Spring would be weeks in coming to the rest of the Sionad, but the thaw always came early to the city of Espera.
Kaidra Natholm walked the streets of her city with an entourage of two of her guards. Stunningly beautiful young men, one blonde, the other dark of hair. Given their youth and attractiveness, rumours persisted about the nature of Kaidra's relationship with her guards.
Rumours also occasionally circulated regarding where she found them. There was always something otherworldly about her servants, and no one could claim to know where any of them came from. Certainly, she had never hired any of the locals.
Probably boys from her homeland of Connlaoth.
Even for her, there would be no fresh fruit until a little later in the season. True, if she really had a craving, she could travel easily to nations further south where fruit was easily had, but she rarely saw reason for such efforts. Espera produced some of the largest, sweetest apples during their short growing season to be had anywhere on the continent.
The winter wheat, however, had already been harvested. Another of their exports, as no one else in the Sionad had the long springs necessary to grow such rich crops. The witch took a loaf of fresh bread from an open air stall and looked it over.
Still warm from the oven, pleasant against the winter chill. She gave the vendor a smile which did not reach her grey eyes and tossed him a gold coin.
"Keep the change," she said as she moved on down the cobbled street. The commoners who made their way about their daily chores parted like ocean waves before her.