Day 192 (170th)

Day 192 (170th): 16 days until wedding
In the predawn morning, loud bangs and flashes of light awoke the entire city. There seemed to be no single source of either light or noise. For well over an hour this continued. As the sky lightened, the show stopped. Dragons were able to see people running away from smoldering circles of grass. The people fanned out, no two going the same direction. Giving up on the people, the spots were investigated. Anna was asked to read the area for what they were doing. Alice went along to see if there was anything of the people she could sense. A red dragon had caught one of the things before it exploded. At the palace while the other two were gone, we examined it. Falcon said he had seen the people across the ocean make things like this for celebrations. We decided to wait on Anna and Alice before making any conclusions as to the purpose of that display.
We felt them before they returned. Their mirth was a relief. In the courtyard, they gave their report.
"Maalicus, and Cornwall after him, had been stockpiling these explosives from across the ocean. Some of the people have been continuing this process only out of habit and fear. However, they misunderstood that these were for displays and grand celebrations, not combat. They thought they were attacking Selvis Prime and would burn it down as we slept. We found the instructions for lighting them and their effects. Words like 'explosive impact' and 'concussion' must have led them to believe they were weapons. We do not know if they will try again."
Soldiers were ordered to patrol around the city to make it look like we took this as a serious threat. We hoped to make them bold enough to try again, catching them either setting up or during a display.
Rider finders, encouraged by the two just at the palace, began checking the city in earnest. By the end of one day, they had found five and had families inviting them from all parts of the city.
Before mid-day, an odd caravan arrived and came straight to the palace. A group of women, dressed very fancy, spilled out and announced their services as "the best seamstresses in five kingdoms". They said they were here to make Mara's dress. We informed them that she already had a dress and we were finishing the alterations of it for her. All of them clicked their tongues and asked to see it. They nearly fainted when they saw it and what we had done to it. They began talking about replacing all the stuff we had removed plus adding more. Mara was near tears. Lisa was fuming.
I had enough, "Ladies, it is the princess' wishes to have the dress simple without a lot of extravagant additions. We removed what she did not desire and are still making it to fit her tastes."
The women listened then huddled together, whispering. My sisters, save for Lisa who had taken a defensive stance by the dress, surrounded Mara to console her.
The women parted and one addressed me, "It is our understanding that Princess Mara has spent much of her life as a servant, yes?"
I confirmed it was so.
"Also, we are of the understanding that she was in a Lord's employ, not a king or prince. Is this correct?"
Again, I confirmed it.
The ladies looked at each other and nodded.
The speaker turned to me again, "From that, we conclude that she has never seen a real princess' formal gown or wedding dress. Also, no one has taught her that true princesses must flaunt at every opportunity. At her own wedding, more is definitely better."
I heard Mara start sobbing. Lisa was nearly ready to kill these women. My other sisters were also growing annoyed.
"Ladies, your point it quite clear. Let our point be just as clear. Princess Mara does not wish to flaunt anything. She wants a simple, elegant wedding in a simple, elegant dress before the people of her kingdom to the man she loves. All of this extra material is being given to those in need to make clothes for them. Also, after the wedding, the dress will be completely disassembled for more clothes for those whom the previous rulers neglected and mistreated. Do I make myself clear?"
Looks of horror bore upon me. The speaker struggled to find the words.
"Clarify these points. First, she actually loves her betrothed? Second, the whole city is invited? Third, the material you cut off is being given away? Fourth, the whole dress will be cut up and given away after the wedding?"
"First, yes, she and Prince Gavin of Raval love each other. Second, third, and fourth, yes, yes, and yes. Clear enough now?"
They huddled together again. I bade my sisters, especially Lisa, to let me deal with these women and to get Mara settled. Alice believed she should stay and I agreed. The rest ushered Mara out and closed the door. The women looked at the pair of us, "Are you two really the most qualified to speak with us? We are all of very old families of the purest lineage. Plus, our craft was taught to us by Crystal of Moorage, the premiere master seamstress of the lands."
"Tell me," Alice began, "who taught Crystal of Moorage?"
The speaker began a litany of names. She ended with "an ancient seamstress of great skill known only as Evanne. Does that tell you anything?"
Alice smiled, "Evanne is now known as Envy. Her whole essence, mind and spirit, are eternally fused into this sword I carry. It is she who has been showing us how to remake the princess' dress."
They began to laugh. Alice and I took each other's hand. Envy floated between us. Slowly, Envy's former body formed around the sword. One at a time, they stopped laughing and nudged their neighbor. She was solid before the last one was quiet. The two of us make her voice audible.
"Foolish peahens! How dare you usurp a princess' will! Even if the end result is, to your eyes, ghastly, as long as the client is happy. You claim such high standards yet know nothing of simple courtesy! Go back to this Crystal person and tell her how badly you failed. Tell her you tried to stitch silk with twine."
Faces blanched. Apparently that was a dire insult or something. The speaker tried to utter something, but Envy stopped her.
"I will hear no more from you! Take you tin, brass, and glass and find someone as foolish as you to peddle your dull needles upon. We cast you off!"
Not another word came from them as they left. In silence, they returned to their caravan and hastily exited the city. Evana dissolved and Envy returned to her sheath. Lisa charged in and looked around.
"They are gone, sister. Envy, in her past, started the guild to which these women belong. She told them in their own terms that they were neither needed nor wanted," Alice informed her.
"Good thing. If they were still here, I may have had to hurt a few of them," Lisa stated as she eased the tension in her body.
"Sisters, tell Mara all is well. She can return and we can continue," I mentally informed the others.
"We will return in a moment. We are explaining to Gavin and Kendar why Mara was crying. A guild liaison is being found to prevent future conflicts."
"Good, return when you can," I smiled and returned my attention to the dress.
We summoned a servant and asked her to take the excess material to our cleric friend so he could see to its proper dispersal. She and two others were leaving with it when Mara and my sisters returned. Mara looked confused.
"So it is neither in the way nor a temptation for others to use on you dress," I explained.
Mara sighed deeply and relaxed. We all renewed our attack upon the dress with such earnest that we had to be interrupted for dinner. We drowned out the men as we talked about what else we could do to it and Mara spoke easily about what she wanted and didn't want.
Conversation stopped when Set appeared with a large rabbit dangling from his mouth. He dropped it with a wet thud.
"This is food, right? It didn't make the noises Ocean said pets make. Did I do bad?"
"You did fine, Set," I said aloud, "It is a rabbit. In the wild, it is food. In cages, they are either pets or food. We were just startled by its size. Big ones are crafty and hard to catch.
"Oh! Then I did good!"
"Yes, you did good, my young emperor. Now, eat before its blood stains the floor," I chided.
With a slight "eep" noise, he dove into his catch.
The men, now that we were silent, spoke of preparations for our uninvited wedding guest or guests. Almost every king, queen, or leader invited was bringing a small army with them. Many religious orders were sending any and all aid they could. So-called "demon slayers" had volunteered their services for the event.
By the end of dinner, we were all swimming with a sea of information. Retiring each to our rooms, we said our good-nights. Set's stomach was pushed out as the rabbit, hair, bones, and all, sloshed around inside him. I cleaned the dead scales off, rubbed his wings, and smoothed a cream the riders had given me over some places where his growth had stretched the skin. Satisfied, he took his place on the foot of my bed.