Sparx only let out a small sound, rubbing his cheek against Lady Karina's. She allowed the fox beast to settle on her shoulders, carrying the box and roll of parchment and putting them down on the desk.
She retrieved a tall stool to perch herself on while Sparx's bushy tail swished around, his eyes eagerly watching her work as she laid out the parchment.
For hours, her writing filled about a quarter of the sheet, tallies from last spring through summer and winter down to the current spring.
Most of the tally was for honey, the result of a particularly fruitful fall and quite the busy bees. But there was also a rally for the upcoming apricot and cherry harvest and an estimate of what the lady projected to glean.
All the while Sparx's body subtly radiated heat to keep them both warm from the cold draft coming from the lancet window.
