I am hearing the odd whispered rumour here and there of a lofty party in the planning, and after a bit of poking and prodding it would appear to me that the source of it all is none other than my very own Uncle! I can't help but feel terribly spurned, you know, having to discover it all this way on my own. I hope that I at least will receive an invitation, when the time comes.

In fact, I can't even remember the last time that Uncle Reston held such an event on his own estate. Father is grumbling about it already, and I'll not repeat the terms he used to describe the move for fear of besmirching his delicate reputation, but truth be told I think he's simply bitter because he's not terribly likely to be invited, himself. At least, not genuinely.

And you know, I can't decide whether Christopher is simply too embarrassed to write here, for the moment, or if Jaina is really just keeping him that busy. It's a toss up, really. Though I suppose he could very well be in on this whole party planning business, in which case my offense at being so woefully underinformed easily doubles. At least!

For those in the audience that have been playing along, I feel compelled to share with you all the news that Lady Jaina pulled me aside earlier this morning, practically begging me to impart to her what Christopher's favorite meals might be. I will confess, I couldn't resist teasing her, a bit -- Rose Day is still so far off, I noted -- but to her credit she pressed right on, regardless. I believe I gave her decent advice, because Christopher has been wandering about the grounds with a rather satisfied look on his face since supper, but I've not yet had the time to question what precisely went on. If you gather my meaning.

Feel free to speculate, in the meantime, because I certainly intend to. Why, I can hear the gossip beginning, already!

Personally, Mydra, I think Father has a point. You would make a very convincing Roma dancer, I think everyone will agree, and really, you should take less offense at these sorts of friendly suggestions! It's hardly as though you're about to think of a costume for yourself, if past years are any indication. I think I could even manage to provide the necessary clothes, for you, if you like. How difficult could it be, really, it's not as though they wear very much at all ...

[Filter: Private]

Well.

Forgive me if it's a bit more difficult to prepare myself for this particular celebration. It's a difficult line to walk, even if the only one truly scrutinizing me is ... well, Rickon, of course. I don't imagine he'll be present, however, so ...

Haha, I wish that I could find some reason to excuse myself, as well. It's impossible, but all the same. He wouldn't want company, but -- neither would I, precisely. In some ways, I find myself wishing that our observance of this holiday were more like our straight-laced brothers to the west, but no one wants to hear that, either, do they?

Uncle would understand ... perhaps I'll have a talk with him. It couldn't hurt.

Mydra, really.

When my father requests a dance, the proper response is flattered acceptance, not that graceless flat refusal you managed there in front of everyone. You'll be the subject of gossip for weeks to come! How rude, the courtiers will all sigh, just wait. You're inviting all sorts of trouble.

Well, Fayre, Jasmine. You'll be glad to know that your things arrived well in advance, after all. It would seem that they were simply added to the growing number of arriving Festival gifts without any of my knowledge! Perhaps it's for the best. If I had received them early, there would have been so many more temptations to resist, hm?

I don't suppose either of you have had the opportunity to inquire at the castle about my gifts to you, just yet.

As for everyone else, I hope this year's Festival finds you all well and in the midst of a hearty celebration, wherever you may be.

[Filter: Private]

If she's writing, then -- surely she's in capable hands.

I only wish there was more to be done for them. It affects Christopher, too ... being so utterly helpless in the face of whatever disaster strikes there. The resources spent on Fayre already raise eyebrows, when it comes up ... haha, we get writs from the most ridiculous places, at times, it's true, but ... well. What else could we do, beyond our borders? Nothing.

I just wish she would act less ... dispensible. Doesn't she know how important she is? In so many ways.

Well, now, look at the date.

Regardless of where and what you may be doing, Brittany, I hope you were able to celebrate appropriately. I'd send you a gift, but with circumstances as they are ... well, I'm sure you understand.

[Filter: Private]

How did I ever put up with this? Bickering back and forth, endlessly, like children. Father, of course, will smile and say it's only a matter of directing the flow, but when the river itself is so insufferable ... well, it's bound to pollute whichever reservoir you choose to fill.

Elected or no, the people can't possibly realize what sorts of men there are, sitting on that Council. Men who argue for hours over whether we should legislate the most ridiculous nonsense, while -- for instance, the north residential district is still a disgraceful scar upon this city, simply because the people who lived there are not the people who lined certain pockets with enough gold to win election in the first place. Are you afraid of those who worship the Atsirian Goddesses because they're an unknown, to you? Because you aren't certain whether you can bribe them to your side, or you fear that in doing so you'll lose the favor of those faithful to the Dragons in your cities, among your base. That and more, I'm sure. How does any of it concern anyone but your selfish selves.

I certainly don't like them, but if you think the crown will be able to tell Rechesa and the border cities what to do with their new temples ... foolishness. What point will it serve? Let them come. Atsiria is a stronger ally to us than Megam ever could be by at least an order of magnitude, and Dentoria may disapprove, but they wouldn't dare to take action against trade, here, with our shared borders. It would be more of a blow to them than us, by far. So what point will you prove?

