Chapter 7: Chef

Chapter 7: Chef

A very fit elf stares at me with a frown that puts Lucilluss to shame. This woman has a cute pink apron on her front, on top of a medieval chef attire; but if she didnt have that, she could have easily given a military general a run for their money.

How you doin? I ask with a wide smile while winking.

She slowly takes out a massive wooden spoon from a pocket in her apron and starts tapping her other hand with it.

Do you want me to go to prison again? she asks her cousin.

This guy says hes a baker and that hes good, Clodia. I dont know how he got here, but hes one of those classless weirdos and needs a job. He currently doesnt have a penny. And you always complain with Aunt Marcella that you dont have enough good workers.nove(l)bi(n.)com

She doesnt bother replying to her cousin and just stares at me.

Hey, nice to meet you Im Jo

What kind of baking can you do? she interrupts me ruthlessly.

Shes kinda hot once you get over the fact that shes probably stronger than me and shes my exact same height.

Im specialized in cakes, frosting and decorating. I can make bread easily. I can make savory pastries, like sugarless croissants, and prepare a good filling that will fly off the shelves. The only problem is that Im not from anywhere close and I may need a day or two to adjust to your ingredients.

Honest, at least. Is that a spellbook?

Yeah, trying to learn how to spit fire or something to incorporate it in my desserts. I think I could pull off a mean Crme Brule if I could have nice control over the size and the temperature of the flame.

She stares at me hard and then naturally asks.

Whats a crme parle?

Brule. You take some custard and caramelize the sugar on top with a flame.

Caramelize? she raises an eyebrow.

Heat the sugar so much it becomes a liquid?

She takes me by my shirt and starts dragging me toward the lab.

We dont have a open flame to use to caramelize the toppings, sadly. But I just heat up the sugar and mix it a bit with a rudimentary whisk to make it liquid.

She stares at the thing, enraptured.

I didnt know sugar did that, she says whispering.

No one ever tried? You have a bakery, magic, and God knows what, and no one had ever thought of caramel? Dudette, we can become rich with this simple trick alone, up top!

Isnt it a little weird that Im in medieval times and I already met a member of the LGBTQ community?

Whats this, a Netflix show?

What about my strong girl fantasies, huh?

Clodia turns at me and immediately notices that Im looking at her weirdly.

You have a problem, human? she has spotted my disappointed expression.

Just wish I was a woman, now, boss, I give her my signature wink, adding a nice click with the side of my mouth.

I perfected this move in front of a mirror, practiced it a thousand times until it reached perfect smoothness.

Clodia raises an eyebrow and snorts.

You wish, she shakes her head and points me toward a corner of the lab, you are going to start preparing the ingredients for the night shift. Unless you are too good for that.

Oh, a test.

Not a problem.

I have to physically refrain from winking, this time. It may appear I have a tic, like subway-girl.

Did the subway girl tell me her name?

Oh, shoot. I dont remember.

And while I ponder matters of extraordinary importance, Clodia moves forward with her schedule.

Raissa, come here! Clodia shouts so loud that I would drop a plate if I had one. No one else seems even remotely fazed, though.

Chef? another Elf, this one quite plain, comes answering the call.

Teach Joey how to arrange the ingredients for the night shift. And show him around. When hes done, let him rest in the break room.

Yes, chef, the Elf woman does not even blink at the orders.

Clodia runs a pretty tight ship, huh?

If you dont behave, human, Ill have your guts be the filling of my next pie. Is that clear?

My signature wink comes out on its own volition this time.

Sure, boss.