At the epicentre of this culinary marvel resided a large wooden bowl brimming with a delicious spring salad. Within its verdant depths, a medley of vibrant radishes, purple and golden carrots, luscious early lettuce, and hearty chestnuts intertwined, creating a tapestry of flavours. Seasoned artfully with an assortment of herbs and an array of other nuts, it promised a delightful symphony of textures, the crunchiness of the early root-vegetables marrying harmoniously with the nutty undertones.

“Thank thee, my Liege. This legend is not as well-known as the others here in this kingdom, for it lasted not but five seasons. However, the tale extends much further back than that. Thanks to the efforts of our king, and to old Mother Bell of Heartwood Abbey, we now have a much fuller depiction of this mouse called Golden Heart, and her lore to follow.”

The wind was strong, impeding not only his vision but also his ability to soar unhindered. In an abrupt moment of sheer terror, a resounding -CRACK! – reverberated through the stormy expanse, lightning striking with merciless precision just ahead of Finlay’s beleaguered form! Caught unawares, he instinctively flapped his wings in a fervent attempt to evade the scorching blaze of the bolt or manoeuvre around it, yet the relentless gusts had depleted his remaining strength, rendering his efforts futile. Helplessly, he plummeted from the heavens, gathering velocity with each passing moment, his gaze fixated on the swiftly approaching ground! Panic consumed him as he frantically unfurled his wings, hoping to decelerate his descent. Instead, it sent him into a spiral as he realized that his right wing had become damaged and filled with holes. Unable to slow his fall, he covered his vulnerable head in a last-ditch effort to shield himself.