Snowflakes drifted down over the tranquil Sea Bay.
In Deepwinter, the snowstorms that sapped warmth and froze people to death melted quietly into the earth once they fell on the Soil. This heavy snowfall would help plants dormant all winter wake sooner.
The harsh weather did nothing to dampen the residents' spirits. They braved the swirling snow to prepare for the coming spring planting.
Clock faces had been installed on all four sides of the Clock Tower, so residents could look up from anywhere and tell the time. The Glacier River and the bay showed signs of thawing, and materials for building the Seaport and Shipyard had been stacked neatly on the beach.
As soon as the snow stopped on the third day, the residents eagerly led their oxen to the outskirts, where they loosened and Fertilizing the soil along both sides of the road.
The Lord's Manor had begun to take shape. Its preserved wood grain and carved patterns combined the Northern Frontier's solid grandeur with the Elves' natural style.
Curious, Annan went inside once. The echoes were clearer than he had expected... He wanted to choose some maids, but Ingrid said it was still too soon—unless he was willing to accept maids for the Lord's Manor who were all over thirty and built like Aunt Susan.
The Northern Frontier grew warmer by the day. After the first rainfall in late March, Star-Moon Bay officially began planting. Bag after bag of wheat seed went to the fields, where farmers worked diligently.
That bustle continued for several days. One evening, Annan stepped out of the Dawn Tavern and heard the sound of the tide carried on the Sea breeze.
The Sea Bay and its ice began to melt too. To the north, the Glacier River had turned into a babbling