Free Elphame's Choice by P.C. Cast Page A

“Meara, I will ask you to give me a list of your workers at the end of the day. Now,” Elphame began again, “who are my cooks?”
    With only a slight hesitation, four young women who had been standing in a little clump close together raised their hands. The one in the middle of the group took a half step forward. She had fiery red hair and lovely jade-colored eyes.
    “We heard your call and came from McNamara Castle. The head cook there was…” She paused and looked at her friends for support. They nodded encouragement to her. “She was verra grumpy, and she dinna like young cooks. Aye, she especially dinna not like young cooks with new ideas.” The redhead rolled her words with a soft, western brogue.
    Elphame raised her eyebrows. “Well, I can assure you that I do not mind young cooks, and I especially like new ideas. I do not think I am grumpy, but Cuchulainn would probably disagree with me.”
    At the mention of her handsome brother’s name, the girls tittered and smiled.
    “So which among you is the best cook?” Elphame asked.
    Three pairs of eyes shifted to the woman who had spoken for them.
    “We are all fine cooks, but I admit to having a special talent in the kitchen. My name is Wynne. The lassies who join meare Ada, Colleen and Ula.” She pointed to each woman in turn as she spoke.
    “Wynne, I am pleased to announce that you are my new head cook,” Elphame said. “The first order of business for you will be inspecting what is left of the castle’s kitchens. Take note of what must be repaired in order to get it into working order as quickly as possible. You have many hungry mouths to feed.”
    “Aye, Goddess,” Wynne said, curtseying quickly.
    Elphame could feel her jaw setting at the title. Goddess. They would never see her as herself—Elphame, a young woman who liked to run and laugh with her family and had a tendency to be a little too fond of long soaks in her mother’s bathing pool—at least they wouldn’t as long as everyone insisted upon seeing her only as a goddess.
    Perhaps this new beginning could change that. She made the decision quickly.
    “Ladies,” she said, and the chattering that had begun silenced as all eyes turned to her. “I would like to ask a favor of each of you. We are going to be working closely together, and I would prefer it if you would call me by my name instead of by the title of Goddess.”
    The women blinked at her, shocked expressions mirrored on each face.
    Elphame sighed.
    “Or you could call me my Lady. Anything but Goddess,” she said, feeling a little desperate when no one spoke. “Let’s see,” she continued quickly. “What else? I know. Is there anyone here who is skilled at weaving or needlepoint?”
    Several hands went up. Elphame caught the eye of one rather plump blonde whose rosy face seemed to have a perpetual glow.
    “What is your name?” El asked her.
    “Caitlin.”
    “Caitlin, can you weave or needlepoint?”
    “Both, Godde—my Lady.”
    “Excellent. I have several ideas for the new tapestries. Actually, I would like them to reflect a theme for each major room of the castle, beginning with the Great Hall.” Elphame’s voice lit with excitement. “And the theme for the Great Hall will be the castle itself. I want the tapestries to show MacCallan Castle living again in all of its grandeur and beauty.”
    Caitlin blinked several times before speaking. “But, Goddess…ur…I mean, my Lady, how will we know what to weave? It—” she pointed helplessly at the hulking structure before them “—it doesn’t look so grand now.”
    Elphame frowned. She’d forgotten that everyone didn’t have a picture of the restored castle imprinted upon their minds.
    “I suppose I will have to find an artist….” She trailed off, staring at her beloved, tumbledown castle.
    “I could sketch it for you, my Lady.”
    El’s head snapped around and she searched the women, trying unsuccessfully to see who had spoken.
    “Who spoke?” she