THE DAY OF THE JUDGMENT

.... You could feel it in the air
men women children all
glued to the video dazed
how was this possible
dreams, hopes, desires
all over, in a moment,
   He spoke little, he didn't say much
just a word, just a sentence
his expressionless face
the coldness of the ice,
and we astonished to look at it
how could it ever be
how this could happen
yet we lived happy,
we dreamed of the future,
than him in an instant
with a few words he destroyed,
and we astonished to look at it
children roll up their toys
mothers pack
what were their memories, the objects of a life,
enclosed in a suitcase
towards a new horizon
towards freedom, escape death
and he imperative who threatens us
our God and his, with different clothes
and they bless him, they bless his banners
they bless his weapons
and we astonished to watch


(dedicated to ukraine)
ulysses1 (Darian el Nairad)

THORHALL

By now the works in the Oasis were finished, only small details remained, but the builders would take care of everything.
  With Brjiana, my beloved partner, we were dealing with the newspaper, and many requests for newsstands came especially from the north.
   A Pirate who usually shuttles between the Oasis and the cities of the North, told us that a village named Thorhall was interested in our newspaper, because he was curious to know what was happening on the Planet. It is difficult for the Vikings of the north to be interested in reading, but obviously someone who has traveled to the South and knows the customs wants his people to learn the cultures of other peoples as well.
   As you well know, I do not like to stay still in the oasis to

 administer a quiet people, I prefer to navigate and discover new horizons and new Villages and cities of our planet, and we are also in the middle of winter, with the snow that has now covered the whole hemisphere. We decided that before the grand opening of the oasis, we could take a trip to that village called Thorhall.
   As usual, we loaded the ship with good wine and products from our land, along with carpets and perfumes that our perfumer was dedicated to inventing, and she was also very successful.
While I was personally checking the preparations on the ship, the Countess Irene arrived with her ship, passing through, returning from the island of Landa, she did not know about our trip, so after she had him visit the new Oasis and placed in an empty house, the we invited to the palace for as long as we would still stay, after which we said goodbye and left early in the morning, the sky was clear there were no clouds on the horizon and a light breeze was blowing from the south, the sea slightly rippled by the wind was flapping below the bow, many Vulo birds passed through their migration was a good omen for a peaceful journey.   We headed north. after two days of navigation, having crossed the great gulf of Thassa, towards evening we were in sight of the archipelago of Cos, we would have stopped only to load the best wine on the planet together with the much sought-after Jad grappa.
 We left the next day at high tide and headed for Hammersgaard, the village we know further north, we would have stopped for a map, from the commander of  city.

   In winter, venturing into the ice is not advisable unless you have a good map of the area, and the village Cartographer gave me a fairly accurate one, so the next morning we left for the village of Thorhall, we reached the area in the evening, we could see the signal fires on the rocks, but we waited for the morning to dock and go ashore, we did not find anyone around, but we know the people in winter live in the great hall all together, so we went up the steep road and arrived at the entrance, after having knocked we entered, we found some Warriors and free women sitting at the tables and some slaves strictly naked as required by the Northern law, who went around to serve.
    They called the wife of the village commander who arrived immediately after, I explain that his companion was seriously ill, I explain that his consort was seriously ill, but I believe that Sir Dante was asleep or was engaged with some kajira and that she knew nothing about what he had arranged for the newspaper, she said she would meet the council of elders to decide, but not earlier than a week or two (barbarian time), we disappointed we left the village, not after exchanging wine and perfumes for skins that we had sold at our market.

    Returning to the ship I told the Commander to prepare everything that the next day at high tide we would leave for the Oasis.
  This time we weren't happy with our trip, but not always everything goes as we would like it to be

darianelnairad

THE NEW OASIS

 
   Filly everything is ready, we have come a long way, from a small
oasis with a few houses now to a real city, my Emirate, finally now we have a port, a new road that crosses the whole island up to the buildings, crossing, the houses , skirting the small lake of the falls, up to the new bridges over the river.
   The new buildings with their golden domes soar into the sky, now we have the infirmary, and we have the public toilet for women, the guards have their new white uniforms, and Brjiana has planted
flowers and trees all around.

