The General's male consort

THE DECISION

A solar day had passed, general Adrian waiting patiently for Liam's went out of his room to have breakfast. "You didn't have dinner yesterday evening, when did you return" The front desk lady inquired casually, "very late, I was at the shores with Liam" The general replied while allocating himself to a table. "Oh I see, who is Liam if you don't mind me questioning", " The young man who made that portrait ", " You have found him, I personally am yet to meet him, please if you can, bring him over to the inn, so I can thank him for blessing this inn with a portrait of the great general Adrian" The front desk lady said gracefully, "well, I will see what I can do about that but before anything else, O want to have breakfast, what do you have for me", " I have made my personal favorite dish for you, it is a bit heavy for breakfast but it's good, that I can I assure you. "Well then my lady, bring it in, I can't wait either", the front desk lady entered a room which is presumably the kitchen and came out with a tray filled with different dishes, " This meal might look simple but it's taste is absolutely exquisite and also good for one's health". The front desk lady placed the Trayvon the table and said again, "this is a bowl of pottages of meat, some vegetables and also I heard Noble's in the capital eat only garlic bread so here is a piece of it too", the front desk lady said. " I truly appreciate everything that you do for me and every dish you cook for me, my lady"

"It is not only my honor but also my outmost pleasure to serve you", general Adrian gave a sweet smile and moved to his meal. The general ate with an ecstatic expression on his face, leaving not one single ounce of food in his bowl.

" Uuhhh" The general expressed himself after chugging down a cup of water served by the front desk lady.

"This food is delectable, I have seen and have become full by it", General Adrian complimented the food and said to the front desk lady, "your hand are consecrated by the gods you are blessed as a reward of a life well lived", " Thank you, my Lord, I am honored to be with you for this time", the front desk lady accepted the compliments on both the meal and her as well.

"By the way, I have never asked your name, can you state it, my lady"

"I am Isabella, my Lord", " That is a beautiful name, very compatible with your cooking"

"Thank you my Lord, thank you very much, I truly appreciate", " I am going to take some rest and then fetch Liam for dinner later", with that, general Adrian skedaddle to his room.

Quite long after was midday, general Adrian woke up from his slumber and reminisce that he had to go for Liam for dinner, he immediately took a fresh bath, got dressed which took a while because he had to choose what set of dress to wear and the color he wanted, he wanted to look his best.

He decided on a not too fancy yet not too plain hickory beige coloured combination of dresses"

"Okay, since he loves to wear white something that matches it will do".

General Adrian dashed out his room and into the main Hall, opened his arms and said, " What do you think my lady, handsome? ", " Beyond that my Lord, you look very dashing, simple yet eye catching, it's a fabulous combination, if you ask me, no just color combination but the color compliments your glorious skin and features, you have impeccably striking features my lord"

Isabella commented on the general's outfit.

"Thank you soo much Isabella, you are very charming yourself my lady" The general shouted on his way out of the inn. The general crossed the street and paced towards Liam's street, a stone throw to Liam's home, the general felt a chill run down his spine, he paused in his tracks, he started to sweat but he shook it off quickly and continued with the journey, as and when off his arrival, he knocked but heard no response, he knocked again and again and again, then finally, "coming", he quickly checked his outfit again and run his hands through his hair, the door opened with Liam at the front, " General Adrian,why are you here,I thought we agreed in two days time"

" Well I am nothing but a simple passer byer, I thought I would come to see you", " sorry for my bad manners, please come in my lord" General Adrian entered without any hesitance. "Please, sit" Liam showed him to a seat and later served him a cup of water. "Thank you very much, Liam", "What brings you to my humble abode, my lord", " as I said earlier, I was passing and I thought to come see you, particularly to invite you to dinner", " My lord, I want to be absolutely honest with you, I am not certain that my answer will be pleasing to your ear".Liam said intending to reject General Adrian's offer.

