{"id":1856,"date":"2017-12-09T15:59:04","date_gmt":"2017-12-09T20:59:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/vg-ford.com\/?p=1856"},"modified":"2017-12-09T15:59:04","modified_gmt":"2017-12-09T20:59:04","slug":"advent-december-7-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/?p=1856","title":{"rendered":"(advent) December 7"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thursday, December 7<\/p>\n

Normally at 1 pm, all four children would have been in school, but instead, they were at CrossWinds Books, waiting impatiently for their ride to the Snow Queen\u2019s palace, and taking bets on who it was who was going to pick them up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll bet it\u2019s Old Man Winter,\u201d Kaylee said confidently. \u201cIn his sledge. And he\u2019s going to let me drive.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI doubt it,\u201d her sister said dryly. \u201cLetting you drive to the skating cove is one thing. He won\u2019t let you drive it on the Roads. Besides, I\u2019ll bet it\u2019s Pavel coming to get us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe will too!\u201d Kaylee flared.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t matter,<\/em> Jack said, inserting himself between the two of them. Maybe it won\u2019t be either of them.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWho else could it be?\u201d Gideon asked.<\/p>\n

She has other servants,<\/em> Schrodinger said. Maybe she\u2019ll send one of them instead. Or Ember.<\/em><\/p>\n

Ooh, Ember! That would be cool!<\/em> Aurora said, dancing a little.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut how could Ember get us?\u201d Zoey said. \u201cShe can\u2019t drive anything, can she?\u201d<\/p>\n

She\u2019s a dragon,<\/em> Aurora said. She can do probably anything.<\/em><\/p>\n

That\u2019s true,<\/em> Schrodinger said.<\/p>\n

They were dressed in what Aunt Margie had termed their Sunday best. Lily, Kaylee, and Zoey were in pretty dresses and warm leggings, with bows in their hair (Zoey\u2019s on her braids, Lily and Kaylee with theirs on headbands). Gideon was in grey, with pressed pants and a neat vest, a bow tie, and a crisp white shirt. He even had a trilby on his head, with a band that matched his bow tie. Schrodinger and Jack wore their bow ties as well, and Aurora had a bow on her collar. Molly thought they all looked adorable.<\/p>\n

She was standing by the front of the store, talking to DC as they waited for their ride. The senior clerk, her long hair pulled back in a ponytail that had several jingle bells hanging from it, was a little envious of the planned trip.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish I could have used the excuse for tea with the Snow Queen to get out of school when I was their age,\u201d she said, as she restocked gift cards by her register. \u201cSadly, that\u2019s not an option in a non-Crossroads town.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t an option for me, either, and I grew up here,\u201d Molly said. \u201cWe just have to accept that they move in rarified circles.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTruth,\u201d DC said, and glanced out the window. Her eyes widened. \u201cI think your ride is here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Molly looked out as well, her mouth dropping open in amazement. She personally had been expecting Pavel in his black sleigh with its matched black mares. That was NOT what had just pulled to a stop outside the bookstore.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d she said finally. \u201cI guess we know how the Snow Queen travels when she wants to make an entrance.\u201d<\/p>\n

The carriage was pulled by four snow-white deer, not muscular reindeer like the ones that pulled Old Man Winter\u2019s sledge, but ethereal creatures that looked as if they\u2019d been spun from starlight. Their antlers were of the palest ivory, and had holly and ivy twined among the branches. Snowflakes and jingle bells adorned their pale blue harnesses, and their hooves looked as if they were shod in silver.<\/p>\n

The carriage they pulled was no less breathtaking. It was all white and silver, with icy blue and warm gold accents all over the snowflake-emblazoned panels. An elegant driver, dressed in a crisp white suit and top hat, sat up front and held the reins in white-gloved hands. Beside him sat a groom or footman, similarly attired but without the top hat, who jumped down as soon as the carriage came to a stop and hurried towards the front door.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel a little underdressed suddenly,\u201d Molly murmured to DC, looking at the uniformed men.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo kidding.\u201d<\/p>\n

