[b]The 16th day of the 10th moon in the year 2846 AS (After Seclusion)[/b]

It was to be quite possibly the most important occasion in all of Almerinte ever since the Seclusion of the Sisters. Itervians and Alumnallens had clashed with each other for centuries upon centuries, and there were innumerable legends and stories depicting the famed rivalry in between Ophelia, the stone-cold mistress of ice and snow, and Scarletta, the fiesty, willful trickster. But here they were, the night before an Alumnallen princess and her retinue of lords and ladies and knights and singers would grace the Itervian court for the first time since the dawn of the world. And as the Lady of the Keep, it was up to Princess Serenei Farwynd to ensure that everything was [i]perfect[/i].

"Your Grace!" a shout rang out from the far side of the kitchen. Serenei stood by the entrance, surveying the hustle and bustle. The Alumnallen delegation, led by Princess Phillipa Forrester and her husband-Prince Frederick Forrester-were due to arrive around noon the following day. A welcoming feast was being held in their honor, and preparations for the feast had started over a week ago.

Serenei turned. She had been admonishing a kitchen boy for fetching indigo blueberries instead of cobalt-blue ones. "The indigo berries have too much purple in them," she explained patiently. "The color would clash with the decorative icicles, and besides, they're much too sour. Go back and find the cobalt berries."

Reyanna, one of Serenei's many assistants, drew up alongside her, panting. "Your Grace," she repeated. Her chestnut-colored ringlets were slightly disheveled. "Reports from the Shimmering Sea have confirmed the Alumnallen's location. Their ships shall dock in the ports at the expected time," she informed Serenei.

Serenei nodded. "Good, good. Then we shall proceed as planned. Is there anything else, Lady Reyanna?" Reyanna Weystermont was a couple years older than Serenei, and had served under the former Lady of the Keep for two years. Serenei considered Reyanna's assistance invaluable. She was responsible for information-when somebody would arrive, how many people were traveling with them, how many horses they were bringing along, the number of trunks that they were bringing...down to what Princess Phillipa's gown was made out of (rare Meraliti silk) and how many rubies were inlaid in her tiara (nine).  

"Oh, yes," Reyanna continued. "Princess Phillipa has half a dozen singers and twice as many musicians in her retinue. I had the scouts ask if they would be willing to play at the welcoming feast, and of course they accepted."

Serenei frowned slightly. "You will see that the Alumnallen singers and musicians at least discuss what they shall play with our own singers and musicians, yes?"

"Of course, Your Grace," answered Reyanna. "And finally, perhaps the most important bit-our navy is currently escorting the Alumnallen ships to the harbor. Captain Derrik has spoken with Princess Phillipa and Prince Frederick and ascertained that all is well. You mustn't worry about Captain Derrik, Your Grace. He is a good-natured, amicable man. He will not disgrace us."

Serenei sighed and laughed lightly. "I suppose you are right, Reyanna," she said. "I am simply a bit anxious, is all. If that is all, you may go. Oh, and for the twentieth time, I am Serenei to you, not 'Your Grace'," Serenei told Reyanna in a teasing voice.

"As you say, Your Grace," Reyanna replied cheekily. A mischievous grin came over her face before she darted away. Serenei giggled and rolled her eyes and returned to her task of overseeing the preparations.

Later that same night, Serenei ate supper with the rest of her family: the aging Queen Alaysha and King Lanner; Crown-Princess Marleyna and her husband, Crown-Prince Alran from Cyraine; the High Priest, who was also known as Bryce, Lord Lorgan and his wife, Lady Eyla Icewylle, and Serenei's husband, Prince Clarrik. Serenei had to remind herself that Marleyna would soon be queen-if a monarch lived until they were sixty, they customarily abdicated the throne and allowed their heir to ascend. Queen Alaysha was fifty-eight.

Marleyna and Alran's three boys were present, as well as Lorgan and Eyla's twins. Serenei kept a close eye on her own son, three-year-old Ryne. He was already taking after his uncle (the former Prince, and now Lord, Lorgan) in that he loved to explore new places and had no concern for danger whatsoever. 

After the usual pleasantries were exchanged, the topic of conversation turned to the Alumnallens. "I do hope that Princess Phillipa and Prince Frederick are as rational as they say they are," King Lanner said.

"I am sure that they are, Lanner," responded Queen Alaysha. "Do not worry so much."

Marleyna smiled serenely. "Yes, listen to Mother," she said. "It is very unlike you to fret so much, Father. I am sure that they will be most willing to negotiate, and I am certain that they will be impressed by everything that Serenei has planned for them." Marleyna's normally cool and aloof demeanor was open and relaxed. She winked at Serenei.

"I pray that you have not planned anything that would offend the honorable goddess, younger sister," Byrce intoned. Serenei resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Her older brother was so unbelievably [i]gloomy[/i] all the time!

