Journeywoman Jenisye of Ista Hold
44th day of Spring, Nineteenth Turn of the Tenth Pass, Baker Hall, Ista Hold
Kitchen
A counter runs along the length and
width of the kitchen, most of it occupied by sinks, chopping
boards, or trays which the assorted cooks and drudges are working
on. Two large `ovens' fill the back end of the kitchen, obviously
for cooking the meat and pastries which the diners enjoy so much.
A large island occupies the center of the kitchen which appears
to be the domain of the head cook for there are recipe books
strewn about its surface. The kitchen never sleeps, for there's
always food to be made ready for tomorrow. A swinging door allows
easy access to the dining hall while a stairway down in the back
of the kitchen leads to the lower storeroom.
You see Martin's Cookbook here.
Jenisye and Maurin are here.
Obvious exits: Dining Hall BakerCraft Store Room
You stand in the always-busy kitchen.
Jenisye smiles, nodding distractedly to Maurin as she returns to her nearly complete absorption in her work.
Jenisye hears more footsteps and turns around, looking around in exasperation. "Now what? Oh, Kaetetrini. Hello. Sorry to have sounded annoyed. I'm working on a recipe."
Kaetetrini comes in the kitchen, poking her head out of the heavy cloak, much too heavy for the Istan climate. "Journeywoman Jenisye?" she asks, even though she remembers the woman. She bites her bottom lip shyly.
Maurin shifts his weight back and forth boredly, half eavesdropping on the two cooks as he slowly kneeds the bread dough.
Jenisye smiles. "Apprentice, actually. Unless a master has done me the amazing kindness of putting me up a rank without having me do the work necessary for it. My authority tends to come from being head cook here, not from my status in the craft. But yes, I am Jenisye. May I help you in some way?"
Kaetetrini blushes, "Did you get my letter?" she's been having to ask that a whole lot lately. She figured that this part would get easier as she went, but it doesn't seem to have.
Jenisye smiles and nods. "Yes, I did. I am certainly willing to help." She smiles reassuringly, noticing the girl's nervousness.
Jenisye chuckles softly as she catches her reflection in a pot, stopping for a moment to brush the stray bits of dough off her nose and cheeks.
Kaetetrini smiles, and unshoulder's her pack, and pops her bottom lip out of her mouth, "I just need a recipe," she says softly, moving a newly cropped curl from her forehead. "Master Martin gave me his recipe for sweet squishies..." she giggles at the name.
Jenisye joins the laughter, nodding. "All right. Hmm...May I give you the cook-book that I wrote it out in, and have you make a copy, or would you like me to copy it out now?"
Kaetetrini blushes a deep red, "If you have it cooked," she almost whispers, "I dinnae need a recipe."
Jenisye nods. "I have it, but it's not quite finished. Would you like me to send someone with it when I have it done?"
Jenisye points to a tray that was resting on a counter. There is a cake on it, and a small pitcher of some sort of sauce on the side. "I just baked raspberry light cake, will that do?" She smiles, shrugging slightly at the name. "I couldn't think of anything else to call it when I made it, so that's the name."
Kaetetrini doesn't want to be a bother, that's the last thing she wants to be is a bother. She catches sight of a drudge elbowing another in the rups, and flashes Maurin a quick, shy smile. "That's a fine name," she says, looking at it. "If you want," she turns bright red again, she's not used to displaying this particular talent. But then, it's the reason she's doing her Mastery now. "I can just taste it, and then write the recipe." She says it quick. "or you can send it to Paradise, I'm stayin' there with Sybil."
Jenisye smiles. "You're welcome to taste it, if you'd like, or I can send it. It's your choice, really. Your project."
Uh oh. Smile attack! Maurin catches the smile out of the corner of his eye and his ear imediately begin to turn pink...and pinker...and pinker...A few smothered snickers are heard from his companions as he desperately tries to be inconspicuous.
Jenisye turns, hearing a snicker, and sees Maurin. She chuckles, smiling kindly at the shy-seeming drudge, then blanks her face and turns comically back to Kaetetrini with a smile.
Kaetetrini looks at the cake, actually edging over it, and smelling it. "You send it on?" she asks, as if she's changed her mind. She moves a red curl from her face. "Raspberry Light Cake?" SHe looks up at the snickering, completely oblivious as the what caused it, and flashes another smile in Maurin's direction, her own cheeks the color of redfruits as her eyes meet Jenisye's again.
Jenisye looks at Kaetetrini, saying softly, "If you would like, I do have an extra copy of the recipe. I can give it to you now, and send the actual later on, or I can send them both later. What would you prefer?"
Kaetetrini blinks, her face a red blank, oh a decision, that's not good at all. "Ahhh," she bites her bottom lip, "which ever is easiest for you," she mumbles, trying hard to not slip into her native Tillek accent. They aren't getting anywhere are they?
Jenisye shrugs. "Here, why don't I give you the recipe now, and then I'll send the actual along later. If you want it, that is." She holds out a piece of paper, which has Jenisye's scrawling handwriting across it.
And pinker...and pinker...Maurin is about the color of a beet now, riveling the reddest of wines. Don't worry. He'll go pinker. He's had plenty of pratice.
Kaetetrini's not about to be rude, and she reaches out a hand gingerly, and takes the paper. Wow, paper, not hide! "Are you sure?" she asks, fingering the substance, which she doesn't get to often, in her hands as if it'll shatter. "I mean..." her voice trails off and she looks around the kitchen once again.
Jenisye smiles. "I couldn't resist. I got a hold of a few sheets of paper, and it's just too fun to surprise people with it. Here, I'm quite sure." She smiles broadly, happy with the success of her little joke.
Kaetetrini lets out a little bit of a gasp, and smiles broadly, "Thankee"! she exclaims, her accent sneaking through. "Y've done a lovely job with the kitchen," she compliments belatedly, remembering how Goldean had it set up.
Jenisye smiles happily. "Thank you. I try to keep it in at least some order. And thank you for letting me participate in this."
Kaetetrini shrugs, she's happy that Jenisye agreed to participate in it. ""Thank /you/," she says, "very very much!" Again her cheeks begin to burn. "It looks lovely."
Jenisye smiles, a rare blush creeping into her cheeks at the compliments. "Thank you. And good luck on your mastery."
Kaetetrini nods, holding the paper gingerly, and glancing at it every so often. "Thank you," the young woman replies again, picking up her pack, that was quick! "I appreciate...." her voice trails off, as she backs toward the door, out of the unfamiliar kitchen.
Jenisye chuckles. "Good luck getting out. This place can be a real maze. You should be able to go straight through the dining hall and out through the great hall."
Kaetetrini nods, her red curls bouncing, she remembers. "Thankee," she calls one last time, before disappearing through the door.