Day 207 (185th)

Day 207 (185th): 1 day until wedding
Mara was so nervous, she jumped at every noise.
The chefs and bakers asked us to inspect samples of the meals they were preparing. They were all delicious. The cakes, there were about six of them, were all huge. They were also very good. While the meal would just be for us and our reserved seating guests, the cakes would be given to as many people as possible. We were told, if cut right, the six cakes would allow over a thousand people one slice each. A seventh cake that Mara and Gavin would cut, would be just for us and our guests. It was huge as well. More of Cornwall's and Maalicus' real treasure had been unearthed. We gave the chefs and bakers some of it to cover the costs of this feast. They smiled and thanked Mara for her generosity and dove into their work with renewed energy.
We went to other shops for a few last minute items and to get away from the tension of the men preparing for battle. A butcher got our attention and asked if he could give Set some meat he could not sell. Set smelled it and began devouring it. We, butcher included, laughed at Set's voracious eating. As he ate, he asked if we were making fun of him. I assured him we were not, we just found it humorous that he had "attacked" a piece of meat very much dead. He laughed too and explained that he was just really hungry and it smelled good to him. The butcher said he could not understand why no one wanted it, as it was fresh and seemed untainted.
"Maybe humans don't like porcupine," Set mentioned casually.
"Porcupine? That's what that is. I wonder who is selling skinned porcupine to butchers?" I commented.
"Porcupine! He told me it was the 'good part' of a small deer that lives in Brimgrove. Many people here have strict laws about their diet. Porcupine is definitely not a part of it," the butcher informed us.
From some of my residual travel money, I informed the butcher to buy the porcupine meat and bring it to Set, since he liked it so well. Set puffed happy smoke rings at the thought of more.
We continued through the city, showing Darla and Margret the rebuilding the entire city was experiencing and the new citizens who made Selvis Prime their home. They were both surprised that centaurs and other non-humans freely lived in an area that had once denied any to even get to the outer walls. We informed the Raval women that Selvis had already been foreseen as the haven for many races and religions. We headed back to the palace.
A pixie winged in front of us and dropped a leaf into Mara's hand. Written in tiny letters were instructions to leave the leaf on the windowsill overnight. Nothing was written as to what this would accomplish. We decided not to question it too much and follow the odd instructions.
We arrived at the palace for dinner. It had the look and feel of a camp on the eve of battle instead of a palace the day before a wedding. The men did not join us at the table. A few of our guests not taking part in the planning joined us. Our talk was light and easy.
When we took Mara to her room for bed, she was shaking and mumbling to herself. We had to magic her to sleep.
We placed the leaf upon the sill in the room where we kept the wedding dress and went to bed.