Favors Farflung Ep. 2, by Faelan Wo

I finally have a moment to rest! I am once again reminded that my species is designed for short, fast bursts of speed, not long drawn out chases. The Cerynath, on the other hand, could probably run for days on those four tree-trunk legs of theirs. It was a good thing I managed to sneak aboard a hovertrain headed for the foothills, or I’d be a gonner!

Now that I can catch my breath, I can finally update you on my most recent adventures. What a week it has been, dear readers! The last time I wrote to you, I was about to be confronted by a Cerynath matriarch in regards to the stew recipe I collected for you. Before she got me, though, I managed to slip out the back and run away with nothing more than my datapad and my skin.

I managed to slip into the tall grass of the prairie, relying on my spotted fur to camouflage me–but it didn’t last for long! I’m still not entirely sure how they managed to find me. It was touch and go there for a while! They even chased me to the edge of a cliff! But just as my boots were slipping, sending pebbles down to the rushing waters far below, I caught sight of a hovertrain hugging a track cut into the side of the canyon. As I bravely leapt onto the train, the Cerynaths, enraged by my audacity, sent a hailstorm of blasterbolts my way! Alas, one of them struck me in the thigh.

But the important part is that I survived. I managed to slip into the hovertrain before bloodloss claimed my consciousness.

I don’t remember the next two days, but when I awoke, I found myself far from where I started, in a hut on the edge of the vast Hrethen Prairie. Trees sprouted around me. We were much closer to the mountains.

When I say “we,” I refer to myself and the ancient Cerynath healer who tended me. She told me she was two centuries old and had decided to become a hermit to live out the rest of her days away from the tribal wars that so plague her people.

Upon tasting her Walo bird roast, I declared that I must have her recipe. To my utter delight, she was quite flattered and carefully taught me not only how to cook the roast, but also to hunt the Walo bird, a smallish, black and blue flightless bird common in these parts.

It saddens me to leave old Guin, but my drive to continue my quest to find more exquisite foods for you, my dear readers, is as insatiable as my appetite. Until next week, enjoy this humble but decadant feast!

Cerynath Walo Bird Roast

Ingredients

  • Ingredients
  • 2 lbs Walo bird thighs or breasts (chicken works well)
  • 2 tbsp fig spread
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 clove garlic, minced or ½ tsp garlic powder
  • 1–2 tbsp water

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Heat oven-safe skillet over medium-high. Coat bottom of skillet with a thin layer of oil.
  3. Sear chicken until deeply golden, 4–5 minutes. Flip and sear 2 minutes more.
  4. Pull skillet off heat. Brush or spoon glaze over chicken.
  5. Transfer skillet to oven.
  6. Roast until 165 degrees when thermometer is inserted. Approximate times:
    • Boneless thighs: 10–12 minutes
    • Bone-in thighs: 18–22 minutes
    • Chicken breasts: 15-25 minutes, depending on thickness
  7. Rest 5 minutes. Spoon pan glaze over before serving.

Serving Suggestion: Old Guin served this over a grain of some sort. I’ve never seen it before, but I suspect any buttered grain would be divine.

Interested in learning more about the universe this food tourism blog takes place in? Check out The Wolf Who Stands Watch, the first novella in The Emberlight Archive.