 It was my dream to rebuild the emirate, I had sniffed it out to my dying Father after the incursion and destruction by Bedouins along with the panthers, and finally here it is, citizens will proliferate as soon as they know about the new enlarged oasis, they will be able to live happy all together, I very much hope that my brother orlando can come back with us and take his rightful place.
    I have already sent messengers to the islands and mainland cities all over the planet for the big party that will take place on the day (2-3-2022 barbarian time), I hope that many will come to our party bringing your companions and your bond to serve guests, we will look forward to be happy with you for a few moments all together ..... thank you

darianelnairad

 BACK TO jAD

By now our plans in the north for the newspaper were resolved, we had a good reception everywhere we went.
 the North, as much as it is said on the planet, is always welcoming
towards travelers or traders, especially towards us, although few read our newspaper, many still do not know how to read, while others use their dialect to express themselves, but despite this we were successful, now we have so many more friends,
Lady Nani with her partner and their little offspring have remained in our hearts and we have promised ourselves to return to them as soon as possible.
    We left one morning when the fog had cleared a little, and the light north wind would have pushed us out and then headed south, Brjiana is very satisfied with the success of our newspaper, we have sold many copies, and we will soon prepare our next issue to be released on the first of next month (March 1, 2022 barbarian time). Back to

the island together with Brjiana we decided to make many changes to the oasis, build many more houses for the people and finally we would build the infirmary, and public baths, with stone tubs and hot water.
starting the renovation of the port, expanding it, then redoing all the much safer streets and the headquarters of the Gazzetta in the side of the building.
   The works are still going on today, many things have to be completed, we plan to finish everything before the great heat and the arrival of the sandstorms.
  A surprise that made me very happy was the arrival of a ship from the city of Jad, capital of the archipelago of Cos, some warriors announced the arrival of the commander of the city who was none other than Sir Jeriko, we had met in korat I as a child and he guarded and trained Tharlarion and also organized running competitions with them, then lost sight of, I knew that he had retired to his big farm with his partner Betty, but time passes and things change.

  He was happy to see me again Prince d'ell Oasis, he had left me as a young student, now I was here with my people, he arrived at the palace with his entourage and his faithful Kajira Rosa, We talked a lot about the past, he told me that Lady Betty was she left a few years ago and never returned, perhaps she too tired, and he had moved to the great city of Jad as commander.    He told me he was traveling from the island of Landa had brought them the grappa of Cos, and some barrels of Cos wine the best on the planet, he had heard about our newspaper and curious he wanted to know us and know more about it.
  We explained to him that they could have our newsstand in their city, and surely it would also bring them a lot of publicity on the planet, he enthusiastically invited us to Jad to place our newsstand, so we followed him with our ship until we reached the island, I I had already lived in the great city of Jad I had been a magistrate, then with the death of the Ubar and the arrival of a new one, things fell

apart and I left the island, but now the Ubar is always traveling they told me, and Sir Jeriko rules, personally inspecting all kajires that arrive.
    A lot has changed since I left, but you know things change over time.
   We set up our newsstand on the large jetty to access the port, after having said goodbye to the Comandate again, we left for the oasis, many problems to be solved awaited us, not before passing by the Kajira Rosa for the bureaucratic matters and we set off again.
darianelnairad

HAPPINESS IS NOT ALWAYS

At the oasis life was not very busy, on our return a sandstorm
covered the quay and the central square, and all the terraces of the houses and the castle, we rolled up our sleeves and with the citizens
we cleaned up everything, it's not it was easy it took a lot of work and a lot of patience.
  Brjiana, she too was busy preparing food together with the other women for those who worked, and it was evident that she too was not very happy with the return and the monotonous life of the Oasis.
   We regretted our voyages to Thassa, and to Wosk, although sometimes the storms suddenly surprised us, especially in the great gulf of the North.

     We have moved the headquarters of our newspaper to the Oasis, setting up the machines and equipment in a hall at the rear entrance of the castle, and now we can work calmly, until we make other trips to the continent. Other cities have joined the sale of the newspaper by putting newsstands in their cities, a good sign means that we are on the right path.
    When everything was settled and after we resumed our work at the newspaper. One day a pirate ship arrived from the north, to unload skins and barrels of Meal and northern kalana, the captain came to greet me and I brought a package with a message from a Jarl from a northern village named Bergvik, in the Torvalsdland, Jarl Sir Bergson had heard of our newspaper and invited us to bring them a newsstand, where we could sell copies, even if in the north few know how to read well, but he tries to emancipate his people in a way that they become like the citizens of the south, and not remain rough Vikings, who spend their winter in the big common house drinking and having fun with the slaves.
    After consulting with my partner Brjiana and the commander of the guards, we decided that a trip north would not be bad as we would visit a few ports along the way and wonder if they didn't sell other copies.

