One of the benefits of Warlic’s mage tower being…somewhere between the planes was that it could overlook anywhere on Lore. Right now, the backdrop was that of Swordhaven, evening rolling in and the city beginning to drop off to sleep, candlelit windows in the tall spires flickering as a light dusting of snow began to fall from the sky, the clouds overhead promising more to come.
Up in the tower, Jaania looked down at the tea cup in her hand, swirling the deep red liquid around. “So this is moglinberry tea, you said?”
Across from her, Alexander nodded, taking a deep sip from his own cup. “Mhmm. It’s a relatively new thing; the frost moglins have been experimenting with drying out the berries, mixing them with other spices and adding hot water. They gave some to Warlic to try out, which he split in half. Some for him and Nythera and some for us. Of course, if it still needs some tweaking, we still have regular hot moglinberry juice here.”
“I see,” Jaania swirled the tea round once more before lifting the cup to her lips and drinking. “Hmm, tangy yet fresh, and it warms you throughout. We can tell Warlic that this was a success.”
“I agree,” Alexander cupped his skeletal hands round his own cup and turned his head to observe the scenery they were overlooking. “There is something rather…special about seeing the city in the snow isn’t there?”
“I think it’s the spires,” Jaania replied, setting her cup down and turning to watch as well. “Because they’re so high up we get more of the, hmm, effect of watching the snow cover the city. Like when it lands on the top of the trees in a forest. Somewhere like Falconreach has the Guardian Tower, but Swordhaven has so many towers we get ”
“I never got much snow growing up. Lymcrest was too close to the volcano so it was too warm, and any snow we would get would wind up mixed with ash. I of course saw proper snow in Falconreach and Frostvale , but you’re right, the spires of Swordhaven make the whole scene rather more effective.”
“I’ve never been to Frostvale but the whole thing sounds rather cosy.”
“Maybe one day you can go?”
“Maybe one day. But not yet. Perhaps it won’t be too long if they keep making this delicious tea,” Jaania took another drink, watching as the snow began to come down thicker and faster from the clouds, blanketing the spires. “Um…how do you manage to, you know, drink?”
Alexander paused for a second before a mischievous glint came into his eyes. “Magic.”
“Oh you’re hilarious,” Jaania threw a sugar cube at him.
“I do try,” Alexander caught it and dropped it into his cup, picking up a nearby spoon to stir it in while Jaania huffed and lifted her own cup to her lips to hide her smile.
Over Swordhaven, the skies grew darker as the snow fell faster, the blue of the tower spires getting covered with white, the parts of the snow closest to the windows glowing yellow from the candlelight.
“Happy Frostval, Jaania.”
