One of the male slaves noticed a thick golden crust clinging to the bottom of the pot. He had never seen such a thing. Curious, he broke off a piece and held it to his nose. The scent alone was irresistible.
He took a bite.
His eyes widened.
Crunchy.
Fragrant.
Rich with toasted flavor.
Without hesitation, he took another bite. Realizing there was more than he could eat alone, he passed pieces around.
Soon, the slaves were sharing the rice crust, smiling and exclaiming over its taste.
Before long, they had already started preparing a second pot of rice.
Meanwhile, inside the hut, Sienna and Mirella stood by the doorway, watching them.
The sight of people eagerly cooking more rice made Sienna smile.
She stepped outside again.
"I think you should also prepare a pot of soup," she said. "Rice is wonderful, but vegetables will make the meal complete. Even the best horse cannot run on grain alone without water."
