Preparations

[Altias_Bromn]

Altias stood in the kitchen mashing green globs of fruit into a bowl. A squeeze of lemon juice to keep the color, huge pits and dark green bumpy rinds discarded. The whole thing was covered with a cloth and set aside in the coolest portion of the kitchen. Another bowl had been filled with oatmeal, lavendar and some heated and cured milk. This too was put away.

The coolest part of the kitchen being relative, as he had been baking all day. More of the pretty cupcakes, spice and vanilla. The spice cakes topped with simple sugar daisies. The vanilla cupcakes topped with what appeared to be tiger lillies, but made with sugar. It had been an expensive endeavor, but the girls were worth it.

Cookies cooled on racks by the window. Molassess, ginger, and cinnamon. Simple, but very tasty, perhaps five dozen in all. Returning to his chambers, he checked on the other preparations.

Strips of cloth lay over his desk, those he would use to make curls in the girls hair if they wanted them. And sharp needles were left out as well, as he had heard from Ari that Agnie had talked about wanting her ears pierced.

Raegan, Quincy, Agnie, Sawyer, Molly and Ari had all been invited. He hoped that the messengers had delivered those that he did not take himself. He hoped, that they would come. It was an odd idea, this he knew, but had fond memories of doing such things with his sister and her friends. They had always had a lovely time.

A rare treat, the wine with citrus fruits. Those had cost him dearly, but the remainder of the bags of lemons, oranges and limes would be taken to the Dagger in the morning, no charge of course, so that others might enjoy them.

The curtains were drawn back, giving his chamber a less...formal feel. Pillows and blankets scattered about the floor in various shades of black and burgundy silks and velvets.

A look around the chamber, Altias was satisfied it would be adequate. There were some other fruits to be offered, some cheese and some bread. It should do nicely. Now...if only they would attend.

[Treadwell]

"Altias?" The heavy footsteps and the huffy breathing should have been a signal enough of the tax man's entrance to the meetinghouse. Casting his massive shadow on the door to the governor's chamber, Treadwell stands there wheezing for air and sniffing a little.

"What in the world are you doing, lad?" Of course there's food involved. The sweat-soaked orange-robed glutton wouldn't be here otherwise. Something about it all, though, had him a little sniffly and, yes, a little sneezy. "Vanilla?"