Dinner was simple tonight no parade of silver platters, no elaborate centerpieces, just a round wooden table set with earthenware bowls, thick slices of crusty bread, and a pair of sturdy candlesticks flickering gently.
The kitchen staff had prepared a meal for comfort rather than spectacle: roasted root vegetables tossed in herbs, creamy soup fragrant with garlic and parsley, hunks of white cheese, and a pot of honey for drizzling.
But Thalor knew, as Kaelith toddled into the dining room ahead of him in her dragon overalls and mismatched socks, that "simple" was about to become relative.
Lara was already there—leaning back in her chair, her boots crossed on the rung, exuding her usual air of irreverence.
She looked up and grinned when she saw Kaelith, making an exaggerated bow. "Well, well, the little demon queen arrives! What's your verdict—will we be spared tonight?"
