Words All The Way Down

Inspired by the following prompt: [WP] usually you would be above this kind of work, but times are hard and a master assassin has to eat…

With a scowl on his face, Ayoud scraped his knife against his current target. The potato in his hand stared back uncaring. A basket of prior victims sat on the counter next to him in the middle of the roadside tavern’s kitchen. You have to do what you need to to make sure you get your next meal.

His stomach rumbled again, and he started to pick up his pace. If he didn’t finish filling up the basket before the dinner rush, he could kiss any hope he had of getting a meal goodbye.

The general mosh pit that was the kitchen hummed around him. Everyone was in each other’s way, and the only way to get to where you wanted to go was to push your way there. A solid push from one of the cooks sent a server into Ayoud’s basket of potatoes, sending them all across the kitchen floor. Ayoud, ready to do some of his first pro bono work in a long time, readied his knife and slowly turned around. The server was near tears.

“I’m so sorry! Here, let’s quickly save what potatoes we can, and I’ll help you finish filling up the basket.”

The server rushed to start picking up the potatoes before they were trampled. Using an amount of self control he didn’t know he had, Ayoud laid down his knife and quickly started to pick up the potatoes too.

By his estimate, the server and him saved about 80 percent of the potatoes that were already peeled. The server held out his hand, “Here, give me a spare knife. I’ll help you finish up this basket before I head back out.”

Ayoud awkwardly handed the server a knife. Usually giving someone a knife involved a lot more stabbing. Silently, the pair peeled the remaining potatoes a center of calm to the otherwise chaotic kitchen. Basket filled, the server turned to Ayoud one last time, “I’ll see if I can hide some extra food for you during my shift. Your stomach sounds like it needs it friend.”

With that, the server bustled away to attend to his other duties. Ayoud turned to the pile of leeks next to him. Ayoud scowled at them too, prepared to fill his next contract.