[Envinyatar]

Derufin chuckled at the dog’s antics. Hopeful looks had given way to a low pitched whine accompanied by the occasional thump of Cullen’s tail against Benat’s leg. ‘May I?’ he said, holding up one of the sweet-cakes. Benat nodded. Derufin stood and arced the cake up high into the sky. Cullen’s eyes had been on the cake, and he leapt up as it fell earthward, snapping it up in his large maw. A single gulp with barely a chew and the cake was gone.

‘Tis all there is, Master Dog!’ Derufin said as the hopeful canine wagged his tail.

Sitting back down, Derufin took a long drink from his cup of cider. ‘I think you’re right, Benat. A few more hours will leave us half done, I think, with this last pile of logs. I propose we do what we can then, please join Zimzi and me for supper at the Inn.’ He laughed, thinking of their bare cupboards. ‘Soon I’ll be able to invite you to my own kitchen . . . but, well, we’ve just moved in.’ He was thinking, too, of the raising cake Cook had promised to make for him.

‘What do you say, Denegal?’