When Fortune means to men most good,
She looks upon them with a threatening eye.
-Shakespeare, King John III, 4
?My lady,? the First Mate called over the cold gale to reach past her hood and scarf wrapped ears, ?it may be best if you go to your cabin.?
The weather for the trip to Yransea was being contradictory to a smooth voyage. The children were unpleasant being cooped up in the cabin or under the decks. Trying to keep them out of the way but still spend their energy had transformed into hourly confrontations over what to do.
Cian had been forced into quiet while Aidan and Beata slept their afternoon nap. Sylvia had taken her turn of escape after Miriam returned, but it seemed the gale was picking up its howl and the crew worried for her safety with the visibility decreasing.
?Of course,? she acquiesced to the request. The crew had enough to worry about than adding her to their list. With care she made her way aft and into her cabin where four pairs of eyes looked up at her.
?Let me help you, m?lady,? Miriam crossed the small space and helped unwrap the layers of covering. The cabin was warmed more by the bodies than by the small brazier in the corner, but with the whipping wind gone, the effect of cold was cut three times. Miriam?s small cabin was next door, and she kept Aidan with her at night, but most of their waking hours were spent in such unseemly weather in the slightly larger accommodations of Sylvia?s cabin.
Unbundled, Sylvia sat on the end of the bed and reached again for the letters she had read over and over of the coming arrangements for the next few weeks. Prince Maelgwn, and naturally, Princess Rian would be in attendance during the assembly. The Yransea Council was still unsteady, and he had felt it best to keep all the councilors and their entourage close by, which had taken up the remaining rooms of the manor. The additional lords and merchants had been regulated to the two inns and a few of the merchant guild lodges in town.
Keefe had been thorough and kept her informed along the way. No matter how many times she read over the messages, the conclusion was the same: the next few weeks would be a taxing ordeal of debate and coercion. Geofsson was going to be there with his duel interests of politics and trade. It all had to be done, though, and the prosperity of the people of Yransea, and even Palendies as a whole, depended on the successful settlement of trade with the far country and even the lands linked through Rhydin.
Life was a far cry from what she had expected just seven months ago, and while it would have been Kieran seeing to these things had he been alive, her son was too young, Keefe was unfamiliar with Rhydin, and it rested on her shoulders.
A headache formed above one eye, small but persistent. She closed her eyes as the children began a game with the blocks on the small space on the floor. A game even Beata could join in when her brothers changed the rules for her benefit. Sylvia thought of fishing ships, kites in the moonlight, fireside stories, and recent nights gone by.
She looks upon them with a threatening eye.
-Shakespeare, King John III, 4
?My lady,? the First Mate called over the cold gale to reach past her hood and scarf wrapped ears, ?it may be best if you go to your cabin.?
The weather for the trip to Yransea was being contradictory to a smooth voyage. The children were unpleasant being cooped up in the cabin or under the decks. Trying to keep them out of the way but still spend their energy had transformed into hourly confrontations over what to do.
Cian had been forced into quiet while Aidan and Beata slept their afternoon nap. Sylvia had taken her turn of escape after Miriam returned, but it seemed the gale was picking up its howl and the crew worried for her safety with the visibility decreasing.
?Of course,? she acquiesced to the request. The crew had enough to worry about than adding her to their list. With care she made her way aft and into her cabin where four pairs of eyes looked up at her.
?Let me help you, m?lady,? Miriam crossed the small space and helped unwrap the layers of covering. The cabin was warmed more by the bodies than by the small brazier in the corner, but with the whipping wind gone, the effect of cold was cut three times. Miriam?s small cabin was next door, and she kept Aidan with her at night, but most of their waking hours were spent in such unseemly weather in the slightly larger accommodations of Sylvia?s cabin.
Unbundled, Sylvia sat on the end of the bed and reached again for the letters she had read over and over of the coming arrangements for the next few weeks. Prince Maelgwn, and naturally, Princess Rian would be in attendance during the assembly. The Yransea Council was still unsteady, and he had felt it best to keep all the councilors and their entourage close by, which had taken up the remaining rooms of the manor. The additional lords and merchants had been regulated to the two inns and a few of the merchant guild lodges in town.
Keefe had been thorough and kept her informed along the way. No matter how many times she read over the messages, the conclusion was the same: the next few weeks would be a taxing ordeal of debate and coercion. Geofsson was going to be there with his duel interests of politics and trade. It all had to be done, though, and the prosperity of the people of Yransea, and even Palendies as a whole, depended on the successful settlement of trade with the far country and even the lands linked through Rhydin.
Life was a far cry from what she had expected just seven months ago, and while it would have been Kieran seeing to these things had he been alive, her son was too young, Keefe was unfamiliar with Rhydin, and it rested on her shoulders.
A headache formed above one eye, small but persistent. She closed her eyes as the children began a game with the blocks on the small space on the floor. A game even Beata could join in when her brothers changed the rules for her benefit. Sylvia thought of fishing ships, kites in the moonlight, fireside stories, and recent nights gone by.