"Someday," Sylvia smiled across the table to Keefe, "the weather is not going to be friendly. Is this three years in a row now we have had beautiful summer weather for High Summer celebrations?"
On the morning of the first day of High Summer, as had become custom when the weather permitted, family, friends, and guests of Seansloe Manor had taken part of their breakfast in the gardens. The children ate and played in wild exchanges. The adults exchanged pleasantries over pastries, fruits, breads, cheeses. Among the beverages of teas and juices, a light summer mead, the first of many of the High Summer treats that would be offered over the next two days.
Sylvia was glad that she and her guests had arrived in Seansloe harbor early enough the night previous so that she could speak of matters with Keefe and other staff of the household. He had expressed his concern over her bringing in more otherworldly guests with the situation still so tenuous with the Crown, but she had eased his concerns. At least, she believed he had eased his concerns. At least he was being affable and welcoming to their guests. Keefe could only shrug to Sylvia's question. "I could not say as to that far back, but the past two years, yes, so it has. I will hope it stays through the events. I fully intend to take my hand at some of the boating games. No doubt, Master Gardiner will be also eager that rains do not fall upon the bonfires this night." There was a general laugh that included the professor, momentarily distracted by the comment from his instruction of the two young lords and their sister on a particular type of beetle they had discovered among the plants.
Lyana, too, was glad of the company, even if she kept near Keefe. She only leaned from him when further expressing interest in visiting Rhydin some day, though she spoke of such things in a hushed voice. Perhaps she thought there were unfriendly ears to overhear her even in the gardens. It had been a full year since they had jumped the bonfire together. The mentioning of the bonfires by Keefe had drawn her softened gaze to him. Though she was captain of a warband of Yransea, today she dressed according to her station as a daughter of the noble house of that barony, and it did better to match Keefe's casual if refined attire as Lord Protectorate.
Sylvia had made sure that her guests had comfortable, or as comfortable as possible, attire for the days of their stay. Dresses as appropriate and needed, were made of died linens of colors like the meadow grass, bright sunlight, or array of flowered colors. Embroidery, symbolic on some pieces, ornamental on others, lined collars and hems with intricate woven ivies and sprays of thread crafted greenery.
When the sun had near reached its zenith, Sylvia looked about to the gathered party. "There is no hurry for you to join the celebrations in town. The market is full of vendors, games, plays and music. Only, it draws near the noon hour. Keefe, Cian, and I must tend to a small ceremonial duty and look to see you all soon." She had no desire to rush the guests, wishing them to take their ease, enjoy as they willed, knowing that guards and staff would be glad to escort them about town at their leisure.
"Come along, Cian." She reached out a hand to her eldest, who came with an excited run and a bright smile. Around the gathered, sunlight and songbirds only heralded a day full of merry delights.
On the morning of the first day of High Summer, as had become custom when the weather permitted, family, friends, and guests of Seansloe Manor had taken part of their breakfast in the gardens. The children ate and played in wild exchanges. The adults exchanged pleasantries over pastries, fruits, breads, cheeses. Among the beverages of teas and juices, a light summer mead, the first of many of the High Summer treats that would be offered over the next two days.
Sylvia was glad that she and her guests had arrived in Seansloe harbor early enough the night previous so that she could speak of matters with Keefe and other staff of the household. He had expressed his concern over her bringing in more otherworldly guests with the situation still so tenuous with the Crown, but she had eased his concerns. At least, she believed he had eased his concerns. At least he was being affable and welcoming to their guests. Keefe could only shrug to Sylvia's question. "I could not say as to that far back, but the past two years, yes, so it has. I will hope it stays through the events. I fully intend to take my hand at some of the boating games. No doubt, Master Gardiner will be also eager that rains do not fall upon the bonfires this night." There was a general laugh that included the professor, momentarily distracted by the comment from his instruction of the two young lords and their sister on a particular type of beetle they had discovered among the plants.
Lyana, too, was glad of the company, even if she kept near Keefe. She only leaned from him when further expressing interest in visiting Rhydin some day, though she spoke of such things in a hushed voice. Perhaps she thought there were unfriendly ears to overhear her even in the gardens. It had been a full year since they had jumped the bonfire together. The mentioning of the bonfires by Keefe had drawn her softened gaze to him. Though she was captain of a warband of Yransea, today she dressed according to her station as a daughter of the noble house of that barony, and it did better to match Keefe's casual if refined attire as Lord Protectorate.
Sylvia had made sure that her guests had comfortable, or as comfortable as possible, attire for the days of their stay. Dresses as appropriate and needed, were made of died linens of colors like the meadow grass, bright sunlight, or array of flowered colors. Embroidery, symbolic on some pieces, ornamental on others, lined collars and hems with intricate woven ivies and sprays of thread crafted greenery.
When the sun had near reached its zenith, Sylvia looked about to the gathered party. "There is no hurry for you to join the celebrations in town. The market is full of vendors, games, plays and music. Only, it draws near the noon hour. Keefe, Cian, and I must tend to a small ceremonial duty and look to see you all soon." She had no desire to rush the guests, wishing them to take their ease, enjoy as they willed, knowing that guards and staff would be glad to escort them about town at their leisure.
"Come along, Cian." She reached out a hand to her eldest, who came with an excited run and a bright smile. Around the gathered, sunlight and songbirds only heralded a day full of merry delights.