The tropes lunch was going to a simple rice and wild vegetables dish. It wouldn't too much expertise, so Elise decided to split the group in half and have the other group work on drying out their excess forage. Primrose was on the drying team and was diligently stringing them onto the cooking string.
"Hey, hurry it up." one of the other stringers said, "I've done three in the time it is taking you to do one."
"Sorry. This is the first time I've strung up vegetables to dry." Primrose said then gasped as she stabbed herself with the needle.
The woman looked her up and down, her eyes lingering at her sword hilt, and smirked, "Oh my apologies," she mocked bitterly, "Bet knights like you don't have time to spend drying vegetables. Too busy harassing people on behalf of the "king" right?"
Primrose didn't say anything but slowly put down her string.
"What's wrong cats got your tongue or maybe you're too ashamed to say anything you royal dog." the woman spat. Their dispute was starting to garner attention from the others in the group.
"What do I have to be ashamed of, "Primrose responded simply before standing up and staring down the woman, "I take great pride in the time I spent in the King's service. Whatever grievances you have with the crown or with knights as an organization have nothing to do with me."
Primrose could tell that her answer didn't gain her any support from the crowd, but she didn't let that dent her pride.
The woman gritted her teeth and raised her hand to slap Primrose in the face, but her wrist was grabbed. "What are you doing? "Elise asked, while her voice was calm her fingers dug into the woman's wrist.
The woman yanked her arms back, "Malik's new bitch isn't carrying her weight. I shouldn't have to work more just cause that wizard needs a new who-"she was cut off by a sharp slap to the face.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't just hear what you just said. Go to your wagon and don't come out till I get you." Elise said. The woman clutched her cheek and slowly walked away. Elise gaze sweep the rest of the group, challenging them to say something. No one spoke up those a girl snuck away to follow the woman Elise smiled and grabbed Primrose, "Follow me." she said pulling her along.
"I'm sorry." Primrose said after being pulled for a minute.
"What do you have to apologize for, for what I heard you feel no shame?" Elise said.
"I'm sorry for creating a commotion. I feel no shame for my past profession and would defend it again if I promted." Primrose said automatically.
Elise sighed, "There's nothing to apologize for. Kaiya has always hated knights, she used to live in a border town." she admitted
That explained it, the constant fighting and brutal living conditions on the frontier could turn anyone bitter. Also, the sheer distance between the knights in the field and the capital led to a lack of oversight which was problematic.
An awkward silence stretched between them, but Primrose couldn't say anything. Elise cleared her throat, "The only one who should apologize is me.... and Kaiya of course but I hope you'll overlook her rudeness this time. Right now, you're a member of our trope and she should have treated you as one but in the I shouldn't have put you two together in the same group knowing her distaste for knights."
Primrose waved her hand, "I'm used to having to earn respect from the people. "She said.
Elise grinned, "I knew there was a reason I liked you."
"And here I thought you were hanging out with me so you could keep an eye on me." Primrose said smiling up at her. There was no condemnation in her eyes just simple understanding.
"And you just went along with it because?" Elise asked.
"I liked hearing the stories about Malik and like I said before I'm used to having to earn respect." Primrose said.
Elise laughed, "Yep there is definitely a reason." She led Primrose to the food serving station and handed her a tray covered bowls and two small cauldrons
"What am I supposed to do with this? "Primrose asked.
"The performers and children eat separately for lunch. I need you to deliver and serve them then bring the cart back to help with dish duties." Elise said.
"Okay no problem! I'm glad to help out." she said grabbing the cart and marching away.
"Get the performers first. The kids are with Ginny. You'll find them on the east side of the camp most likely near a large red and white wagon with a large cross on it." Elise said.
Primrose paused a moment and stared at her. Elise laughed, "It's the medical station." she explained.
Primrose nodded and headed off to where they had seen the dancers earlier today.
