Chapter 220
The healer thought for a moment, then smiled. “It must have been God’s Tongue that you ate. It’s a very, very rare plant, you know.”
“Really?”
“Yes! In fact, it’s incredible that you found it at all. It’s actually a fungus; it only grows in very low light. Under shrubs, even beneath layers of dead plant matter, and only where something like an animal has decomposed.”
I thought about that for a moment, recalling how I had moved aside dead, wet leaves to find the plant. It only made my situation even more confusing. How the hell had I just… known it was there?
Once the healer cleared me to leave, I made-my way out into the hall, where Dominic was still waiting. He pushed away from the wall he was leaning against and walked over to me.
“Well?”
“I’m fine,” I said. “Just like I said.’
“But what about the blood?”
“I’m fine, Dominic.’
He let out a breath. “Good. That’s good.”
I looked at him for a moment, then said, “Can we have the boar for dinner tonight? I think I’ve earned it, don’t you?”
Dominic smiled, an expression that I admittedly found myself drawn to looking at, but shook his head. ” Vivian said she prepared a menu for the festival banquet and wants us to test it tonight. Maybe tomorrow.”
Of course. The menu.
I had nearly forgotten.
That evening, I put on one of my nicer dresses-just for the occasion, I told myself, although a small voice in the back of my head wondered why I was so concerned about looking nice in front of Dominic — and made my way down to the dining room for dinner, where Dominic and Vivian were already waiting. I took my seat, saying nothing.
The staff started bringing out the covered dishes, and I watched with mounting satisfaction, sipping my wine, as the lids were removed.
Dominic’s face paled further and further with each one. When the chef placed a plate of fresh octopus in front of him, he looked like he was going to be sick right then and there.
“Dig in,” Vivian said, completely oblivious. “I know these are all your favorites, so I had them all specially sourced and prepared today. Everything is fresh-the octopus was still moving just a few minutes ago!”
Dominic stared at his plate and gulped.
I suppressed a smile and turned to Vivian.
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“Vivian, what makes you think that these are Dominic’s favorite dishes?” I asked.
She looked at me with an arched brow. “Well, I found it written down today-”
“These are his least favorite.”
Vivian stared at me, her lips parted in surprise. I didn’t spare her another glance before I waved to the chef, who disappeared into the kitchen.
A moment later, the doors opened once more, and the chef and one of the kitchen staff emerged holding an enormous platter between them. They set it down in the middle of the table and removed the cover, revealing a large hunk of the boar-freshly roasted with a maple glaze and surrounded by roast carrots, potatoes, and green beans from the garden.
My mouth was watering already at the scent of the fresh, juicy meat. Vivian’s fingers tightened around her fork.
When I looked at Dominic, his eyes were wide. I smiled. “Just in case you don’t want to eat octopus,” I said, reaching for the carving knife. “I’ll do the honors.”
Before I could cut the meat, though, Dominic’s hand shot out, grabbing my wrist.
“No,” he said. “I’ll eat this.”
I stared at him. He picked up his fork and stabbed a piece of the octopus.
Then, without looking at me, he choked it down.
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