"Liam, I dare not not conflict your desires, I just want you to have dinner with me at, this has nothing to do with my proposition last night, I want to have dinner with you just incase you give me a negative answer, at least, I had dinner with the man who made a portrait of me, the most beautiful one at that."General Adrian said with confidence until the very end he wore a shy face. "Okay general Adrian, just dinner but if I may inquire, where are we having dinner"

" The inn I am lodging at, a lovely lady wants to meet you , and even wants to utter a few words to you", okay let me get dressed",Liam went into a room, presumably the main chamber, a few minutes had passed when Liam made an entrance to the main hall in a white beige colored dress, the general stared in awe as Liam came forward to his direction, " is there something on my face?", "the only thing on your face right now is elfsheen beauty", the general said seeming unconscious and lost in Liam's womanly appearance. "Thank you soo much my lord" Liam appreciated the general's words.

Silence preached between them for a while as general Adrian kept staring at Liam's sheer beauty without batting an eye even after Liam's out preach. "Shall we" Liam said , breaking the silence and snapping the general back to reality. They departed from Liam's house, led by the general and sooner than later arrived at the inn the general lodges in. As and when they arrived, general Adrian pulled out a chair for Liam on a table a bit cornered to the left at the inn's food place. Liam sat down and the general sat next to him, "lady Isabella, lady Isabella where are you", General Adrian called out. " My lord, I am here" Isabella came out of the kitchen soaked in sweat, " is the food ready, I have arrived with my guest", "my apologies my lord, this may take a while, my daughter is out of town and my helper is absent today, hence I am alone in the kitchen so the meal is not done yet" Isabella gave an honest response with an apologetic face. "It's okay lady Isabella, please do continue with the meal, we can wait", the general said humbly, as Isabella walked a few paces towards the kitchen she came back to the general and Liam's table having a confused expression on her face. "My lord, I am sorry if I am being too inquisitive or too casual with you but I quite remember you say you were going to bring the young artist, Liam", " yes you are correct "The general agreed with Isabella's statement." I have two questions, did the young lad refuse to come and second, who is this stunning lady you have brought to my humble inn", " I can answer your questions with one answer, this is the young artist you made that portrait, this is Liam" , Isabella gasped in shock, some others who happened to be listening to the conversation, stood there jaw dropped at general Adrian's sentence.

" Unbelievable beauty a man can have, such beautiful features that put angels and goddesses to shame, you are elfsheen Liam, you are the fairest of all the women in this village", Isabella who couldn't stop staring said to Liam without hesitation. " Thank you very much lady Isabella but elfsheen is an over statement to describe my feminine face, I believe I just look a lot more like my mom, not soo special, you have pretty striking looks yourself", " oh stop, I am not halfway pass your fairness ". They both gave each other a sweet and simple smile, " I should go back to the kitchen before I burn my whole kitchen ". " Since no one is in to help you,I might as well help with the meal, I have a developer skill in cooking so I can stir things up for you", " young lad, do not taint such beauty with my kitchen, I can work it out even though it may take a while"

" Yes I agree with lady Isabella, you should stay right here "General Adrian seconded Isabella's motion and Isabella noded in agreement with the general's statement. " No need to have worries about me general Adrian, I can take care of myself ", with that Liam held Isabella's hands and they departed for the kitchen leaving general Adrian alone sitted at the table.

It was fifteen minutes to the eighteenth hour when Liam and Isabella started serving out trays and plates on the table where the general was seated, they went in the kitchen and brought more dishes to the general's table, the general was amazed to see all these mouth watering dishes presented on hus table, "this looks marvelous and smells amazing" the general said as Liam took his previous seat and laid a napkin on his lap, respecting table manners. " Isabella please sit with us", the general said. " My lord this meal I have made is specially for you and your guest,I do not deserve such honor, having to cook for the great general Adrian is enough honor you have bestowed upon me", Isabella replied, " please sit I want you to eat with me at this table, I myself couldn't be more honored to eat this blessed meal with you ", Isabella thought about it for a while and said, " if it pleases you my lord, then I shall obey and take this sit next to you", with that Isabella sat to the General's left while Liam on his right in smiles and admiration for General Adrian. "So what do we have here, please lady Isabella, enlighten me", general Adrian asked hungrily. " Well, I have made some delicacies that I thought might suit your taste since you are a noble man from the capital ", " please Isabella, I am a general that goes to war I eat much simpler foods than you think, I might be the general but I am no different from a normal soldier " , " well then I have some tomato bisque soup, roasted chicken, grilled fish, sweet buttered corn, herb basted potatoes and some rice and also some garlic bread, I thought I would add some since you enjoyed it in the morning ", the general's tummy growled with excitement as Isabella listed all the foods on the table, "well then let's get eating, from the looks of things some tummies can't wait" Liam joked and they all laughed lightly and started to dine.

