Rainbow centaur's Arc

Chapter 3 of 3

Rainbow centaur held up both hands. The prince stood in the chocolate doorway, his tail lashing. "Your highness, we meant no disrespect," she said. "I never knew the grove was yours. We were hungry." She kept her voice soft and low. Behind her, the fairies pressed against the fudge wall. The baby hid its face. "Let me make it right. Let my fairy friends help me cook you a meal. We will pay back every fruit we took." The prince crossed his arms. "A meal cannot un-steal what you stole." His eyes swept the stripped branches on the horse's back. "You fed thieves. You are a thief." A new voice cut in from the doorway. "Ah, but who among us has not stolen a little fruit?" A man stepped past the prince into the kitchen. He walked upright on two legs, no hooves, no wings. His white shirt was rolled at the sleeves. Dark hair hung to his shoulders, and his blue eyes moved over the food on the table. He smiled like he already owned the room. The fairy mother gasped. She darted forward and clutched Rainbow centaur's arm. "He cooks for the prince," she whispered. "He decides what touches the royal mouth." Sylvain fournier bent over the fudge table. He lifted a slice of purple fruit and sniffed it. He tore a piece of the marshmallow bread and chewed slow. His eyebrows went up. "This is the grove fruit," he said. "Nobody cooks it right. It goes bitter." He tasted the berry stuffing next. He closed his eyes. "But this is not bitter. This is good." Rainbow centaur stepped closer. "I can teach you. I can cook it for the prince myself, tonight. Fresh. Let me earn back the trust I broke." Sylvain turned to the prince. "Highness, kill her and you lose the only cook in Narnia who knows this fruit. Keep her, and your table changes forever." He licked juice from his thumb. "I would keep her." The prince stared a long time. His tail went still. "One meal," he said. "You cook for me at the manor. If it pleases me, the theft is forgiven. If it fails, you answer to Marina herself." He turned and pushed through the chocolate door. His winged lion roared outside. Rainbow centaur let out her breath. The fairies swarmed around her, buzzing. She had bought her way out of death with a promise to cook. But now she had traded a small hidden fight against Marina for a seat inside Marina's own house. Sylvain lingered at the door and looked back at her. "Come, cook," he said. "You have a prince to feed. And I think you have more plans than fruit." His blue eyes held hers. He knew. Rainbow centaur gathered the last marshmallow bread and followed him out, her mind already turning. Inside the enemy's kitchen, she would find her war.