The First Spell Weaver of Airendell: Book Two of the Airendell Chronicles (31 page)

“Auggie, would you mind if I made some sausage gravy to go with those beautiful biscuits?”  Morna asks.

“Not at all love.  But you would have to do it, because I don’t know how.”  Auggie admits.

Morna laughs and says, “I think sausage gravy is a specialty of southern America in Midgard.  There is no reason that you would know how to prepare it.”  Morna has cooked all but the last two pounds of sausage, when she drains most of the drippings out of the pan and crumbles the sausage into the hot skillet and starts browning it. She quickly washes her hands and turns her attention back to the bacon and hash browns, only stirring the sausage crumble occasionally.  When the buffet pan is full of bacon, she puts the lid on it and carries it out to the buffet line.  The other kitchen helper is setting up the tables and setting up the two immense coffee makers, and pitchers of juices and milk.  “Good morning Surt.” Morna calls happily to him.  He smiles pleasantly at her but returns his attention to his work.  Morna counts the number of place settings and says, “Please set six more places.”  Morna goes back to the kitchen and removes the bacon pan from the stove to a rack to cool on another counter.

Auggie hisses and says, “Morna! Your hand, you aren’t using a mitt.”

“Sorry Auggie.  I tend to burn myself frequently when I cook, so I just wove the iron-lion as a precautionary measure.  I can’t feel it, the heat doesn‘t penetrate the spell.”  Then she looks at Nora drawing at the breakfast nook.  “But I guess I should set a better example for my daughter.  I will use the mitt next time.” Morna promises.

Morna returns her attention to the hash browns and sausage crumbles.  When she decides the sausage is brown enough she gets two large scoops of flour and pours them over the crumbles.  She stirs them gently and asks Auggie for a wire whip.  Morna lowers the heat a little and stirs the mixture gently as it browns and then goes to get a gallon of milk.  She decides the roux is little dry and adds a touch more of the sausage drippings, and stirs it in as it browns.  Finally she decides the flour has browned enough and adds the milk slowly as she stirs it efficiently with the wire whisk.  Once all the milk has been added, she turns the heat up marginally so that it will thicken.  She adds salt and pepper and continues to stir.  She removes the last hash brown patty just as Luca pulls the last of the pancakes and French toast from the griddle.  Morna sniffs and says, “Luca, I bet those biscuits are ready.”

Auggie has been carrying items out to the serving line while Luca and Morna finish up their respective dishes.  Luca removes the biscuits from the ovens and starts to put them in the buffet pans when Morna indicates Nora with a nod of her head, so he uses the tongs to pick them up.  Morna smiles appreciatively at him for going along with her.  When Auggie returns to the kitchen Morna compliments her on the biscuits.  They smell heavenly and look as light as a feather.

Auggie eyes the Lord and Lady before her and says, “I am pleasantly surprised at your talents in the kitchen.”

Luca chuckles and says, “Morna made everyone take turns feeding the warriors on duty back at Airendell gate.  We are all skilled in the kitchen because of it.  One would be very foolish to burn a meal intended for a barracks full of Airendell warriors.”

Auggie chuckles and says, “I bet that is very true.  Well, all of your family and friends are assembling in the dining area.  We had to set up the bigger banquet table and not the family one.”  She watches admiringly as Luca helps Morna pour the gravy into a large buffet pan.  And loads the other buffet plans on a cart for her.

Morna kisses her mate and says, “Please take Nora to the table.  I heard our other children come in a couple of minutes ago.”  Luca cups her cheek and then pats her rump affectionately before he turns his attention to the little girl drawing at the breakfast nook. 

After he walks around to her side of the nook he stops to admire her artwork.  She is genuinely a very talented artist.  He can easily recognize everyone in the picture.  It’s a family portrait.  Luca sees himself standing behind his seated mate, gazing lovingly at the bundle in her arms.  Morna is holding an infant in her arms, and smiling happily.  Kyle is on Luca’s left side, proudly looking at his mother and infant brother.  Aiden is standing to the right of Morna, playing with his baby brother, while Aideen stands to the left of Morna.  There is an incomplete silhouette to the left of Aideen.  Luca assumes that was meant to be Agnar.   And Nora has drawn herself kneeling by her mother, she too is playing with the baby.  Luca motions Morna over to join them and she looks at her daughter’s drawing with obvious pride.  “She’s really very talented, isn’t she?” Morna asks quietly.

