She's been supervising the goings on in the kitchen when she looked up and
saw the young Queenrider enter the room.

Realee smiled warmly at her as she turned to make her way across the room to
greet Her.

"So what brings you back into my kitchens Sweetie? Maybe a request for me to
try my hand at something you mss from where you grew up?" the head cook asked.

Danika laughed. A pure sweet sound that relieved the cook when she heard it. 

"Oh no..." Danika told her, still chuckling. "Actually I've come to do you a
small favor."

"Oh?" Realee's left eyebrow moved upwards just a little. "You're going to
volunteer your free time to help me out back here maybe?"

"Oh no... I know when I'm out of my league," the girl grinned again thinking
of the surprise she had waiting out side. "But... I do have someone out in
the hall eating right now that I'm sure you're going to want to meet."

"Oh? Let me guess," Realee's face took on a knowing glance. "Another one of
my daughters foundlings who is looking for something worthy to do until your
Queen lays her eggs?"

The last two who'd been sent here to help her out, had been almost worse
then useless. Realee had been thankful when they had both decided not to
return but to find something else to fill their time with....

Why that girl Koloee, one of the new searchlings had spent more time
flirting with ever male rider she came across then she did helping out in
the kitchen. After she had damn near burnt the place down because she had
walked away from a pot with oil heating in it to make eyes at one young
rider, and wasn't there to see the oil bubble over the top of the pot and
into the fire causing a small fire....

"Oh I think you'll like this girl," Danika was quick to reassure her. "In
fact she was cooking at the Nikkas Inn in Triylar when Jayleigh found her...
and has ASKED to be allowed to help out until the eggs hatch."

Realee eyed the girl suspiciously for a minute before speaking. 

"She asked to work here in my kitchen?"

"Yes ma'am. That she did," Danika nodded her head grinning impishly back at
the cook. "In fact she wanted to come right on in here and ask you herself,
but I told her she had to eat something first."

"Very well I'll go and meet her... but!" Realee exclaimed with a shacking
raised finger. "If she doesn't work out, then you have to promise to give me
a weeks help back here to make up for the time lost."

"It's a deal," Danika agreed. Herself knowing that was a bet she would never
have to deliver on.  

Realee motioned with a circling finger, for the girl to lead the way and
followed her out in to the hall and to the table where a young blond woman
was sitting seeming to be enjoying the food on the plate before her. 

The woman started, "Welcome Marialla, I hear you like to cook and you might
be interested in helping me out when time permits."

"Time permits Ma'am?" the girl didn't understand. Was this some kind of test?

"Well you are here to be one of the searchlings right?" the cook asked.

"Well yes ma'am but I don't think that will take up all my time, and I
really would like to be of some help in my free time."

Something told Realee that this child was different from the others. She had
felt it right away when the girl had stood upon her arrival and the polite
way she had of greeting her. 

"Very well Marialla... or may I call you Mari?" Realee asked, the grinned.
"You look like a Mari to me, but if you don't like that name I won't be
hurt. I'll need you to find out from the new trainer...T'rell (and Realee
chuckled a bit ere, but neither of the women standing before her knew why.)
When you're hatchling classes will be held and then we can decide when the
best time for you to help out in the kitchens would be."

"Oh thank you ma'am!" Marialla smiled, happy that this interview had gone so
well.

"And you're first order coming from me to you will be for you to call me
Realee," the cook said sternly, then grinned. "I reserve Ma'am from snot
nose little urchin's  who need constant reminders of how to be polite to the
elders." 

"Yes ma'am...I mean Realee."

"Just let me know what you find out from T'rell then we can set up a
schedule for you to start working... by the way... you do cook right?"

Marialla nodded her head.

"Oh good...maybe we could share a few idea's for some new dishes around here."

Realee was smiling as she walked back to her kitchen. She liked this one.
She seem to have some sense... and wouldn't be off flirting when there was
work to be done.

She had a thought that maybe her kitchen would survive

-----------------------  

Nrpg: Was planning on doing more with this... but will have to get to Tair'n
and Jayleigh when I get home from work..... I got held up later then I
thought tonight because of a stupid thoughtless woman who lives with the guy
my mom works for.... she didn't come home to pick up his kids until two
hours after she was suppose too so I got stuck waiting there with mom for
her to finally decide to come home.....

I had to finish this part cause I promised Dianne I would... she waited long
enough for me to write it....

Any way... Jayleigh when I get home...

Barb

Realee... head Cook Daere Warren