A New Novel, Part 206 It is Time Now for Morning Prayers

28 Apr 2011, A New Novel, Part 206 It is Time Now for Morning Prayers

For those who haven’t been following this blog, let me introduce it a little. I am currently blogging my 21st novel that has the working title Daemon. The novel is about Aksinya, a sorceress, who, to save her family from the Bolsheviks, called and contracted the demon, Asmodeus. Her family was murdered anyway, and she fled with the demon from Russia to Austria.

All the current inhabitants of the rectory are in the kitchen for breakfast.  It is a very fine breakfast for the priests and Ekaterina--not so much for Aksinya…

Father Makar offered a blessing and they crossed themselves. Ekaterina served them from the large pot on the table. Aksinya poured the tea into the large mugs. Father Makar took a long drink of the tea. He ate the kasha with relish.


Aksinya sipped her tea and sniffed at the kasha.

Father Makar asked, “Anything wrong, Countess?”

Aksinya didn’t look up, “I’ve never had anything like this before.” She took a bite of the kasha.

Father Makar finished his bowl, “Well that’s all we have until supper. It’ll stick to your ribs.”

Aksinya slowly devoured the buckwheat groat porridge. She washed it down with the very strong tea. When she was finished, she took her bowl and mug to the dish tub and laid them inside. She put water on to heat to wash the morning dishes.

Ekaterina took her arm, “Let the water heat. We’ll do the dishes later. It is time now for the morning prayers.”

The breakfast begins simply with a prayer.  Aksinya helps serve.  Kasha is a Russian favorite--or at least it is a traditional breakfast food to most poor Russians.  Therefore, it is familiar.  Tea and kasha, what could be better than that?  Aksinya is used to much finer food--the bread yesterday was much better, in her mind, than kasha.  Plus, the tea is not how she is used to drinking it.  Is the old Aksinya coming back out?
 
Father Makar realizes Aksinya's problem--he isn't very helpful, but Aksinya needs a nudge anyway.  Aksinya's statement is ironic--she has not eaten kasha before.  Note, that is all the food they will eat until supper.  This is very typical of the times.  Aksinya has been well trained.  She now knows how to wash dishes.  Ekaterina calls her to the morning prayers.  She was too late the morning before to make them.  Tomorrow, at morning prayers.