"Of course I have not!" Serenei exclaimed, a tad indignantly. [i]Stay calm now,[/i] she chided herself. [i]As calm as Marleyna is around the rest of the lords and ladies. As calm as the Wytesias on a clear day. Calm, calm, calm.[/i] "I would never do such a thing."

Lorgan came to Serenei's rescue. "We all know that Serenei knows what she's doing," he said. "Why, brother, I would like to see [i]you[/i] plan the feast! You'd be serving these hot-headed Alumnallens ice water with a side of snow!"

Serenei hastily stifled a giggle. Clarrik chuckled softly under his breath. King Lanner raised an eyebrow, the side of Queen Alaysha's lip twitched, and even Marleyna cracked a smile. Of course it was Lorgan who lightened the mood. Serenei had a feeling that he would get along very well with the Alumnallens.

"Enough of the bickering, now," Queen Alaysha reminded her older son and her younger daughter. Serenei took a dainty sip of the delicate blueberry wine sitting in front of her. The servants brought in a soup made from mushrooms, leek, turnips, cod, and walnuts. Serenei picked up her berry fork and brought a blueberry to her lips, nibbling on it as she listened to the others speak. "How are Queen Gracelynn and King Arlen, Prince Alran?" asked Queen Alaysha.

Prince Alran had grass-green eyes and honey-colored hair. He stuck out like a sore thumb in Itervia. "They are doing well, thank you, and they send their regards," he replied politely. It was no secret that Marleyna did not love her Cyrainese husband, and that Arlan did not love his Itervian wife. But they were married to seal a trade deal in between the realms, and they had three children who were quickly growing up. Serenei felt sorry for Marleyna. Her older sister was forced to marry a man that she had never met. At least Serenei and Clarrik were friends! Serenei wouldn't have said that she and Clarrik loved each other as husband and wife, the way that Lorgan and Eyla did. No, she loved Clarrik as if he were her brother, and she knew that Clarrik loved her as if she were his sister. And they both [i]adored[/i] little Ryne.

Dessert was chilled cream and frozen blackberries, and then one by one, Serenei's siblings began excusing themselves to retire for the night. Serenei excused herself as well, and dashed off to her quarters in a rather unladylike manner to go over a couple of details.

Clarrik knocked on the door of her study. He opened the door and stuck his head in. "May I come in?" he asked. Serenei nodded, her gaze fixed on the scrolls of parchment spread out on her desk.

Clarrik approached the fine mahogany desk. Serenei's study featured soft, pale blue rugs decorated with intricate designs sewn from silver thread. Two bookshelves lined the far wall, while a large window framed by ivory curtains took up the wall behind the desk. A bouquet of violets and blue roses sat on the windowsill. Clarrik stood behind Serenei and read over her shoulder.

"Mutton roasted with leeks and carrots, huh?" he asked, a wicked grin sliding over his face. "You know that's my favorite, Serenei. Are you sure that there will be enough for our esteemed guests?"

Serenei rolled her eyes and playfully nudged her husband. "On average, you manage to finish one and one-eighth plate loaded with that dish. Three-fifths of the plate consists of mutton, while three-tenths of the plate consists of carrots and one-tenth of the plate consists of leeks. By my calculations, there will be twenty and five-sevenths plates of that same dish available to those of us seated on the dais and just below it. So, Clarrik, [i]yes[/i], there will be enough for our esteemed guests," Serenei answered, grinning.

Clarrik laughed wholeheartedly. "I should know better than to question you by now, should I?" he said sheepishly.

"You should," Serenei told him in a mock-haughty manner before turning back to the list of courses. Along with the mutton, there would be roast swan stuffed with mushrooms and oysters (a Cyrainese delicacy), baked venison (a tribute to Alumnall), plenty of hot, mulled wine (for the Alumnallens unaccustomed to such cold weather) and plenty of fish (Illyri was, after all, situated on the coast of the Shimmering Sea). Cheeses, fruits, pastries, breads...Serenei had it all down to a science.

Finally, Serenei was absolutely certain that everything was ready. She hastily changed out of her gown of royal blue wool and into a night gown. Ryne had been asleep for some time by now, and Clarrik had just gone to bed as well. Serenei sat down in front of the mirror and combed her chocolate-brown hair. As she was putting the comb away, something shiny glinted in the dim candle light. [i]How peculiar,[/i] she thought. Serenei moved to pick it up, but when she touched it, a sharp pain seared up her arm.

Serenei squeaked in alarm, clamping a hand over her mouth to stifle the sound so that she wouldn't wake her husband. Serenei frowned, inspecting her hand-there was no blood-and then shrugged, yawning. It had been a long day, and she had more pressing things to worry about right now. Whatever that thing was could wait until the Alumnallens were comfortably settled in. Serenei shut the drawer and pulled back the hangings of the bed, crawling under the soft blankets next to Clarrik and shutting her eyes. Soon, she was fast asleep.