Chapter 19
The Yule Feast was the first large celebration I’d seen at Castle Raine. Unlike the rulers of Parnese, Lord Raine did not seem to care much for hosting events. Since my mother and I arrived, there had been no balls, no feasts, no parties—which contributed to the dreariness of the castle even more.
Now, though, the great hall glowed with light. Lamps were placed around the room and on the feasting tables, and two huge chandeliers hung from the ceiling, studded with hundreds of candles. Tapestries covered the walls, depicting murky scenes of battles interspersed with nobles riding through a dark forest and feasting in a hall that looked very much like the one at Castle Raine.
There was no food on the tables yet. Before the meal began, the guests must be formally greeted by the
