Several minutes later, Ashlynn was munching happily on a fish fritter that was still piping hot from the boiling lard it was cooked in. The exterior was perfectly crisp while the interior was soft and pillowy though she had to admit that each fritter seemed to contain more bread, herbs and vegetables than flakes of tender, flakey fish, and they contained far less of the spicy peppers that Jacques added to his, but they were still a nostalgic treat that reminded her of her time in the Briar and the unexpected family she'd found there.
Ollie was the first to return, awkwardly juggling a platter piled high with skewers of spiced, roasted meats and half a dozen small bowls of brightly colored sauces. The scents of sweet onions and fresh parsley mingled with fatty beef and pork to create a simple, welcoming aroma that all but cried out for one of the dark red, bright orange, or vibrant green sauces stacked around the edge of the platter.
