a few females, but Nevarn said most had died. How sad for these people.

A few Zuldruxians studied me and then Nevarn, but only one of them smiled. The others either scowled or returned to their conversations as if we didn't exist.

I hadn't expected a warm welcome, but it was disappointing that a lot weren't happy to see Nevarn. I wished more had supported him three years ago.

The roof arched above us in a circle, like a dome, the center peaking at about twenty feet. Milky glass covered the ceiling, and dim sunlight filtered through the enormous panels, a few bands of light dancing on the dark gray stone tile floor.

I didn't expect to find coffee or tea, let alone pancakes or muffins here, and I was curious to see what Zuldruxians ate. I'd enjoyed the food the gods prepared for us last night, and I was sure I'd like what I was provided today.

"Will the gods serve us?" I asked, not seeing a counter with people behind it dishing up food cafeteria-style. Would our meals appear on the table after we sat?

"Yes, they will." He led me over to a polished stone surface mounted against the back wall at waist height, about five feet long and two feet wide. Granite? I wasn't the best at identifying rocks, but the deep blue color flecked with gold reminded me of granite countertops I'd seen on display at the local hardware store and in friend's homes.

"It's pretty," I said when we stopped in front of it. I ran my palm across the polished surface, and warmth throbbing from deep within the stone, sinking into my hand. I jerked it back. "Oh, it's hot."

"It won't hurt you," he said with a smile. "Some would say it's welcoming you."

"Since it's stone, I expected it to be cold."

"The gods live all around us and within the stone. Many are warm."

"Do this clan's gods ever take physical form?"

"Not so far," he said. "The only physical god I know of is my clan's wood god, Helena."

"Yet you know the gods are here." I couldn't fathom this, but sometimes, life was easier if you went with it and didn't question things that couldn't be explained.

He swept his arm out. "They're everywhere on the islands, deeply embedded in the rocks that give the land stability. When the first settlers started building their homes here long, long ago, the gods produced stones in the exact sizes needed. They gifted this first clan with everything stone related, including sharp weapons and tools, furniture, plus provided clothing and food."

Still stunned by all this, I gave him a weak smile. "Do we tell the stone what we want and wait for it to appear?"

"Yes." His smile widened. He was enjoying my discomfort, though in a teasing way. "What would you like to eat, pretty mate?"

"I'm not a coffee drinker, though I enjoy iced tea in the morning."

"They may not be able to—"

A mug oozed up through the sapphire surface.

I reeled backward, not used to seeing things magically appear in front of me despite what I'd seen at the clothing shop the day before and the food appearing in the house where we were staying.

"That must be your tea," he said. "Try it and see if it tastes like you remember."

I lifted the mug and sniffed it. "It smells like tea." How amazing if it was. A sip confirmed it. "This is delicious."

The stone glowed before darkening once more.

Ah, yes. The gods enjoyed praise. Well, who didn't?

"In addition to tea, I'd love to eat . . ." If I could choose my favorite breakfast item, what would it be? Protein would fill me up and keep me satisfied longer, but damn, I loved sweets.

Nevarn watched me with an indulgent smile. How did he end up so cute and loveable? I wanted to drag him back to our snug little AirBnB and lounge in bed with him for the rest of the day. But we had investigative work to do and for that . . .

"I'd love an omelet with cheese, if you have it. Any kind of cheese. And a side of bacon and . . ." Sweets feed the soul, right? "A cinnamon roll if you know what that is."

A plate shimmered and slowly appeared on the stone surface, and my breath caught as I took in the steaming omelet, bacon, and the ginormous cinnamon roll. I wanted to hug the plate, the countertop. Even the wall.

"I'll have the same," Nevarn said, and his plate appeared beside mine. "I'm not sure what any of it is, but if you enjoy it, I will too."

This guy was as sweet as the cinnamon roll I was dying to consume.

A mug of tea appeared beside his plate, and we carried our food over to an empty table made up of a stone surface and stone-topped stools, sitting across from each other.

