A few weeks had passed, and by now it seem the town had recovered. Merrium and William’s new staff members had been orientated and settled into their new jobs, and, with housework and cooking taken care of, she wasn’t quite sure what to do with herself anymore. William continued to be successful in his hunts, earning them enough extra coin and food that she had begun having them stored for winter. His good mood had slowly fallen back into a lull, though. At least the gift of new boots should revive that spark again.

Merrium sighed as she walked about town. It had been so long since she had such the luxury of time that she had quite forgotten how to interact with her friends...and who her friends were for that matter. It was a downside to living outside of the main street, and she really did miss the socialization sometimes.

She stepped into The Stray Arrow, hoping Sybil and Anna would be available to chat a while. It had been so long since she had spoken with them, she was half afraid they may have taken offense. But the moment she walked in, they showed her there was nothing to worry about as an excitable mass of copper-red curls and a bright freckled face assaulted her.

"Merrium! Anna, look who it is!" Sybil had run from behind the counter to hug her as her sister stuck her head out from the back kitchen door. Merrium hugged her back in surprise, smiling with relief.

"I'm sorry I haven't visited, how has everything been?"

"Oh, don't worry about it honey, life has a habit of getting it's way into things. We've been doing well! Been quite busy since our good king took residence. Plenty of visitors, plenty of drink too," she added with a wink.

"I'm sure. I'm not overstaying right now, am I?"

"Nonsense! Don't even think on it, come sit down." Sybil dragged her by the hand to a bar stool and sat her down. "Now, tell me what I can get for you, anything you want, on the house."

Merrium was abashed. "Oh, no, I couldn't-"

"Please, hun, we haven't seen you in ages! And we heard you're the royal host now, you should celebrate!"

"All the more reason," she protested, and then at Sybil's stubborn expression, "At least let me pay."

She sighed. "Fine, but don't be surprised if you get an anonymous package in the mail," she winked. "Now, what can I get for?"

Merrium thought for a moment. "Do you still make that mint drink?"

She snapped her fingers and called back excitedly. "Anna! Blue Frost!"

"On it!"

"Now tell me," Sybil leaned across the counter, her voice quieting and her red curls falling past her shoulders as her freckled cheeks lit up into a wider smile. "I heard this new position happened because you gained the prince's favor."

"Something like that," Merrium murmured under breath.

She squirmed excitedly. "Tell me all about it! I want to hear everything, what was he like?"

Merrium recounted her day relatively briefly, as there wasn't much that had happened, and being careful not to mention her second encounter. Sybil, being the owner of the inn, loved gossip, and not everything needed to be spread around town.

"But what was he like?" she pressed. "Was he charming? Is he ugly? Is he handsome? Did you swoon?"

"Sybil!" Merrium protested with a laugh as Anna brought her the drink and joined the conversation. "I'm a taken woman!"

"Doesn't mean a lady can't look," she responded, and her sister laughed.

"He was very handsome," Merrium finally admitted. "And very...intrigued. He seems very young."

"I heard he'd actually be about our age," Anna said. "Don' know how true that information is.

"Hey, maybe he's looking for a princess! Merrium, you should introduce us!"

"I've only just met him," she laughed. "I don't think I have nearly the authority yet to be introducing anyone to anybody."

"Excuse me! I'd like to rent a room!"

A man with a large pack had just walked in and was calling for their attention. Sybil and Anna excused themselves to take care of the new guest. Merrium sipped on her minty drink, enjoying the flavor and aroma immensely, and letting her mind wander a bit.

A young boy suddenly appeared beside her, holding out a letter he had withdrawn from his satchel. He pressed it into her hands urgently.

“Letter from the castle, miss!”

“Thank you young man,” she said, and place a couple coins in his still open hands. He beamed and ran off as she opened the envelope.

“Well, here we go then,” she murmured to herself; it was her first call to duty as the king’s liaison. The Istalri’s will be visiting again in two weeks time, and she’ll be expected to provide housing and adequate entertainment for her royal guests.

Merrium finished her drink, said farewell to her friends, and set her course back home, suddenly finding herself without time to spare. It was time to prepare the staff, and prepare her home. She’ll need to plan accommodations, perhaps hire a minstrel or a bard. She also still had her promise to show Prince Arstel around, which she still intended to keep.

For a brief moment her thoughts halted as she remembered his friendly smiles and words, the details she left out in her recounting to Sybil. His boyish curiosity, and his last parting gesture. She shook her head clear. This is no time to be entertaining fantasies. She has a job to do now, and regardless of the intent of his advances, she is still a married women, and she should behave professionally.

Dinnertime brought in a cold wind. Though the chill was a pleasant relief from the heat of the day, autumn was fast approaching. Harvests would soon be brought in, and they will need to bring out their winter clothes. She’ll need to prepare for this, too, should the cold arrive during their visit. Do they have winter where they’re from? She wondered this idly as she ate across from William, who took no notice of her silence as he seemed to be lost in thought as well. Perhaps they do, but just the same it will give her more to work with when it came to preparing activities.

Her projects in the grove will need to be prepared for the coming cold, too. Perhaps tomorrow she’ll have that taken care of, after sending the servants out to run errands. She had been wanting to experiment with cold, anyway.

Before she new it, the two weeks had gone by in a flash, and it was time to receive their guests.