 The trip by ship strangely for the winter period slips lightly and without encountering thunderstorms or storms as usually found in the great gulf of Thassa, the wind from the south pushed us making us increase speed, after a short break in Tira to supply us with drinking water , we continued north, stopped in Hammersgard, to meet our friends Nani and Edu and their little offspring that was growing well, the next day we left, in the evening we reached Finnur fiord, where my sister Shaina still lives while my mother lady BB and left for the south with my father, my sister Shaina has a large farm in the village of Finnur and you supply us with every good that she grows together with her fellow citizens.
we left early in the morning and in the afternoon we were in sight of the village of Bergvik, we couldn't see much the deep snow

submerged everything the smoke from the chimneys rose to the sky, and the bitter cold made us wear warm clothes and furs, before going down to the pier where guards were waiting for us who took us to the village ...... continue
dariaelnairad

HAMMERSGAARD ​​AN EXCEPTIONAL EVENT
 

 

 We woke up early in the morning, after a night spent talking to my Brjiana, giving an account of what had happened to us lately and what we wanted to do from now on, some mistakes too many, trusting people with the face of an Angel but with the heart of a Devil.
  We want to start from scratch, leaving our Oasis we told our

subjects that we would soon be back, and finally we would settle permanently in our paradise.
   Brjiana, quite excited, for the ceremony that would take place at the falls, but more than a ceremony it would have been a ritual as ancient as the planet, that is, the birth of a new being, a child to love to grow, to direct towards life, adventures, hunting and most importantly '' family '' in the community

.
  We spent the day wandering around the village, we went up to the altar where they do the religious services dedicated to the God Odin, with the stone altar and the perennial fire.
  We went down and then climbed up another hill, where you could admire the village in all its grandeur, even if the snow that covers the lawn all around made us numb, but we overcame the cold embracing and remaining there to look at that wonderful panorama, from the wooden houses the smoke of the chimney rose towards the sky and a distant bird flies over the area.
   The sun was already high in the sky when we decided to go down to the big house, surely we would meet someone to serve us some good blackwine, and maybe some pieces of smoked Bosk meat which I love very much.
    In the big house we found the tavernkeeper Sir Edu, the companion of ladi Nani the woman friend who would have the baby, Brjiana instead continued to reach a clearing on the road to the

 waterfalls, where a group of women were there in a circle around the expectant mother who showed proudly her swollen belly ready to burst.
   While I was sitting there with a slave I needed, the doctor arrived, an old Viking who had lived in the south, and lived as a doctor also in the Great Tor, or so I remember, however he came in and sat down with us, at a suddenly a woman came running calling the doctor, because the woman was in labor and soon the baby would be born.
the doctor reluctantly got up to follow her, I think she would have liked to stay warm and rest more, we men still sat there, but there was a desire in the air to go to those waterfalls and attend the event, I being a guest not I was moving expecting others to get up, after a few minutes that seem like an eternity, they went out to the falls and I

followed them.
  Already many people were crowded in the clearing in front of the lake formed by the falls, and the pregnant woman helped by two women was sitting in the water that she screamed and cursed for the pain of labor,
her companion joined her together with the doctor, took his hand and tried to console her with love phrases.

 After so much pain and effort, the little Viking finally came out of his mother's womb, and was already making himself heard with his cry, clinging to his mother's breast.
   We all happily clapped that woman's hands, while the other women cleaned her and dressed her together with her son, Brjiana had tears in her eyes, so did the child's father and the other women nearby, as the doctor was happy not to having dirty hands, but only present them for any eventuality.
    The proud mother of her little one I show it to everyone about her, taking congratulations and best wishes for a happy life for her and for
her family ........... contina
    darian el nairad

THE PAINTER AND THE WHALE-epilogue

 

What can I say, after so many screams and so many discussions, the story of the painter has now come to an end.
   Everyone in the city rallied around the judge and the slaver who, in my opinion, supplies the entire city with male and female slaves, and certainly a powerful man, I tried to clarify things, but now what has been has been, d 'on the other hand, there was no stance on the part of the painter, who silently underwent her punishment, if not with
some mild protest.
    I published my article on time, exposing the facts, reporting what I think would have been the solution, but I don't think anyone will take my words into consideration, or want to go further, so in the meantime the whale that polluted the sea and consequently the bathrooms, torn into a thousand pieces and definitively disappeared, without a trace, by now it is a closed deal for everyone, I don't think anyone wants to reopen the question again.

