Morning had fully settled over the temporary military encampment by the time the first curious spectators began drifting toward the western supply grounds.
The chosen site lay between the military kitchens and the central supply depot, where a broad stretch of level earth had been cleared shortly after sunrise. Rows of transport wagons had been moved aside to create an open square large enough to accommodate hundreds of onlookers, while several portable cooking stations had already been assembled beneath simple wooden canopies to shield the worktables from the strengthening sunlight.
Military servants hurried back and forth carrying bundles of firewood, sealed jars of oil, baskets overflowing with vegetables, sacks of grain, ceramic jars filled with clean spring water, and neatly arranged racks of cooking utensils.
Everything had been prepared with remarkable efficiency.
Two identical cooking stations stood opposite one another.
Each possessed the same iron stove.
