Homecoming Read Online Free Page A

her nightmares.
    He drew another slow breath, and gradually his eyes darkened to normal. He blinked and seemed to regain control. “Come. I wanted to show you our kitchens.”
    Careful not to upset him again, she walked at his side, keeping a measured distance between them. Not friendly, but not too rude. She didn’t want to see those eyes again.
    Too her surprise, there was a man holding a beast outside the kitchens. About the size of a pig, it had a body like a cross between a large kangaroo and a deer, with hoofed feet. The head had a distinctly jackrabbitish look about it, and the ears were long. The body was dull brown with white markings on its legs, belly and tiny, tufted tail.
    “This is a deerhare,” Jayems explained. “You know him better as sausage.”
    She grimaced at him as the handler led the animal away. “Ugh. Do you always introduce your guests to their breakfast?”
    “Only when they think we’re serving infant instead,” he said dryly, opening the kitchen door for her.
    The kitchens were huge and immaculate. Entire rooms were devoted to baking, butchering and processing vegetables. There were sinks and stoves in each room, as well as various kinds of pantries and cold storage. The staff was polite, though they only stopped what they were doing when directly addressed. It was hard to believe the amount of food they processed in a day.
    “The Citadel is vast. The kitchens supply all the food for our garrison, my personal household as well as their own families,” Jayems explained. “There are many young apprentices here, learning how to provide for their own families. It’s not just a kitchen, it’s also a classroom.”
    “Wow.” Wiley thanked a young man who handed her a tiny tart, then took a bite.
    Warm citrus curd and buttery shell melted on her tongue. “Mmm! Where do I sign up?”
    Jayems grinned. “You’re welcome to take lessons here in the kitchens, or I’d be happy to arrange a private tutor.”
     
    Unwilling to acknowledge that she’d be there long enough to attend the lessons, she made a noncommittal sound in answer.
    As she snacked her way around the kitchens she acquired knowledge of many new foods, and of a surprising array of familiar ones. Food being a subject dear to her heart, she couldn’t stop herself from asking questions.
    “We brought many seeds and plants with us when we came; others are natives to this planet. Some of the plants didn’t thrive, but others loved their new home.” He gestured to a monstrous parsnip on a cutting board.
    “Tell me brussel sprouts didn’t make it,” she begged.
    “Never heard of it,” he said with a smile.
    “Sweet.” Even drowned in cheese sauce, she’d never been able to stand brussel sprouts. Martian heads, they used to call them.
    He led her out another door and into formal herb garden, smiling at her exclamation of pleasure. “The pride of our kitchens,” he said, gesturing to the knot garden. “We have fifteen varieties of thyme alone.”
    “Cool.” She bent to sniff a hedge. “Mint! I love this stuff in cocoa.”
    The herb garden led into the orchards. It was long past noon by the time they’d toured the vegetable gardens, greenhouses, seen the berry plot and done a quick walk through the livestock area. Tired, but in a pleasant mood, she let him lead her back toward the Citadel.
    They’d nearly reached the entrance when they met up with a group of three young ladies and a matronly sort. One look at Jayems and the young ones were all shy smiles and giggles.
    Wiley rolled her eyes. Those girls were all around her age--old enough to have more sense. Granted, Fallon was good looking in a brutal sort of way, but anyone could see he would be a totally dominating husband, completely unsuited to any woman with a brain.
    It didn’t stop the giggling trio, who looked like they spent half their day preparing to wow men. Their hair trailed in elaborate braids down their backs, as if a maid had spent at least an hour