  As for me, I returned to my Oasis, where I am the prince and took the right decisions for my people in hand, Brjiana willingly followed me too, tired of that dreary indefinite city, with immense stairs that went up and down without giving a trace of what was the true composition of the same.
   Returning to the oasis, I found no news of my brother Orlando, the eldest son and heir to the kingdom of our Father now dead, but I found messengers from the north, an old Viking friend of ours, inviting us to the ceremony of the birth of his first child, ceremony that takes place in the water under a waterfall, so I remember it was, but I'm not sure, I will get further information, meanwhile, after a few days I ordered the Commander of my ship to prepare for departure towards the great gulf of the North by sailing on Thassa, making stop at the island of Cos to stock up on some barrels of good wine, the best on the planet, we would have brought it as a gift to our Viking friends, Lady Nani the pregnant woman would have been happy, she would have given it to her father.
   We arrived in the evening. the bitter cold cut the face, and the fog enveloped the port, our friends were waiting for us at the dock, after the greetings and hugs with the belly of Nani in full view we headed towards the big house, used by the Vikings as an inn. as a meeting place for citizens, on the wall at the back of the room there are large chairs with skins that act as thrones for the Jarl the companion, the elderly chief.
    I had already been to the North many times, but always for work

or trade, while Brjiana was born and lived her father a great Jarl and her mother were killed during a raid, she put on a ship and lost her memory falling into the water in a storm , and a Pirate who saved her to Thentis where I worked as a Magistrate, I mentored him first and then as teacher in a class for scribe.
    We were greeted with evident suspicion by some old citizen, there is always North South antagonism, then we all melted in that warm warmth of the fireplace where the smell of stew filled the room, while on the walls barrels of Paga and Mead, and furs hung or placed in corners, for compliant keys. after having refreshed ourselves by telling those present about our adventures and inviting everyone on a next trip to visit us at our Oasis of the Seven Palms.
  At the end of the evening we retired to a hut, made available to guests waiting for the great ceremony of the birth of the child in the water ...... continue
darian el nairad

THE PAINTER AND THE WHALE

Although still immersed in pain and fear that the whale could cause infections to other citizens, the painter Hannah, my adoptive sister, was called by the city Ubar for explanations.
  He asked him about the facts and she explained that while she was at the beach, the carcass of the whale had polluted the sea and caused skin infections, in her case on her hands and the consequent deterioration of her boots. She had gone to the doctor who had examined the water and declared the beach uninhabitable, after
treating her for her infections.
     Meanwhile, Ubar when he heard of the news that the whale was polluting the port, I order sailors loyal to him to expose the carcass with gunpowder, contributing even more to the pollution because the thousand pieces of carrion spread everywhere. .
   At this point the Ubar, which I don't think is the most honest, I entrust her case to the judge accusing her of having caused panic and having removed the pieces from the sea and the beach, causing damage to the ground where she had buried them.
   As a judge, I thought the case was entrusted to me. but I was wrong, they gave it to a woman who improvised herself as a Magistrate, now women do everything on the planet even what is not theirs being women.
  During an interview with the aforementioned Magistrate, a grumpy, rude and irreverent type, she told me that they in the city already had her as judge and that they would not need me.
As usual, I politely pointed out that she, being a woman, could not carry out the work of a judge, only as an assistant, as she already is, she had said so, of the chaste leader.
     The painter asked for my advice, I explained to him that she was out of the law and as such they would have condemned her, the reason and logic when a free citizen notices some problem must notify the caste leader who in turn will notify the doctor then Ubar, for this reason I would have sentenced her to hard labor in the library and in the archive as a cleaner.
    but the process in shortened rite. she has sinned of abuse of authority by not giving the painter the possibility of having a lawyer to defend her. he gave her the maximum penalty, humiliating her by flogging in public and paying the expenses.
   The law does not always triumph .. sometimes it makes it difficult to distinguish who the criminals are, but the city is managed dall'ubar that in page time promulgates the laws of him sometimes sews them on like a dress.
    Now there are two ways to follow, escape from the city by taking refuge elsewhere, or call any relative or hire a warrior who challenges the Ubar to a duel, the slaver who carried out the flogging and the judge or someone for her for having condemned her even if innocent.
   We will see how events proceed ... continue
arianarliss

ARRIVAL TO THE ISLAND OF TIRA

We left windermeer after our eight-veil company ceremony, an ancient ceremony, we went down the Wosk with our ship, we had the intention to reach my family in the north, the last message received said that they had settled in the agrigolo village by Finnur.

