Kingdom Fate and Squash Soup

Aros picked at the battered wooden tabletop, freckled chin resting atop his fist.

“Don’t overthink it,” she said, back to him as she worked at the bulbus black pot suspended within the fireplace.

“Don’t overthink it.” Aros snorted, tracing a small gouge in the wood. His sword leaned against the back of his chair, the blade emanating a soft blue light that flickered with his irritation. “Of course. It’s not as if the fate of the kingdom isn’t hanging in the balance. No pressure.”

“Aros,” Tia sighed, her aged shoulders dropping with irritation.

“In fact,” he dug his fingernail into the gouge, marring the old wood further, blue flashing behind him. “Why don’t we just roll a set of dice? Then I don’t have to think at all! Much simpler. And no guilt over the consequences. Who needs things like death and destruction on their-“

“Aros!” Tia snapped, cutting him off.

Her fist landed on her hip, dark brown eyes lecturing without words. Her gaze skipped to his hand, then back. He froze. She picked up a bowl, turning back to the massive pot. “I don’t care if you are one of the Seven Sword Bearers. Stop picking at my table, young man.”

Aros huffed, crossing his arms at lowering his head onto them to hide from the world. Or at least from the cozy warm light of the kitchen. The others would be furious when they found out he’d ditched the high lords meeting and come here. Again.

Tia’s soft boots shuffled lightly as she crossed toward him, the light thunk of a pottery bowl settling on the table.

“Eat,” Tia said, the chair beside him squeaking as she sat.

“Not hungry,” he mumbled into the table.

“Eat. Fate of the kingdom decisions shouldn’t be made on an empty stomach.”

He rolled his head to the side just enough to scowl up at her, but the lines around her smirk only deepened.

It was enough, however, for the scent of soup to slip in and grab him by the nose, drawing his head up. Before him, the bowl waited patiently, filled nearly to the brim, warm golden squash swirled with cream and dotted with dried bread chunks.

His stomach gargled, a spark of blue flickering behind him.

Tia pulled a spoon from the jar in the center of the table, setting it beside him without a word.

Aros picked up the spoon, pointedly ignoring her as he pulled the bowl closer.

Three bites later, the harsh blue flicker of his blade had faded to a gentle glow.