Salt Fat Acid Magic [Nom-Fiction | Food Fights | Culinary Academy]

"You're sure?" Nori whispered.

"That was my water, Nori. My dad wouldn't give it up. That's probably why they were fighting."

Nori sucked in her bottom lip and looked at Aubergine, who walked just ahead of them while speaking to their Gluttonous escort. "We tell the Headmaster."

"No," Archie said firmly.

"Why not?"

"Because what if he can't do anything?"

"We can't do anything!" Nori's voice rose.

Archie grabbed her arm and pulled her back a step to stay out of earshot of the others. He waited a moment for Nori to cool off. Oddly, he was the one keeping his composure. "What do you mean we can't do anything? We break him out. Like we said."

Nori sighed, and their demeanors switched.

Archie let go of Nori's arm before he squeezed it too hard. "What?"

"I don't see it working, Archie. Rowan isn't sure if he'll be ready in time. Chrysanth couldn't find the key."

"We can break down the door. We can stage it like an escape. My dad can run away. Go live in Khala or something. They won't find him there."

"What about the shackle, Archie? That has a key too, doesn't it?"

The Glutton looked back at Archie and Nori, prompting them to start walking again while keeping their voices low.

"You can burn through it with your acid."

"Iron? I don't know that I could burn through an iron necklace. There's no way I could burn through a shackle."

Archie took measured breaths. He couldn't lose his cool. If he ever had a moment that he needed to rise above, this was it. "We get Yarrow to do it."

"Yarrow?"

"His acid is strong enough."

"Okay, yes. But he hates you. He's not going to break into the future grand king's room for you."

Archie took another breath. He could do this. He could do this. "Julienne. We use Julienne. He'll come. And that'll force Yarrow to come to protect him."

Nori shook her head. "How many people are we going to put in danger?"

"He has my dad, Nori!" Archie's voice rose too high. He watched the Glutton and Aubergine for any sign that they had heard, but they remained facing forward and focused on their own conversation. Archie lowered his voice back to a whisper. "We can break him out."

"What about the guards? The Gluttons? We have to pass twenty people to get in."

"We'll deliver food."

"We just delivered food."

"We'll deliver more food. You think anyone would suspect that with the way he is? We have a witness that he wasn't satisfied with our food. We're making it right, that's all."

Nori sighed.

Heavy thoughts filled Archie's heart. Nori was right. It was too risky. There were too many factors. Too many people could get hurt.

But he was right, too. He couldn't leave his father in there for another day. How many days had he been in there already? How much longer could he hold out?

They passed through the front gate. Archie exchanged a look and a word with Chrysanth.

"Tonight."

Students gathered in the Great Hall as the Head Chefs brought in platters of food. Most students stood around mingling, but Archie and Nori had already grabbed seats near the entrance—the best spot for sneaking out.

Prompted by their waves, Julienne walked over to them. "What's up?"

Nori wasted no time. "We need your help."

"Sure. With what?"

Archie tried to figure out how to ease Julienne into it.

Nori didn't. "We're breaking into Waldorf's chambers tonight."

"Oh." Julienne looked at Archie for confirmation. Archie nodded. "So can I take back my sure? I already have a target on my back and I don't think I'd do well in the dungeons."

Nori looked at Archie, urging him to say something. If he was going to drag his friends into a conspiracy, he would have to do it himself.

"We're going with food. We'll say we're bringing him a gift. You being on bad terms is perfect. We'll say you're apologizing."

Julienne's mouth hung open as he looked back and forth between Archie and Nori with disbelief. "You're serious. No. I'm good," he said. "I'll stay here. But good luck with that."

Julienne started to leave, but Archie grabbed his arm and pulled him back down to the bench.

"He has my dad."

"What?" Julienne tried to pull away, but Archie kept his arm pinned to the table.

"I think he's keeping my dad in his secret kitchen. Where he kept me."

"You think?"

"I'm almost certain."

Julienne still didn't look convinced, but at least he didn't look like he was going to run away. Archie let go of his arm. "That's a big risk for being almost certain."