“Beyond a doubt.” Agrees Luca.  “Nora that is a lovely family portrait.”

“Thank you Daddy.  Did you notice Aiden doesn’t need his chair?  I didn’t get a good look at the baby’s face in my dream though.  Sorry.”  Nora says seriously.  She points to an empty spot beside Aideen and says, “Kylor belongs there, but I don’t know what he looks like.”

Luca looks at his mate and they share a sad smile before turning his attention to their daughter.  “May I keep this?”

“Sure Daddy.  I made it for you and Mom.”  Nora says brightly.  Then she adds somewhat impatiently, “Can we go eat now?  I am really hungry.”

Luca laughs as he lays the picture on the counter and says, “Like mother like daughter.” as he scoops the seven year old up into his arms and carries her quickly to the dining area.

Morna continues to look at the picture of her family when Auggie comes to her side and looks at the drawing.  She clears her throat and when Morna tears her eyes away from the picture Auggie says, “She has the second sight, you realize that don’t you?”

“I wasn’t sure.  I can sense very strong magic in her.  I knew she has always had a talent for never being surprised by anything, so I have suspected it these last few days.  But I am now pretty sure you are right.  That’s a difficult burden for one so young.”  Morna says seriously.  Auggie gives Morna a hug.  She understands the burden for one so young and sympathizes with Morna and her daughter.

“If it becomes a problem for her, you are strong enough to put a dampening spell on her talent until she is older.”  Auggie reminds Morna.

“Yes, that is an option I may have to consider.  Well“, she pulls herself away from her daughter’s drawing and faces Auggie, “We should get the rest of this food out there so that everyone can eat.”

When they have placed the last of the food on the line and uncovered it all for everyone to serve themselves.  Morna looks around the room at her family and friends.  Auggie is turning to go back to the kitchen.  “Not so fast Auggie.  Spell Weavers don’t like to be waited on.  If you help prepare a meal for us, you join us to eat it.”  Morna spots Ingrid and Brynhold hovering around trying to figure out a way to be useful to their guests.  She smiles at Ingrid and motions her over to her.  “Where are Surt, Tena and Skjarr?  You are all supposed to take meals with us.  It’s one thing for you to not eat with us when my family was first reunited, but now we all eat together.”  When Brynhold starts to protest, Morna says firmly, “It’s our way.”  Brynhold looks around the huge assembled group and many nod at him to affirm Morna’s words. 

Brynhold smiles and relents, “I will go get the other three.”

“Thank you, Brynhold,” says Morna as she turns to hug one of her friends.  She notices Rinda and Heimdall have just entered the hall when she crooks her finger at her dearest friend in the world.  The couple slowly walk over to Morna but Rinda hangs back.  Morna smoothly covers the distance between them and kisses Rinda’s lips softly and hugs her, as is their way to greet each other.  “Sorry about last night love.  I couldn’t take a chance until I had fed.”

“What’s that mean?” asks Micah who is standing behind Morna and piling his plate high with food from the buffet.

“Morna had to hunt last night.  The craving for blood that Gullveig warned her about had been getting stronger for days, but she didn’t know what it was that she was craving.”  Heimdall says quietly.

Micah turns pale as a sheet and says, “Until she hugged me last night, I guess.”  He looks at Morna seriously, “I guess that’s why you practically pushed me away from you after the exam.”

Shame colors Morna’s cheeks bright red and she ducks her head before saying quietly, “Yes, Godson.  Forgive me?  I didn’t realize what it was until that moment.  I swear!”

“Morna, I know that.  You wouldn’t deliberately endanger any of us.  I am glad to know why you acted that way though.  I feel like a knucklehead saying this, but it kind of hurt my feelings at the time.”  Micah admits feeling rather stupid about his reaction to what she did.

Rinda chuckles and says, “Micah you aren’t the only knucklehead in the bunch.  I saw Morna before she hunted last night, and I really got my feelings hurt because she wouldn’t get near me.  But I was being silly.  Heimdall explained to me the intense blood thirst that she was experiencing.  But you would have never known it by the way she acted.  She just acted like Morna, remote, but calm and cool like always.”  Then Rinda giggles and says, “Well she did snarl and hiss at me.  I had forgotten about that.”  Everyone laughs at that.

