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<strong>Eye</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Ocean</strong> – <strong>Book</strong> 3: Ji’Jin <strong>Station</strong><br />
Just wanted company, she supposed when he didn't answer past a smile. The<br />
sun brought out <strong>the</strong> white in his dark hair, palm size streaks at his temples as<br />
though he had smoo<strong>the</strong>d it down with both hands and stolen <strong>the</strong> dark away. But<br />
<strong>the</strong> same light made his brown eyes shine: cat's eyes, as golden as Tika's. Older<br />
and younger, s<strong>of</strong>ter looking. And tired, he had his arms crossed as though cold<br />
and <strong>the</strong> lines on his face were from fatigue ra<strong>the</strong>r than sun-creases from riding.<br />
She never saw him doing much <strong>of</strong> anything. A few meetings. Standing talking to<br />
<strong>the</strong> gardeners. Or, more <strong>of</strong>ten, staring into nothing.<br />
She reached for a pinch <strong>of</strong> crumpled thyme and continued testing, alternately<br />
sprinkling and stirring-in herbs taken from an array <strong>of</strong> bowls into a pot <strong>of</strong> soup, a<br />
trial batch. The earthy, slightly sweet taste <strong>of</strong> squash filled her mouth. She had to<br />
close her eyes each time she tasted; <strong>the</strong> pastel pink color was too distracting.<br />
Bland. “A shipload <strong>of</strong> squash came into Groundside Port and from <strong>the</strong> look <strong>of</strong><br />
our storeroom, I think we got most <strong>of</strong> it.” The entire bowl <strong>of</strong> minced hot pepper<br />
went into <strong>the</strong> soup. “I hate squash.”<br />
And tasted again. Was it too hot now? “Here, try this,” she said to Rit, holding<br />
<strong>the</strong> wooden spoon out. “Too much pepper?”<br />
His hand on hers was s<strong>of</strong>t as well, <strong>the</strong>y had both changed, but he had <strong>the</strong><br />
most. She liked him being next to her, like old times, <strong>the</strong>y didn't have a chance to<br />
see each o<strong>the</strong>r alone. Didn't take <strong>the</strong> chance, she corrected herself. The<br />
exchanges between <strong>the</strong>m were very deliberately public.<br />
“Perfect,” he said and his eyes flirted with her. He'd held her hand over <strong>the</strong><br />
spoon well past <strong>the</strong> tasting.<br />
He was lying about both things, she decided but shrugged and called <strong>the</strong><br />
Kitchen Master from what he was doing. When he arrived, Rit was looking out at<br />
<strong>the</strong> garden, his eyes shaded by a frown. Eunni let <strong>the</strong> bowl <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> wooden spoon<br />
clunk back into <strong>the</strong> pot to capture his attention. He nodded to Pilli, but absently;<br />
she didn't think he heard a word <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> introduction.<br />
His kitchen but outranked. Damn Rit anyway, she'd never liked that treatment;<br />
she didn't expect Pilli to ei<strong>the</strong>r. “More <strong>of</strong> this, <strong>the</strong>n,” she said evenly, trying not to<br />
make it worse by drawing attention to Rit's snub.<br />
The cook sniffed. “The vegetable stock can be prepared tonight,” he said in an<br />
<strong>of</strong>ficious tone as though talking <strong>of</strong> diplomacy ra<strong>the</strong>r than squash. And s<strong>of</strong>tened,<br />
<strong>the</strong> effort at control putting sweat on his already pink face. “A one-third reduction<br />
if you think that is adequate, and <strong>the</strong>n finished in <strong>the</strong> morning. Your suggestion<br />
that <strong>the</strong> puree be cooked separately to maintain <strong>the</strong> fresh taste...”<br />
He had a right to be miffed at being ignored on his own turf, but he still got on<br />
her nerves. He played favorites, but at least based his attentions on talent. The<br />
rest <strong>of</strong> his staff, like Adela, tolerated his outbursts. Towards her though, his<br />
bullying dripped with flattery.<br />
Laurel Hickey www.2morrow.bc.ca