"My dad's missing. The last time he was seen was when he was arguing with Waldorf. And there's other stuff…just, I know he's in there. He's been in there for days. I can't leave him in there. It has to be tonight. Waldorf will be here, so he won't know."

Julienne swallowed hard. "So we deliver food to Waldorf's chambers. And then what? You know we'll be escorted."

"We'll find a way to hold them up outside his room."

"And if there are guards inside his room? Just because he's not there doesn't mean it won't be guarded."

Archie rubbed his temples. "I'll think of something. I'll take care of it."

"You'll take care of it? What, you're going to knock out a couple guards?"

Archie wanted to knock out Julienne.

Nori stepped in before things could boil over. "Are you in or not?"

"Of course I'm in." Julienne looked offended by the question. "I'm just making sure we have a plan."

"Good," Nori said. "And we need Yarrow, too."

"What?" Julienne looked around for Yarrow. "Why?"

"He keeps his prisoners bolted down with a chain," Archie said. "It's thick, but I think Yarrow's acid might be able to melt it."

Julienne made like he was going to blink, but his eyes stayed closed long enough for him to blow out a long sigh. "That's dangerous."

"I know, I know. Three of us is a lot."

"It's not the number that concerns me." Julienne pushed his tongue into his bottom lip and bit down.

"Wait." Nori turned to Archie. "Three?"

Archie adjusted his hair and looked down at the table. "There's no reason to get you involved."

Nori leaned over the table. "You've got to be kidding me. Archie. You're not stopping me."

Archie's vision blurred with glossy tears. He had to believe he could save his father. But there was that possibility that he refused to embrace. That possibility that the worst could happen. And if Nori got caught up in that, he'd lose nearly everything that mattered to him. "Nori, I…"

"I'm going."

Julienne seemed less comfortable with their disagreement than he had with the prospect of breaking into Waldorf's chambers. He tapped his fingers on the table to draw their attention away from each other. "So when do we do it?"

Archie looked up to find Nori staring daggers at him. He capitulated and nodded. "Early on in the dinner. After the speeches, during the chaos. I'll give you a signal."

Julienne put a fist over his mouth to cover a particularly acidic burp. "Okay. Let me talk to Yarrow."

He walked away and found Yarrow in the crowd. Archie and Nori watched from afar as Julienne explained the situation. Yarrow got heated. Julienne got commanding. After some back and forth, Yarrow looked over at Archie and glared, then turned back to Julienne and nodded.

Julienne and Yarrow started to walk over to Archie and Nori, but something stopped them in their tracks. They turned and walked to one of the smaller tables near the wall. Archie and Nori turned back to see what had stopped them.

A procession of Acorn Guards cleared the center path. Waldorf entered the great hall with four prized fighters standing around him.

Archie and Nori turned back around and kept their faces low.

"Aubergine!" Waldorf cheerfully yelled across the Great Hall. His already unnatural voice echoed and warped further in the great hall's high ceiling. His voice overpowered the chatter of the room, forcing the students into a stunned silence. "I brought some friends. I hope that's alright."

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A mob of a dozen Gluttons pushed past each other and maneuvered to be the first ones in. Archie had never seen so many in one place.

"Of course," Aubergine said with a smile and open arms. "Please, find a seat. Everyone, find a seat. We'll begin soon."

The Gluttons found their seat—the ones that were meant for the Head Chefs. They blocked the pathways as they made their way through the great hall, stopping to crudely grab and sample food as they went up to the head table. They pushed three chairs together each to accommodate their size, taking up all spots at the head table except for Aubergine's. Even the Chancellor of Culinary Arts found himself standing at the wrong time and lost his chair.

As the Head Chefs came and went bringing food from the kitchen, they looked at the Gluttons with thinly veiled contempt. Some older students sat next to Archie and Nori, forcing them to talk about regular, world-isn't-ending topics.

