The True Meaning of the Season

Sonea glanced around, noting that her youngest three had opened all of their gifts, but Lorlen, Orson, and Rhydian still had a couple packages each. "Looks like you missed a couple," she told them, nodding to the gifts. The boys exchanged a look.

"We'll get to them later," Orson told her.

"We want time to enjoy the other things we got," Lorlen added quickly. Sonea raised an eyebrow, for her sons were behaving quite strangely. The boys shot a panicked look at their older cousin who added.

"May we go see some of our friends from University? Please?"

"Midwinter is a day for family," Sonea objected.

"Be back in a couple hours," Akkarin agreed. Sonea gave him an incredulous look as the teenagers thanked him, gathering their gifts and disappearing in the direction of their rooms. Though all three could have taken rooms in the Novice Quarters now that they had started at the University, they had all chosen to stay with Sonea and Akkarin. For her part, Sonea was grateful for their decision; she was not quite ready to let them go yet, even Rhydian who had only recently come to live with them.

"What was that about?" Sonea asked, turning to her husband. He gave her a small smile.

"Let us just say that Lorlen has no need of a new coat and Orson's gloves fit just fine."

"Then why would they ask for those for Midwinter's?"

"They have discovered that Kerrel is not the only person at the Guild whose parents cannot afford what they consider basic necessities." Sonea's eyes widened as understanding dawned. Akkarin's smile widened. "It does make you feel that we must have done something correct as parents."

After a moment's consideration, she asked, "Do you think Takan has prepared the large quantities of food he normally does for Midwinter's?"

"I am sure we could easily feed twice as many people as we currently plan to for the Midwinter's feast," Akkarin told her, obviously understanding.

Sonea nodded, and as her sons and nephew walked past the room to leave the residence, she called out to them. "We should have some extra spots for dinner tonight if you have some ideas of who might be able to help fill them." The boys looked to each other before turning their attention to Sonea, smiles forming on their faces.

"Really?" Lorlen confirmed.

"The Foodhall is not the place for a true Midwinter's Day feast."

"Thank you, Mother," Orson said, beaming at her. The other two boys thanked her as well before all three practically ran from the residence, the wrapped gifts tucked under their arms. Perhaps having the boys grow up would not be as bad as Sonea initially anticipated.