It's Midwinter's Day, the most important day of the year in Dracos. That's because ‎Midwinter's Day is the day of the Dragon Festival, when the Dragonesque celebrate the dragons, ‎their relationship with them, and everything that means.‎

Things are still somewhat tense. The sweep of the surrounding forests designed to uproot any ‎cells of Demorsan infiltrators is still in progress and the first blizzard still hasn't arrived, but they ‎all get through the day more or less in one piece, and soon, the first blizzard of the season sweeps ‎in.‎

Normally, the winter snows in Dracos are something to be endured. But this year, they bring ‎celebration and the chance to relax for a while since they make Dracos virtually inaccessible ‎except by the main passes - or dragonback, of course - and that means the Dragonesque don't ‎have to worry about a Demorsan invasion for a while.‎

Winter also means an end to Aralaiah's teaching tours. The snow lies deep in Dracos. Winter ‎is a time for staying close to home, not for travelling about the place in flimsy wagons. Now it's ‎time for her to settle down to the normal work of a mage. That's something that's completely new ‎to her, and she finds there are problems she hadn't anticipated. Because of those, she isn't ‎enjoying the work at all. ‎

Meantime, she's also working on her relationship with Red Queen, and that has its ups and ‎downs as well. Life may be more relaxed, but it definitely isn't boring.‎

But as the year rolls on and spring creeps ever closer the tension begins to rise again. ‎Normally something to be eagerly anticipated, the Dragonesque are dreading spring this year. ‎Because spring means the thaw, and after the thaw will come the Demorsans. That is simply ‎inevitable.‎

Draken's workload for the War Committee increases, Pryn decides to do her bit and join the ‎border patrol, and people are beginning to carry weapons when they go out. Aralaiah and Red ‎Queen decide to undertake formal training and learn how to fight together properly. Because ‎spring is coming. And so is the war.‎