Keish- April 9, 2004

April 9, 2004
Dear Arri,

I know, you’ve probably only just received my letter.
But writing to you now gives me a brief reprieve before starting today’s run of the mad dress hunt.
Yesterday was ridiculous.
I got your letter sent off, which made Imato happy, though he was still extremely restless when he left for his training session.
Jace laughed once he was out of the room.  “It’s a good thing he’s sparring this morning.  He can work off some of that nervousness.”
Gretel nodded.  “I think it would kill him if tomorrow wasn’t the last session with Lord Ermonos, though.  Imato can’t leave while he’s here, since he traveled so far at Father’s request.”
“He’ll have poor Sprigs up before dawn,” I said, looking up from the note I was writing to Master Byra.
Unfortunately, this reminded Gretel I was there.
“Come on, Keish,” she said in a disturbingly cheerful voice, “the sooner we get started, the sooner we can hand it all over to the dressmakers.”
I groaned, looking to Jace for support.  He was trying not to smile, so I stuck my tongue out at him and told him he could play delivery boy and take my note to Master Byra.
Not much of a punishment since that’s where he was headed anyway.
With that, I followed my taskmaster up to my sitting room.  Which at the moment feels rather like it’s her sitting room.
I was right, the main debate was whether to stick with an Arellan style or go with something from Néamh to fit the flavor of the wedding.
She gave me a stack of Néamh magazines that, sitting next to me on the sofa, reached past my shoulders.
I wish I were kidding.
And that’s how I spent my day.  All of it.  Even meals.
The only thing that saved me was Papa wanting me to go up to his observatory.  Gretel made me take a magazine with me.  I tossed it aside as soon as I was out of her sight.
“Hello, Papa.”  I greeted him with a kiss on the cheek and sat beside him on the bench.
“Ah, my Keisha Nerys.  You’ve survived another day.”
I grimaced.  “More or less.  What are we watching tonight?”
“Not much, actually,” he responded.  “It’s a shockingly boring night.”
I felt confused, briefly, until Jace slipped in with a mischievous look on his face.
I threw up my hands.  “It’s a conspiracy.”
Papa laughed.  “You seemed like you needed a break.”
I sighed.  “Well, you’ve got me out of that blasted sitting room.  Now what shall we do?”
We played children’s card games.  For hours.
It was fabulous.
But that was last night, and now I’m about to be dragged into the sitting room again.

Night
Jace went with Imato today to be his partner for the final session with Lord Ermonos.  I envy them their swords and sparring.
We were still digging through fashion magazines when they returned.
I thought Gretel would faint when Imato almost sat on a pile of silk.  He caught himself just in time and moved them gently.  If he and Jace hadn’t changed and cleaned up being coming in, I think she’d have killed them.
I was feeling no such attachment to my piles of fashion magazines.  I knocked a pile on the floor so Jace could sit.
Gretel glared, but Jace spoke before she could.  “Gretel, I was wondering.  What would the groomsmen wear in Néamh?”
Wonderful man.  Gretel was immediately and completely distracted from our still fruitless dress hunt and launched into a mind-numbing explanation of Néamh menswear.
Imato didn’t seem impressed.  I don’t think a long tunic, trousers and a scarf of sorts is what he pictured himself getting married in.
Jace, bless his heart, listened intently and actually seemed intrigued.  He obligingly went through an entire stack of sketches (that really all looked extremely similar) and even picked the one he thought he’d like to wear for the wedding.
At which point Imato, rolling his eyes, declared that he was going to bed so that he could leave after an early breakfast.  Clotho chose that moment to burst in with your letter, which was rather beautiful timing as I could then send the boys off knowing that Glory and Moonstone (that’s a beautiful name) were well and plead to Gretel that we should call it a night also.  Especially if we’re joining Imato for an early breakfast.
Which now I’ll have to do.  Drat.
Anyway, now I am alone in my peaceful room.  And, honestly Arri, I find that I’m exhausted.  So I shall have to respond to your letter tomorrow.  Good night.

April 10th
Imato wasn’t kidding about an early breakfast!  Somehow, it seems that Blaze was privy to Imato’s departure plans, because he had me up and dressed before I was even called.
Which means I may as well write a bit more before going down.
I’m glad you’re enjoying your trip to Odsreq.  Moonstone sounds beautiful.
Which is probably why Imato’s so impatient!  Off I go!