"This food was extravagant and luscious, you are truly blessed indeed" the general said to Isabella as they finned their meal, "thank you soo much my lord, I am honored beyond compare not to just cook for you but also to have a meal with you at a table" Isabella replied to the general".

"This was a blessed meal indeed, I loved it" Liam commented , "some dessert would be lovely after this meal, don't you think think soo Isabella", Isabella smiled , " I have a surprise for you and I know you will love it", Isabella said while sending the plates and trays to the kitchen. The general waited anxiously with Liam and guessing what could the surprise be,

Isabella came from the kitchen with a small tray and a bowl around seeming to covering something, Isabella placed a tray on the table.

The general waited for a while nervously, Isabella raised an eyebrow to give the general confirmation to turn the bowl over, the general took the bowl of the tray carefully, "this smells soo good, please what is this dish", "this is a dessert I truly cherish, I love this dessert soo much, carefully made with ingredients I shall not tell you", the general smiled and then picked a tea spoon and then into his mouth it went. "What is this, such rich taste like the full feel of all the weather's on the earth, it feels like summer and winter just gave birth ", the general said ." Get a taste Liam , please", Liam took a tea spoon hesitantly and spooned a piece for himself, "The gods have not blessed you but rather anointed your hands , this dish is ambrosial and there is nothing to it's compare"Liam commented gracefully on the dish and Isabella herself. "What is the name of this luscious dish you serve me today, lady Isabella?", General Adrian inquired, "I haven't given it a name yet but I was thinking since you are the first out of my family to taste this meal , I will name it " knights delight", in your honor, I know you are a general but I consider you my knight and shining armor, so hence I name it knights delight" Isabella said with smiles on her face and grace on her head. "It is my pleasure and my honor to experience this taste and have it named in my honor, for that I shall give you a gift", " I will gladly accept anything that you deem fit for me my lord ". " Honestly, silver or gold is not worth this meal but I will definitely give that to you to pay for meal", " thank you very much my lord, I appreciate everything that you give me", General Adrian went to his room and fetched a big pouch of gold coins and gave it to Isabella, " this is too much ,my lord I don't think my cooking is worth this much", " this food was made from the heart that is what makes me give from the heart as well, that is not the only gift I have for you, my next gift is not material but truly of the heart and I hope you will accept that as well in good will as you have done this", the general paused for a second which made lady Isabella grow nervous and curious as to what the next reward could be, " I would like you to come to the capital with me, I mean to my home and help me with my daily meal ", Isabella almost spoke out but the general chipped in, " before you say anything, I know that you have an inn here and a lot of memories but I want to tell you please consider it, I always wanted to have someone I feel comfortable eating from but because I am a general I have a lot of enemies so I am always careful when it comes to my meals but I know I can trust you with such a task and I will not be disappointed, so please consider this and since I will be going after two diel periods, please I hope you can give me an answer tomorrow, sorry if I am pressuring you",with that General Adrian maid an ending fairy to his statement. " You do not need to wait till tomorrow to know my answer my lord, yes I have an inn here I have lived here for the past twenty five years and I gave birth here but I will go with you my lord, it will be my honor to serve you with my very own hands in your home, it will be a blessing from the gods bestowed upon me and I will honor it with all my heart and my might" Isabella gave her honest and positive reply to General Adrian while in smiles, " Thank you very much for accepting this proposition, I am happy" the general exclaimed his joy.

