The woman with the basket from the garden scurries away and enters through the only door on the rear side of the house. Karl and Korgrave stand to wait by the back fence behind the stables, Karl with Elyan's gear in hand. As Elyan, Kiaphas, and Grotz enter through the rear gate and walk across the manor houses's grounds, a middle-aged human woman still in her dressing gown, her long hair plaited in a single thick and slightly graying braid, opens the back door and steps somewhat uncertainly to the door frame. Shielding her eyes from the strong morning sun with a hand, the woman scans her back acreage. As Elyan, Kiaphas, and Grotz come near, the woman drops her hand and calls a welcome, her voice still thick with sleep. "Good sun to you, travelers. Goodwife Marcene tells me you would have word with me--I am Kerowyn Hucrele, mistress of this manse." The woman's voice adopts a puzzled quality. "But were there not five of you? Where are the other two? You may all have a seat in the kitchen. Gretchen will fetch rolls and tea so that we may break our fast." Mistress Hucrele's voice is thick with the accent of one from Urnst.
Guiding the trio into her kitchen to a small work table that also seems to serve as an eating station, Mistress Hucrele issues commands to the two women from the garden. "Two more chairs to the table, rolls, jam, butter, hot tea, honey, clotted cream, and..." quickly appraising Grotz's large girth, Mistress Hucrele nods and continues, "half the ham from yestereve's supper, please." Even at this early hour, the Hucrele kitchen is warm from a bank of double stone hearths along the east wall by the door. Though not a large kitchen, the ceiling is high and beams of thick strong wood cross the walls and ceiling, the grain of their wood showing through a layer of white plaster. The kitchen is richly fragrant of yeast and baking bread. A pot of something simmering inside one of the hearths gives off the smell of cinnamon and beef.
Gretchen, the woman who greeted the party by the fence, bobs in reply to Mistress Hucrele's commands. With the help of the other (and younger) lass, the table is quickly laid and two extra chairs pulled up, providing seating for six. Mistress Hucrele seats herself at the head of the table and gestures for Kiaphas, Grotz, and Elyan to join her. "Octavius is sending round for the other two of your companions. Please, sit." Smiling in particular at Kiaphas, Mistress Hucrele affects a genteel voice. "Good priest, it is long since anyone faithful to the God of Elves has graced my table. Welcome. Indeed, welcome to you all." Mistress Hucrele motions to a basket of piping hot rolls, jam, butter, honey, and clotted cream already laid upon the table. "Please, help yourselves. Gretchen will pour." And, indeed, Gretchen begins to make her way 'round the table, pouring hot tea into cups. The younger lass sets down a platter with thinly sliced ham at Grotz's elbow then lays out plates for everyone save her own mistress, who waves away the meat trencher.
When the serving girls have quit the kitchen, Mistress Hucrele lays a hand upon the breakfast table, the sun glinting off a heavy silver signet ring on the ring finger of her right hand. A castle flanked on the right by a crescent moon is imprinted into her signet ring. "When your comrades have joined us, I will hear your business. 'Til then, let us enjoy our food." Mistress Hucrele sips politely from her tea but makes no move to eat anything.