The camp had settled into a quieter rhythm by the time dinner was served.
The Rubenhart knights had arranged a makeshift dining area near the center of the clearing, far enough from the stream that the ground remained dry and stable. Thick fallen logs had been placed around the fire, with broad planks resting over two of them to create simple benches. It was hardly comparable to the polished dining hall of the royal castle, but the knights had done their best to make it comfortable.
A large fire burned at the center.
Its flames rose and curled against the dark sky, sending sparks upward toward the stars. The heat reached the sisters where they sat together on one of the benches, warming their hands and faces against the cool night air. Behind them, tents had been set up in orderly rows: a large command tent near the carriage, several smaller tents for the knights, and a separate one for the three sisters.
The smell of dinner drifted through the camp.
