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.

A New Novel, Part 205 Lady Natalya Never Made Tea Like that for Me

A New Novel, Part 205 Lady Natalya Never Made Tea Like that for Me

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.

Aksinya is learning how to make breakfast from Ekaterina…

In the kitchen, Aksinya carefully followed Ekaterina’s instructions and stood and stirred the kasha while the tea seeped.  Ekaterina started with fresh tea leaves and prepared a very potent brew.  Throughout the day, she could then make fresh tea by diluting the concentrated tea with boiling water.  Aksinya watched what Ekaterina did.  Finally she remarked, “Lady Natalya never made tea like that for me.”

Ekaterina laughed, “She probably made you English tea.  If we had a samovar, we could have tea any time we wanted all day long.  As it is, we will have to heat water at noon and for supper.  Now put everything on the table.”

Aksinya raised her head.

“Just put it on the table,” Ekaterina smiled.

The moment Aksinya finished placing the food on the table, Father Makar and Father Dobrushin magically appeared.  They sat down in their usual seats and then Ekaterina and Aksinya.

Aksinya is learning.  She is very quick about these things, but you knew that.   She watches and she repeats it.  She follows the instructions.  This also lets me show you about making Russian tea and remind you about Natalya. 

In Russia, at this time, the poor made their tea Russian style.  The wealthy and the aristocrats made their tea European style.  Lady Natalya is a very refined lady indeed because that is the tea she made—but we knew that.  It is important to remind you.

Aksinya is learning to set the table.  She is learning to serve the food.  All this is new to her.  We also see the precedence in the rectory.  Ekaterina may be in charge, but she defers to her husband.  Aksinya follows obediently in this too.  Tomorrow, breakfast.

A New Novel, Part 204 Are You Ready?

A New Novel, Part 204 Are You Ready?

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.

New scene and scene setting.  We know the room where Aksinya sleeps.  We know Aksinya is like a raw nerve.  I remind you with her reaction to Ekaterina…

In the morning, when Ekaterina went to get Aksinya, Aksinya was already awake.  She prayed the rosary around her neck.  The moment the door opened, Aksinya jumped to her feet.  Ekaterina asked, “Are you ready?”

Aksinya nodded.

They walked together to the kitchen.  Ekaterina took a breath, “How is the burn on your chest?”

“It stings.”

“Does it pain you much?”

Aksinya nodded.

“I will check it for you today.”

“Thank you.”

“Today I will show you how to make kasha and tea.  We have milk and honey so it will be very good.  We will eat as well as the patriarch in Moscow.”

Aksinya’s lips curled up a little at that.

Aksinya is praying.  She is following the penance Father Dobrushin set on her.  Ekaterina doesn’t need to remark.  Aksinya is ready to begin her work. 

Another small reminder—the burn.  Ekaterina is worried about her young charge.  I need to remind you that Aksinya is not whole from her last fight against the demon.  We know she is mentally scarred, but she is equally physically scarred. When Ekaterina asks Aksinya about the burn, Aksinya downplays it.  So, Ekaterina asks again.  Aksinya answers with a nod.  Ekaterina still doesn’t fully trust the girl’s answer—she will check it herself.  Do you see how the rosary at the beginning fits directly into the following conversation?

Then about breakfast—they have milk and honey.  Kasha is the morning meal of all poor Russians.  It is a buckwheat groat porridge.  It isn’t very good, but it is nutritious and filling.  Honey and milk will make it palatable.  Aksinya smiles because she had much much better for her whole life at breakfast.  Surely the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church would have something better for breakfast than kasha.  Tomorrow, fixing  breakfast.