6 December, 1347. Thierre Manor, Duchy of Orravalo, Islia.
"Vy! Vy! Where are you?" Ilse's voice echoed through the manor's upper floor.
"I'm in the winter chamber!" Violet called back, pulling a fur throw tighter around her shoulders as she watched snow falling from the lead coloured clouds. Her stomach rumbled quietly with hunger.
Ilse rushed into the room and threw herself into the window seat, facing her sister. "What are you doing here? I've been looking everywhere. Who are you hiding from now?"
"Silly goose! I'm not hiding from anyone."
"You must be! Don't deny it." Ilse insisted. "Why else would you be in here when this room is so freezing?"
Violet laughed and let go of one end of the fur throw, so that Ilse could snuggle under it too and they could share at least a little warmth. "It's no colder than in the rest of the house. At least here, I can sit in front of a nice picture window while I feel the blood in my veins slowly turning to ice!"