Isabella packed the tray she brought earlier into the kitchen," let me help her with the dishes, I will be right back", Liam said while pacing towards the kitchen entrance.

Liam entered the kichen, "let me help you with the dishes, lady Isabella I can see that you are tired", "The general's reward has given me strength, I am truly blessed", Liam started to wash the dishes but felt a bit troubled, "Lady Isabella,can I ask a question", "sure, what do you wish to know young lad", "are you going to sell or close the inn down since you leaving with the general", "no Liam, my daughters and son are old enough to take care of the inn, hence I will leave it to them", "but you have lived here your whole life, why would you make such a harsh decision without thinking about it", "young liam, I have lived here all thirty four years of my life, indeed I have memories here, I grew up here, I got married here, my parents died and are buried here, my husband died and is buried here as well I gave birth to all three children here but Liam, memories are not kept were they were made, they are kept in our hearts, as long as we don't depart from the path of good will that we have taken , our memories live with as all our lives", " there is definitely a reason why you haven't left this place, so why now", Liam questioned again, " young artist, sometimes, we must let go off the past and embrace the future, I know in my heart that my husband will not be happy if he knows that I had the opportunity to live a life worth living but I threw it away and have subjected myself to this village just because he is buried here, but I know he will be ecstatically pleased if he knows, I have moved on and I am living a life good for me and my children ", Isabella said to Liam, almost shedding tears but quickly held herself back. Liam finished washing the dishes and went to the table, "it's getting late general Adrian, I would love to take my leave", General Adrian agreed and Liam said his goodbye to lady Isabella, "Let me escort Liam to his home and I will be back " the general said to Isabella and they departed for Liam's home. They walked to Liam's house and as they arrived, "please I want you to give me a good answer for tomorrow", "General Adrian, i will go now",

" Liam wait", general Adrian held Liam's hands, Liam turned around and pulled his hands slowly from the general's grip, liam looked away awkwardly as if rejecting a suitor. "Please at least give me a chance to say something" General Adrian said beseeching, "what is it that you wish to say, General Adrian" Liam asked casually, General Adrian held Liam's hands again with a face that I can describe as feeling sorry for oneself, "General Adrian is a shadow I can't get rid off because he lives in a boy's shadow, right now I speak with you as Adrian, a normal boy from the capital, I find comfort and peace in your company Liam, I do not feel the need to be on my guard anytime I am with you, I am solace anytime I am in your presence, I am in seventh of heavens when I get the chance to see you Liam, I know you have lived here for a long time and all your memories lies here with you but please consider this Adrian and cone with me, I promise you Liam with everything that I hold dear to my heart, I will make your stay with me in the capital worth your while", General Adrian professed to Liam in order to convince him about going to the capital with him. "General Adrian, you said to give you an answer after two solar days which a day has already gone by, please allow me to sleep over it one more time and we shall see what the day brings to us all, okay" Liam said calmly to the general. "Liam, thank you very much, I will wait for you at the shores at the nineteenth hour tomorrow evening, please do not leave me hanging or I will depart from here with a sore and broken heart" General Adrian said in agreement to Liam's previous statement. "If nothing else general, I would like to go in and take my rest", " Ok sure, have a beautiful night", with that general Adrian let go off Liam's hands and he entered his home and off, the general went.

At the inn, general Adrian entered with smiles on his face, "ohhh, what has got our lordship smiling like this" Isabella inquired casually if not too casual, as if the general was her very own son. "Lady Isabella, I think tomorrow is gonna be a good day for me, I seem to have a feeling of grace on my shoulder and hovering over me after eating your Ambrosial meal, I am blessed" General Adrian exclaimed with a happy smile which had Isabella smiling as well. "What is making you all bubbly and sugary this evening", " This is not just any evening, this is a blessed and a special blessed one at that", "it is, it is general Adrian, but what exactly has you in this state, if you don't mind my Inquisitivity ", " Oh good news, my lady, good news ", general Adrian said in a low smiley tone and ended the conversation with simple good nights, General Adrian laughed out loud on his way to his room