Ewan had taken the box from Storm with the repeated vow not to open it until the proper time, bade her a warm fare well, and boarded the vessel without looking back. It was something he had learned from his father. Looking back never helped and it only served to bait fate to make it the last look given.

The sea was its winter self, rousing waves and slicing breezes, but all managed well by the crew and the passengers alike. Even in the late night cold, Ewan took strolls upon the deck, and he found others doing the same. ?No one can sleep?? he asked the two ladies standing at the rails, bundled against the cold, and looking out to sea. ?What do you see out there??

Two pairs of eyes, one light and the other dark, framed by hoods of cloaks turned to him. Neither inclined to state an answer, but each gave a form of a smile that concealed the depth of their thoughts. Ewan nodded. He knew in some fashion what each was thinking about, for both of those were on his mind as well. Too tight his feelings were wound around the future days and the conflict that warred within Kiema. Too tight need to serve Sylvia and keep her family safe from those that would cause them harm. But the hand begged for blood letting against his critical and analyzing mind.

Soon the blood song would win out, and he only hoped Kiema would not stand in his way. He looked out to the dark sea and the carpet of pinpricked light in the sky and joined the women in their silent thoughts. His own as firmly joined as stars to sky and sky to ocean horizon.

Ewan stood with his family at the edge of the harbor. A great portion of the town lined and crowded the length of the docks to watch the first lantern lighting. Then all would join in the setting out of their own delicate lanterns into the ebbing tide of the ocean.

His mother, Maeve, shifted back and forth to see between two people in front of her with eager anticipation for the start. Lina and Gaer no less eager, and Gaerwyn scooped up his son to hold and give him a better view. Lina looked up to him, but knew better than to ask, so Ewan motioned to her. With a grin, she went to him and he picked her up, murmuring, ?You are getting to be a young lady, and soon will not be allowing your old cousin to pick you up.? She wrinkled her nose and giggled, giving him a warm hug, and then searched the area from her new vantage point.

Ewan, too, looked out over the murmuring throng. Other guards had the duty of attending on the family tonight. Sylvia had made that most clear to him in consideration of the coming days. Ewan was to spend this time with his family before serving the barony. None had asked or shown any worry of what he faced, though he did not hide the truth of the matter from them. Maeve had taken it in stride as she always did, nodded, and then pressed on with the brighter events for the night.

There they all stood together in the comfort of each others company, and Ewan felt the warmth of the amulet against his skin beneath the layers of clothing knowing his wife and son were with him in spirit. He watched Cian held in his mother?s arm and with her whispered instructions light the lantern upon the post, the cut outs of trees now illumined. All manner of Wintertide symbols would adorn the lanterns, both paper and metal, in tradition of the season.

One by one the lanterns along the posts were set alight by others of the community, chosen for the honor, and then came the setting of lanterns afloat in the bay. Ewan set Lina down and she moved forward with her paper lantern in hand along with her brother, father, and Lenika. The lighting candles sheltered from breezes in half shuttered hollows of copper lanterns were used by everyone. The wishes and hopes for the coming year and return of light were set out to sea; little messages of candle flame flickered in golden mimicry of the stars above as the harbor filled with light.

Gaerwyn stepped to Ewan?s side as the family finished their turn. There were words unspoken and unnecessary in that silence, but Ewan could sense his cousin?s support and well wishes. The moment was broken by the cheers of the family that he and Gaerwyn joined in as they turned to go to the market and enjoy the festivities there.