“I sure didn’t feel calm and cool, I can assure you.  I admire my mate now more than ever.” Morna says with intense feeling.

Micah nudges Morna and points toward Luca and Nora seated at the table.  Nora is happily eating her pancakes and chatting with her Daddy.  But for every third or fourth bite she takes, she feeds a bite to Luca from her plate.  Luca graciously accepts each proffered bite with a happy smile.  Morna chuckles.  “How can he do that?” Micah asks quietly.

“Luca told me once that he can eat food, but the taste and feel reminds him of the time a bully made him eat dirt when he was five years old and living in that orphanage in Italy.” Morna confides and then chuckles.  “I’ll have a talk with Nora.  He certainly won’t tell her no from the looks of things.”

Aideen has walked up to join Morna when she says, “Nope, not our Daddy.  He’s a big softie with his little girls.”

Morna turns to hug her oldest daughter.  She was only able to speak to her briefly yesterday.  Morna is happy to see that Aideen looks content, even happy about her father’s interactions with her younger, half-sister.  Aideen reaches up and strokes her mother’s face.  “How are you Mom?  You have had tons to deal with the last few days.”

“I am amazingly good actually.” Says Morna with a big smile on her face.  “I guess you heard the comments about my additional nutritional needs these days?”

“Yes, I did.  Gullveig had already told Agnar and me that is was likely to happen.  You accepting that okay?”  Aideen asks calmly.  When she sees that Morna is at peace with it, she nods and says, “Good.  So, do we go to Chicago today?”

“I believe that is the plan.  I guess we need to decide exactly who needs to come.  The rest can hang out here until we all meet up in Airendell if they want.  Guess we can all discuss that when everyone has eaten.”  Morna says.  And when her stomach growls, she says, “Speaking of eating…”

Aideen laughs and says, “I’ll leave you to it Mom.  Looks like you, Daddy and Auggie put out a good breakfast spread.  George peeked in on you guys earlier and said it was a true scene of domestic tranquility in there.  He was surprised that you and Daddy are so comfortable working in the kitchen together.  I told him you two are comfortable working at any task together.  I remember watching you two build that barn in Wyoming, and working the cattle together.  You are a natural team.”

Heimdall laughs and says, “You have not seen a natural team until you have seen those two in combat together.”

Aideen smiles at Heimdall and says, “Yeah, I bet you are right.”  Then she turns her attention to Rinda.  “I didn’t mean to ignore you Rinda.” she says as she lightly kisses her friend’s cheek. 

Rinda pats Aideen’s shoulder and says, “I know that, kiddo.  How are you feeling?  You had a ton of things to deal with yourself.”

“I am very good,” she assures her friend.  “Agnar has made all the difference.  He asked me to marry him, and I accepted.  I guess once the baby comes, the curse is broken and everything gets back to normal, well as normal as possible for this bunch, we will get married.  I am thinking a June wedding.”

Morna laughs and happily hugs her daughter.  Luca hears the news and excuses himself from Nora.  Damian and Breena distract the disappointed Nora as Luca strides over to his oldest daughter.  He hugs her and then looks into her eyes, “You really ready to completely devote all of your life, your love and your energy to another person?  Because that is what a really good marriage takes.”

“Yes Daddy, I really am.  Agnar would not have asked me if I were not ready.”  Aideen assures her father. 

“Good!  I am happy for you, my darling girl!”  Luca says sincerely as he hugs his daughter again.  And then he turns his attention to his mate.  As he wraps his arms around her and leads her toward the buffet line, “My very pregnant mate needs to eat.  We have much to discuss this morning, and I would like it if we have time for her to take a nap before we go to Chicago.”  Luca looks at Heimdall, “You can deliver us there at any time of the day, correct?”

“That’s right, Lucian.  Morna can sleep the day away if she needs to before I transport you.  As long as you decide to go before the sun sets in Chicago, I can make you arrive at whatever time you would like to get there.”  Heimdall quietly assures Luca.

“Thank you friend.  You have been very hospitable to us during our stay here.”  Luca says sincerely.