Demon Revealed (High Demon Series #2) by Connie Suttle Page B

others were dark, although all were turned on. "These
floor tiles are loose and crumbling," I toed one with my shoe,
"because the dishwasher line is leaking. The dishwasher is also inoperable
for other reasons. You have hard water here, Lord." I pointed out the
calcium deposits around the base of the sink faucet. "I will serve you the
best meals possible, Lord, but I must have decent equipment to work with in
order to do so."
    I was risking my life, I felt, telling him these things, but I
would rather be killed over this than serve up poor food.
    "Why do I not have a decent kitchen?" Arvil must
have been in a good mood; he was smiling and tossing a hand in the air. "Come,
boy, we will walk to my casino next door and you will use their kitchen tonight.
I will see about getting these things replaced and repaired."
    That's how I was allowed to see the guards surrounding Arvil
San Gerxon's home, which was every bit as large as the Prince's palace on
Mandil. A very high wall surrounded it, I discovered. We were led through a
narrow gate, and a huge casino was revealed once we passed the high walls
surrounding Arvil's mansion. Lights flashed and glittered around The San Gerxon
I; it fronted a sandy beach and an ocean beyond that. I might have liked to go
and watch the waves washing up on the beach in the moonlight, but I was commanded
to cook instead.
    "Master San Gerxon," the cook on duty bowed to his
employer as we walked into his kitchen. We were seeing the night cook, as it
was quite late when we arrived. The day cook would likely be better and more
highly paid.
    "Don't worry yourself, we have a cook with us—seems my
kitchen needs updating, so we'll borrow yours for now." The cook didn't
like it, but acquiesced to Arvil's wishes, standing aside and bowing us through
with as much dignity as he could muster. He watched carefully too, as I took
stock of what he had and then quickly prepared the same fish I'd helped Harding
make on Le-Ath Veronis.
    When night cook Xiri got a taste of what I'd made—I let him
have a bite when I poured sauce over the fish on nine plates—he closed his eyes
and sighed with pleasure. "Master, we could sell this for many credits in
your best restaurant," Xiri exclaimed. I made a small plate of food for
him after serving the others.
    "Re, teach him how to make it," Arvil waved a hand. He'd
tasted the fish, just as the others had. Arvil also had a communicator in his
hand after his fourth bite, telling someone that he wanted his kitchen completely
updated, beginning the next morning. He offered to pay extra if it were finished
quickly.
    "There, Re—you will have a working kitchen soon. Meanwhile,
I think we'll put you up here in the casino until the kitchen's finished and
you will cook for me when I am hungry."
    "I will, Lord. Some of my best dishes take time to
prepare, however. I will start one tomorrow morning, and finish it once you let
me know when you wish to eat your evening meal."
    "That sounds reasonable," Arvil grinned. "Is
there more wine?" I poured more for him and topped off the glasses of the
other wizards, Delvin included. I barely looked at him as he was served. How
thankful was I that he hadn't learned I had mindspeech? If he'd known, he would
never have brought me here—he might have tried to kill me instead. That talent
was a double-edged blade, in every sense.
    * * *
    I'd never gotten to stay in a hotel before—even if it were
attached to a casino. An electronic voice woke me in the morning, after asking
me what time I wished to rise the night before. Delvin was pounding on my door
before I was finished cleaning up. He handed several suits of clothing, shoes,
toiletries and other items to me when I opened the door.
    Delvin was trying to patch things up with me, but I wasn't
having any of it. I was barely civil as I thanked him. I know, I shouldn't
anger him—he was the only one who knew I was female and held my life in his
hands, or at least my safety. Regardless, Lendill and