They exchanged nervous looks with Julienne and Yarrow over the next few minutes as the Head Chefs were forced to sit and mingle with the students. Once everyone settled and the Gluttons had already picked half of the head table clean, Aubergine clinked his glass to gather everyone's attention.

"Students. Guests," he began. "Our Head Chefs have prepared some amazing food for us, so I'll be brief. Our story began when…"

Doubt crept into Archie's mind. He knew his father was in that kitchen, but he didn't know if he had come up with the right plan. He didn't know if he should have involved the others. If something happened to him, he'd live or die by it. But the others? Julienne and Yarrow? Nori? If something happened to her, he would never be able to live with himself. A horrible possibility flashed in his mind. What if he had to choose between saving his father and saving her? He twitched and shook the thought from his head. Maybe he should have done it alone. Maybe he still could. He could ask to be excused and slip out another way, and…

Nori seemed to sense his doubt. She reached over to a serving bowl of spaghetti and pulled out a noodle. The other nearby students looked at her with confusion, but she didn't care. She placed one end of the noodle on the table between her and Archie.

"Hey," she whispered as Aubergine continued his very-not-brief speech. "Remember the first feast?"

The memory was just enough to get a smile out of Archie. He glanced up at the ceiling where he had bounced around before Nori had saved him.

"I had you then," she said. "I have you now. I'll have you always."

She wiggled the noodle. He grabbed it and felt Nori's essence pour in from the other side, strengthening it. Her essence felt warm. Familiar. Comforting. He mirrored her magic. She pulled. He pulled. The bond held.

"I have you," she repeated.

"...and I want you all to remember that over the summer," Aubergine finished.

Applause began at the front of the room, making its way back to Archie and Nori, who clapped for something they hadn't heard. The students started to reach for their food, but were halted by the clinking of several glasses.

The Gluttons at the head table threatened to break their glasses with their incessant clinking. They looked with admiration as Waldorf stood to address the room. Even through Aubergine's permanent smile, he looked worried.

"Ahem, excuse me," Waldorf said. The chattering of the students quieted, but did not cease. Waldorf didn't like that. He slammed his hand on the table and roared. "Attention!"

Pure silence. Total attention. Waldorf licked his lips.

"I wanted to thank you for having me. My father believed in the autonomy of the Culinary Academies. But his belief has only served to isolate the upcoming Chefs of the world from the requirements of their kingdom. Once I take the crown, I promise to give you all the attention you deserve so that we might make the world a better place together."

Aubergine opened his mouth, possibly to object, but decided to remain silent.

"I see a kingdom waning," Waldorf continued. "And in this room, I see the ones who will save it. Chefs. Businessmen. Warriors. You can all look forward to being properly utilized in the service of your kingdom. My father instilled in me the value of being a servant to the people. Once I become grand king, I will be a servant of Ambrosia, and I will need all of your help to restore this once powerful kingdom. But I will need your help. Together, we'll create a true utopia."

He smiled to signal the end of his speech. The Gluttons burst into rapturous applause. The students weren't as enthusiastic. But they clapped. No one wanted to be seen not clapping.

The moment was near.

Once Waldorf took his first bite, they would move. Archie watched and waited. Finally, Waldorf raised the glass to his lips, swallowed, then sat down and began eating with a ravenous appetite.

Archie nodded across the room at Julienne and Yarrow. Archie and Nori scooped food onto their plates and slipped away, careful that the other students didn't take notice. They skipped out of the plaza and out to the street just as the sun started to set.

Julienne and Yarrow joined them a moment later. No one had noticed their departure. Step one complete.

"Okay," Archie said as he assessed everyone's readiness. Nori seemed resolute. Julienne seemed nervous. Yarrow seemed angry but motivated. "I'll take the lead. We're just delivering food, right? Just act like you belong."

"Got it," Oliver said.

The group turned in surprise. Oliver stood before them with his own plate of food and had already taken Archie's advice of looking like he belonged.

"Oliver, what are you doing here?" Archie asked.

