Isla Saighead of the Tribe of Westmeath.
I nodded.
"Sounds like fun.", I said, not mentioning, that the Paschal Triduumhad little meaning as a Christian Festival to us as we were Selkie-Pagans. "Dad dragged me to Teressien last summer, for some ball he attended as representative of SDY. That one was a fun trip!"
"You were at Schloss Zyng, right?", Pina asked, I nodded, "Danced with anyone you'd want to brag about?"
"Well, yeah...", I said but also smile, "...but also no. I don't want to brag. The gentlemen I danced with... I wouldn't want to emberass anyone in absentia by telling about their fails at dancing..."
There was a round of laughs.
Samira Tanqulia.
I had no idea, that they thought my homeland to be the Whatever of the Five Deserts - Land of the Five Deserts was a poetic way of referring to the Sultanate of Kyrenaia, due to its five, well, deserts.
With a fruit in my mouth, I nodded to Kay. She should tell.
"Well, what is there to tell about Droichid Island?", she asked herself and leaned back, "Remote place, even by our standards. More sheep then people, actually, a little wool-factory, nice weather, if it weren't for the wind, which blows powerfully." She smiled. "Droichid Island also has very good fishing grounds, if you are interested in that. Many of us have boats, too, so..." She shrugged. "It's a remote, fun place."
Fintan Muc of the Tribe of Cork.
Of course I had realized, that Alexandra was more then just a pretty face. She was quite capable and that not only on the dance floor.
I would have carried her to the stall with the drinks, her head near mine, but when she asked me to set her down, I did so carefully, then helped her to her feet. I glanced into the general direction, did not spot my bandmates anywhere near the drinks stand, and grinned at Alexandra.
I offered her my arm to link and smiled. "It would be my pleasure.", I said.
Macha Sáraigh of the Tribe of Clonmel.
Unlike what Marie might think, we had concerns more pressing then the size of the mammaries, too. I had a newly married brother, who I did not know, what either of them were up to this time, Cao was essentially an immortal being, who would stay as young as she was right now, while all the people she knew and loved, including her twin brother, would grow old and eventually die.
Sure, it had nothing to do with war, but comparing bust sizes was such a nice way to distract oneself, if even for a moment.
I noticed the fakeness in her smile, though, and reached out: "Marie, if ya don't want to, you don't have to. No one's forcing you into that thing..." I suddenly grinned. "...besides, the're enough people out there, who get a kick out of lassies with small chests."
Yven Barriall of the Tribe of Monaghan.
I smiled slightly. "A good arbalist can build you a good and sturdy crossbow for ten Gil, that's 150 NSD.", I said and shrugged, "And it'll be an excellent weapon. I personally am more in favour of the spear, though."
"You mean the Pike, right?", Mistress Banphrionsa said with a smile.
I nodded, conceded. "Nowadays, I am obliged to train with the pike.", I corrected, then looked at her. "Where were you, if I may ask?"
"Calma High School Mounted Bow-Gals.", she said and smiled.
I nodded with a lot of appreciation and respect, for that was a very renowned name.
It didn't take long for them to get to the front of the line, where Finnegan Drisiúr of the Tribe of Cork, the boss of Bicíní Industries, stood and distributed sausages and steaks and other very delicious looking things. Right in front of the two men, two rather short and young lassies got steaks about the size of their faces with huge grins.
Without a shadow of a doubt, they would not only be able to eat them, but also would still be hungry.
Stan and Tom would receive about as generous pieces of meat, if they wanted, or sausages or baked potatoes or whatever on ceramics plates, as well as metal utensils. A small wagon nearby was very obviously for returning all of that.
Once they had it, they could return to a spot a bit away and sit on the ground or join the beer benches, which had been set up nearby, where the majority of people sat, ate, conversed, had a blast.
Asteria Aoibhiúil of the Tribe of Wicklow.
Captain Fearg smiled and shook his head.
"No, that'd be the lad over there.", he said and motioned to the dark-skinned lad, who turned. He was a boy, really, but he would be a cute lad one day. His red eyes shone as he recognized me. "Ilia!"