The footman opened the door, paused to catch his breath, and then said solemnly, \u201cHer Exquisite Majesty, The Snow Queen, current Leader of the Parliament of Realms, extends her greetings to her dearest friends and requests they join her for an informal tea.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf this is informal, the dinner is going to be stunning,\u201d Molly said under her breath, then turned and gestured to her companions, who were all staring wide-eyed at the footman. \u201cCome on, guys, our ride is here.\u201d<\/p>\n

The inside of the carriage was just as impressive: full of luxuriously cushioned seats and white fur blankets. Molly almost missed the fact that there was someone else in the carriage until Kaylee said, \u201cAre you visiting the Snow Queen too? What are you?\u201d<\/p>\n

These questions were directed at a diminutive person so huddled in blankets that Molly saw a pair of intense violet eyes in a dark face, and a bit of long, dark hair.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t expect an answer,\u201d came an acid voice from the opposite corner. The carriage was so large that there was actually room for a table in the center. \u201cNot an intelligent once, anyways. Turians aren\u2019t known for their intelligence and two questions in a row probably confused it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The speaker was a woman \u2013 at least, Molly thought she was. She was tall, taller even than Steve, who was a good six and a half feet tall, but she was painfully thin and angular. Her arms and legs appeared exceedingly long and spindly, almost segmented, and she was busy knitting something. Despite the chill, she wore a simple grey robe and soft grey slippers. The robe was hooded, and Molly could not see any hair, but her eyes were bright green. Were it not for the pursed set of her thin lips and her harsh words, she would have seemed elegant.<\/p>\n

Kaylee frowned at her. \u201cThat\u2019s not nice,\u201d she said. \u201cI wasn\u2019t asking you.\u201d<\/p>\n

The owner of the violet eyes had also turned to look at the tall woman. Now, a faintly bell-like sound emerged from the pile of blankets. \u201cYou know, Yesira, you would be more effective if you didn\u2019t air your opinions all the time. They stink almost as much as the dump you come from.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yesira sniffed. \u201cIs that the best you can do, Palys? How long did it take you to come up with it? The entire trip?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt gave me something to amuse myself while I wasn\u2019t planning how to vote you off the Parliament,\u201d Palys said.<\/p>\n

Schrodinger had been looking back and forth at the two. Now, he looked up at Molly and said very quietly, on their personal link, I think I understand why Jade has been so stressed.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Agreed.<\/em><\/p>\n

Kaylee, however, was not as circumspect as Schrodinger. She looked at both of the creatures and said, \u201cYou both have such bad manners! Santa is going to leave you nothing but reindeer poop and coal!\u201d Then she flung herself angrily down next to Gideon and crossed her arms across her chest.<\/p>\n

The rest of the trip was spent in awkward silence, although Molly was sure there was a telepathic conversation between her charges. Yesira concentrated on her knitting (and what she was knitting was completely alien to Molly), and Palys was still snuggled deep within her pile of blankets. Molly pulled out her cell phone and pulled up her ideas for the dinner to go over them again.<\/p>\n

When the deer stopped again, it was in front of the shimmering white marble castle that the Snow Queen and her consort Jack Frost called home. The footman opened the door with a flourish, and Yesira stood up immediately, pushing her way to the front.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe High Priestess Yesira, Disciple of the Summer Druid, of Elderpost,\u201d the footman announced as she swept by him.<\/p>\n

The pile of blankets sniffed. \u201cPretentious twit.\u201d Then the blankets fell, and a small brown creature, dressed in what looked like a cloak of green growing leaves, descended from the carriage.<\/p>\n

\u201cPalys, envoy of Greenyard Meadows, beloved of the Turian peoples!\u201d<\/p>\n

Molly shook her head. \u201cI wonder what titles we get?\u201d she said, and grinned at the children.<\/p>\n

Kaylee was still scowling after the other two. \u201cI don\u2019t want a title,\u201d she said. \u201cThey make you stupid and grumpy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShush!\u201d Gideon said. \u201cYou don\u2019t want Santa to hear that!\u201d He gave her a hug. \u201cDon\u2019t be angry at them, Kaylee. They don\u2019t understand. Come on, the Snow Queen is waiting!\u201d<\/p>\n