Later
Imato stunned us all this morning by announcing he would love to wear a traditional Néamh groom’s outfit.  And by “us all” I mean Gretel and me.  Jace didn’t look surprised at all.  I suspect he had something to do with it, since last night Imato was insisting he would dress in “attire appropriate to his station”.
I imagine the conversation went something like this.
Jace: Have you at least looked at the sketches of the Néamh groom’s outfit?  You really didn’t do more than glance at it last night.
Imato: (small shrug)
Jace: It looks comfortable.
Imato: (noncommittal grunt)
Jace:  I mean, I know it’s a lot of material, but the fabric is so light.
Imato:  (snorts) This is all your fault, you know.  You just had to ask what a groomsman would wear.
Jace: (smiling a little) Well, as a humble palace teacher there are fewer constraints as to what attire is appropriate.
Imato:  (rolls eyes)
Jace:  Besides, I figured it would look better if Keish and I coordinate.
Imato:  (throws something at Jace)
Jace:  (ducks)
Imato:  So you’re really going to wear that get up?
Jace:  (shrugs) Why not?  It does look comfortable and the idea made Gretel happy.  Besides, I’d sure rather wear that than armor or something to match you.
Imato:  (pauses as he ponders the ramifications of wearing knightly attire outside in July.)
Jace:  (shrugs)  It’s just a thought.
And thus Imato suddenly wants to wear “that get up”.  He’s even agreed to wear it in the traditional yellow.
I let Jace read over my imagined conversation.  He shook his head ruefully.  “Looks like Imato and I are getting too predictable.”
Gretel’s back from seeing Imato off, so it’s back to work!

Night
We found the perfect dresses-- thankfully.  With the ball only ten days away Gretel was getting absolutely frantic.  The poor dressmakers.
Actually the tailors are only slightly better off, since Gretel picked outfits for Jace and Imato also.
You’ve been elected to tell Imato about it.  For which decision you can blame Gretel.  And you can tell Imato the same thing.
I’m including a sketch so you can show him.  (Imato’s top will be gold with red trousers, while Jace’s will be red with gold.)
And I’m including dress sketches.
I can’t talk Gretel out of us being in red and gold like the sketch.  I did talk her into doing away with the shawl and most of the beading and embroidery, so our dresses will be simpler than the sketch.  And the sleeves will extend under the strings of beads.
Gretel’s will be just as rich and elaborate as the sketch, but all in scarlet with golden embroidery and trimming.
We’ve made the dressmakers’ whole season, even if it is a huge job in a short time.  Since our gowns are kind of a mix between Arellan and Néamh styles, they’re hoping it will catch on as the fashion for the summer.

April 11th
Your second letter arrived late last night (Clotho and Hermes are on my window ledge just staring at each other) so now I’ll go ahead and respond to both letters.
I’m sorry about the Fly By.  Does Treany really believe everything they print?
If it makes you feel any better, the Gazette has decided I was married in a secret ceremony last fall to a crazy wizard in the mountains and poor Jace just hasn’t figured out yet that I’m unattainable.
I do think it’s rude they called you flighty.  I’m supposed to be the flighty Brio.
Mendel setting wards is an interesting development, isn’t it?  Perhaps Brynn should pay him a discreet visit.
I’m glad you enjoyed being there for the birth.  I think you’d make an excellent horse vet.  Why would you need to be a man to do it?  You’re going to college-- you can do whatever you want.
Imato left before your note arrived.  If he didn’t get it on the road I imagine it will be here with today’s post.  I’m sure he’ll push Sprigs as hard as he dares, so he’ll probably reach Odsreq sometime today.
I’m pretty sure gold hairpins wouldn’t hold my hair, at least not the ones I’ve seen, but they would look lovely in yours.  Gretel says she’ll have a maid and a whole array of hairpins at your disposal, so you can try whatever you want.
The Westridges’ new stables sound impressive.  Jace says it really sounds like Mendel knows what he’s doing.  He’ll be entirely wasted studying philosophy.  I don’t see how you managed to keep a straight face when he told you.
I knew there had to be a perfectly reasonable explanation behind Phyfe being seen at the jewelers.  People go in and out of jewelers all day every day and very few of them are buying engagement rings.  Jace surprised me today with a lovely necklace to wear to the ball.

April 12th
Jace and I met with Master Byra this morning to go through the details of each school.  We ended up with three in the city plus the palace school.
This afternoon Master Byra and I will meet with the administrators of all three.  It’s a long day, but with any luck they will have everything in hand and will be able to move forward mostly independently.
Master Byra will spend the rest of the week double-checking facilities, but he says I don’t have to go with him.
Oh, would you remind Imato he never did pick out something for Gretel’s birthday?

13th
Nevermind, Jace says he was commissioned to be Imato’s personal shopper.
I get to spend all day being a dressmaker’s dummy.  Lucky me.
Gretel says Imato had best have you here before midday on the 20th, just in case any last minute alterations are needed.
Phyfe is coming, right?  Will he mind sharing a room with Jace?  There’s plenty of space for an extra bed.  The only other room on the first floor (with Jace and Imato, where I thought he‘d be more comfortable) is really too small to be a proper bedroom.  Plus, I think they’ve put desks and such in there.  It’s where they hide from Gretel.

14th
That was a long day of fittings.  This is what I get for agreeing to new dresses this close to the ball.
We are certainly going to stand out, but the red and gold are actually gorgeous.  They’re more muted than I was thinking, rather than being shockingly bright.  It works with my coloring, but on you-- you are going to be absolutely stunning.
The horse market is supposed to be excellent next week-- can you stay long enough to help me pick a horse?  You can keep me from just agreeing to the first one Imato points out.  And from deciding purely by color!
I’m off with Jace to shop for my own present for Gretel!

Love Always,

Keish

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