The fire in the side pavilion crackled softly, consuming the dry wood the servants had prepared. The aroma of snow-deer meat filled the air, mingling with the simple spices Velthya had sprinkled before laying it on the grill. Thin smoke drifted toward the large open window, escaping into the night along with the warm air that pushed back the winter cold.
Sylvia sat beside the grill, her black hair falling loose over her shoulders. Her crimson eyes gleamed faintly, reflecting the embers, her hand steady as she turned over the slices of meat already blackening at the edges.
On the other side, Velthya looked positively thrilled, her silver tail almost never still. Her eyes sparkled every time she heard the sshhhhh of fat dripping onto the hot coals. "Look at that," she said, pointing at the browning meat. "This… this is incredible. Why did I never think of holding a feast like this before?"