We should be rebuilding the roads that were ruined in the spring flooding. Putting more work into the proposal to place waypoints along the major routes, station them with a military presence, prevent raiding, provide better response time. Then we could discuss regular patrols along these same roads ... and begin to whittle away at the awful reputation travel here has gained, throughout the years. It could hardly hurt to cut into mercenary work with men we can better regulate, as well ... leave the mercenaries to the wars in the north, where their trangressions are barely noted. It's not only trade that would be better served, though that alone should be reason enough to consider this. Communication with the cities would improve, fewer messages lost ...

It's completely atrocious that a girl simply cannot travel between the capital and its primary port city without worry. Something needs to change, and all the Council wishes to discuss ...

I don't see how it doesn't drive him mad. He's a better King than I'll ever manage to be, simply for that alone.

Well. I, too, would like to take this opportunity to wish all my fellow Kanemorians a wonderful Independence Day ... wherever the day may find you, this year. For those of you overseas, especially, please do take care!

If you happen to be in Norey, however, rest assured that we have plans to rival last year's in the running, and do remember to keep your eyes upward as we approach evening, hm?

[Filter: Fayre]

Hm, well. Despite what they say, no news is hardly always good news. I realize you're busy, but Christopher and I would both be grateful to know you're well. Or ... as well as you can be expected to be, considering.

Well now, it's been called to my attention that we have precisely one month to the day left to prepare for the largest celebration in Norey of the year. Serious business, indeed! Particularly since every single one of the fine ladies I love most is sure to be absent on the day. Absolutely grave. How am I expected to work with any passion at all, knowing just how lonely I'm sure to be at the end of it despite all my best efforts?

Father might laugh, but it saps the work ethic right from a man, I say.

[Filter: Private]

I am glad they seem to have figured out some way to resolve the issue. Lady Celeste was a sweet girl, as I recall, and hardly deserving of that sort of fate ... and I'm sure Fayre must feel better about it all, her surly tone aside. And Christopher is certainly less distracted, which is nothing but happy news for me.

Hm. I suppose there's no longer any reason to be poking about the dusty corners of the library any longer, on her behalf ... but it is a fascinating situation. I'm sorry we couldn't find anything, and not only for the sake of altruism ... ah, well.

[Filter: Sir Norman]

Ah, Sir Norman. You'll be pleased to know that your package has safely arrived. I've reviewed the contents with an associate and we're certainly agreed that the quality is above and beyond even what was expected, and well worth the wait.

[Filter: Mydra]

And have you received my gift?

Hm, well ... regardless of whatever else is happening, there, I do wish you the happiest of birthdays, Fayre. I suppose I shouldn't worry about your enjoying it all, really, hm? No doubt Jasmine has taken care of the details, or I'll be terribly disappointed.

[Filter: Private]

Hm. ... I doubt there is anything here, just as I feared.

Tristel ... was very interested in the mechanics of this field, but ... he was only ever fascinated by it as a force of destruction, I suppose. Haha ... I remember, when we were children, how frightened I was by all of it ... dark magic, how imposing it appears. Our tutors tried to impose on me a thousand times that there was nothing to be scared of ... that dark magic is the most merciful of all the different schools. It's true that fire, wind, thunder -- even light magic -- they're all much messier, much more unpleasant, if one truly thinks about what they are doing, or should witness the aftermath of using them in combat, yes, but ... nature magic is something that is easy to understand. Dark magic, on the other hand ... even our tutors never understood it completely. It's a pity they moved on after Tristel and I were grown. They might have had an answer.

I wonder if Tristel only picked it up because he knew how uncomfortable I always was, around it. It's possible, looking back, with what I know now.

... It may be the most merciful, but the end result is all the same. I'll keep looking, for her sake, but ...

I was such a silly child.

[Filter: Private]

I don't ... want to care, anymore.

I suppose it makes me decidedly awful in many ways that ... that the entire thing is strictly taboo to even speak of pleases me, even a little. And it's more than a little. There's a vindictive sort of joy in considering that ... considering all of my brother's lofty ambitions, that now his name is like a curse, here, and history will hardly remember him at all, and certainly not fondly.

... And I really don't want to change it, do I? Not in the least. Father ... haha, even father and I can hardly even ...

But we'll celebrate, all the same. We're very good at that, actually, no one can fault us or say otherwise. The Festival of Fools, and now his birthday, to consider, all such very festive occassions. That's how it simply must be, and with every passing year, it will be easier. One day, I'll wonder why it was ever difficult at all.

It's only what he deserves. Treason ... but more than only that, to the simple letter of the law.

Everything that he ever was to me was a lie. There's no point or purpose in holding any leftover sentimentality for something that never truly existed, and that is that.

... Yes, that is that.

[Filter: Mydra, Christopher]

Well, that all sounded rather promising, didn't it?

I suppose it won't be long before we know.

Now, I think this is foolish -- I've warned Sir Raiza at least half a hundred times that the eastern pass is far too dangerous of late, for his caravan to set out through it. Just look at what happened to Lady Jaina and her entourage, just this last month. But he insists and refuses to wait, and I suppose he's afraid of the rains. It would be a shame for all of that fine merchandise to be ruined, but -- I can't quite shake this forboding feeling.

Still, my conscience is quite clear, no? I did warn the man, several times.

[Filter: Christopher]

Hm, I think that we can put our plan into effect ... after the holiday, hm?

I hope that you enjoy yours. Jaina seems at least ... somewhat better. Certainly better than she was when they first arrived.

[Filter: Fayre]

And a happy Rose Day to you, Fayre.