Leaving the delta we entered the great gulf of Thassa, a storm forced us to take refuge in the Cos archipelago, luck would have it that the current dragged us towards the island of Tira, the capital of the archipelago.
   The wind had dropped we rewound the sails leaving only the bowsprit to reach the port, we were greeted by few people, by now all the citizens were in their homes, we reached the central square with Brjiana my bride, luck wanted us to meet Lady Hannah, a my old acquaintance, she was an artist a painter, years ago on the island of Jad she had her art gallery, then we had lost sight of each other, she left for the north and I for the south, to return to the oasis of new Cartassa in the Thahari desert.

      Sitting in the shelter under the pergola of the inn, we talked of this and that, of our memories, of the past, Brjiana participated in the chat and immediately had sympathy for that beautiful painter, I was amazed to hear that Lady BB Arliss my mother had also adopted her , in Finnur Fiord together with his brother, so we discovered that we are brother and sister even if only adopted, but still of the same family, and true lady BB has many adopted children on the planet, after her daughter Safina, and son Bernhard, the 'they had disowned by joining the Combo tribe.
   Brjiana was also very happy, she that the family had lost her as a child like me, now she had brothers and sisters even if acquired, after having talked about so many things, we retired to the rented room at the inn.
   The next day, still not knowing anyone in the city, we set out in search of Hannah but no one had seen her, when we reached the port they told us, that a free woman bathing on the shore, not noticing the carcass of a whale left not very long. far away, having removed the grease and the benti, they had left her not very far on the shore, the decayed whale had released an acid into the sea, which burned the feet and hands of the beautiful Hannah and we were told that they had taken her to the infirmary.

    We reached the infirmary, where a doctor, a beautiful free woman was preparing to cure her, while she was still half-naked as they had taken her to the port to take her to the doctor in a small barrel wagon.
We waited a few hours until it was medicated, then with an uncertain gait he joined us in the shadowy part of the building, and I tell us the story of the whale, and of the intention to sue the sailors who had abandoned the carcass, Lady Brjiana nevertheless has not yet achieved the lawyer diploma took the matter to heart saying he would assist her, while they asked me to be a judge at the trial. .......... darianarliss

 

 keep it going

blog of Brjiana

Surprising changes and a HR


PORTALS '' IMAGE JOURNAL ''

Weeks went by for our first issue of the Gor Gazette,
We spent a lot of time on ships and caravans, traveling to foreign towns and villages, promoting the newspaper, making new friends on
these trips made time fly like a flash.

And finally the day came
Day 2 Hand 4 Year 10172 Contasta Ar
We sent our messengers across the country for our Edition 1, which was very well received.
__________________________________________
Surprising journey and Annunciations
________________________________________
But if I thought I could get some rest and final preparations for our ceremony, I would have done the dedication calculation without Darian.
As soon as our 1st edition was among the people, I had to pack my new clothes for another trip, the destination of which was not revealed to me.

We boarded the ship in Windermeer and I noticed that Darian was whispering with a mischievous smile to the captain, who was nodding, laughing and bowing.
The ship sailed along the Vosk delta to Port Kar and then into the Gulf of Tumber. When the ship entered Mar Thassa and sailed the coast there, I was glad I didn't have to go out to sea, because despite the many journeys we had to make in the last few weeks and months, I had never really overcome my fear.
But seeing the coast up close, with the magnificent cities of Bazi and Schendi, calmed my trembling nerves a little.
Three times I tried to get Darian to tell me the destination of the trip, but he just shook his head with a smile on his lips, I wanted to kiss, and he just said, "Patience, my love, patience, soon you will. “Experiment!” So ​​I didn't ask any more questions and tried to enjoy the ride.
 We were passing Korat and the island of Landa was already in sight, not far away would be Kargash, when the ship slowed down and approached the shore.
Don't believe my eyes when a small oasis came into view, hidden by tall palm trees and dunes, yet the fertility of the land was evident thanks to Thassa's proximity.
A small group of people gathered at the dock as the ship reached the harbor, shouting "Hail Darian, Hail Oasis of the Seven Palms, Hail Prince Darian!" as they waved colored flags,
I thought I couldn't believe my ears what people were shouting and I looked in surprise at Darian, who was standing by the wall to say hello and then looked at me.
He grabbed my hand and smiled and what he said then shook the ground beneath my feet and no, it wasn't the ship.
"You know, I told you my parents died and Lady BB and Sir Mith adopted me, but I only changed my name, not my origins. I am grateful to my adoptive parents for the good education and carefree childhood , but I am the son of Sheikh Al Nairad The empire was headed, my birth parents killed, my brother Orlando, you met him in Thentis, living in the ruins, trying to rebuild and taking the inheritance of our Father as my sheikh During my travels I found this oasis, I called it the oasis seven palm trees and I settled here with a small group of faithful followers.
Yes ... I'm Prince Darian, but also a magistrate. Few people know of my true identity when I work in cities and as a magistrate, but they know that after our FC you are not a scribe and capored actor, even the princess of the seven palms!

