Snippet #2439579

Soon enough, the carriages came to a grumbling halt in front of the towering black structure. Throughout the stones were streaks of red, in no particular pattern, as well as the scattering of greys and white, like unpolished marble. By this time the sun had nearly finished its trek across the sky, and was well hidden behind the distant mountains, leaving the land in violet twilight. White flakes fell silently, coating the ground in a thin white veil that sparkled in the golden circle of torchlight that lit the way. Outside of the carriages the crunching of boots heralded the servants tasked with retrieving the guests and their luggage.

The butler, seeming to be in his late forties or early fifties bowed politely as the guests left their respective coaches,"The master would like you to join him in the dining room. There is a dinner waiting for you there."

With that, the man turned and stepped though the massive oak doors, which were thrown wide to make way for luggage and the cheerful-looking folks that carried it indoors. For now, everything was neatly piled at the foot of the grand staircase, while the butler headed toward the aroma of home-cooked food, bidding the group to follow him.