Raidri Uinér of the Tribe of Laois.
VIP-Lounge of Seomrasuí House.
The lounge was filling with people – guests, technically of myself, practically of the Cult of Lodan Lir. I was but the steward of Seomrasuí House in the Old Town of Cuan. It was a large complex of buildings, four in total, the main building being a three storey building. The lounge was in the third storey, right under the attic, overlooking Cuan's New Tournament Field of the City.
A small circumfencing wall secured the complex, which also included stables (which would be used by the competitors for the Cuan City Trophy and the Cuan City Youth Trophy), the steward's (read my) house and a small shrine to Lodan Lir. Guests of the Envoy of Lodan Lir, Miss Mona Beag of the Tribe of Louth, would have to pass a security checkpoint at the entrance, there were City Guard, Arrowmaidens and even the odd SDF-people around.
Honestly, I was more concerned about the buffet table then about security.
And about my guests, of course.
Dressed in the Geansai in the colours of Lodan Lir, light blue and deep blue, I made the last observations – an impressive spread was on the buffet, sweets and nibbles from Selkie-Cuisine dominated, but there were Teressian, Kyrenaian and other teats. The Handmaidens had outdone themselves, both from my own household, but also the hand full of Kyrenaian Handmaidens and the three Hausmädchen from Teressien, which Princesses Nela, Sunna and Rena had dispatched to my kitchens.
Speaking of the three, Princess Rena had planned to be in Riverwood today and compete for the Riverwood Lancer Trophy, a.k.a. the Riverwood Trophy of Pointy Sticks, but as her leg in a plaster cast told, that her plans had been slightly derailed. Her cane was at her side and her sister as well as her friend were very careful around her.
I smiled, as the three of them conversed with Mara and Mavie Urgharda.
I turned.
The Main Building was quite long, spanning once the entire length of the New Tournament Field and then some. In a good hour or so, in good view of the bay windows with cushions and the stands outside, horsearchers would ride in full gallop, around 45 kilometers per hour, and fire at five targets at an ever increasing distance, an average time between releases being five seconds (which was considered the competitive minimum). The field was more then three hundred metres long, the VIP Lounge was around sixty metres long and right in the middle. Targets could be up to 600 metres away.
Originally, the plan had been to just welcome the Kyrenaian Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was on a visit, but then, Princess Rena had announced her interest of being here. Then other notabilities had invited themselves. Then Mona had the idea, to make it more open for the VIPs of SEA and elsewhere.
And here we were.
Prince Pandereos has sent an RSVP, as did Baronin Wilrun, Theomer Arling had announced his intention to come, Andy Paul would be here, Severin Gunnarsson, too, the list was long... it would be interesting to see, how they all mixed, especially among themselves and with our own people, of which there were... plenty.
I smiled and took a look around. Many Geansais, many dresses and suits.
Well, what sort of host would I be, if I wouldn't mingle? My two sons were already hard at work, Aonas flirting with Celina Riar, while Nuada was talking shop with Kean Iavala. My younger daughter and my wife were inspecting the bay windows, while Siana was hard at work as an Apprentice-Handmaiden. She threw me a smile before she floated away.
I bumped into someone.
I smiled at the orange-crowned head. “My apologies, Mona.”, I said with a small bow.
Mona Beag, who did the sacred rites for the day, shook her head. “It's alright.”, she said and made a small step to the side, inviting me into her group, “Brigadier Fuil, Mister Fuil and I were just discussing the competition. Who's your favourite?”
I smiled and joined the strict looking, stern officer, her husband and the spiritual leader of the Selkie with a smile. “I am cheering for whoever my daughters crush on this week.”, I said, Mister Fuil chuckled. I remembered, that the two had two adopted children, boys, if I remembered correctly. I motioned to the silken band wrapped around Mona's belt. “I don't think, that I need to ask.”
“I asked Conny.”, she admitted with a small blush. I raised an eyebrow. “Conchobar Scathamagh. He competes for the River's Crossing Trophy.”
“Well, that is a bit of a surprise.”, I admitted with a smile, “But good for the lad. Finally.”
“I'm sorry?”
“Oh, please.”, the Brigadier said, showing a rare smile, “He was crushing on you for quite a while now. Even I could see that.”
Mona blushed, averted her gaze.
I put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it. “Don't worry, I'm sure, that he'll perform well.”, I said, then looked into the round, “If you would all please excuse me? Many guests to greet and many things to attend to.”
“Of course, Mister Uinér.”, the Brigadier said and nodded. “My best regards to Alaina.”
“See ya!”, Mona replied and grinned.
I nodded. “Of course. And good luck to Mister Scathamagh.”, I told Mona and turned to the VIP-Lounge.
This promised to be a good day – and an interesting one at that!