I listened to Darian silently,

It's too late for a new dress and I'm wearing this 8-veil white dress tonight. And when the day ends, I'll be Darian's FC. I drank the empty cup, put it on a small table near the tub, took the scented soap and washed my hair and body thoroughly. Hygiene has always been important to me and maybe today I washed a little too much, as if I have to delay further as if I have to further delay my time in the hot water The dress. Really a white silk dream with a bust line of deep blue flowers that flowed softly at the waist and also framed the long train, the colors of the Magistrate.My hopes were that the weather would change by evening as I didn't feel like swimming up to the altar with the dress hanging on a hook in the room and suddenly I didn't like it at all anymore.

unable to get a word out of my mouth. Princess????????? Hey???????????????
If I could look in the mirror right now, I would realize that my mouth must have remained open and I would look stupid because the smile the captain gave me while he looked at me speaks volumes.


Darian grabbed my hand with a reassuring smile as we walked down the bridge together into the resulting crowd.

I was struck by the simple elegance of the buildings and the palace.
The oasis lay in the evening sun not in a boastful or pompous way, but with a pleasant glow.

We spent 2 full days in the oasis and relaxed and enjoyed the union until we left, we had to get back to Windermeer in time for our FC ceremony.

-------------------------------------------------- ---
Woe and glad well
----------------------------------
When we arrived in Windermeer we immediately started to visit the FC headquarters, the slaves were running back and forth excitedly, carrying flowers and benches. Assigned blue and white ribbons tied and hung from the pillars, unrolled deep blue carpets, the tables were laid.
 I went back and forth nervously checking one thing and the other, tweaking it a bit and examining everything fincuntil I was satisfied.

Suddenly a deep voice pulled me out of my thoughts: "What's the hustle and bustle here on the Administrator's square?"

Surprised, I turned and looked straight in the face at the angry face of a man who introduced himself as Sir Vance, one of the High Council, but we had never seen him before. Lady Tasia gave us permission to decorate and use this space for the FC, but the Lady wasn't in Windermeer because she hadn't been there in a while. There were rumors that Lady Tasia would be dedicated to other tasks, where she obviously neglected the tasks as HOC.

Sir Vance screamed his displeasure in a thunderous, indignant voice, and my face slowly flushed with anger, but also with fear that everything would eventually be undone. In my mind I saw that we were holding FC on a pasture field
Unfortunately, my temperament did not allow me to remain calm for too long, so I explained to the gentleman. Actually he should know that a FC would be on hold, as the invitations have gone to all citizens. Presumably they would collect dust on his desk, unread.
 That Lady Tasia has prescribed the post for us and that the interim administrator, Sir Metric, has been informed. Luckily Sir Metric showed up and cleared everything up and they apologized.
"Well, this happens when you have been away for a long time, Lady Bryjana, do you accept my apologies?"
Relieved, I smiled and offered him my hand in peace and friendship: "It would be an honor to appoint you as our best man, Sir Vance"!

To our delight, he agreed and we were able to end the day in peace. We are only a few hours away from the FC ceremony and we may need some rest so we have each retreated to our rooms.



The ceremony





Pouring rain drummed on my window as I woke from a restless sleep at dawn, got out of bed exhausted and tired, feeling like I hadn't closed my eyes all night.

A city slave with fiery red hair was placed in my service. I walked into my bedroom with a smile but sleepy eyes. "Madam, the water in your bathroom is ready!"
With a cup of strong black wine in hand, he climbed into the tub with the pleasantly warm water that smelled of jasmine and roses and I hoped it would take away my tiredness.
 Worried, my gaze went over and over to the window, the rain was getting heavier and heavier as if the world was about to end and Odin would pour the whole Thassa on Windermeer.
   Oh great ............................. FC would be a wet event ......... .... why ???? ??? The gods are not on my side today ????