Oliver seemed confused that Archie would even ask. "Well, I saw the signal. Then I saw you scoop up some food and come out here, so I did the same."

"The—the signal?" Archie worried that someone else might have followed Oliver. "The signal to do what, exactly?"

The group looked at Oliver, waiting for an answer. He used a free hand to scratch his head.

"Well, I was hoping you'd tell me, to be honest." The group groaned. "But I know a signal when I see one!"

"Oliver, go back inside," Nori said.

Oliver's eyes squinted as he looked for an answer in each of their faces. "Alright…I know I'm not that annoying. And you all look too serious for this to be a social thing. What's going on?"

"Oliver, we don't have time to explain," Archie started. "Just—"

"Archie's dad got imprisoned," Julienne interrupted. "He's in Waldorf's chambers. We're going to break him out."

Archie slapped his own forehead. He couldn't believe Julienne had told Oliver—and he couldn't believe how succinctly he had put such a grand problem. He groaned as he anticipated Oliver's inevitable questions and warnings.

"Okay," Oliver said. He looked at the plate of food in his hands. "We doing a fake food delivery thing?"

"It's…" Archie thought of how to explain the intricacies and complications of the plan.

"Basically, yes," Nori said.

"Cool." Oliver nodded. "Well we have until the feast ends, which is like two minutes with that beast in there. Let's go."

Archie looked at Nori, hoping she would protest. She didn't.

"Fine."

Archie led them to the gate while cursing to himself that someone else had gotten involved. Each new development just meant more risk, never less. And now it was time to get another person involved.

"What do you have there?" Chrysanth asked. He sold his skepticism to the other guards by pointing his spear down at Archie. It almost made him nostalgic.

Archie showed his plate of food. "An offering for Prince Waldorf."

"Offerings already been brought." Chrysanth looked at the nearest guard and raised his eyebrows. If Archie had the time, he would have had Benedict teach the guard a thing or two about acting naturally.

"We all felt that our first offerings were not sufficient."

Chrysanth scoffed and turned to another guard. "You take over the front. I'll take them back."

The other guard scanned Archie's group with unconvinced eyes. He went to the stone watchpost and reached through the window to pull a rope. A bell rang somewhere in the castle.

"Who're ya callin'?" Chrysanth asked.

"Borscht."

Chrysanth groaned. "I can take 'em."

"Five Chefs? Just wait."

The students waited around awkwardly as Chrysanth tapped his spear on the ground and walked over.

"Who's Borscht?" Archie whispered.

"One of Prince Waldorf's. Purple Jacket. Mean one."

Archie primed his body, pooling his essence in different places as a sort of warmup. Could he beat a Purple Jacket? Maybe if he got the jump.

"What?" Borscht yelled as he stomped over from Waldorf's quarters. The man had less hair than patience, the few strands that ran across the top of his head swinging around in the wind. "I'm supposed to be in Prince Waldorf's chambers."

Chrysanth stood his ground. "This lot gots a gift for Prince Waldorf."

Archie held up his plate of food. Borscht looked at him with skepticism.

"You students? You should know that His Royal Highness is at the Academy."

"Well—I—we…" Archie shut his mouth and breathed in hard through his nose. He started again, this time with confidence. "Our tributes to Prince Waldorf were lacking. Unworthy. We don't want to offend, so we thought we'd bring some of our food here so that when he comes back he'll be pleasantly surprised."

Borscht stared at each of them in turn. Archie could see the denial forming on the man's lips. And then a familiar Glutton bounced over.

"Archie Kent! Remember me?"

Unfortunately, Archie did. The Glutton wore the same green velvet and golden furs that he had worn when he gave Archie his invite to the Academy. Back then, Archie had been afraid of the man. Now, Archie detested him. But he had to play nice.

"Of course! It's been a while."

"How's your lovely mother?"

Archie's neck spasmed. The twitch nearly made him drop his plate.

"You know this one?" Borscht asked the Glutton.

"Of course! He wouldn't be a Chef without me." He turned to Archie and smiled like they were old friends. "Have you brought me these wonderful smelling dishes as a thank you? I've been wondering when you'd express your gratitude."

