The autumn sun climbed to its zenith, pouring a torrent of brilliant, honeyed light through the broad front window of the main hall. Outside, the valley lay suspended in a serene, golden quiet—the rushing river murmuring a distant, steady lullaby against the bank, and the apple orchard resting motionless beneath an unclouded sky.
Inside, the atmosphere had settled into a profound, enveloping warmth. The new stone hearth sang with a low, resonant crackle as the seasoned applewood burned down into a bed of glowing red embers, filling the room with the rich, comforting scent of sweet woodsmoke and dried resin.
I sat at the heavy oak table near the window, resting my chin in my hand as I watched the amber light trace patterns across the polished floorboards. There were no urgent parchment di
