The evening cloaked the towering Hale Mansion in a hue of regal gold and moonlit frost. Inside the grand dining hall, the chandeliers blazed like hanging suns, their golden flames flickering above a table so lavish it nearly resembled a royal coronation banquet.
Crusted venison lined with jewel-toned pomegranates, rosemary-roasted duck steaming atop crystal platters, golden sourdough loaves nestled between bowls of crimson berry glazes and lavender butter. Fresh oysters sat on beds of crushed ice, their sheen reflecting the light like polished gems. Shellfish bisque steamed from ornate bowls. And in the center of it all: a towering centerpiece of seafood layered high—lobsters, scallops, blackened trout—garnished with sea salt, lemon curls, and trailing sprigs of dill.
Elowen's eyes stung the moment she stepped into the hall.