"These are for Prince Waldorf," Archie said. He would normally hate saying such a thing, but he enjoyed the disappointment it invoked in the Glutton.

"Oh, of course." Still, the Glutton eyed their plates as if he might get a share. "Let me make sure you deliver these safely. Borscht, with me."

The Purple Jacket scowled but obeyed. He led from the front with the Glutton while Crysanth brought up the rear. Eight of them in total walked through the keep. At every turn, their party grew more bloated. Archie feared that one more addition would tip them to their doom.

"How do we lose them?" Nori whispered.

"I don't know. Maybe spill your plate in the courtyard. Or, just—we have to follow them. We'll figure it out."

Borscht looked back with suspicion—whether it was true suspicion or just Archie's paranoia, he didn't know. Either way, they shut up. Behind them, Julienne's steps grew as erratic as his breathing. The Glutton led them into Waldorf's section of the keep. Borscht kept a close eye on the students. There would be no losing them. They walked through the foyer and the dining room, passing a dozen guards and Gluttons. With each step, Archie's heart beat faster and faster.

He had to lose them. If he knocked Nori's plate over just outside the entrance, the Glutton would scramble for the food. Maybe Oliver or Julienne would distract Borscht. Archie just needed to get Yarrow through. He'd break the hidden door down—that'd be easy enough. It was just a sliding door, right? How heavy had it been? And then Yarrow would melt the chain. Maybe Arty could hang back until they cleared out, then escape. But what if Borscht stayed behind? Maybe Archie could swing them both out of there. They'd have to go on the run. But then what would happen to the others? He could always—

Archie looked down at the ground and spotted thin droplets of blood.

They entered the courtyard. The single, large tree in the middle of the lawn blocked out any vestiges of sunlight, casting the surrounding stone square path into dark shadows. Borscht grabbed a torch off the wall and led the students across the lawn.

Archie had seconds to come up with a plan that had eluded him all day. Could Yarrow burn their way through the back of the building? Should he try to knock out Borscht before anything bad could happen? The man was already suspicious, and—

Borscht stopped in his tracks and looked to the shadowed walkways surrounding the lawn. He stared long enough for the Glutton to fidget around.

"What is—"

"Sh!" Borscht held his hand out for them all to be quiet.

And that's when Archie heard it. A ragged breathing. Like a wounded animal. He could sense Borscht's rising essence. He was about to attack.

But he was too slow.

A long, thin spike launched out from the shadows and tore through Borscht's throat. His head hit the ground before the Glutton could scream.

Archie froze. Nori's plate shattered on the ground. Julienne looked at the acid dripping from Yarrow's fingertips. Oliver crouched low. Chrysanth lowered his spear. The Glutton screamed and ran behind the tree.

A voice came from the shadows. "Nori?"

Archie recognized the voice, but he couldn't put the pieces together. The air shimmered near a pillar like bad camouflage that finally dropped to reveal Tataki clutching his side. Blood had dried into his jacket, but whatever wound was underneath hadn't healed yet.

"Who are you?! What are you doing here?!" Chrysanth shouted as Borscht's discarded torch lit the grass on fire.

"Nori, is that you?" Tataki asked, ignoring the guard. He seemed as confused to see them as they were confused to see him.

"Tataki? What are you doing here?"

"You're coming home, Nori."

"Answer me!" Chrysanth shouted.

"I'm not going back," Nori said.

"Yes you are," Tataki said. "I'm taking you back. By force if I have to."

"No…"

Archie couldn't tell if his eyes deceived him in the darkness, but he swore that Tataki's forearm looked like it had spikes sticking out of it.

"I'm taking you back," Tataki repeated. His other arm transformed into an octopus tentacle. "Now."

Chrysanth had seen enough. He lunged at Tataki.

The spike of a sea urchin punctured the guard's chest and dropped him to the ground.

Archie summoned a cluster of noodles around his arm and prepared to fight.