Gideon\u2019s hugs were powerful in their own right, and the scowl fell from Kaylee\u2019s face. She hugged him back, and then they all got out of the carriage.<\/p>\n

Yesira and Palys were nowhere to be seen, but Jack Frost was waiting there to greet them (the footman having stayed silent, mercifully). \u201cMy friends! How good to see you!\u201d he said, hurrying down the stairs. \u201cJade and I are so glad you could come!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re here to save you!\u201d Kaylee said, flinging herself into his arms.<\/p>\n

Jack Frost laughed. \u201cFrom all the rotten Parliament members?\u201d he teased. \u201cI wish. They\u2019re almost insufferable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe met two of them already,\u201d Lily said, frowning. \u201cAre the others better?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHardly,\u201d Jack said, his eyes dancing. \u201cI hope you can help us remind them what the season is about.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre we going to meet the rest of them today?\u201d Molly asked him, as he led them up the stairs and into the great hall.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, they\u2019re not invited to the tea party,\u201d Jack said, and then laughed when she breathed an audible sigh of relief. \u201cAlthough I have a feeling you might meet some of them sooner, rather than later.\u201d<\/p>\n

Molly looked at him, but he refused to say any more and just showed them into a cozy room that held a low table full of food and tea, and a large black CrossCat seated on a chair.<\/p>\n

Librarian!<\/em> Schrodinger said, bounding forward. I didn\u2019t know you were going to be here!<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Where else would I be?<\/em> The Librarian said, leaning over to touch her nose to his. I am a member of the Parliament, after all.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 But not one that needs to be convinced, surely? <\/em>Schrodinger looked at her closely.<\/p>\n

Hardly. I am here to help Jade keep the peace.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Librarian, besides being Schrodinger\u2019s great-great-grandmother, was the de facto leader of the CrossCats in his den, which was one of several in his Realm. Molly wasn\u2019t quite clear on the way CrossCat politics worked, but it was clear that the Librarian was revered by all of them.<\/p>\n

Once they were all seated around the Librarian, another door opened and the Snow Queen herself came in. It was obvious that she had been greeting other guests: Jade wore a massive silver and diamond crown on her head, cushioned by long braids of her pale hair, and her gown was ablaze with shimmering snowflakes. As the door closed, they got a glimpse of this perfection before she waved a hand and her outfit changed. Gone was the crown and gown; in its place was a simple dark green dress with a snowflake motif around the edge of the skirt. No coronet at all, although she kept the braids in her hair.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank goodness that is over!\u201d Jade said, dropping gracefully into a chair next to Zoey. \u201cNo more stuffy guests today!\u201d She smiled at them. \u201cJust good friends. I\u2019m so glad you all could come!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUs too!\u201d Lily said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, this is way better than school!\u201d Zoey added.<\/p>\n

Kaylee nodded, but she was strangely quiet. The Snow Queen looked at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see you met some of my guests,\u201d Jade said gently. \u201cAnd you were not impressed, were you, Kaylee?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were rude, and we\u2019re supposed to be nice to each other at Christmas!\u201d Kaylee said. \u201cAnd they were rude in front of us!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s part of why they\u2019re here,\u201d Jade said. \u201cI\u2019m hoping that the Cove will show them the right way to live.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey should come to my house,\u201d Kaylee said, reaching for a sandwich. \u201cMy dad would teach them manners.\u201d<\/p>\n

Or the tea shop,<\/em> Schrodinger added. Let Aunt Margie deal with them.<\/em><\/p>\n

Molly, who had her teacup at her mouth, nearly choked on her tea at that.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Thursday, December 7 Normally at 1 pm, all four children would have been in school, but instead, they were at CrossWinds Books, waiting impatiently for their ride to the Snow Queen\u2019s palace, and taking bets on who it was who was going to pick them up. \u201cI\u2019ll bet it\u2019s Old Man Winter,\u201d Kaylee said …<\/p>\n

>>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[61],"class_list":["post-1856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-advent","tag-advent"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1856"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1856"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1856\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1857,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1856\/revisions\/1857"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vg-ford.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}