Claire smiled and hugged Shade, feeling quite happy. Elder Harald, however, was very unhappy right now. He wished he could immediately pull his granddaughter away, grab Shade by the collar, and demand:
"Using a weather-altering relic in Snow Mountain Hall—are you afraid the Church in the city won't come looking to cause us trouble?"
Even if the Orthodox Church allowed the Fatu People to do things that would be considered violations elsewhere, casually using a relic to alter the weather over a wide area was unacceptable anywhere—especially since Shade had no legitimate reason at all. He simply wanted to dance with the young ladies.
Emilia soon skipped into town, and Sivie, who had missed the dancing yesterday, arrived shortly afterward. Sylvia, who had originally been expected, did not come tonight. However, she left Sivie and Claire a note in the Council, explaining that she had to handle some troublesome matters with Margaret in Wilundell tonight. She had even taken leave from the Council meeting later that evening.
The Council meeting that night began at seven, so the Great Witches still had time to do their own things beforehand. Claire was going to attend the Fatu People's banquet in Snow Mountain Hall, which she considered a rather boring form of socializing with relatives.
Shade had also received an invitation, so at half past six, he appeared in the banquet hall of Snow Mountain Hall with Sivie.
This banquet hall, normally empty, had finally fulfilled its intended purpose today. Fatu People filled the seats around a hundred-meter-long table assembled from smaller tables, and there were no fewer than five such tables in the hall.
The banquet hall was brightly lit, with Gas Lamps illuminating the array of food and drink spread across the tables. The Fatu People, dressed in their traditional clothing,