Tal still lived in with his older sisters in the house built into the back of the family store, but those particular notables were either working in the front, running inventory in the storeroom, or out holding down his old dog sled delivery route, respectively. The house and kitchen were blessedly quiet for a change, and he'd asked Alys to come around to the back family entrance for their meal.
His sisters, of course, had been delighted that he was having a friend over and he'd set Boreal to guard the door to the store and make sure there'd be no eavesdropping or embarrassing familial interruptions.
"Hey, Alys!" he called from the kitchen where he was carefully using his Dagger to cut potatoes on a counter a few feet out of reach while continuing to stir a sauce pot that was simmering with a savory, garlicky smell. "I'm in here! What'd y'bring?"
His sisters, of course, had been delighted that he was having a friend over and he'd set Boreal to guard the door to the store and make sure there'd be no eavesdropping or embarrassing familial interruptions.
"Hey, Alys!" he called from the kitchen where he was carefully using his Dagger to cut potatoes on a counter a few feet out of reach while continuing to stir a sauce pot that was simmering with a savory, garlicky smell. "I'm in here! What'd y'bring?"
