Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2016 3:02:00 GMT -5
The ten days devoted to the Harvest Festival were just what Reed had been waiting for. He tended to duchy business the best that he could while he was in Bordelaix, but he missed the little tasks and jobs that he could see to when he had time for himself. There was no need for him to do those here, not when there was a house full of servants, making him restless and uneasy. Fortunately, the People's Feast was one of the occasions where he felt he could do some-thing and proceeded to do so.
He had obtained the Seneschal's blessing to volunteer his hands and skills to be used during the feast. The common-people were regarded with great respect in Shelbourne, where farming was the duchy's foundation. With-out food, there was nothing and no-one. Those who farmed, who worked the land, reaped and sowed through famine and bounty, were the salt of the earth. The feast honoring them was important to the Duke, who put on plain working clothes and went to haul tables and benches, set up the out-door kitchen and did what he could to give the people attending the feast a truly pleasurable day.
The aromas of food cooking and spices filled the air as he was put to work next on carving some of the roasted meats that had finished their cooking and rested. He looked up as he put a very sharp knife to work, the meat sliced thinly but evenly under his care. Other members of his family were around too, hanging the garlands and lanterns, or working with the food too as people began to file in.
It made him smile to see the Crown Princess and her sister wearing simple, ordinary clothes. To Reed, they were all the more beautiful for taking the time to mingle with the common people and he bowed his head to them before going back to work. It was going to be a fine feast.