Two guys sitting at the table next to ours crooked their heads around to stare at us, and I recognized Melwarn, the clothing shopkeeper, though not the other male. After giving us polite nods, they turned back to continue eating.

Nevarn and I sat opposite each other.

His brow furrowed, Nevarn studied his food.

A fork conveniently appeared beside our plates.

Lifting it, I stabbed my egg and scooped up a bite, stuffing it into my mouth and moaning and wiggling as the flavors burst across my tongue. The cheese felt a bit odd between my teeth, kind of rubbery, as if it was fat-free stuff back home, but the flavor was there. I chewed and swallowed, lifting a slice of bacon to bite into that.

My teeth basically clanged when they hit the bacon that was not actually bacon, but stone.

"Oh, um." I dropped the slice on my plate, and it clattered against the thin stone surface. "That's not quite what I expected."

Nevarn lifted his bacon and munched through it, but his teeth were twice as big as mine and his tusks made quick work of the stone food. "Tasty."

"It's not pork." I explained what it was.

"We hunt like that in the forest and smoke the meat, though we call it something else. I believe you'll enjoy that more than this. Remember, the gods don't provide meat. This is a stone version of what you asked for."

I poked my omelet. "Then what's this? Eggs come from chickens and most consider them meat."

"An egg isn't a fully formed being, which means the gods are happy to provide it at our request. However, they prefer to gift us vegetables and fruit. Grains."

"A woman cannot live on veggies and fruit, let alone grains, alone." This woman couldn't, that is. "Although, bread is a grain." I lifted my cinnamon roll and tentatively bit into it. It was as soft and chewy as bread should be, but the flavors were off. "I take it the gods don't know what sugar is, let alone cinnamon." I gently laid it back on my plate.

"I don't know what soo-gar or sin-ee-mon are, so I assume they don't either."

"What do you normally eat for breakfast?"

"Vegetables and fruits. Grains."

Of course. "Hey, stone gods? Could I have a traditional Zuldruxian meal instead of this?"

My plate shimmered and sunk into the table's surface, and a new plate appeared on the counter, loaded with vegetables, fruit, and a pile of grains. After retrieving it, I ate, and honestly, everything tasted fantastic. Nevarn munched through his original meal, moaning at how wonderful it was.

Melwarn and the other male finished and rose, coming over to stand beside Nevarn, nodding politely to me.

The male I didn't know dipped his head forward. "I'm Argost."

"Nice to meet you," I said.

"If you would like to have an embroidered tunic or dress," his gaze slid across my body in a professional way, "I have items in my shop I'll happily show you."

"Argost embroiders clothing provided by the gods," Melwarn said. "His shop is next to mine."

"They sound pretty. I'll be happy to stop by," I said.

"I look forward to it."

Melwarn's gaze slid to Nevarn, and his body tightened. "Will you be staying on the island long?"

Nevarn rose and braced the male's forearms. "We're only here for a short visit."

Melwarn grunted and lowered his voice, though no one else sat near us. "I couldn't speak yesterday. There were other customers nearby." He peered around before leaning close to Nevarn. "I have information about Weela I'd like to share. Could you come see me soon?"

Nevarn's eyes widened. "Yes, I will."

"Good, good," Melwarn said in a jovial voice that drew many eyes our way. "If the other potential mates are anything like Kerry, I hope the gods look on me with favor."

Argost grinned. "I'm going to travel to the central god island soon to ask them to send me a mate. I'm lonely, and I'd treasure a mate for the rest of my days. I will, of course, ask them to send someone who'd consider a Zuldruxian male such as me. I'd offer her one of the temporary residences to stay in while I woo her. If she grew to care for me, wonderful. If not," he sighed, "I wouldn't force anything, naturally."

"I wouldn't either," Melwarn said gruffly. "Who would?" He gave Nevarn a sharp look and a subtle nod before he and Argost strolled toward the entrance, still talking about ways they might woo a potential mate.

Nevarn sat again, his steady gaze meeting mine. "Interesting, don't you think?"

"Yes. I'd love to go with you when you speak with Argost."

"Which we'll do as soon as we can."