She saw they were in the middle of a rehearsal She was stunned and couldn't do anything but gasp at them. The sun hanging high in the sky was extremely unflattering, all the assembled dancers were just wearing whatever clothes they had on, and the only music playing was a single man taping out the beat on an old drum. It was still the most beautiful performance Primrose had ever seen the women formed a circle back turned to the men who surrounded him. The drummer beat out a steady simple beat, mimicking a calm heartbeat. Suddenly the beat sped up and became wild; the men sized the women tuning them towards them and began a violent salsa pressing them tight between them. The woman easily danced out of the embarked and tried to return to the center reaching out desperately to something hidden from Primrose's sight by the rapidly twirling dancers. This began a frantic tug and pull between the men and the women the women constantly attempting to glide away while their partners surrounded them "caging" them in. The underlying violent of their perceived entrapment was muted by the women seemingly caressed their male partners as they tried to escape. Teasing them, goading them into continuing this seemingly unending battle. Why were these girls reaching for the center? What made them fight to get away. The wild beat ceased without warning and like marionettes whose strings had been cut the women went limp. The only thing stopping them from hitting the unforgiving floor were their partners grasp on them. Without the movement to hide them Primrose could finally see what was in the center. Malik stood there shirtless; his body frozen as though he had stopped mid-danced If Primrose had not known Malik personally, she would have thought they propped up a doll. The drum started up again calm and steady and Malik began to move. He danced alone but it looked like he was dancing with a partner. He held his invincible partner tenderly and slowly danced with her around the couples. As he past them the females "woke up" and then started dancing with their partners. There was no more struggling or switching partners just a gentle waltz. It was lovely to watch but then Primrose noticed that the dancers and the beat were steadily increasing turning from that waltz back to that wild samba from before. Primrose's heart increased along with the beat and once again was hypnotize by their daring dance. Right as the beat hit its most fever pitch it stopped and all the dancers went down.
There were multiple sighs of relief from the dancers. "Fuck Heinrich I know I haven't been here in a while but that was exhausting." Malik said wiping the sweat on his forehead.
"This is one of my masterpieces if you can't handle it. You can go back to fucking across the county." Heinrich said with a dismissive wave of the hand.
Primrose called out to the group. "I have lunch for everyone." she called.
The dancers looked at the tray then at Heinrich then back at the tray with hopeful eyes. Heinrich sighed, "Eat. We'll go over the routine again in an hour. Maybe once you lot eat, I might actually be able to get a decent performance out of you." he spat before walking away.
"What sir you haven't taken any food." Primrose called after him quickly making him a plate.
Malik ran up and grabbed the plate and handed it to another dancer, "Heinrich doesn't eat with the performers ever. He has meals prepared and delivered to his wagon." he said already making another plate.
"Malik are you actually helping out?! Do you have heat stroke?" one of the performers asked. Primrose just silently handed him a plate. She couldn't help but giggle thinking about how she under the same misunderstanding almost got them killed. She looked to Malik who was looking down at her with amusement, clearly reliving the same memory.
"No, he's just got pussy whip by his little knight girl. "his friend said laughing slapping him on the back.
"I don't think she could tame Malik if she tried. "a woman sniffed snottily while being served by Primrose.
"Hey knight girl I don't think Melina needs lunch. She seems to have already eaten a crate of sour grapes." someone called from farther down the line and made everyone laugh. Melina turned a bright shade of red and yanked the plate of her hands and rushed off.
Malik and Primrose handed everyone their plates then Malik made his owns, "So want to eat together, I can't wait to hear about your day." he said.
Primrose wanted to say yes, she couldn't wait gush over his performance and get his side of all the stories Elise had told her, but she couldn't. Firstly, because she still had the children's lunch delivered and second, she didn't think she could truly relax with everyone looking at them the way they were. Their appraising gaze made her skin crawl.
"Sorry I still have to deliver lunch to the children. We can talk later." she said before hurrying away.