Chapter 6.
Obran waited by the university gate promptly at noon. When the bell rang a lot of humans left campus to nearby stalls or taverns. Perhaps they don't like the campus food either, Obran thought. Erkin and Tomas eventually walked out of their building looking like an odd pair: a tall, skinny auburn haired boy and a short green skinned gremlin.
"So what are we going to eat?" Obran said.
Talking recipes with Zico and sampling gnome food had left him hungry. Or maybe he was still buzzing from the fairy dust in the punch.
"We're going to the dining hall so you can taste the food there, remember," Erkin said. "I also spoke to the headmistress and she said we could meet her after lunch."
"Okie dokie," Obran said.
They went to the dining hall which was located on campus. It was smaller than he expected, just about a dozen tables. He saw some human students as well as a couple of dwarves and gnomes—Erkin had already told him he was the only gremlin at the university. Their lunch was served in a food line, reminding Obran of the army, that is when they weren't making their own food, and the food didn't look much different either: plain gruel and bread that no one seemed to enjoy.
"This food is awful," Obran said. "I ate better in the army."
"Yeah, it's just us poor students who eat here as well as some of the domestic staff. The professors have their own dining hall, full service, and the rich patrician kids eat outside or back in their homes," Erkin said.
"But at least you get to go home everyday," Tomas said. "For dinner, I eat whatever is leftover from lunch."
Tomas had quickly scarfed down his food but still looked hungry.
"Obran will make us something much better when you visit, I promise," Erkin said.
"That won't be too hard," Obran said.
"Yeah I can't afford to eat out much," Tomas said. "I'm always glad when Erkin brings me leftovers."
Obran had noticed food missing, and had guessed the reason too, but hadn't said anything about it.
"I'm feeding both of you but you're both still so skinny," Obran said.
"Hey, I have to walk back and forth to the city everyday, not all of us lounge around all day," Erkin chided.
"Yeah, yeah, you think that food grows itself. Just be glad I don't make you prepare your own food. If you were cooking we'd all starve."
Tomas chuckled.
"I'll eat your stew if you don't want it," Tomas said, eyeing Obran's gruel which he had barely touched.
"Knock yourself out," Obran said; he pushed his gruel towards Tomas.
"You seem in a better mood," Erkin said.
"Yeah, I got some ingredients and met another cook at the market," Obran said. "A gnome, nice guy, and he even gave me some fairy dust."
"You're making lots of friends today," Erkin said. "You should think about moving to Roma. It's bringing out the best in you."
"Hmm," Obran said.
Erkin had hinted he wanted to move to the capital but Obran hoped it would be after he graduated. He'd gotten used to living with his little brother.
"And please be polite to the headmistress, ok," Erkin said. "She's already bugging me and Tomas about the condition of the workshop so I don't need her any madder at us."
"Okay, I'll behave. I'll treat her like a general," Obran said.
After lunch was over they went to the second dining hall, which was an annex in the same building. It was the dining hall for the professors and top staff. Obran noticed they had actual metal cutlery and utensils instead of the wooden ones they had just used. In the kitchen, the staff was cleaning up and preparing the scraps and leftovers. An older, heavy set woman sat in a high chair observing the workers and occasionally barking out orders. She wore a white bonnet and apron and had a stern scowl on her face. Erkin had told him she was in charge of all the domestic workers at the university: kitchen staff, maintenance, and cleaning. A position which she took very seriously.
"Good afternoon, headmistress," Erkin said.
The headmistress barely gave Obran, Erkin, and Tomas a glance.
"I expect this kitchen to be spotless by the hour's end!" the headmistress yelled at her staff. "Now no one disturb me!"
Obran and Erkin's ears both folded closed since her loud and unpleasant voice hurt their sensitive ears.
"Ok, let's get this over with and skip the introductions," the headmistress said.
"Hello, I'm Obran," Obran said, ignoring her.
"Yes, yes, follow me, gremlin two," she said and walked ahead; they all quickly followed.
"And I hope you two are doing a better job keeping that workshop clean," the headmistress said, not even looking back.
"Yes, headmistress," Tomas and Erkin said in unison.
"Good. I'll come inspect it later, now let's hope gremlin two is a better worker than the two of you," she said.
She led them to a kitchen counter full of old potatoes, onions, beets, garlic and carrots; next to them were cutting knives of all sizes.
"So, your brother tells me you are quite the cook, gremlin two," the headmistress said.
Obran looked at all the vegetables.
"No weeds?" Obran said.
Tomas chuckled but Erkin nudged him to stop.
"Don't be smart," the headmistress said. "Ok gremlin, listen carefully. If, and I mean if you ever work here, you will prepare and do only what I say."
"So you're in charge of the menu?" Obran said.
"What?" she said.
"Nothing," Obran said.
"Ok, gremlin you're getting this chance because your brother has been harassing me for months telling me how great a cook you are and because some professors have taken a liking to him for whatever reason and seem to want to keep these two happy. You are only here by their command."
Obrans ears perked up; he was getting angry now.
"Ok, I want you to show me you can dice, slice, peel, and chop, all of this," she said and grabbed an hourglass, "all before the sand runs out. Begin..."
She turned the hourglass over and the sand started to run. Obran looked at the hourglass; he had less than two minutes. Slowly, he walked to the table and examined the fruits and vegetables. He picked up a few, studied their texture and tenseness then he grabbed a couple of knives, studying their edges. When he saw one that he liked he set it aside. He then poured some water into a bowl and washed his hands and nails. Then he took the knife and sharpened his nails, leaving them as sharp as eagle talons.
"All the knives have been sharpened already; don't dirty them with your grubby nails; you're just wasting time," she said.
Sand trickled down the hourglass but Obran didn't pay attention to it. Instead he started to slice, dice, peel and chop the ingredients using only his claws. Obran's hands moved in a blur, like a wildcat on a hunt.
"Wow," Tomas said.
"Told you," Erkin whispered.
"Quiet," the headmistress said.
Soon all the fruits and vegetables were cut, chopped, diced, and peeled, laid out in perfect order with plenty of sand left in the hourglass. Tomas started to clap before the headmistress gave him a stiff stare and Tomas stopped instantly.
"Okay gremlin two, you have some skill," the headmistress said.
"Thank you and my name is Obran. Should I cook these now?" Obran said.
"No. You have to work up to that. You'll start by washing dishes," the headmistress said. "I'd put you on the floor but I don't think anyone wants to see you serve their food."
"As you wish," Obran said.
"You'll start as soon as possible, pending approval of the board of course, dismissed," the headmistress said.
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