Eye of the Storm

It's Midwinter's Day, the most important day of the year in Dracos. That's because Midwinter's Day is the day of the Dragon Festival, when the Dragonesque celebrate the dragons, their relationship with them, and everything that means.

Things are still somewhat tense. The sweep of the surrounding forests designed to uproot any cells of Demorsan infiltrators is still in progress and the first blizzard still hasn't arrived, but they all get through the day more or less in one piece, and soon, the first blizzard of the season sweeps in.

Normally, the winter snows in Dracos are something to be endured. But this year, they bring celebration and the chance to relax for a while since they make Dracos virtually inaccessible except by the main passes - or dragonback, of course - and that means the Dragonesque don't have to worry about a Demorsan invasion for a while.

Winter also means an end to Aralaiah's teaching tours. The snow lies deep in Dracos. Winter is a time for staying close to home, not for travelling about the place in flimsy wagons. Now it's time for her to settle down to the normal work of a mage. That's something that's completely new to her, and she finds there are problems she hadn't anticipated. Because of those, she isn't enjoying the work at all.

Meantime, she's also working on her relationship with Red Queen, and that has its ups and downs as well. Life may be more relaxed, but it definitely isn't boring.

But as the year rolls on and spring creeps ever closer the tension begins to rise again. Normally something to be eagerly anticipated, the Dragonesque are dreading spring this year. Because spring means the thaw, and after the thaw will come the Demorsans. That is simply inevitable.

Draken's workload for the War Committee increases, Pryn decides to do her bit and join the border patrol, and people are beginning to carry weapons when they go out. Aralaiah and Red Queen decide to undertake formal training and learn how to fight together properly. Because spring is coming. And so is the war.

Dettagli