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She wouldn’t be left alone, Breen knew. Another part of the planning meant she’d have someone with her or shadowing her until she crossed over again.
Morena had a trio of braids tied up high to bounce with bells at her back, and leggings like Breen, but hers with a shirt whirled with shades of purple. She’d gone with a short sword, and Breen knew she had a dagger in her boot.
“Thank the gods you’ve brought more. The Trolls all but cleaned you out, Marco, before any of the rest of us had a chance. Breen and I will take over here while you take the rest for the judging.”
“Appreciate it. I’ll be back!”
Morena came around, glanced down. Below the table, swords, bows, quivers were stacked.
“We’ve gotten off to a fine start,” she said. “The littles are half-mad with it all. Aisling has her hands full organizing them into groups for games, but she’s plenty of help with it. Harken’s just down there, do you see? Between helping with the pony rides and organizing today’s horse race—the starting line’s near Marg’s cottage—he has his own hands full.”
She unboxed biscuits as she spoke. “Marg, she’s up closer to Nan’s cottage, helping with the wool and sweaters, caps, scarves, and such. I’ve sheared more sheep this spring than I ever hope to again.”
Letting me know where everyone is, Breen realized.
“I’ll have to take a look—not at the wool, since my knitting’s hopeless, but at the sweaters and such. Is Sedric with her?”
“Close by with his own baked goods stand. The competition in the judging tents will be fierce for certain.”
They talked like two friends without a care in the world, and before long had customers. Since Morena proved a better barterer, Breen let her run that show and wrapped the goods.
“I’m told Tarryn will come in with some dragon riders tomorrow,” Morena continued. “She’ll have time with the family. Keegan visitsthe festivals in the midlands today after the morning in the Capital, then to the North, the South, the Far West, before he comes to the valley for the solstice.”
She knew all this, of course, but it comforted her to hear it.
“I’m sorry your family won’t be able to visit and see how beautiful it all looks in the valley.”
“They’ve more than enough to keep them busy at the Capital.”
And the Capital required warriors at the ready, and others to keep the young safe.
Yet she felt no threat here, not here, Breen thought. Here it was all excitement and color, a cheerful kind of carnival, where fathers carried children on their shoulders, people cheered and applauded at the contests. Couples strolled hand in hand and the flags and bunting swayed in the warm breeze.
Well into the afternoon, Marco strutted around, his belled ribbon on his sleeve.
“Sedric nipped me on the pie, but nobody tops my strawberry shortcake. And that one’s going in the book for sure.” He draped an arm over Breen’s shoulders as they walked to watch the first rounds of archery. “How you doing, my Breen?”
“Absolutely fine, even knowing I’ve got another long stint of cleanup coming, since there’s not one of your cookies or tarts left.”
“I’m doing some soda bread for tomorrow’s contest. No way to beat Finola there, but a man’s gotta try.”
They watched Brian and Morena advance to the next round. She laughed until her ribs ached at the kids in their sack races. She cheered along with the others gathered when Harken signaled the start of the horse race that sent the mounts and their riders thundering down the road.
With Marg, she wandered the stalls, and bartered.
She sang with Marco as afternoon blurred toward evening, and danced with Sedric, with Brian, with a sleepy Kavan, who rested his head on her shoulder.
And as the sun set on the long day, the fire lit.
Finian slipped his hand into hers. “Ma says we can stay only a few more minutes.”
She glanced over, saw Kavan asleep in Mahon’s arms, and Kelly in the sling Aisling wore.
“There’ll be more fun and games tomorrow.”
“The dragons ride tomorrow. I dreamed of my dragon again, the one you said I’d ride one day.”
“Did you?” Because he looked so sleepy, she picked him up so he could rest against her.