The lad came over, a clipboard and a pencil in his hands. "Yes, Liam?"
"These lassies have a bit to add to the stockpile.", he said and Ilia nodded, "Do yer duty, laddie!"
Ilia nodded. "Yep!", he said and smiled, motioned for us to follow him. "Follow me - and while you do, tell me, what you have, please!"
I smiled and nodded to Donatella. He reminded me of my days with the Younger Militia. The Captain made up the rear of our little caravan.
Brenda Iarnród of the Tribe of Louth.
"Yeah, sure.", I said and nodded before turning back to Nolly and Yvain.
The representative of SDY on vacation was immediately confronted with a question: "So, where's Isla?"
"You like that girl, don't you?", he asked with a smile and Nolly shrugged. Isla was a nice lassie, so what was there not to like? "She's around with some lads and lassies and the head of Victoria Shipyards in Traverse. I doubt, that she has any further interest in him... she has a fetish for Marcach these days..."
We grinned both. What was there not to like about the horsemen?
"What about yer... acquaintance?", he asked.
"Eh... lassie has a cat and you know me.", I said with a shrug, "Saw the máchaili only on second look. Her lad is the same."
"They're gonna have their sweet problems around these parts.", Yvain said and shrugged, "Well, not our problem. Say, ya lassies free for dances?"
He was a married man with a daughter - and I was the daughter of the main producer of steel in the Free Lands, including for SDY's shipyards, while Brenda was the heir of the main engine manufacturer, including for SDY's vessels. Of course he would ask for dances.
Of course, we would agree with firm nods.
Macha Taise, of Cork Descent.
Kay smiled and nodded. "Then it's a sure thing!", she said and then grinned, "And don't ya worry about my feet! They survived worse then gettin' stepped on!"
Fiona and I, meanwhile, smiled at the two lassies, then at each other, then back to Bianca and Isabel. "Well, we happen to know a few nice lads and lassies around your age.", I said, "If yer up for it, we could introduce you?"
Fiona nodded. "I am sure, that Tea and Meave would love to make friends with you two.", she added.
Nia Sneachtúil, of Cefnffordd Descent.
When Marion said, that some considered her weird, due to how she dressed, Meave cocked her head in mild confusion. For her, Marion was a pretty woman in a nice dress, but that confusion was quickly lifted as she mentioned her being right.
The face of the girl at the headpat reminded me of a cat being petted.
"It sounds like a good plan. It would certainly be able to quickly get business out of the way.", she finally said.
Tea and Meave were on their feet in a moment, I was a bit more graceful, yet little less energetic. "Then what are we waiting for?", I said and offered my arm to link to Marion. "Let's go!"
AHSCA wrote:"Thank you, dankon multe, sinjorino" Ayla thanked with a nod. Taking her first sips it was very good, as good as she could hope or expect. "It's good!" she smiled to her companion on their drink run. "My compliments."
Aonas Folracht of the Tribe of Wicklow.
As Iliane and Ayla returned to our blanket, the two girls were conversing.
Just then, Iliane was smiling a brilliant smile and replied: "No need to compliment me!", she said and smiled into my direction, "The people around these parts really know how to make cool drinks, just like back home. I really like the iced tea, too."
Dad grinned at the two of them. "It is a good drink!", he said in his booming voice, motioned for me to move. I indeed did and intercepted the two and their heavy-looking crate. Iliane immediately gave me her side and I nodded to Ayla, ready to carry the crate myself. Dad continued: "I prefer my tea hot, though. And apparently, so do the Kyrenaians."
"The Desert-People have a strange way to drink tea anyway...", Iliane said with a smile and I had to nod.
Isa smiled at the three of us: "Dinner's served, people!", she said.
And what a dinner it was! There were sausages, freshly from the grill, a giant bowl of potato salad, fresh bread, Arálong (basically hardtack) and, of course, half a dozen steaks, which one could use to cover Dad's face, if one wanted to, with how large they were.
My mouth was watering for a time now.
